Why do you/ don't you cuss?

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youngsterat16

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I am not fully sure how to explain why I don’t, or really maybe I don’t quite know. I’ve always found them unsettling, but I also do have substitute words as well that slip? Which maybe is better, but still not the best? I’ve seldom cussed. The seldom times, I wish I didn’t. Hearing them all the time though does make it easier for it to slip.

I’m trying to figure out my point on it. Especially firetruck. I look up the meaning behind words and hearing it used so casually just makes me a little uneasy. I use fluff nuggets instead, but still substituting. So I’m still intending the meaning of the word being substituted. But then again, saying foshizzzles doesn’t give off the same vibe as the actual word does.

And then we say these things in anger, although other words like I hate you get into the mix as well. However, I’ve always found it more wounding for someone to tell me to **** off instead of just to quit it, or to leave me alone. There are other hurtful things than cuss words as well, but to me, cussing makes it feel more… violent? in a way? Obviously I’d like to aim for nothing but clean and charitable words, but that doesn’t always happen.

The point of this is to see the opinion of others on this. I’ve looked online at blogs. etc. but not all their points seem reasonable? ( e.g. Reason being it is “the lazy way out”, which I don’t quite agree with because in the heat of a moment, especially in society today where it comes into casual talk, you aren’t going to think of saying sea biscuits when you’re fumed) I wanted to see others views on the matter.

So…
Why do you or why do you not cuss?
 
You get to a certain age where you start to sound like a little kid.

At some point, you find that you have to grow up,
 
I think this is especially a case of how we can influence each other, either for good or not-so-good. When I worked in construction, there was, as might be expected, a lot of cursing and swearing amongst the guys. If I was working with a partner who cursed a lot, I found that I would also start slipping those words into my conversation on the job. Mostly, though, I went out of my way to avoid cursing, and it did not go unnoticed. I would look for another unusual adjective to use instead of the ubiquitous curse words, and this would often get a laugh from the other guys around me. Soon I became known as a guy who did not curse a lot, but as I said, there were exceptions at times. The reason I personally don’t use course of foul language is because my momma taught me not say such things! It lowers the level of conversation and is often used just for shock value when a person can’t think of anything more appropriate to say. Then it becomes a habit. Funny thing though, I know for a fact that many of the guys I worked with who cursed and swore all day long at work would never talk that way at home around their wives and children. They were able to compartmentalize their vocabulary!
 
There are probably several reasons. For one, I never have cussed. When I was a kid, none of the other kids in the neighborhood did, either. It just didn’t happen. It doesn’t feel right. (I do cuss to myself, though. Just not out loud.)

My parents didn’t.

My grandfather’s speech was riddled with hells and damns, but he was the only one, and those two words were as far as it went.

Now that I’m 50 years old, I’m still at a place in life where it doesn’t happen. 🤷

That being said, for several years my metallurgist wife worked in a steel mill. The truck drivers filed a complaint against the steel workers because the truckers felt the steel workers’ language was too much. Believe it or not. 😉
 
I make a concerted effort not to take the Lord’s name in vain, even mildly (e.g. “Oh, God!” ) I have a bunch of substitute names, words, expressions I use.

With respect to the other non-religious “cuss” words, it depends on who I am with. People in certain industries swear all the time; people in other industries do not. People from some countries where English is not the first language will use certain non-religious English curse words in normal conversation. I’ve noticed that in USA some people use British slang curse words in normal conversation that would be considered extremely rude in UK. I try to minimize it as I don’t want to be in the habit of cussing, but once in a while I will, as long as it’s not taking God’s name in vain and I’m with someone who it’s safe to cuss with.
 
It’s a very, very bad habit on my part. If I get angry (like in the car), the bad words flow. I am trying to make a real effort to stop, though. It sounds horrible and is very unbecoming (even if I’m just in the car by myself).
 
I grew up in a large family with no swearing…except on the very rare ocassion when my dad had just had enough.The one word silenced the rowdy crew into shock, it was actually very mild 🙂 And I only remember hearing it 5 times in my childhood.
i don’t swear ,to me it’s almost visual , not just empty angry words.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I make a concerted effort not to take the Lord’s name in vain, even mildly (e.g. “Oh, God!” ) I have a bunch of substitute names, words, expressions I use.
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What are your thoughts on substitute words then? My younger sister thinks there isn’t anything wrong with swearing if you are just going to use a substitute word anyways. 🤷
 
I try not to, but after hearing it since childhood, and using it since then, it has become somewhat of a vocal reflex.

