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I'm going to stop cursing/swearing/cussing

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macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Dec 27, 2002
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I'm going to stop cursing/swearing/cussing, but it's going to take a lot of ****ing willpower.

I find myself using curse-words somewhat often, maybe once a conversation or so. I'll obviously try not to swear if I'm in front of my professors or something, but even when I bought my WD Passport harddisk yesterday, I swore once to the salesperson while I was picking out the colour. I said something like, "I want to buy a WD Passport, but.....I'm wasn't sure at first......I thought Western Digital was supposed to be s***."

Anyway, I'm off the cursing. Who else is with me! Anyone? Hello???
 
I wish you luck-- I tried this once and found the only time I truly stop is when in the presence of children-- especially ones who are just learning to talk-- all you need is to let one slip in front of a two year old and then have them saying s*** over and over because they heard you say it!!!
 
The only times I censor myself is in front of impressionable children, as I don't want to screw up any way their parents happen to be wanting to raise them, or in front of people of authority/et cetera, like principals, employees at business, et cetera. I see absolutely no reason to lay off swearing other than people don't like it. They're words, like any other, and they too, like many others, will eventually become non-profanities, only to be replaced by new ones. It's completely a superstition issue, and if what I want to say calls for profanity, then I won't change my intended message only to be more polite. I completely commend you for your choice, though. I have nothing but respect for people who dedicate themselves to these kinds of weird things.
 
You'll finish your sentences quicker so it'll give you more time for other pursuits.
 
That's awesome!

I choose not to because I think it just makes you sound unintelligent. There's just no need for it. On a different note I think a woman dropping an f-bomb is one of the most unattractive things you can do, it's just disgusting.

So congrats on your choice to better your vocabulary! It's definitely going to take a concious effort on your part, but you can do it! :D
 
evilgEEk said:
That's awesome!

I choose not to because I think it just makes you sound unintelligent. There's just no need for it. On a different note I think a woman dropping an f-bomb is one of the most unattractive things you can do, it's just disgusting.

So congrats on your choice to better your vocabulary! It's definitely going to take a concious effort on your part, but you can do it! :D
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That's funny, cause I think when a generally well put together woman drops an 'f-bomb', it's a major turn on. I love a girl that can let it loose here and there.
 
AMEN! boy is it good to hear a brother say that! not cursing is great cuz soon u wont haffa worry about it ever slipping out when u least need it. and i agree, when women curse it is awful to see such fowl language leave such lips.... turn off!
 
Text talk

noun (tehxt torck) or (txt tlk): Uses: Mobile phones and MSN Messenger. The most annoying form of speech ever, more annoying than French. Widely ununderstandable, it abreviates as much as possible leaving a code which only the author can decrypt. Though it does help the author write it quickly, the recipient must undergo strenuous investigation to be able to reply in an equally confusing manner untill the competition of confusosity gets to such a point, that their grammatically incorrect minds explode a little more.

Source: Urban Dictionary

And talking birds to boot.
 
I don't want to start an argument, but I completely disagree about the intelligence/vocabulary issue, and when people (not saying you're doing it, but) assert that your vocabulary is poor or your intelligence is low because you swear, I think that's the stupidest thing ever. It's ignorant is what it is; more ignorant than swearing in the first place, and is most of the time, wrong. The idea that swearing = less intelligence is sometimes true, but correlation does not equal causation and we should avoid that assumption as much as possible.

Actually, the other day (because I'm an ass) a person told some people in the room that they need a basic english class because they have potty mouths. I proceeded to respectively tell her she's implying something that simply is not true, and that I would be willing to bet that I had a greater vocabulary than she did, and that I swear sometimes as well.

Long story short, she argued with that, and I won. =/

So please don't automatically assume that swearing makes you less intelligent (and try not to think someone is less intelligent solely based on that)
 
ZiggyPastorius said:
I don't want to start an argument, but I completely disagree about the intelligence/vocabulary issue, and when people (not saying you're doing it, but) assert that your vocabulary is poor or your intelligence is low because you swear, I think that's the stupidest thing ever. It's ignorant is what it is; more ignorant than swearing in the first place, and is most of the time, wrong. The idea that swearing = less intelligence is sometimes true, but correlation does not equal causation and we should avoid that assumption as much as possible.

Actually, the other day (because I'm an ass) a person told some people in the room that they need a basic english class because they have potty mouths. I proceeded to respectively tell her she's implying something that simply is not true, and that I would be willing to bet that I had a greater vocabulary than she did, and that I swear sometimes as well.

Long story short, she argued with that, and I won. =/

So please don't automatically assume that swearing makes you less intelligent (and try not to think someone is less intelligent solely based on that)
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Educated people may swear but it's the more highly educated who know that excessive swearing makes you sound like a piece of trash.
 
ZiggyPastorius said:
I don't want to start an argument, but I completely disagree about the intelligence/vocabulary issue, and when people (not saying you're doing it, but) assert that your vocabulary is poor or your intelligence is low because you swear, I think that's the stupidest thing ever. It's ignorant is what it is; more ignorant than swearing in the first place, and is most of the time, wrong. The idea that swearing = less intelligence is sometimes true, but correlation does not equal causation and we should avoid that assumption as much as possible.

