How much swearing is acceptable?

[Mod says]: We generally would ask you to refrain from putting swear words into the question title (because many people Fluther at work or school), blatantly unnecessary cursing, or swearing at other users.
There are many young’uns who frequent the site, and we’d rather not over-expose them to superfluous profanities if we can help it.

“what does it do to your perception of the individual if they use profanities to get their point across (not to insult anyone but to inflect deeper emotion)?”

I hate it…but it doesn’t have to be simple profanity. For example, the recent news of Prince Harry using the words “ragheads” to describe Arabs is offensive but isn’t profanity.

I curse all the god damn time. I tend to keep it out of my questions entirely though, it’s almost only in quips and comments.

Well, I think all swearing is fucking disgraceful.

I cannot stand when people swear when they feel like it. They think that they are soo cool. I swear, but only if I am very angry, not when I feel like it.

maybe you could tell us what you were going to say and the respective post and we could judge better?

@lynneblundell No thats fine I know it was appropriate.

IRL I swear quite a bit but only around people I know. Not excessively (I don’t think although thinking about it I doubt anyone would really think themselves excessive swearers).

But I feel a little exposed or embarrased swearing on here. Strange considering the anonymity although I’m sure I’m not the only one. Perhaps once my feet are firmly under the table and my shoes off i’ll start swearing like a trooper eh!

@bristolbaby
I find the term “raghead” to be far more offensive than any swear word.

@90s_kid
Wouldn’t “very angry” be a “feel like it” moment?

””’ll start swearing like a trooper eh!”

had to laugh at that…

I learned how to swear in the service… It’s a hard habit to break but I did! Everything is ‘f’ this or ‘f’ that and on my first Thanksgiving home I said ‘pass the f’n salt,please” only to roundly boxed on the ears by mom.

I rarely use profanity unless I’ve been hurt in some way. I stepped out the front door once in my barefeet and stepped onto a short tined rake. It pierced my foot and the string of obscenities could be heard for a quarter mile, I’m sure.

When a person swears to get their point across, I automatically feel like that their vocabulary is severely limited, and that they cannot use typical language to convey their frustrations.

In essence, I feel swearing is very raw, and lacks finesse and art.

@Squirbel; You beat me to it. One of the interesting challenges here is to be terse, clear, interesting, original and amusing. There are many role models to follow. (See squirbel’s last sentence for an example of finesse and art.)

Is this more fun to read? “In fucking essence, I feel that fucking swearing is very fucking raw and fucking lacks etc. etc.”)

@gailcalled: I have to say I lol4rled at the last part. So…yes it is.

I usually refrain from it because there are plenty of words in the english dictionary to express what you are trying to say. The whole cussing to express your self is kind of a cop out. Plus any ape can cuss and yell but it takes class to do it with out it.

@Asmomet: Would my technique lose its charm if I did it regularly?

touche.

@aidje Maybe I said that wrong. I mean just spitting out swears in any mood..

While I respect Gail’s and Squirbel’s opinions, I have to disagree with them. I have a fairly extensive vocabulary, and cuss like a sailor in real life. In some instances, a swear word is the perfect word to express what one is feeling. Of course, there are many more occasions in which it would be entirely inappropriate. The thing to remember is: Know your audience. Dammit!

To answer the actual question, cussing is allowed here, though not when used to insult another user.

Sometimes swears make the joke, yes. But I am saying “Hi how the **** are you m****f***** FDJ****FDKF*S****” like that.

A swear word is but a word. It only holds the meaning ascribed to it by the listener. That said, over use of any word or set of words is annoying and shows lack of thinking.

I know (a lot of) folks who swear conversationally; and I prefer that to those who swear in anger- as long as they can moderate themselves in public. Angry swearing scares the kids.

none