There’re better words to use in any situation.
To make the point more clear. As much as people tend to use it in the way they do for words such as ‘like’.
I mean people will just say f you, instead of thinking of a witty insult or express an emotion with more expression.
For example, say you want to express that a person is fat, which one is a more cutting way to tell someone they’re fat:
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“You’re a fat-f**k.”
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“Don’t bother trying to stand up. I know you haven’t done that in years.”
One more thing, As much as there is a time and place you don’t curse, it’s not a matter of “appropriateness” to me; what matters more is the impact of what’s said. I hope my example showcases that.
One last thing, - cause I just starting to realise this matter more to people than I thought it would (nothing wrong with that of course) - cursing doesn’t necessarily subtract from a remark as if it’s a negative number in a math problem, it’s just redundant for speaking (more often than not).
Southsamurai©sh.itjust.works gives a good example of cursing is bland as apposed to just using your brain.
Someone saying “I’m tired of this fucking rain” is more boring than someone saying “I really wish thor would give us a warning before bukkakeing the world”.
I just realise this will work as a post in a unpopular opinion space if that exist, lol.
If I hit my little toe against the bed’s leg, the right word is “fuck”.
Swears are a sledge hammer. Many tasks don’t require a sledgehammer. But sometimes you need a sledgehammer.
@Mr_No_Swearing@lemmy.zip This post was reported for fatphobia. I understand that you are using it as an example but we do want to avoid attacks on specific people or groups of people. Like you showed in your later posts, people swear at all sorts of things, like the weather, stubbing their toe, and missing the bus.
Do you mind changing the example in your original post? You can say that the example was changed at my request. Especially if you think changing the example will make the comments confusing.
Otherwise, I like your post. It’s an interesting thing to think through and while it seems to be a little unpopular, my thoughts in the shower are often not fully thought through and would stand up poorly to the scrutiny of internet strangers.
Thanks for the support.
One thing about the offensive language.
Swear words are offensive by nature. I not sure how to write an example of a bad basic swear-word example without it being tagged as offensive.
This further adds to my point that swears are lazy and can mean anything to anyone.
If I can make a suggestion; can we mark it as nsfw or mark the post as having offensive language?
Otherwise, give a swear-word I can use that’s safe to use, and I’ll try to make it work.
Thank you for reading. Hope you’ve a great day.
Not true. Nothing quite gets the point across quite like “shits fucked.”
Shidders fucked
When I was but a youth, my mother used to regale me with this bit of wisdom: “Profanity is the result of a weak mind attempting to express itself forcefully.”
Sometimes I’ll reflect on this and think, “God damn, that bitch was a dumb fuckin’ cunt if I ever met one!”
Fuck that lol. Curse all you want, but curse to people. Not at them
What are you? 13? Just let people use whatever words they want. You might think that there is a “better alternative for any situstion” but sometimes nothing like a good “fuck you” drives the point home. It expresses hate in such a simple way without trying to be performative or witty. Also you can say fuck, we aren’t in the middle school courtyard for god’s sake
If cursing makes you feel more adult then be my guest.
To me it’s more immature to curse than to point out that cursing won’t hold the weight of a good insult.
Scientific studies have shown that curse words relieve physical pain better than any alternatives.
So there are some situations where anything else is a worse option.
I guess don’t how to break it to you that saying “f you” is not creative without being on a high horse then.
Also, speaking of cope. To say that a person using curse words instead of a witty remark is somehow smart cause smart people use curse words doesn’t sound right but I don’t how else to interpret of the ETA you made.
I guess don’t know how to break it to you that saying “f you” is not creative without being on a high horse then.
I give you a decent counterargument with some bonus alliteration and all you can muster is a strawman?
Also, speaking of cope. To say that a person using curse words instead of a witty remark is somehow smart cause smart people use curse words doesn’t sound right but I don’t how else to interpret the ETA you made.
You’ve reversed cause and effect here. I didn’t say that all people who curse are smart. I said smart people curse.
You’ve argued from a cliché and from a strawman misrepresentation of my original point. I hope someday you look back and cringe at your small-minded pretentiousness in this thread.
For the 1st point, all I read is that smart people curse, & I’m on a high-horse for pointing out cursing isn’t that creative.
You don’t seem to refute that cursing isn’t super creative, so I fail to see the counter argument here.
And if you going to say that I’m condescending for what was stated, then guilty as charge, I guess.
For the sencond point, read again what you wrote me. I see “smart people are more likely to use curse words.”
That doesn’t state when nor to what degree do they curse.
Also my point is that there’s better words to use then swear words, I fail to see how it’s suppose to matter that smart people use swear words.
Again I ask, does it make the swear word more intellient because someone smart says it as oppose to a witty remark?
The best speakers tend to not use them if we’re going to bring who says what in this.
3rd point, clichés exist for a reason. I hope that after you let out the steam (probably by cursing), you can see how - even in your rage - you thought of insults instead of cursing. Would hate to think it would show you as lacking brain power than the smart people cursing away somewhere.
