Cursing is when you use edgy filler words instead of saying something meaningful.
There're better words to use in any situation.
To make the point more clear. As much as people tend to use it in the way they do for words such as 'like'.
I mean people will just say f you, instead of thinking of a witty insult or express an emotion with more expression.
For example, say you want to express that a person is fat, which one is a more cutting way to tell someone they're fat:
"You're a fat-f**k."
"Don't bother trying to stand up. I know you haven't done that in years."
One more thing, As much as there is a time and place you don't curse, it's not a matter of "appropriateness" to me; what matters more is the impact of what's said. I hope my example showcases that.
One last thing, - cause I just starting to realise this matter more to people than I thought it would (nothing wrong with that of course) - cursing doesn't necessarily subtract from a remark as if it's a negative number in a math problem, it's just redundant for speaking (more often than not).
Someone saying "I'm tired of this fucking rain" is more boring than someone saying "I really wish thor would give us a warning before bukkakeing the world".
I just realise this will work as a post in a unpopular opinion space if that exist, lol.
I agree to an extent. If overused, cursing can be "edgy" and offputting. However, sometimes you just need to emphasize the emotion of a given statement that mere "polite" words cannot express.
Quite frankly, I do not trust people that do not curse. I feel that they are not emotionally genuine. Conversely, I feel that people that curse too much are emotionally immature and do not know how to express themselves properly. Cursing is an art. It's a linguistic balancing act where one must take the audience and message into consideration.
I disagree with "polite" words having no emotion. Tell me you don't get anything from this sentence "Go to hell, you subhuman pest."
I think the tone & emphasis matters more than selecting some curse word. When I wrote the sentence, I was thinking the "subhuman pest" part was biting since it would be said in a sharp snapping tone & conveys more info than a swear word.
It's entirely possible to get your feelings across without ever using curse words. I commend people for having the emotional maturity and the vocabulary to do so. However, I feel it is emotionally disingenuous to censor yourself with "polite" versions of curse words, for example saying "shoot" instead of "shit" or "fudge" instead of "fuck".
I can understand if your surroundings aren't conducive to curses, like being around children or in polite company such as a work or religious environment, but if you're in a position where it is socially acceptable to curse but instead choose to censor yourself, I find you to be emotionally disingenuous or at least emotionally immature. If you choose to never ever curse, that's cool too. Again, I think it's commendable to never have to resort to curses. But if you have to use a curse word to get your point across, just use it if the environment is appropriate. Doubly so if it's in a written medium.
I know what you're trying to say when you type "f**k". You've done nothing but demonstrate to me that you would like to seem "proper" while still resorting to using offensive language. Emotionally disingenuous, or at best emotionally immature. If you feel like you must censor yourself, then just don't curse at all.
And at the time of writing my previous two posts, I was a little drunk so I hope I made my point lol.
But yes, I understand where you are coming from. There is always an alternative, more "polite" way of getting a message across, even if that message itself is not polite. Using curses is a crutch for people that do not have the wit and vocabulary to say what they want to say. Did I get that right?
I feel like we agree to some extent. However, where we differ is in our attitudes towards the use of curses. You seem to look down on people who curse at all whereas I look down on people who curse profusely. By profusely, I mean in situations where cursing is not warranted (inappropriate setting) or just general overuse.
I think people can do and say whatever they want so long as they don't hurt anybody, cursing included. I don't see how the use of curses actually hurts anyone except maybe the recipient of a pointed "fuck you". Anyone else around to hear the curse word only gets offended because society told them to.
I draw the line at racial slurs. That's just not cool.