I've never been a natural swearer. I'll get annoyed or frustrated about something but I don't swear, mainly because the usual swearword these days is "fucking" and I would rather be more inventive than saying fuck this or fuck that every five minutes.
Also I'm aware there are still plenty of people who avoid using swearwords as being a lazy way of talking, so I tend not to use swearwords myself in case someone starts bristling.
When I was young "fucking" was never used as a swearword. It was merely a colloquial word for sex that was frowned upon by the grown-ups as being in very bad taste and NOT TO BE USED.
But we had plenty of swearwords and disparaging remarks, far more than we have today, some of them quite original and colourful - like "jump off a cliff" or "get stuffed" or "you're a waste of space".
I keep expecting the word "fucking" to lose its allure and gradually fall out of use, but on the contrary it's as popular as ever. It looks like it's fucking well with us for years to come.
Inherited from father...'in the name of the wee man' is my usual expression.
ReplyDeleteThat was me, Fly. Changed computers and seem to have become anonymous.
DeleteFly: You mean you inherited swearwords from your father?
DeleteYou should be able to change Anonymous to your name when you comment.
The fact that some people swear so much suggests that they are not just doing it when they are annoyed or frustrated. It's a manifestation of laziness, and of contempt for the feelings of people around them. It's one of those things that makes life just a little bit uglier and more tiresome, but feels too petty to really complain about.
ReplyDeleteThere are also people who brag online about how much they swear and how much they don't care if anybody doesn't like it. People like that constantly saying "fucking" this and "fucking" that reminds me of a toddler repeatedly saying "poo poo pee pee" and thinking he's being funny or daring.
Infidel: That's a good comparison with provocative toddlers. It's just very unimaginative use of language. And as you say, it seems too petty to pursue.
DeleteI am with Infidel. Constant swearing, calling people names (ah, the "lovely" C-word or one of the body's orifices) soon loses its impact. By way of example, there is a blogger who foams at the mouth as soon as I open mine. He can barely string a cohesive argument together in reply and therefore resorts to swearing at me. Poor sausage doesn't realize what a fool he is making of himself. You don't want to see the emails he used to send me. Blue doesn't cover the air. A litany, nay a string, of swearwords. Of course, no one can hold another's limitations against them. And, yes, he is a bragger too. What a man, don't you think, who calls a woman in a supermarket "cheap shoes" and is proud of it, indeed finds it funny.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a judiciously applied "blast", "sugar" and a rare "bloody hell" (uttered under one's breath, softly) is indeed a safety valve.
Now, before I am shown the door, I will fuck off,
U
Ursula: Indeed, there are other swearwords like cunt , bastard and bitch that are equally lazy - and offensive. It's a long time since I heard someone say "sugar"!
DeleteBizarrely I realise that I mostly swear in private, and rarely online. And I mutter under my breath at people driving too fast when I’m walking my dog, like a mad woman.
ReplyDeleteI have used the C word to somebody’s face - again a rare occurrence, and they deserved it.
Despite my own habit, I do think swearing is lazy and that it lacks imagination, I will try harder with my cursing in future!
Sx
Ms Scarlet: I don't even swear in private, I'll just say something tame like "Oh, for goodness sake" or "For crying out loud".
DeleteThe F word does seem to be the most prolific these days. It was not a word I heard much while growing up. My husband and I tend to use swear words to be funny and not because we are angry. I sometimes use them for emphasis on my blog, but not too often.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Yes, the word is used to express all sorts of emotions. It's not in any way precise.
DeleteI quit swearing when I entered the company of octo and nonogenerarians. Once in the last twelve plus months I swore, for the purpose of getting the attention of my companions. It was a wonderful moment.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: That's very self-disciplined of you. But occasional swearing can feel very liberating!
DeleteSwearing and cursing should be done sparingly otherwise its meaning and force diminish.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed on a YouTube video I follow of a street magician how young kids in New York use the f-word to denote shock, surprise, happiness, delight etc. not even anger. So it may change still. For me, I don't really like when every min is a swear word.
Liam: The word is so vague it says absolutely nothing except that you feel strongly about something.
DeleteI use swear words mainly because they were so forbidden particularly for women. But usually highly deserved. The only time I could shut up a roomful of shouty men was to drop the F bomb at an ungodly pitch and they llterally cowered. It's always more powerful coming from a woman.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
www: I think women now swear just as much as men. Does that count as gender equality??
DeleteI never swore until way into adulthood. Even now, I rarely swear. When I do, watch out! I am super, super angry.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: That must be a sight to behold, you getting super super angry!
DeleteFortunately, it take a LOT to get me there.
DeleteLinda
Linda: It takes a lot with me too. It's a shock to Jenny when I actually get steaming mad about something.
DeleteNick I swear a lot the last days, Saïd's sister lost her only child a son aged 45 (a cardiac surgeon) and her grandson of 9 on their way to the hospital in Gaza city . Saïd is shocked and has no words about such horror on both sides. I would close a curtain to hear and see all this terrible pain no more. We just feel so helpless this time.So to swear was never in my daily life but right now it is.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah, that's terrible. The horrific tally of dead and injured in this outrageous conflict beggars belief. The loss of a skilled cardiac surgeon is especially awful. I can only hope some common sense prevails quickly and the fighting comes to an end. Biden and Sunak are doing their best to get Netanyahu to see sense.
DeleteNick, let us hope , the only thing we can do.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: Hope is about all that helpless observers like me can do in this ghastly situation.
DeleteIn the early days of the Ukraine war, I realized that if someone angers you, in a public situation where prudence forbids, you can just say, "Hey! Russian warship!" And let them figure it out.
ReplyDeleteTim: Hmmm, I'm still trying to figure that out myself!
Deletehttps://youtu.be/MxCzKhKewnM?si=M8jsUOViAuRVQSE0
DeleteTim: Thanks, now I understand!
DeleteI swear in anger, surprise, awe, or for comedic effect. I'm careful of the audience.
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a home where good Christians didn't swear but I think thats all a lot of tosh. When we use "alternatives" everyone knows what we mean so I would prefer to just use a swear word and own it
Kylie: Very true that we all know what the real swearword is, so why not use it?
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