Much of the time communication isn’t about being creative or coming off smart. It’s about effectively conveying meaning with the tools you have. Sometimes that means simple, crude language is more effective at conveying something than all the wit in the world.
So when I’m in a situation that calls for its use, I don’t care that “fuck off” is a dime-a-dozen phrase that doesn’t make sense. It’s never misunderstood, it’s cathartic to say, and I don’t need to think on the spot to figure out something more eloquent - my mind is on, y’know, who or what needs to fuck off instead.
Ok, I understand what you’re saying, saying “f you” is faster & easier.
2 points I want to make:
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I getting this sense that instead of speaking to someone, it’s to let off steam. As you put it, “it’s cathartic to say.” I find that telling of a weak character to need to blow off steam because of a conversation they’re having.
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Since curing usally indicates aggression, I can’t help but think if you are short on time then making people feel aggression is not the smart thing to-do.
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why is letting off steam indicative of a weak character? I think that when under stress, it’s actually indicative of someone being emotionally intelligent to recognize they need to let some stress out and find an avenue for it. I can’t explain exactly why, but swearing has always been a pretty effective way for me to let out some stress mid conversation while staying focused on a problem.
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some contexts call for aggression. i.e. If someone’s making me or someone I care about uncomfortable in public, it can be pretty useful to bare my teeth back. A simple “fuck off” doesn’t require me to engage with any of their bullshit at all, gets the point across, and carries it with a mild aggression that actually does make people fuck off much of the time.
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it is imprecise, but in many contexts it’s precise enough to convey displeasure and dismay enough to get the point across. In fact the power of “fuck you” is in how concise yet universally applicable and understandable in so many situations.
For the first point, I fail to see how cursing dosen’t show your anger, if it’s going to be used to blow off steam. People have curse absent-mindedly when angry, I’d know, I’ve done it before. What good is this emotional intelligence if it’s going to give you the same results as if a person without it when in conversation?
The thinking of cursing being the method to use (with the understanding that we’re thinking of affective methods - not just punch someone in the face) doesn’t sit right. I understand getting angry (we all been there), however, you’ll be surprise in the power of taking a couple seconds to think it through.
When you think you have to say the thing that pops into your head right away, it ends up being ineffctive for commucation & won’t let others see the emotional intelligence that you’ve.
I know this seems to be meme, but meditation & being mindful of your surroundings has help me “let out steam.” I also work on improving myself, when you try to remove curse words, you can find where you feel you need to say it and thus work on methods to help with that. When I think of emotional intelligence, I think of understanding the emotions you’ve & not letting them control your actions (think stoiticism).
For the second point, this only works when you can leave the situation and not have to worry about the consequences; it’s not going to work with cops, it’s also not going to work well for family (I’d know, having my christain grandma say f-you to me isn’t fun); I, in fact, find it hard to think of consequence-free moments for it.
For the third point, I see that depending on context, it’ll work, then it should work for wit, no? I fail to find the difference between wit and swearing for communication outside of it being easier to curse. If the point is cursing is faster & easier, then you’ve a point, but I’m thinking you meant something else or something more. Even for expressing anger, I find the clam looking anger to be more emotionally intelligent than throwing out a curse word that even a child can do when having a meltdown.
Ultimately, we’re discussing two different styles of communication that I don’t see as any better or worse than each other - everyone finds what works for them in their circumstances and environment and your style probably works great for yours!
There’s a fair bit of hostility and harassment I encounter in public for various reasons, and I also have some inherent difficulty processing speech and verbalizing. As a result, I take a pretty blunt approach to communication - one in which I do not mind showing that I’m angry, because that is a necessary thing to be sometimes.
I practice mindfulness a lot and do not generally feel required to say the first thing that comes to mind. But if a drunk asshole is following me home, I’m not looking to outwit em. I’m looking to stay focused on my safety while letting em know that I see em and I’m probably more trouble than they’re looking for.
In serious conversation with people I care about, I do swear, but it’s because phrases like “I’m so fucking sorry that happened to you” come naturally to me and are effective. The emphasis that a little bit of swearing can add in moments like that is pretty useful.
This all doesn’t have to be your thing, like I said this is all down to personal preference - but it would be a mistake to assume that people who swear aren’t communicating as meaningfully. It’s just another tool that we have at our disposal.
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Then, to curse is to show that you’re a wimp.
Anti-cursing for the win, baby.
That’s a non-sequitur
And this is called not understanding a joke.
Guess it needed the /s then?
Yes, it did need the /s.
Good on you for reflecting on your ineffective communication and correcting course.
Would it help make it more sarcastic if I added some f**ks in the sentences, sensei.
/s
Ugh. There’s a book about how to be a better boss, and one of the things it says is that adding a mild curse to otherwise normal speech will convince people you are being sincere. My boss read it.
