Why is cussing bad?

[Inazuma]

We all know that cussing is considered bad by society. On TV and radio, these "bad words" are often censored. If you cuss in certain situations in real life, you will cause people to get upset or complain to you about it.

How many of you have stopped and asked yourself this question:
"Why is cussing bad?"

I'm talking about an actual solid reason why it's bad. Yeah, it's against the rules, illegal, many people say it's wrong, etc, but I want an actual explanation why these words are truly bad. I thought about it myself many times but have yet to come up with anything.

Many things that are generally believed to be wrong or illegal are not that hard to explain. Violence is bad because it causes physical harm. Stealing is bad because it takes away someone's belongings. While it's true that cussing could bother someone when they hear it, does that alone make it a bad thing? Why would someone choose to get upset merely over hearing certain words? They don't actually do anything, unlike violence and theft.

I've asked lots of random people why "shit" is a bad word. As expected, they said things like "because so and so said so" and "because it's against the rules", but no one has ever given me an actual reason why "shit" is bad.

I'd like to ask all of you guys to think about it too. And if anyone can find a real reason why it's bad, please share it with us.

[fast]

I do not believe you are going to find an answer that is going to your liking.

Curse words are typically defined by social constructs. If society, for whatever reason, believes the word is improper, then it is deemed as such. HOWEVER these constructs change overtime. In the 50s breast was considered a curse word, therefore we call poultry meat light or dark (instead of breast or wing). This all goes back to the latin root of the word profane, which means "outside of the temple." Profane words were words you would not say in the temple for fear of injury or excommunication. From that profane words became words that were implied as vulgar or rude. And over time it has boiled down to the dozen or so cusswords we have today.

This is ofcourse an over simplification of the entire situation.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

I think it has more with it being associated low class and a limited use of vocabulary which may make the person look uneducated or just flat out rude.

English has an expansive list of words to express feelings and passionate thought. Cursing does have its place when you are in excruciating pain or something absolutely unexpected happens ot you. Yet, I feel there are better ways to express how you feel besides dropping the fbomb or shitting all over every thing with f-this and shiz that.

Just my opinion. I try to curb my cursing as best I can since I work with kids and it helps me keep positive. If another person prefers to curse like a sailor then that's what they're gonna do.

[jfrost]

I don't try too much to avoid cursing, but I'd at least say it's useful to have words that are socially disapproved. Likewise, there are words that convey stronger or weaker feelings, some even depend on intonation to become "cursing". If all words had the same psychological value, discourse would be boring and, I dare say, it wouldn't actually help communicating at all.

[pepharytheworm]

There is no good reason, its just what society deemed. Most cuss words weren't always cuss words they just became that way. Its the same with any word they are just there for us to understand each other. We use those words to express more then we really can by other words. If people over use them they lose their meaning. For instance I rarely cuss in public but when I do it lets the listener know I am attaching more to those words then just their direct meaning. It could be over excitement or anger. Any word can become a cuss word. If we all start calling trees shyunutckers well guess what they are know shyunutckers. If cusswords were accepted then they wouldn't be cusswords anymore but just words.

Your question is an unanswerable question. Its like asking why is being nude seen as bad, why is public defecation seen as wrong. Don't try to bait people.

[J T]

Because if cussing wasn't bad, it wouldn't feel so fucking good.

[classicgamer5]

I don't care if people cuss, I personally don't, but it's their choice if they do or not.

[puke_face]

Because if cussing wasn't bad, it wouldn't feel so fucking good.

Fuckin' A man, Fuckin' A.

But seriously, I've always thought that if the only way you know how to get your point across is to cuss, you've got a lot of growing up to do. I say that mostly because cussing has roots in vulgar behavior, and vulgar behavior is usually found in younger crowds.

But what the fuck do I know?

[Xonticus]

There is no good reason, its just what society deemed. Most cuss words weren't always cuss words they just became that way. Its the same with any word they are just there for us to understand each other. We use those words to express more then we really can by other words. If people over use them they lose their meaning. For instance I rarely cuss in public but when I do it lets the listener know I am attaching more to those words then just their direct meaning. It could be over excitement or anger. Any word can become a cuss word. If we all start calling trees shyunutckers well guess what they are know shyunutckers. If cusswords were accepted then they wouldn't be cusswords anymore but just words.

Your question is an unanswerable question. Its like asking why is being nude seen as bad, why is public defecation seen as wrong. Don't try to bait people.

Agreed and seconded.

[Hatta]

Somehow I knew who started this topic without even clicking on it. But at least this one is going to be relatively noncontroversial. Pretty much any adult can tell you that there's no such thing as a "bad word", only words that are inappropriate at certain times.

Don't try to bait people.

But Inazuma is the master baiter.