This thread will not go the way I’m intending, so I left the title general enough to cover all the other ways it will go.
With that said, I’ll open with this - why are curse words like fuck and shit offensive? I have never understood this and I’m curious.
(I originally didn’t spell out the two words but honestly I felt weird using f–k or f-word, plus it will avoid at least some the inevitable jokes)
While we’re at it, why does “fuck” bother you? Can you explain it?
I am a christian, and I hold certain values. Picking f*** out among the available curse words to use in my post was merely what came to mind, because it is A) generally thought of as the harshest curse word, and B) a word you have used in the past on multiple occasions. As for it bothering me, it refers to sex, and is most commonly used in reference to sexually immoral actions, or as an insult. Aside from that, you have society to thank for labeling it as taboo.
Society is constantly evolving, and curse words are becoming more common even in what used to be considered polite society (such as the workplace and tv).
The word “fuck” is used for multiple purposes, sex being only one of them. Should the context matter? If it’s not being used to describe a sex act shouldn’t that matter? “Sexually immoral” is subjective and I guarantee I disagree with your opinion of what is sexually immoral, in fact I bet I’m offended by your view on what defines immoral sex. And it’s used plenty for regular old (dare I say Christian?) sex.
Why should it matter if it’s the harshest curse word? What if the harshest curse word had no other usage, like fdakj?
Does shit bother you? Why? Going to the bathroom isn’t immoral.
I think curse words bother us because we are told they should.
Not enough people read the EU.
I think curse words bother us because we are told they should.
Belgium, I think you might be right!
Somewhat outdated but still relevant, George Carlin’s 7 words you can’t say on television.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMkNsMMvrqk
JEDIT: I was thinking of the original bit, which is this one.
http://genius.com/George-carlin-the-seven-words-you-can-never-say-on-television-annotated
But I can’t find it on youtube for some reason.
Do Words Corrupt? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8U_hp0h-Ek
“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison
About curse words being offensive to Christians, neither God nor the bible dictates which words are curse words and which aren’t. People/society did. So if people/society decide they aren’t offensive anymore, why would they still be a sin?
I think curse words bother us because we are told they should.
That’s certainly part of it. Non-native speakers are often more comfortable using English swear words than swears in their own language, because they haven’t developed that sensitivity towards them. When I was first exposed to fuck at the late age of 10, I didn’t realize it was offensive, and I remember that I only gradually began to find it offensive.
The existence of swear words and the fact that so many people find them offensive is fascinating to me. There’s no apparent logical reason for it, except in cases where the word actually has an offensive concept associated with it.
An explanation I’ve seen, however, is that words associated with taboos can become offensive. Fuck, for instance, became offensive during a very prudish time. Shit and other words associated with using the loo are offensive because it is often considered poor taste and vulgar to talk about what one does on the toilet. Religious swears are considered offensive for fairly obvious reasons, at least for religious people.
About curse words being offensive to Christians, neither God nor the bible dictates which words are curse words and which aren’t. People/society did. So if people/society decide they aren’t offensive anymore, why would they still be a sin?
Simply by virtue of their being offensive and often vulgar or blasphemous. They aren’t intrinsically wrong, and there’s certainly nothing wrong about having a conversation like this. There’s nothing immoral about listening to music with swear words in it, as a priest assured me once. However, it says in one of St. Paul’s letters, “Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear.” Swearing, slander, gossip, unkind criticism, verbal abuse, etc. all fall under this category. I don’t think anyone would argue that swears are good, nor would they disagree that many find them offensive.
All that being said, I don’t think swearing is a very serious sin (and isn’t always a sin), unless it is done with the intention of offending or angering someone.
Also worthy of consideration is the fact that swears are often used when angry, and are thus associated with anger, and that swears in a number of languages are also blasphemous; i.e. they are religious words used in a disrespectful way.
An explanation I’ve seen, however, is that words associated with taboos can become offensive. Fuck, for instance, became offensive during a very prudish time. Shit and other words associated with using the loo are offensive because it is often considered poor taste and vulgar to talk about what one does on the toilet. Religious swears are considered offensive for fairly obvious reasons, at least for religious people.
To use your earlier examples, I find it interesting that “Oh my God” and “Jesus Christ” are much more common in public than words like fuck and shit. Why do you think that is? Presumably because society is generally non-secular (in public)?
