Why is cussing bad?

[Luke]

After what sounds to be a truly romantic moment with this dog, somebody simply shit in that purse

He always ruins it by shitting in a handbag. All that romance, just swept under the rug by pooping in a clutch.

[Snickerd00dle]

in the end, who gives a shit, cuss if you want to, or don't...

[Inazuma]

I am aware there is no answer to my original question.

I disagree, as I think the answer is that cussing/cursing is not bad. Like I previously stated, out of respect for those who are offended, and around women and children in general, I don't curse. In fact, I'll "correct" my friends if they do curse in front of women and children, much in the same way I "correct" people who use the word nigger around me.

It's not a white and black/right and wrong thing, it's more about the context and situation in which you use curse words. You don't have to agree with everyone's beliefs, but it is admirable to respect them. That, and in my experience, the people who curse the most have the smallest vocabulary. Of course, there are always exceptions, but usually the reason some people curse so much is because they aren't intelligent enough to phrase their anger eloquently.

That said. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck.

I agree with what you are trying to say but I think you forgot to consider that you could upset people the same way without using curse words. You said curse words themselves are not bad but it could be bad to use them depending on the situation. That's true, but the problem is not curse words, it's the meaning.

Basically what you are saying is that it's wrong to say mean things to people. You could call someone a "piece of shit" or you could call them "scum of the earth". Both would be wrong to say to certain people because you would end up getting your ass beat. It's true that curse words usually have stronger meaning attached to them but it's the meaning that's the problem, not the fact that it happens to be a curse word.

There is nothing wrong with yelling out "fuck!" if you stub your toe. But there is something wrong about telling someone "You are the worst person on the face of the planet and I hate your guts."

Curse words are often used in times of insulting others and it may seem like the words are always bad, but it's not the words themselves that are bad. It's the meaning. I don't think that many people have thought about it this way.

tl;dr
Words are not inherently bad but the message you convey can be bad, regardless if you use curse words or not.

OK - "Wow. You are fucking gorgeous!"
Bad - "I hope your daughter gets raped."

[Limewater]

Both would be wrong to say to certain people because you would end up getting your ass beat.

So the morality of this situation is determined by its consequences for you?

[Luke]

I agree with what you are trying to say but I think you forgot to consider that you could upset people the same way without using curse words.

Basically what you are saying is that it's wrong to say mean things to people.

I didn't "try" to say anything, I flat out said it Izz. And I've never heard of a case where someone has ever said, "Fuck that guy. He didn't curse! What an A-hole! Doesn't curse left and fucking right. I'm offended". No one gets offended by someone not cursing, or at least 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of people don't.

And no, that isn't what I said. I never said "mean words". What I said is that I think it is admirable and chivalrous to respect others beliefs. I don't make it a challenge to try to piss people off. I respect people, and a good chunk of them find profanity offensive. I treat people the way I would like to be treated, and if someone finds certain words offensive, I don't use them around them.

Oh, and I'm not worried about getting my ass beat either. If I don't have my sidearm on me I always have "thunder and lightning", or "Hospital and morgue" if you will.

[Inazuma]

So much for trying to be nice to you, Luke. I'm surprised you got upset at that.

Of course people can get offended when there are no curse words used. I'll give you an example:

"Hey Black man. You are a filthy animal and deserved to be enslaved for the rest of your life."

No curse words used, yet it's highly offensive. The meaning of what someone says is what really matters, not the words themselves. Words are merely tools used to convey meaning after all.

[Snickerd00dle]

So much for trying to be nice to you, Luke. I'm surprised you got upset at that.

Of course people can get offended when there are no curse words used. I'll give you an example:

"Hey Black man. You are a filthy animal and deserved to be enslaved for the rest of your life."

No curse words used, yet it's highly offensive. The meaning of what someone says is what really matters, not the words themselves. Words are merely tools used to convey meaning after all.

sounds like you answered your own question there bud

[Luke]

So much for trying to be nice to you, Luke. I'm surprised you got upset at that.

Of course people can get offended when there are no curse words used. I'll give you an example:

"Hey Black man. You are a filthy animal and deserved to be enslaved for the rest of your life."

No curse words used, yet it's highly offensive. The meaning of what someone says is what really matters, not the words themselves. Words are merely tools used to convey meaning after all.

Not upset at all Izzy, just wanted to make sure you knew what I said, not what you thought I was trying to say. No biggie. I guess I didn't make myself clear, and wanted to restate my opinion.

This topic is about cursing, not about trying to hurt someone. Don't know how this got derailed.

[pepharytheworm]

Now inzuma change some of the words in your sentence and I am sure it can become more offencive with curse words added.

[Ivo]

I am aware there is no answer to my original question. I just find it fascinating how a totally meaningless rule could continue to survive.

As I said (and as Luke says), there are reasons to believe that cussing isn't bad, and that "ruling" some words to be "taboo" or socially unacceptable plays some role.

What do you think of studies like this (arguably it may not be a correct finding and so on):
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/ ... study.html

Ivo.