I don't swear and I sincerely hope I avoid doing so in the future.

I think since swearing is so common now, we cannot possibly go around correcting everyone but we *can* correct ourselvesif we are convinced that swear words are not just something to be used in casual talk. This does *not* mean that we should be over sensitive about other people saying this. Conviction also matters. We cannot change others much so we can avoid the words they say without conviction I suppose.

Words are not just senseless baseless letters joined together. They have meaning. When we say something it is commonly accepted that we know the meaning of the words.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/word

We can't council every person. We can only protect ourselves.


(I have difficulty expressing myself, so if is difficult to understand what I am trying to say, then I'm soory )

yea Ivy, ur right, we CAN'T CORRECT EVERYONE, we have to just leave them as we are deaf.

@Eveleny

Words only have meaning when YOU connect the word to the meaning.

@eve: but why should I have to change how I speak if I'm just fine with my language hmm?

Again, what makes swear words any different from other words? They are essentially just words with nasty reputations attached by some humans.

Also, I disagree that about words themselves being special. technically any language is just uniform scribble and chicken scratch. By themselves, they do not mean anything cuz words are just sounds we've come to associate with different things. In other words, words are inherently meaningless. They are like an empty glass. It's what humans attach to them which gives them meaning only to other humans who also give them the same attachment.

For example, God to others is literally the big dude in the sky who controls all. Big importance here. (you should not take the lord's name in vain and all that)

God to me is just another word to say figment of the human imagination used to first explain how and why world works the way it does. A very creative way to explain how the world works [reading myths = yayz] but ultimately still a figment of imagination.

Or a less serious example:

The words sparkly and dazzling have been ruined for me after Twilight.

I can no longer use them seriously anymore since they keep bringing up the twilight movie where I was struggling not to laugh due to fangirls' lynching fear.

To other ppl though, they still simply just mean sparkly and dazzling.

@KTC: I think the only reason I can furnish for avoidind swear words yourself is your morals. Though this too depends on the principles by which you are guiding yourself.

QUOTE: "For example, God to others is literally the big dude in the sky who controls all. Big importance here. (you should not take the lord's name in vain and all that)

God to me is just another word to say figment of the human imagination used to first explain how and why world works the way it does. A very creative way to explain how the world works [reading myths = yayz] but ultimately still a figment of imagination. "


I am glad you specified the explanation to you yourself KTC otherwise I suppose I would start giving you proofs and *that* would be a very heated discussion for something that is (oops) going off topic.

@Eveleny

Then you're just that people who use swear words have no morals. I swear a lot but I still have morals.

I'm sorry if I offended you Mopiece.

I said that it depends on the morals which are guiding *you*.
Like I believe that even saying a swear word without realising or saying it with conviction is not good, and should tried to be avoided.
But some believe said without meaning to, without meaning to insult, then empty it out of your ears.

Heck, my own brother swears on the phone to all his friends and I was at first left wondering how do his friends bear him. It was then that I realised they are the followere of the "second type of moral " .

@Eveleny

You missed my point. You're bringing morals into with swear words. As if saying people who swear don't have morals, or morals like yours. This is simply not true. Just because someone swears doesn't mean they have no morals.

@eve: what do morals have to do with anything? Morals are extremely subjective varying from person to person. They are not and have never been constant nor applicable to everyone.

As for my word usage on god, you do realize that I am not who think this way yes?

@MoPiece and KTC : Morals *are* extremely subjective and *that* is why I said it depends on the principles which guide *you*. That is also why I said that we can't argue with every person and correct them. I cannot say whether some morals are wrong or right or whether a person has them or not.

@MoPiece: I am saying that perhaps a person who swears does not have morals like mine. If he / she did then they would not use swear words. This does *not* mean they don't have morals.

@KTC: Morals have to do with everything. My actions, the words I use, everything depends upon my principles.