And there’s no denying that dirty jokes can be way funny 🙂

ICXC NIKA
 
youngsterat16 said:
What are your thoughts on substitute words then? My younger sister thinks there isn’t anything wrong with swearing if you are just going to use a substitute word anyways. 🤷
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I have a few substitute words for regular non-religious swear words as well. Substitute words are fine. They are an attempt to blow off a little steam while being socially acceptable.

Anyone who thinks “there isn’t anything wrong with swearing” has not been around enough other people or in enough other environments to know that there are many folks who take a great offense at hearing certain words. I personally think the level of offense taken is a bit over the top at times, but that’s how it is, and I don’t want to go around making my coworkers, bosses, people I meet socially, etc. feel uncomfortable around me or say that I have no manners, although I may go home and swear like a sailor in front of my husband or the cat, neither of whom care.
 
The worst swearing words, are cursing words with the use of God’s name, IMO. I hate it when people curse. But swear words are more of a natural occurrence though they ought to not come-to-mind. I know people that rarely swear, if ever. I second the other poster, who said about trying to minimize one’s own usage of swear words, even in times of wrath; and when people are around who swear as if swear words are the only words that exist in the dictionary, maintaining silence seems sensible. Swearing ought to not happen ever because it is ugly and offensive.
 
I swear a lot, or, I used to.

I started swearing when I was a kid because it had shock value, and then it got kinda hard not to use expletives in my speech. I’ve been working to curb the habit for a little bit now, and have had pretty good results, though one does slip out every now and then. With the birth of our son, my wife and I have been super strict about getting onto each other when we slip up. All in all, I have to agree that it makes you sound childish and unprofessional. I should be able to express my thoughts without using vulgar language.
 
I try not to, particularly since I’ve had kids…

But sometimes it just comes out when I’ve hurt myself, I’m exasperated, or when I’m angry.
 
I do. If, however, I take the Lord’s name in vain, I immediately apologize.

As to using foul or what could be considered vulgar language, I don’t usually, and when I do it’s for emphasis regarding something that angers me.

Shalom
 
I don’t cuss because when I was growing up, my parents told me that people who cuss have a poor vocabulary. I have a perfectly adequate vocabulary so I don’t need to cuss. Even so, I have had to learn not to weaponize the vocabulary that I have.
 
I avoid it because it sounds uneducated. If I do use wordy words, it’s because the situation warrants it. People know it’s serious then! I don’t use religious terms.
 
I admit that I do cuss. My entire family does, and its practically almost every other word. Consequently, it slips into my conversations, but I do tend to only cuss when I’m irritated or I get upset.
 
Hey there!

Yeeeaahhh as the sheltered homeschooler Catholic girl who really, really likes English, I can honestly say I’ve never sworn. Personally, what I do is mark off “regular” words as “bad” words, and forbid myself to say those. Thus, if I hurt myself or get really angry, I’ll say something like “DANG IT” and I’ll know I’m getting close to my limit. So far so good! On the other hand, I’m only just now starting college, and have yet to be so swallowed by cussing. However, I’m not one of those delicate flowers that wilts when she hears language; I just kinda put a mental tally mark on the person and note how they work, and carry on with life. It’s not that I don’t respect people who curse - far from it, in regards to hard workers like soldiers or such - but I have a huge respect for those who refrain - especially those who have “reason” to curse. And that said, I’m not “afraid” to curse, at least in regards to non-religious words; I just like my “record” of never doing so. But, should the time come that requires something earthy, well, brace yourself because boy it’s piled up. 😃 But yes, so far so good, and plus it’s fun to go back into “olde English” and pick out old words to use as replacements that are actual words but also sound awesome.
 
“This is the simple point that, nine times out of ten, the coarse word is the word that condemns an evil and the refined word the word that excuses it.”
  • G. K. Chesterton
 
I do not use the Lord’s name in vain, but if I drop something on my foot, or something falls on my head, I involuntarily let out a few choice words, like d***, but that is as far as it goes. I have only ever used the “f” words a few times in my life, and I hate to hear it. I did not grow up with people swearing much in English, but knew a few choice words in Italian, which my grandparents would speak if they didn’t want us to understand them (we lived with them). So I learned to swear in Italian, but I don’t do that.
 
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