I guess a related question is why you would be offended by curse words if you aren’t religious?
I would guess that it simply has to do with the fact that people who are devout followers of their religions are in the minority in many modern societies.
Being offended by swear words probably just has to do with social conditioning. “Oh my God” has a clear religious connection, meaning that those who aren’t religious wouldn’t have a problem with it, but various four letter words are connected to vulgar ideas and are perpetuated as being offensive from generation to generation. The offensive nature of the words typically wears off over time, as people become used to hearing them more and more.
I am not offended by any specific word, but the words deemed offensive are always based on the culture you’re in. Keep in mind that the word nigger is not considered offensive in most European countries, or at least not Eastern Europe anyway. The reason, because Europe does not have the deep south, or the history of violence against black people that the United States does, which is why it is so impolite and offensive in America. On the other hand, however, the word Paki is incredibly offensive in the UK at least, but in America I don’t think anyone would bat an eye at it, or even know what it meant. Fag is also another term for cigarettes in Britain!
I think every situation is different and the context always matters as well as the intent.
The Person in Question
Yeah, nigger has a much less serious connotation here in Canada, where we were never really into the slave thing, than it seems to down south.
I think every situation is different and the context always matters as well as the intent.
Agreed!
Count me among those who’ve never heard the word Paki. I had to look it up.
Society is constantly evolving, and curse words are becoming more common even in what used to be considered polite society (such as the workplace and tv).
This I understand, but I was more so referring to Christian society, which makes it apparent that using curse words is taboo. For the most part, I agree with this mindset, but keep in mind that what most people don’t realize is that curse words (like fuck, shit, bitch, bastard, hell, etc.) are real words with definitions, and can be used properly. When used improperly (as insults), they become curse words. In contrast to these instances, “damn” is almost always a straight up curse word, because damnation means eternal sentence in hell. “Damn you!” and “Go to hell!” are examples of this. That being said, the use of a curse word is against Christian values, because a man or woman should not curse wit their tongue, but rather bless others. Also, by these same standards, words like the previously spoken of word, “retard”, or other insulting terms are also curse words by the same definition, but society has made them acceptable. This also makes me a hypocrite, because I often say words like “crap”, “suck”, “idiot”, “stupid” or “dumb”. I have kept myself from harsh oaths my whole life, and I have to say, I would rather say the words I do now, than say the words I do now plus the others mentioned.
The word “fuck” is used for multiple purposes, sex being only one of them. “Sexually immoral” is subjective and I guarantee I disagree with your opinion of what is sexually immoral, in fact I bet I’m offended by your view on what defines immoral sex. And it’s used plenty for regular old (dare I say Christian?) sex.
Closest I can come to defining immoral sex is simply pointing you to the Bible passages that point to it. Adultery is one form (which looking at someone with lust for them is committing adultery in ones own heart). Another example is a couple having sex before marriage, or before coming to a mature age. And of course, sexual relationships are a gift from God and treating such gifts with respect is the way to go (which means obeying the morals set forth in the Bible).
Why should it matter if it’s the harshest curse word? What if the harshest curse word had no other usage, like fdakj?
I was saying why that was the word I chose as an example in my post.
Does shit bother you? Why? Going to the bathroom isn’t immoral.
See first paragraph.
EDIT: also, “Oh my God!” is a curse phrase because “thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.”, in which calling the name of God with no intention of actually praying to God is doing so in vain.
Army of Darkness: The Medieval Deadit | The Terminator - Color Regrade | The Wrong Trousers - Audio Preservation
SONIC RACES THROUGH THE GREEN FIELDS.
THE SUN RACES THROUGH A BLUE SKY FILLED WITH WHITE CLOUDS.
THE WAYS OF HIS HEART ARE MUCH LIKE THE SUN. SONIC RUNS AND RESTS; THE SUN RISES AND SETS.
DON’T GIVE UP ON THE SUN. DON’T MAKE THE SUN LAUGH AT YOU.
Why should it matter if it’s the harshest curse word? What if the harshest curse word had no other usage, like fdakj?
I was saying why that was the word I chose as an example in my post.
I understood that, but does the actual word itself matter? If a nonsense word like “fdakj” became the harshest curse word, would it still be wrong to use it because it is so harsh, or would it be less offensive because it’s not in any way connected to another usage?
