Swearing is the universal language, understood even when we don’t understand the words.
“I’m so used to hearing profanity that it doesn’t faze me any more. It seems normal.” – 17-year-old lad.
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“When I was younger, I cursed a lot. It was a very easy habit to pick up and a very difficult one to break.” – 19-year-old girl.
Swearing occurs in every culture; the exception are certain closed communities. Even there some may swear under their breath.
Children learn swearing from their environment – family, friends or the street.
Home-schooled children are due for a surprise when they go out into the world.
Swearing used to be in two categories – mild and coarse. Now most swearing is super coarse.
Since the implosion of society that began in the 1960s, very few movies are free from the F*** bomb.
No novel is complete without dozens of creative swear words.
There seems to be no shame in swearing; the words are heard in malls, streets, social media and TV.
They are used more for emphasis than for letting steam out.
Teachers, parents, law officers, store clerks and nurses, face swearing daily.
Swearing can leave a bad impression but some use it to fit into their crowd or to intimidate. Not swearing or drinking in certain settings makes you appear anti-social or stuck-up.
We naturally desire to belong to groups.
But moderate swearing can be good to release feelings, mask pain of stubbing a toe or striking a thumb hammering a nail.
It can release frustration verbally rather than physically after flunking a job interview, a fender bender, regret over a missed opportunity, or an injustice.
We can only suppress frustration and anger for a time; it is preferable to released it constructively by physical work or exercise. It’s OK to shout your frustrations when you are alone.
Swearing can let off stress. Suppressed feelings over a long period harms the heart and body, and vulnerable to diseases that eat your insides.
Hidden resentment shows in a miserable, permanently angry face or behaviour.
Swearing convey feelings instantly; other words don’t achieve the same results. If we cannot swear vocally because of circumstances, we swear quietly to ourselves.
Swearing often and unnecessarily shows lack of self-control and harms relationships, employment and dealing with service providers. Honey smooths arguments more than vinegar.
Does swearing make you appear honest?
Truth comes out in anger, too much wine or swearing.
Workplace chatter with jokes, insults and swearing, can bond people to create a positive and productive work environment.
Politicians use swear words to connect with certain audiences to project an “awe-shucks” persona.
Like everything in the world, swearing is useful if moderate and modified to your listeners.
“People are faced with a choice as to how they will speak. It’s not always easy, but we have to think before we talk. Swearing is a habit that can be stopped.”
There’s no need for profanity when we can be creative with other words.
Reach Gene Monin at email@example.com