Why do we swear?

It's interesting to wonder about things we never wonder about.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• swearing
• blasphemy
• sociolinguistics
• theory
• discourse

[SkatinatorS]

First of all, you are terrybly boring, I'm sorry, and there is no bigger substance to your "rant" or whatever this is supposed to be. But the point is good. Yet the freedome of speech should not be obstructed by such trivial things as swear limiting.

[parispeter2]

Well I'm aware I can improve my presentation techniques, and constantly endeavour to do so. But I wonder whether when people say that it's not because they have a low boredom threshold, as everybody is brought up these days on a diet of constant entertainment, or even "infotainment". I do not aim to entertain but to make people think. Read the best ever book on this subject, Neil Postman's "Amusing ourselves to death". Unless you find it boring, that is.

[parispeter2]

ps I have absolutely not the slightest intention of proposing a limitation on swearing, just of making people think about why they swear. They are then free to change their actions or not.

[livinginlux]

That is indeed the next logical question, and I was wondering it myself. Does the meaning of a term rooted in sexism, or should I say rooted in men's insecurities and worldview, change when women use it? If so, how? Will "fuck" necessarily retain an element of otherness when women use it? Is it simply an equivalent expression of gender dysphoria seen from the other side? I'll let you know when I figure it out =)

I wonder how your friend would respond to my comments.

[parispeter2]

Well, why not ask her? She's left some comments higher up for this video which you could read first, and you can ask access her channel by clicking on her pseudonym.

[livinginlux]

Digging deeper, "fuck" is originally the expression of a man who is frustrated with his inability to protect his female partner from rape, on the one hand, and his inability to attract her undivided attention and affection, on the other. Deeper still, "fuck" expresses a man's discomfort with the terrifying uncertainty of paternity, that he can never know 100% that the child is his, and focus 100% of his resources on the child without doubts. "Fuck" expresses men's jealousy of motherhood.

[parispeter2]

I'm sure there's some truth in these points, though I'm a little puzzled since I do have at least one highly intelligent female friend ("meredumais" on YT), who derives great satisfaction from using this particular expletive. How could that be explained?

[heyheyhey0220]

*static static static static static static*

[andreaus8669]

what the fuck does it matter if someone is swearing, big fucking deal. lol just joking people swear because they don't have nothing else intelligent to say besides saying fuck you

have a nice day.

[SkatinatorS]

Fair enough, I'll look it up,thanks for the recommendation, and by the way, nice reply =)