EDIT: also, “Oh my God!” is a curse phrase because “thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.”, in which calling the name of God with no intention of actually praying to God is doing so in vain.
But what about “oh my god”? When I use it, I’m using the lowercase version of god - I never think about it being attached to any specific god.
I’m offended by “ohmigawd” because it promotes poor spelling.
Don’t do drugs, unless you’re with me.
Why should it matter if it’s the harshest curse word? What if the harshest curse word had no other usage, like fdakj?
I was saying why that was the word I chose as an example in my post.
I understood that, but does the actual word itself matter? If a nonsense word like “fdakj” became the harshest curse word, would it still be wrong to use it because it is so harsh, or would it be less offensive because it’s not in any way connected to another usage?
I honestly wouldn’t know the answer to that. It is an interesting point. But also, how would this made-up word become known as the harshest oath?
EDIT: also, “Oh my God!” is a curse phrase because “thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.”, in which calling the name of God with no intention of actually praying to God is doing so in vain.
But what about “oh my god”? When I use it, I’m using the lowercase version of god - I never think about it being attached to any specific god.
I also am not sure about this. I’m sure everyone who cares about it would take it the same way, but I couldn’t tell you how it would be categorized.
Army of Darkness: The Medieval Deadit | The Terminator - Color Regrade | The Wrong Trousers - Audio Preservation
SONIC RACES THROUGH THE GREEN FIELDS.
THE SUN RACES THROUGH A BLUE SKY FILLED WITH WHITE CLOUDS.
THE WAYS OF HIS HEART ARE MUCH LIKE THE SUN. SONIC RUNS AND RESTS; THE SUN RISES AND SETS.
DON’T GIVE UP ON THE SUN. DON’T MAKE THE SUN LAUGH AT YOU.
There’s nothing immoral about listening to music with swear words in it, as a priest assured me once.
I am surprised a Priest would say this.
Clearly you’ve never heard of Rob Halford.
The Catholic churches must be different than regular Christian ones. I recall a pastor out in hick-ville (where I used to live) that had some very nasty things to say about George Harrison. This was a bit after the whole “backwards masking” farce of the 80s, but since I lived in the land that time forgot I suppose it just caught up to us because I heard a lot of BS about playing Led Zeppelin and the Eagles backwards too.
The Person in Question
The Catholic churches must be different than regular Christian ones.
There are no “regular Christian” ones. Catholicism is a denomination of the religion, and was one of the original two main churches (other being Russian Orthodox). I’m guessing you mean others like the Protestant churches.
Army of Darkness: The Medieval Deadit | The Terminator - Color Regrade | The Wrong Trousers - Audio Preservation
SONIC RACES THROUGH THE GREEN FIELDS.
THE SUN RACES THROUGH A BLUE SKY FILLED WITH WHITE CLOUDS.
THE WAYS OF HIS HEART ARE MUCH LIKE THE SUN. SONIC RUNS AND RESTS; THE SUN RISES AND SETS.
DON’T GIVE UP ON THE SUN. DON’T MAKE THE SUN LAUGH AT YOU.
Hicksville is likely the only place left where people think listening to rock and roll is a express ticket to hell and evil deeds. What would they do if some homicidal maniac had a complete collection of Lawrence Welk?
Where were you in '77?
The Catholic churches must be different than regular Christian ones.
There are no “regular Christian” ones. Catholicism is a denomination of the religion, and was one of the original two main churches (other being Russian Orthodox). I’m guessing you mean others like the Protestant churches.
Christianity has been around longer than cathicism, and the bible even warns against organized religion. (No, really.)
By organized I mean having a governing body controlling and dictating what the smaller pieces do. It says each individual church should run itself. And that’s not The only trait of Catholicism that the bible condemns either but that’s a debate I don’t have the energy for right now.
But saying Catholicism is The original Christian church is just straight up false.
Possessed is right. Catholicism didn’t come around until at least 250 years after the death of Christ, which in itself is LONG before Russian Orthodoxy (Russia wasn’t even a country yet, let alone having any exposure to Christianity). Churches in the Bible were not united in any way other than their connection to Paul, but seemed to exist purely to serve the people in whatever Roman province they were located in.
The Person in Question