The use of light cuss words (Swearing)

[richieb1971]

I hate to admit it but my daily conversations at work and at home are littered with cuss or swear words. I think we are down to 14-15 years old where the younger generation start to show anger and desperation through the use of our more colorful language.

It amuses me that American shows still use words in TV shows that are only used in TV shows. Calling a man "A slimey snake" or "Such a jerk" just seems out of context with real life these days, especially as nobody would use those phrases in real life.

If you heard the words "Jesus Christ" in a TV show would that be considered taboo if it were in the context of say a man getting knocked down by a car?

In other words, do TV shows have to have these silly mutterings that have no bearing in real life?

PS. Who made them up words like "Jerk" anyway?

[MOONPHASE]

A bunch of networks are just really strict on what is in the script in the dialogue and what is happening on the show. Networks can even be different on like what curse words can be used. Like some can be like oh yeah anything higher than words like hell or crap need to be toned down or censored while others can be like only the f word is censored. Timeslot of the show can also be a factor of how serious the network can be. Like daytime shows are way more strict than late night shows. It's why there's a lot of Netflix Originals, Amazon, etc. just for having way more freedom on what is allowed and not actually for just like streaming vs. cable or satellite.

But yeah saying something like jerk sounds like something from the 80s or 90s but definitely not 21st century.

[Stoney Jackson]

I say “jerk” all the time. It’s also one of my coworkers’ go-to insult


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mouse]

Guess I was raised differently cause hearing people curse/swear as a kid (80s & 90s) was a rare thing for me. I actually had my mouth washed out with soap once for saying some word my mother didn't like and that was pretty much my last offense. Nowadays I simply don't curse as I find more eloquent ways of expressing myself without being a bad influence on the younger generation. I won't go out of my way to avoid tv shows/movies with foul language but some of them just over use certain words that it really detracts from the enjoyment of the story.

[JamesOttoSweetHeart]

Originally Posted by richieb1971

I think we are down to 14-15 years old where the younger generation start to show anger and desperation through the use of our more colorful language.

6th grade is when I started hearing swearing come from other kids all the time at my school. That all began in the fall of 1993.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. In my 35 years, because I don't normally say such things, I can only think of around five times that I have dropped a swear word and with them words being as common as they are now thanks to those who put them out there every day, whenever I get mad enough, I just drop something totally different because then it will only stand out more due to how unexpected it will be in the opinion of everyone else.

[Monterey Jack]

It always amused me that, on NBC's Hannibal, they could show the most graphic gore imaginable, and yet no one was ever allowed to say "Shit" or drop the F-Bomb.

[Al_The_Strange]

I tend to curse at inanimate objects but not people. So yes, I will use odd words like "jerk," I never even realized it was so out of style.

[Captain Flint]

Today's censorship is antiquated. It's simply not realistic. It shocks me that people say they don't curse or they don't hear curse words on a daily basis. I grew up in an area where everybody cursed like sailors. It's just normal and they're just words. F****** prudes.

[thecooldud]

It may be "normal" in today's society (not much of an endorsement IMO)... but it'll certainly never be classy.

[willbfree]

There are always studies being published about how people who swear a lot are smarter and more succesful, so if it once was that there was an association between swear words and undesirable people, that association has been put to bed.

Usually, curse words are just used to emphasize the degree to which somethung is concerning, as in "I don't believe it!" becoming "I don't ______ believe it!".

I.e., no one is being cursed at, there is no malice, but, technically it is a swear. Though if you recall, when Bono used that word in exactly that way at a live awards ceremony, it took a good year for the FTC to rule that in that context it was not a reference to sex and was not meant to offend.

Similarly, when people stub their toe in real life, swearing lessens the pain response, which is why we do it.

This is all obvious, but networks are responsible to the local stations that have bought in to air their network, and in America there are many small towns where folks only see in black and white - they do not understand nuance. So, networks play it safe so neither they nor local affiliates get fined by the FTC.

There is also a small group of busybodies called the Parent's Television Council or something or other which has for decades watched tv for the purpose of noticing swear words and complaining to the FTC about them. Almost all complaints to the FCC are from that one single group. They're just a few people, you could fit them in a room, but they gave their organization a name that made them sound less like the outliers that they are.