Like person X could talk to elders rudely, not caring about consequences . X could break all rules made on this site and not care or atleats feel guilty. This depends on Person X's principles.
Person Y always thinks before speaking, tries to mind his/her language in front of elders. Y could keep apologising for the rest of her/his life and still feel guilty.
(the examples I gave are extreme. First person is too rough and second person should try to move ahead)

So this depends totally on one's principles.

@Mopiece again: I don't like it if someone uses swear words. But even I move past. Like, who cares, I can't keep telling them to stop every time we meet.
But I *can* correct myself and I prefer not to use swear words myself.

@Eveleny

You're still missing the point. Morals depend on the person. Of course not everyone is going to have the same morals as you. Just like not everyone is going to believe in the same thing.

You think swear words are bad and are against your morals. But other people don't think that way. Other people, like me, think swear words are just words and nothing more. And that they have nothing do to with morals or anything else of the person.

@eve: we're discussing swearwords and I fail to see how morals such as being against murder and such has to do with language. Morals are morals. But we're talking about swearwords which are words, not the next heist of the century. Words by their very nature are inherently meaningless.

You're saying that "they're just words" but why do most schools ban swear words?

"They're just words", right? "Why do we need to change our way of saying just because people are being sensitive?"

I think it's not the issue of people being "sensitive" (fine maybe SOME people are), but I think it's about who you're talking to and where you're talking. Once my teacher said he was talking to a construction worker, that worker was very polite to him and when my teacher left, that worker turned to his friend and speak with "colorful" words. He knew that he was a teacher so he was acting that way towards him.

1) Parents
2) The words have been given strength by the dictionary (since they are labelled "vulgar").
3) Maybe they also want to avoid the stronger feelings that naturally come with the usage.

But some parents (or fathers) might be like yours Aisling xD

While others are liable to sue/badmouth/not send their children to that school, which is bad for the school. And besides, just because my father swears like the devil himself doesn't mean he approve of others doing it. Double standard, I know, but there you go.

@ivana: i've been arguing from the start that swear words are nothing but words. I mean think about it, written language is just uniform swiggles while the spoken is just uniform noises. It's like with music, before you attach words to it it sounds like any old chord on the piano. But once you put lyrics to the music, all of a sudden it stops being a simple chord to something more. It's what humans attach to words that give them power over the listener, speaker, etc. (this is like the 10th time I said this. I'm running out of ways how to rephrase this)

I don't know what school you're going to, but mine doesn't.

As for speaking in a differently to other people: that's just people faking/adjusting to the situation based on what's socially acceptable, the persons' comfort with the other party, and the persons' personality. You've probably been taught one way or another to speak respectfully to your elders, and most of that means no slang, no using first names, no physical contact, etc.

Now, compare this to your friends: depending on how comfortable with them, behavior can go anywhere from pounces, calling each other swear words as a form of greeting, friendly wrestling, banter, eating from the same container, mucho physical contact that you're practically joined at the hips, etc.

Now to parents: it really depends on your relationship with your parents. I know some are totally cool with language while others will slap you if you did. Also, you might speak stiffly to one parent you consider 'teh bad one' while are really open with another.

I agree with KTC, if i say some swear words from other language, and they appear funny to you because u don't know the meaning, so they will be just mere sounds to you. so, why not think swear words as mere normal sounds as KTC said?

@Ivana

I'm going to have to agree with KTC. Some schools actually do not care about swear words. I know my school the only time you got in trouble for it was if you were shouting. And you got in trouble more because of the shouting than the actual word.

I also agree with Aisling in that schools will ban swear words because of the strength that has been given to them. The words themselves are meaningless, but it's us humans that give them strength. So like KTC has been saying, swear words are just words. It's just people that are making them taboo and giving them strength.

I swore a lot when i was younger.I tried never to use the word God in front of the word,so i would say gosh dang it.I was taught it is a sin to swear.When i had grandkids i quit swearing.If they hear swearing it wont be from me.