Couple more optional questions
- Did the decision bring any change to your life ?
- Do you feel the decision stopped you from expressing something at some point ?
If people know you as someone who doesn’t swear, when you do swear they will take note of what you’re saying.
Fuck yeah!
I have made a conscious effort to reduce swearing, which has brought my swearing down to near zero, both online and in real life conversation.
I have found that it streamlines the ability to make a point. A lot of swearing is simply thrown in out of habit, and if you remove it, all you do is make your point more clear without losing anything of substance.
I think for many people swearing is a “filler word” in the same way that “umm” can be. I have also worked hard to reduce my other filler word use. My goal with both of these is better articulation.
The next effect is that swearing is normally viewed as an extreme use of language for an extreme situation, and when you don’t constantly swear the times that you do actually convey how notable the situation is.
Fuck that bullshit.
Fuck yeah dude
See, @setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world?
In the comment I’m replying to, the fuck is a filler because it could easily just say ‘Yeah dude’ but the tone would be different.
Then it isn’t a filler. I never said I don’t swear, but have greatly reduced it. One effect of reduced swearing is that when swears are used, they have more punch.
I’m not sure why you’re so invested in debating that people who habitually swear won’t insert swears into unrelated thoughts, but the only support I offer is to listen to someone who habitually swears speak. I don’t want to sound like that, so I make the effort not to.
My choice on how I speak and type doesn’t impose anything on you.
Will Smith famously limits his swearing and doesn’t swear while rapping and next thing you know he’s bitch-slapping Chris Rock.
Trying to self-improve in a method that, regardless of its objective effectiveness, makes you feel satisfied and has no discernable effect on those around you?
Not if I can help it!
I just don’t want to get bitch-slapped.
I’m glad we could collaborate on this effort and teach people some shit 🤝
Delightful.
What word in that comment is a filler word?
I don’t recall saying every use of a swear is a filler word.
Two reasons:
- I live in Utah, where the Mormons are, and they get very offended by swearing. Although there are some ways in which I will definitely not accommodate their religious beliefs, I also think it’s healthy to meet other people at their comfort level (if it’s reasonable to do so). On the one hand, I understand the idea that we shouldn’t have to change who we are in order to make other people comfortable. On the other hand, I do think that if you take that idea too far, it can be a kind of antisocial behavior. When in Rome, as they say.
- It has more impact if you don’t do it often. Think about a Quentin Tarantino movie. By the time Samuel L. Jackson has said “fuck” for the 157th time, you’re just used to it. The word doesn’t even stand out anymore. But now consider the end of The Princess Bride, which has one swear word in the entire movie: “I want my father back you son of a bitch.” WHA-BAM! Hits like a freight train every time!
For the follow-up questions, kind of the same answer to both of them. I feel like not swearing – or, swearing less – requires me to be more precise when I’m criticizing something. Instead of just saying that something was “like shit”, I have to give a more specific criticism. So that’s the change that it has made, and no, it hasn’t stopped me from expressing something.
I like your second point, I had never thought of it this way. It’s like when your parents call you by your full name. You know you are in trouble.
I try to avoid it because it dilutes your actual point. They’re filler words, that sometimes are used for actual emphasis, but mostly just said out of habit and really don’t mean anything at all.
Besides, if you rarely swear, it makes it even more powerful when you actually fucking do it.
Fuck no, they are powerful words that can convey emotion better than regular words, to the point where mods will ban you for hurting their feelings.
When used sparingly, a concisely uttered tactical fuck can he used to lay waste to your enemies and their entire extended family.
But, like, if you fucking just use it all the fucking time to punctuate your words without any fucking rhyme or reason, people will just think you’ve got nothing to actually fucking say.
This is it right here. Concerningly large swaths of people talk about swearing like this distinction–which is the whole discussion–doesn’t exist.
Damn right! Damn hell ass right!
I don’t (or at least try not to) swear around my ma. She doesn’t like hearing them and that’s enough reason for me. Of course every once in awhile I may drop one purposefully, for the little kick of annoying my ma. I share some of her sentiment though. In general I think swearing can be a bit vulgar/unpleasant, so I don’t necessarily try to swear at every opportunity, but I do when I’m not around her.
I enjoy the exercise of trying to think ahead of the words coming out of my mouth so I can speak more concisely and clearly. It’s the same reason I do calligraphy.
If you can do calligraphy ahead of the words coming out of your mouth then I am thoroughly impressed.
No calligraphy is for writing slowly and deliberately. It has helped me immeasurably
motherfucker would look great in some nice calligraphy
I do not publicly swear, I live in a place where practically everyone does, I am young, all my friends do, but I don’t, mostly, because I like to be soft-spoken. I have publicly swore maybe less than 5 times (even these are when I am very angry, someone swore, and I just repeat how can you say ***). Plus this elevates even the impact of me saying something like “stupid person” (in my native language) as if I swore. I do swore in my mind, mostly from having it as a part of my vocabulary (I do know how to swear (pretty good) in 3 languages, and a bit in 3 more), but I maintain good filters, and just helps me do natural conversations, so I dont have to think of my statements when I say it in front of my friends, or elderly
I don’t really use those words unless I’m in a state my brain cannot better articulate my thoughts and feelings. They are a crude tool.
Reminds me of:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/08/29/substitute-damn/
…there is one thing I wish you would do when you sit down to write news stories, and that is: Never use the word, “very.” It is the weakest word in the English language; doesn’t mean anything. If you feel the urge of “very” coming on, just write the word, “damn,” in the place of “very.” The editor will strike out the word, “damn,” and you will have a good sentence.
unless I’m in a state my brain cannot better articulate my thoughts and feelings.
You mean like drunk? Or tired?
Both. And when I’m hurt, or when I’m extremely frustrated by something mechanical.
I had children. In my opinion, I had no choice. I was swearing so much that I thought it made me sound dumb but I couldn’t stop until I felt I had to. There are moments where I really miss it but only in intense frustration. Overall, I’m able to articulate better and think I’m better received.
I choose to swear because sometimes words aren’t enough otherwise. When faced with the horrors of this world, sometimes a good “fucking” paired with whatever garbage is just appropriate. As in, “this fucking society.”
Honestly not sure why I just never really did in the first place
I swear but try to limit it as much as I can. That way when I do it has more impact.
Used to swear a lot, still swear but much less frequently.
The effect of swearing is fairly diluted, they’re used so often they don’t really carry any weight when you use them. I find that there are typically better ways to emphasize a point, and using them more sparingly makes them more effective.
I’m not at all bothered by “swear words,” and I’ll use them occasionally (mostly when I think it’s funny), but it’s somewhat rare. I just don’t find it very necessary most of the time. I can usually make my point just find without, but sometimes the emphasis seems right out, again, it seems funnier.
I was told people who swear sounded less intelligent. It made me not want to do it. I swear rarely, usually if I’m quoting someone. I swear a little more liberally in text, but not very often.