So please don't automatically assume that swearing makes you less intelligent (and try not to think someone is less intelligent solely based on that)
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It's not ignorant; it does sound bad considering their denotations, and there are much better and more eloquent ways of expressing thoughts.
 
Yeah, that's what I think as well. I swear (or did in the past :p), but if you need to use cursewords to describe many of your emotions (ie: anger, sadness, surprise!, etc), and only because you can't find a better, more eloquent way to express yourself, then it does sound bad. If you had a better way to express yourself, you wouldn't have to use the word "f***" as a substitute for more specific words that describe your feelings and the situation a bit better.
 
I guess I just don't understand that sort of thinking. A profanity is a temporary thing, and whether you like the word or not, it is still a word that does have a place in the English language, whether it's used by its literal definition or just a substitute for better words. Either way, I have no problem with it, and if the speaker's desired form of expression was to say, "**** you, you're an *******," instead of, "you're an ignorant, myopic ignoramous," I don't really care. My only point was that we should get away from this idea that there are "levels" of words, and that swearing makes one less intelligent.
 
ZiggyPastorius said:
if the speaker's desired form of expression was to say, "**** you, you're an *******," instead of, "you're an ignorant, myopic ignoramous," I don't really care. My only point was that we should get away from this idea that there are "levels" of words, and that swearing makes one less intelligent.
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And yet you disprove your own point in the very same paragraph. ;) I think "you're an ignorant, myopic ignoramous" sounds much funnier and exhibits more thought than "*** you, you're an *******". It certainly catches my attention much more (despite being redundant and repetitive ;) )

I swore off (!) swearing about 11 years ago (well, I guess that depends on your definition of swear words, but definitely no s--- or f----). At first I kept catching myself, but it becomes a habit and eventually I don't even think about it. I don't know what would blurt out of my mouth if I stubbed my toe, but I know what it definitely WON'T be.

I did it for a couple of reasons. I do work with kids and youth in a leadership capacity, and so I try to present a good example (a higher standard, I guess), and it also makes a good object lesson when I deal with kids who swear excessively and need to learn to tone it down. (I don't particularly appreciate hearing it, but I don't mind the odd word slipping out here and there. But there reaches a point where I say, "Ok, that's enough".) Anyone who tells me "it's impossible, I can't help it" hears my story.

Besides, anyone can use the "usual" swear words... it's a fun opportunity to find more colorful, humorous phrases to replace them with (e.g. "frack" for you BSG fans). I like your example, actually :D

I notice it's much harder to keep it down after watching profanity-filled movies or hanging out with people that swear a lot. Repeatable phrases start rattling around in my head, and are that much closer to popping out of my mouth. I guess it really is "garbage in, garbage out."
 
notjustjay said:
And yet you disprove your own point in the very same paragraph. ;) I think "you're an ignorant, myopic ignoramous" sounds much funnier and exhibits more thought than "*** you, you're an *******". It certainly catches my attention much more (despite being redundant and repetitive ;) ).
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And don't forget....
ZiggyPastorius said:
it is still a word that does have a place in the English language, whether it's used by its literal definition or just a substitute for better words.
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At least he acknowledges that there are better words, despite not believing in "levels of words".

I agree with you that swearing does have its place in the English language, but the simple fact that you (hopefully) wouldn't curse liberally in front of your mum, grandma, professors, boss, the Prime Minister or President, etc, likely means you really do believe that curse words are at the bottom rung. You also said you wouldn't use them in front of children in case they start using them in front of an authority figure.

Sure, swear words are a part of the English language, and you're more than free to use them often, or rarely if you wish, but it does sound like you have a limited capacity to express yourself, and I wouldn't be particularly impressed with you if you had to use curse words to describe 11 different emotions in 4 different situations. You just sound limited. It also doesn't mean you're not intelligent. It only makes you sound unintelligent.

That doesn't mean I'm going to say things like "you're an ignorant, myopic ignoramous". I just hope to stay away from cursing while still responding in a way that doesn't make me sound like a twit. ;)
 
The hardest part will be the enviroment that you are in. If cussing is pretty normal around there (aka work, or friends) it becomes a lot harder for you to avoid it.

I general try not to but in the past 2 months since I started my current job out of school I have watch my language go down the hill cussing wise. It is the norm in the industry I am in. I still have a cleaner mouth that a lot of people around me but still I find it slipping out more and more in my every day speak.
 
Alright. Jeeze. Ill use correct grammar. I was trying just to type fast not like a retard but i guess... whatever. It doesnt matter what "level" or "rung" cursing is on. Im starting to think that it's whatever is right for the specific person. some people dont like it some people have no problem with it. My friends do it so much i dont even notice it. and they dont notice my not-swearing. and when i told them that i didnt they said "yeah you do!" but they could never cite a time where i had... my point is, is that this topic is all in opinion.
 
GirthP said:
That's funny, cause I think when a generally well put together woman drops an 'f-bomb', it's a major turn on. I love a girl that can let it loose here and there.
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I like you. :D

Life sometimes needs expletives. When bad things happen, somehow saying 'drat' just doesn't cut it...
 
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