Swear Facts

Fustard trats!

Did those bisting words add awrking anything to my wilicing post? Not yashing at all. They nitting may have sounded absurd as qap and therefore raclat funny, but piving only because they're dassing nonsense words that ening mean leling nothing. (I hope.) If they tanding meant something, something panring dirty or reewing dreadful, they twering wouldn't have been so jat funny.

I oppose swearing, but it doesn't bother me as much as other offenses. For example, I enjoyed the movie Phone Booth even though some people I know hated it for its language. For such a movie, though, it kept the violence and suggestive content, which I can't stand, to a minimum, and I didn't mind the language that much. I hated the reference to THINKING about adultery more, and even that added to the movie when the main character realized it was wrong. All the same, I oppose swearing.

They say that words only have the power you give them. This is true. Even swear words are essentially just words, not worth worrying over most of the time. They're still unsavory though. Why? Well, why do people swear?

When used for their actual meanings, swear words are meant to shock people by sounding extra vulgar, mean, or angry. How unpleasant. You shouldn't try to shock people or make the world any angrier, meaner, or more vulgar than it is.

When not used for their actual meanings, swear words are meant to add emphasis. You shouldn't need extra emphasis, though, if your statement is strong enough to be said at all. The statement should stand on its own. Swearing only adds unnecessary words, defying the first rule of quality writing.

When used for acquired meanings, swear words are often at their worst. Dick, cock, and prick take harmless words and turn them into vulgarities, opening the door for tormenting people named Dick and poking fun at harmless uses of "cock" and "prick." "Bitch" is likely my most hated word. When someone calls one woman (or man) by that word, it seems to spew insult and hate at all women. That word says women must be docile or risk being called a hateful name that compares them to dogs. It's a way of oppressing all women, discouraging them from being spunky, fierce, strong, independent, grumpy. Discouraging them from arguing and generally from having any emotion or acting HUMAN. It's a way of making feisty girls look horrendous. It's a horrendous word.

Some people swear just to sound cool, which is just stupid. Nothing is cool about intentional conformity.

Sometimes, swear words are meant to let out pain, anger, or frustration. But why must you use words that stand for vulgarities? What's wrong with "ouch?" Or even just "My toe hurts. I stubbed my toe?" Why use words at all? Why not scream or let out gibberish groans, as seems to be the most natural response? How about "arrgghh?"

Swear words sound ugly and denote ugly. Each one literally means something repulsive. People say them all the time. There's no need to talk of repulsive subjects every sentence of the day, and when there is a need, there's no need to use words any more vulgar than the technical ones. There's no need to punctuate statements with vulgarities if you have anything worth saying. If you must use expletives to give your words oomph, you're probably not saying anything worth saying. Swear words are also used to oppress and hurt, as if we need any more oppression or pain in this world. This renders swearing pointless and cruel.