• gerryflap@feddit.nl
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    31
    ·
    5 months ago

    Because words have different weight for different people. I feel like Americans are so sensitive about words like “fuck” (and many other words). Here in the Netherlands I grew up with much more liberal use of swear words. So to me it’s way less harsh to say “fuck this rain” or something, it’s just a way to communicate my feelings about the rain, just like I’d say “kutweer” in Dutch. Saying it in a more eloquent way, i.e. “this rain is pretty suboptimal” would not accurately convey my feelings.

      • scoobford@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        5 months ago

        Except violence, supposedly.

        I’m american, so I obviously wouldn’t know. Overseas travel is fuckin expensive…

    • Bob@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      “Fuck” and “kut” don’t have the same weight and it’s as simple as that. I can go around saying “kanker” everything and I won’t feel a thing, because Dutch isn’t my mother tongue.

  • dactylotheca@suppo.fi
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    5 months ago

    From a historical perspective, it’s stranger that swearing isn’t normal for some people; it seems to be a universal feature of human languages throughout history and around the world.

    The exact swear / taboo words vary of course, but in general it does seem like just about every culture ever has had and used swear words.

    • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      5 months ago

      Many “bad words” have roots in other countries or cultures and are a half translation, this is why many words are labeled bad or rude, when they really mean “that’s an immigrant word” or foreigner slang.

  • Mobiuthuselah@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    5 months ago

    As I understand it, shit, piss, and fuck were common words in Old English. When the French-speaking Normans invaded the Anglo-Saxons, they made the people and their language lower class, crude and dirty. Defecate, urinate, and fornicate were substituted as the proper way to speak. This was a way to continue oppressing a conquered and occupied group of people. These views have persisted for hundreds of years and been adopted by various groups over time. Something to consider when you find yourself viewing the words others use as crude.

    Based on this history, you might also see why saying “pardon my French” is ironic as fuck.

    • Dasus@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      I mean there’s was a difference in the language of the rulers and the ruled, which is why this difference came to the language.

      That’s why the foods you eat are mutton, pork, beef, etc whereas the animals are sheep, pig and cow.

      The former words only refer to the meat of the animal, because that’s what the French rulers were served.

      So I’m not disagreeing with anything you’ve said, just elaborating on the cause-effect relationship.

  • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    19
    ·
    5 months ago

    Never swearing is as weird as swearing constantly. They’re words, they have meaning and context.

    A number of women I know would rather use any word besides “moist”, it’s quite funny.

    • Jackie's Fridge@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      5 months ago

      I have random stupid hangups and for who knows why profanity is one of them. I’m fine with it. I barely notice when others use it. But I just can’t. It doesn’t sound right in my context or in my voice.

      Of course I hate my own voice with a fiery passion, but that’s another hangup.

      • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        5 months ago

        I’ll try dropping it at Thanksgiving dinner, I’m giving even odds that I get asked to leave, especially if combined with moist.

  • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    5 months ago

    Where is swearing not normal? I don’t live in a preschool. It’s the 90’s. We have internet and everything now. I can say the “fuck” word.

  • Mpatch@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    5 months ago

    You give the word power and meaning by viewing it certain way. To me cuss words have no power they are meaningless. equivalent to a simple filler word. Others around you might give power to cussing, but then why is it your fucking problem that they choose to be simps for a word?

  • LovingHippieCat@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    5 months ago

    Swearing is viewed as a bad thing mainly because of religion, particularly anything puritanical. It’s the equivalent of taking the lords name in vain for some people. When I was in 3rd grade, I said dammit after dropping my coat instead of putting it on a hanger. I learned that word really early cause my mother had been using it since she was 3. My friend heard me and told the teacher, a nun, who pulled me aside and said cursing is never, ever, okay and that it’s taking the lords name in vain even if you don’t say Jesus or God or whatever. Also said Dammit was one of the worst ones.

    So I agree with others here. The question should not be, “Why is cursing normal for some people?” It should be the opposite. Curse words are just words. They don’t have power like religion states. They’re just words. To whomever doesn’t curse, stop letting just words have power over you. They don’t fucking matter.

    • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      5 months ago

      The funny thing is that when Christ was over turning the money changers tables in the temple he was cursing at them to get out.

  • serpineslair@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    5 months ago

    As others have mentioned, for me I sometimes use it as just filler (part of natural language). Alternatively, I can use it to add emphasis or to exaggerate.