“Well, this damn job isn’t going to build itself!”
“Aw shit! Lunch is over! Back to work!”
It was so awful.
You’ve my sencerest condolences.
That sounds as if a punch-line that an alien trying to learn how to be human would have in a comedy.
He was the worst! Zuckerberg levels of pseudo-humanity. Of course, he got promoted up and away.
Fuck u no
I agree to an extent. If overused, cursing can be “edgy” and offputting. However, sometimes you just need to emphasize the emotion of a given statement that mere “polite” words cannot express.
Quite frankly, I do not trust people that do not curse. I feel that they are not emotionally genuine. Conversely, I feel that people that curse too much are emotionally immature and do not know how to express themselves properly. Cursing is an art. It’s a linguistic balancing act where one must take the audience and message into consideration.
I disagree with “polite” words having no emotion. Tell me you don’t get anything from this sentence “Go to hell, you subhuman pest.”
It’s entirely possible to get your feelings across without ever using curse words. I commend people for having the emotional maturity and the vocabulary to do so. However, I feel it is emotionally disingenuous to censor yourself with “polite” versions of curse words, for example saying “shoot” instead of “shit” or “fudge” instead of “fuck”.
I can understand if your surroundings aren’t conducive to curses, like being around children or in polite company such as a work or religious environment, but if you’re in a position where it is socially acceptable to curse but instead choose to censor yourself, I find you to be emotionally disingenuous or at least emotionally immature. If you choose to never ever curse, that’s cool too. Again, I think it’s commendable to never have to resort to curses. But if you have to use a curse word to get your point across, just use it if the environment is appropriate. Doubly so if it’s in a written medium.
I know what you’re trying to say when you type “f**k”. You’ve done nothing but demonstrate to me that you would like to seem “proper” while still resorting to using offensive language. Emotionally disingenuous, or at best emotionally immature. If you feel like you must censor yourself, then just don’t curse at all.
I get what you mean, however that last paragraph seems to be mistaking something.
I was showing how saying “fat-f**k” is shallow than the more biting “don’t get up, I know you haven’t done it in years.” It’s meant as a comparison.
I’m just a tiny-bit tired so maybe I need to rephrase it again, but I hope I made my point.
And at the time of writing my previous two posts, I was a little drunk so I hope I made my point lol.
But yes, I understand where you are coming from. There is always an alternative, more “polite” way of getting a message across, even if that message itself is not polite. Using curses is a crutch for people that do not have the wit and vocabulary to say what they want to say. Did I get that right?
I feel like we agree to some extent. However, where we differ is in our attitudes towards the use of curses. You seem to look down on people who curse at all whereas I look down on people who curse profusely. By profusely, I mean in situations where cursing is not warranted (inappropriate setting) or just general overuse.
I think people can do and say whatever they want so long as they don’t hurt anybody, cursing included. I don’t see how the use of curses actually hurts anyone except maybe the recipient of a pointed “fuck you”. Anyone else around to hear the curse word only gets offended because society told them to.
I draw the line at racial slurs. That’s just not cool.
It’s all good, I still feel a little bit sleep deprived right now.
It’s less so looking down on people and more so viewing cursing as you said a crutch.
I guess that’s on me for spilling the smug jar on my post (gotta put it somewhere better).
I also don’t really mind curses, it’s just not as great as a good insult.
I’d know, I had a few months where swear-words were all I’ve said & I look back and find it kinda cringy.
Hope this clears things up.
I agree that cursing is often used as a replacement for “um”. But you ever really appreciate someone who knows how and when to curse, with intention and as an infliction? It’s a joy to behold.
Maybe? I find more joy in a clever remark then a person saying the same 7 or so words in a - what seems to be random - order.
You’re talking about a different issue. It just happens to feature a lot of cursing. But cursing itself does not make a remark less clever.
Maybe I miswrote it. I mean that instead of choosing from a wheel the 1 out of 7 words to use, isn’t as clever as thinking of an insult that stings. I agree that cursing doesn’t take away, it just isn’t needed.
Are you saying there’s never a time where a curse word is appropriate, mr_no_swearing?
I think there’re better words to use. “Appropriate” makes it sound as if I’m a nanny or something; I don’t care about appropriate, I care about if the phrase made an impact. There’s not much impact in swearing other than (maybe) showing anger.
Curse words themselves don’t reduce the impact of a sentence on their own. Context is important.
I’ll try ask this in a different way: can you think of a time when a curse word seemed to fit the context of the point being made, or enhanced the impact, or felt powerful or eloquent? Can you remember and share the context of it?
I understand that using swear words don’t take away from the remark, in the same way that someone’s point isn’t discounted because they used the word “like” more than needed.
As for the second point, I cannot think of one other then maybe a movie quote since the words choosen got popular due to the context of the movie (or any media).
That to me is more of a movie good than the phrase is great, but I can be wrong about that (I’m just not sure how).
For crying in the sink.
