Why did some words become considered inappropriate in certain settings, while other words meaning the exact same thing are commonplace?
F___ = bad
Screw = okay
Sh__ = bad
Poop = okay
A__hole = bad
Anus = okay (and funny)
How and when did this happen?
It all started in 1853, when terms such as "grousle" "heckle" and "pettifogging Tammany Hall hucksters" were thrown about... People chuckled behind esteemed people's backs at the slight mention of grousle.
"Tehehe" - they all giggled.
Well now, who the f*** giggles when another says "f___ you"?
NO ONE.
So in 1854, a convention gathered in Oklahoma, and they set out to create new insults. Sex was not oft talked about, so they wanted to come up with a word that could thrown into any part of speech, and still sound good. I mean, you couldn't yell "You went and doggone that all up." Hence the term F___ came about.
It's really an elaborate history of swear words.
Also, sphincter is funnier than anus.