[gambit64]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

It may be "normal" in today's society (not much of an endorsement IMO)... but it'll certainly never be classy.

Totally agree with your complete statement. And as Mouse said, over-use does detract from the enjoyment of the story for me as well.

[ElectricPeterTork]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

It always amused me that, on NBC's Hannibal, they could show the most graphic gore imaginable, and yet no one was ever allowed to say "Shit" or drop the F-Bomb.

It's perfectly okay to cut a woman's tits off on network TV and see jets of blood shooting from her, just don't show them before they're cut off, and definitely don't call them "tits". People could be offended at the sight of a naked breast or a dirty word. Serial killer gore, though? A-OK!

We're a very screwed up people.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

It may be "normal" in today's society (not much of an endorsement IMO)... but it'll certainly never be classy.

Classy schmlassy.

[Mystic]

There will always be contingents of people in society that feel its their personal responsibility to judge and define for the rest of us - what's acceptable, appropriate classy, permissible, etc. in society. I say "Live and Let Live". After all these are just ****ing words

[Mouse]

They may be just words and that's fine for adults. If I don't like a conversation going on in the room, I leave. Same for a TV show, if it gets too much I simply change the channel. But kids do not need to be subjected to such language until they are old enough to be taught when/how it may be acceptable to use it. That's how you end up with trouble makers who will cuss out or even throw punches at their teachers (I've seen it). It's better to prevent that type of behavior and if restricting a few words on broadcast TV is going to help that cause then I'm all for it. It's not like they are restricting the words on most cable channels or streaming services like Netflix.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by Mouse

They may be just words and that's fine for adults. If I don't like a conversation going on in the room, I leave. Same for a TV show, if it gets too much I simply change the channel. But kids do not need to be subjected to such language until they are old enough to be taught when/how it may be acceptable to use it. That's how you end up with trouble makers who will cuss out or even throw punches at their teachers (I've seen it). It's better to prevent that type of behavior and if restricting a few words on broadcast TV is going to help that cause then I'm all for it. It's not like they are restricting the words on most cable channels or streaming services like Netflix.

Do you think these words actually hurt children? That is a pretty absurd view IMO. Especially, if they don't understand the words.

How about being a mature society that uses reason to realize that the words themselves are NEVER the problem. It is only the context in which words (any words) are used that can be problematic.

Words and language are simply tools to communicate. There is nothing good/bad/foul/evil/eloquent about them on their own.

The only reason any of this has ever been an issue is because some idiots decided to classify some words as "bad" and people have gone along with it and taught their children this nonsense.

[Moviefan2k4]

Simply put, the meanings and use of various words change over time. I once heard it put this way - "When I was a kid, 'cool' meant 'not hot', and 'gay' meant 'happy'." Another example is the word 'let', which originally meant 'forbidden'...but now its been reversed to 'allow'.

Personally, I think most instances of heavy language make people appear unintelligent or lazy. Something of the cuff in a moment of frustration, I can understand...but repetitive uses just make me cringe. There's some films where I think its appropriate though, to show the true nature of a villain who cares for no one but themselves - The Crow, for example.

[Riddler The Slag]

I am an old salty sailor.

Back in my days in the Navy we practically made up "curse words".

“There are no bad words. Bad thoughts. Bad intentions, and wooooords.”

― George Carlin

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

Do you think these words actually hurt children? That is a pretty absurd view IMO. Especially, if they don't understand the words.

How about being a mature society that uses reason to realize that the words themselves are NEVER the problem. It is only the context in which words (any words) are used that can be problematic.

Words and language are simply tools to communicate. There is nothing good/bad/foul/evil/eloquent about them on their own.

The only reason any of this has ever been an issue is because some idiots decided to classify some words as "bad" and people have gone along with it and taught their children this nonsense.

It's not about words hurting people. It's about respect.

[Captain Flint]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

It may be "normal" in today's society (not much of an endorsement IMO)... but it'll certainly never be classy.

There is no such thing as "class" in today's society. Everyone's garbage.