Why are Americans so afraid of profanity?

It doesn't make sense to me to want to be able to use profanity (i.e., offensive and shocking words) and then complain that they're offensive and shocking to people. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!

Isn't the whole POINT of profanity to be rude and offensive? Presumably, people say "fu

ck" instead of "fiddlesticks" for a reason. It would be a sad society where nothing was offensive and all communications were reduced to a single tone or level.

Problem is, you assume "class" is defined by money or success. Is a drug kingpin/mobster/rapper/Paris Hilton classy just because they may have wealth?I had this debate with a guy who came from huge money, I asked him to explain trash to me and he mentioned poor people, who spoke crudely, slept around and were bad, disrespectful types. I pointed out that he fit all those characteristics, except for the fact that he was wealthy. I said take away your wealth and you just admitted you are trash. Kinda stumped him.Too, I just assume someone is too stupid if they can't properly define something for what it is rather than refer to it as that MFer. Last guy I punched said that in front of my wife and no one was going to disrespect her like that.

TCB wrote:

that's not true at all. i know extremely wealthy and upperclass people who curse all the time, in business and in social situations.

Profanity is very useful in certain situations but people who use it all the time are just idiots.

I agree. If people were fine with profanity in all situations, then it wouldn't be profanity any more.

So if you like profanity and find it useful, you should be in favor of restrictions on profanity. That's what keeps it profane.

Steven Pinker has some interesting observations about this subject. Google or Youtube Steven Pinker and Swearing.

TCB wrote:

I don't understand why American's obsess over the use of certain words. I don't think there is anywhere else in the free world where saying certain words will get you shunned or fined or censored, even when you're not using them to offend people. I think it is done mostly with the idea of protecting children, which is absolutely outrageous.

I'd rather live in a civilized place where obscenities aren't aired publicly. If you prefer otherwise, then move somewhere else.

I am a member of the Teamsters union & work at a blue collar job. Believe it or not, we are strictly prohibited from using profanity. Once a manager threatened to write me up for using the F-word. He could have too. In fact he probably could have fired me. It was mainly because he just didn't like me--he tolerates it from other employees.

Don't use the old expression 'swear like a truck driver.' In this PC age it is no longer a valid phrase.

Moe's Tavern wrote:I had this debate with a guy who came from huge money, I asked him to explain trash to me and he mentioned poor people, who spoke crudely, slept around and were bad, disrespectful types. I pointed out that he fit all those characteristics, except for the fact that he was wealthy. I said take away your wealth and you just admitted you are trash. Kinda stumped him.

You're a liar, but I like the story. Makes a good point.

Too,

Seriously? F*** you.

I just assume someone is too stupid if they can't properly define something for what it is rather than refer to it as that MFer. Last guy I punched said that in front of my wife and no one was going to disrespect her like that.

This didn't happen, either. But, let's pretend that it did. I would love to have seen the look on your wife's face when you get arrested for felony assault for punching a guy for saying a naughty word in front of your wife. I bet the cop and the judge would really respect that argument as well, you pretentious, lying twat.

I've read some annoying shit on letsrun, but this is 11/10 for me. F*** you if you're serious, and good job if you're trolling. Asshole.

I think it is important not to allow children to use swear words because in the not as well educated of America, swear words simply take the place of using actual adjectives.

In the educational development of a child, its important for them to learn to write things like "i feel sad" rather than "I feel like ****". If you notice, swear words are simply fillers for people that are unable to think of a word in replacement.

Though colloquialisms such as "stuff," "things" or "dude" are not curse words, teachers discourage writers from using these words as well, because they become fillers for what otherwise could be an informative sentence.

Granted, well-timed swear words can add emotion to a statement, and who wouldn't want to run down the tunnel into a football game high on emotion, cursing up a storm?

I think the majority of the time, if you are about to swear, you should take a chill pill, and think of a real word.

I'm guessing you are new here. I'm one of Moe's former athletes and was there when he dropped that Russian coach in one pop. I respected him more after that. I would eff wit him. I doubt you'd say it to his face. Everyone knows who he is, you're just someone hiding behind a scree name.

sorry. Meant to say "would NOT eff wit him"....

TCB wrote:

I don't understand why American's obsess over the use of certain words. I don't think there is anywhere else in the free world where saying certain words will get you shunned or fined or censored, even when you're not using them to offend people. I think it is done mostly with the idea of protecting children, which is absolutely outrageous.

How are Americans afraid of profanity? I hear it all the time in college classrooms, used by professors, used by parents, just used all the time. Don't get me started on between college peers. Sometimes they use it so much it's just annoying. What part of the country do you live in? And what era?

An Historian wrote:

la la land wrote:

I moved into the left lane for a turn the other day, and a driver coming the other way leaned out his window and screamed, "You're a selfish c***, you are!!"

Given that I'm a man, I thought it an odd choice of words.

Maybe he had poor eyesight.

I once bought a new CD. One of my friends came over and took a look at it; he said, "What are you doing wasting money on that s**t?" This was and odd choice of words, in that it was not actually feces, but a compact disc. Maybe he had poor eyesight?

See, this is disturbing. People shouldn't swear if they can't swear properly. It won't do to call a male drive a c**t - it's a bad use of a good swear. Common sense dictates invectives such as a**hole or s**thead or the handy f**ckface. I mean, let's have some sense of decorum.

I often swear, but I pick my moments (i.e. only around friends, or people I know who are not offended by it). What really annoys me is the editing of swearing on TV: you either have it in a show or you don't. When you can still hear the beginning and end of a word, how is that "removing" the profanity? How is saying "F.U." OK, while saying "F*** YOU" is not? I don't believe that kids should be encouraged to swear, but it is all around us in films, TV shows, music, so if you hide it from them, then they will not learn to use it in any form of context.

It is because most americans are f***ing pussies. coming from compton i was taught those words at a young age and i turned out fine, get your dick out of your dads ass and deal with it

It is because most americans are f***ing pussies. coming from compton i was taught those words at a young age and i turned out fine, get your dick out of your dads ass and deal with it

its not "americans", its the hyper-conservative element, which is a dwindling minority

the reason behind their fear is the bible - the source of many more irrational fears

I am a high school teacher. After class, a student began yelling at me because I had accused him of having talked during a test three times, which meant he would get a written referral. He went on a tirade and threatened to go to the principal to tell on me if were to write him up because I was lying. At some point, I apparently mouthed "F U." I didn't SAY it and I didn't even direct it to him but to myself as I was scripting his tirade for my record. i sitting at my desk and he was pacing around the room as he screamed. He did go to the principal ; I did too, but he got there first. I am facing a possible reprimand.

My first defense was that I didn't SAY anything and what I mouthed was two letters.