# Have you ever said a swear word? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997 "2011-12-13T04:57:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Petrichord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Petrichord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrichord)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/41 "2011-12-13T17:30:13Z")
I was a pottymouth through most of college (“Jesus hellfucking Christ on a hot potato shitstick,” et al.) but nowadays my vocabulary is immaculate. Unless I’m around old college buddies. Or particularly upset at the time. Or just have some emphatic point to make…ah, screw it. (I might let out a rare “Shit!” from my desk at work, but I’m a good HR department worker and don’t let anyone hear.) This thread reminds me of an anecdote about my niece when she was about five. She was fiddling with something and got frustrated: Niece: Shit! Her mother: What?! Niece: …is a bad word, mommy. > [@Taomist](#): > > We need a swearing alphabet. I totally and completely support this endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/42 "2011-12-13T17:37:51Z")
I try not to swear around my children, does that count? The little fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/43 "2011-12-13T17:46:22Z")
> [@yams](#): > > Not to answer for Silophant, but from your username, I take it that you spend all of your time underwater, providing second rate blow jobs to whatever aquatic penii float your way, and pleasuring yourself with foam-covered flotsam and jetsam and half-rotted flounders, in between bouts of guzzling dolphin jizz. Were the space between your ears not so full of brackish black water and oceanic STDs, maybe you would be more familiar with things like “creative cursing,” and not feel the need to use the rolleyes smiley, which is really what you look like as you make your way, sea-sick and with your trunks full of dead minnows and two kinds of crabs, back to shore. > > Actually, this might be more of a creative beat down, rather than creative cursing, but maybe it will still give you the general idea? > > love > yams!! Yowzah! :eek: I’m certainly glad this is only an example and was said ‘with love’. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/44 "2011-12-13T18:04:09Z")
I swear much less than I did in college. I’ve generally worked in offices where swearing is frowned upon. “D’oh!” has been a boon to my ability to express my frustration in a corporate-friendly way. I still swear occasionally outside work, but not often. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/45 "2011-12-13T18:11:30Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > I don’t swear, I want to go to heaven God: “Where in the bible does it say you can’t fucking swear?” Daniel: “No fucking where.” https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mjw8GRHkSqg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Do I swear? Fuck no. Swearing is for cunts and ass-rapers. Especially evil are the people who swear around children and their innocent pure-as-snow ears. They are the real shit-fuckers and it really angers up my asshole hearing the bitches say such filth around the cute little cocksuckers. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/46 "2011-12-13T18:12:22Z")
I’ll drop more F-bombs in an hour than the movie The Big Lebowski can do in two. Actually, I’m surprised to learn it’s even possible to go through life without saying any swear word at least once. Wait… Am I being fucked with? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/47 "2011-12-13T18:20:54Z")
Actually, this reminds me of a question I ment to post in one of these forums. Why does swearing feel so cathartic when used emotionally (or after you stubbed your penis)? Seriously… Anytime I hurt myself around “polite company” you wouldn’t believe the effort it takes to turn FUCKING SHIT!!! into JEZZY PETE! It’s just not the same. _Not even close._ Zero catharsis in faux swear words. I believe real swear words actually relieve stress and ease pain. Crap, darn, and shoot! Are all swear word placebos. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/48 "2011-12-13T18:25:28Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I believe real swear words actually relieve stress and ease pain. There’s been a lot of neurological research into this. [Here’s a fuckin’ example.](http://people.howstuffworks.com/swearing4.htm) Interesting that somebody started this thread a couple of days after I started watching _Deadwood_. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/49 "2011-12-13T18:30:58Z")
Believe it or not, this has actually been studied: [Study Shows Swearing Reduces Pain](http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/18/wtf-study-shows-swearing-reduces-pain/) > [@](#): > > The results showed that volunteers were able to keep their arms in the icy water longer when they were swearing than they could when they were uttering the harmless word. According to the scientists, these results demonstrate the link between swearing and an increase in tolerance to pain. It should also be noted that for the volunteers who weren’t habitual swearers, swearing was four times more likely to ease the pain caused by the icy water. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/50 "2011-12-13T18:49:57Z")
Fuck yes. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/51 "2011-12-13T18:52:51Z")
oh Belgium! ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/52 "2011-12-13T19:11:14Z")
Fuck yes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/53 "2011-12-13T20:36:02Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > \ > \*lol spell check doesn’t recognize “consarnit”. For shame! I make a point of teaching my spell checker swear words. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/54 "2011-12-13T20:48:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There’s been a lot of neurological research into this. [Here’s a fuckin’ example.](http://people.howstuffworks.com/swearing4.htm) Interesting that somebody started this thread a couple of days after I started watching _Deadwood_. Ha! Reading this thread is making want to strat watching Deadwood again. I stopped about half-fucking-way through season 1, even though I own the whole set of seasons, because I’m easily distracted and started watching some other fucking show. > [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Fuck yes. > [@robert\_columbia](#): > > oh Belgium! > [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Fuck yes. Maybe you two could keep the sex talk down until the kids go to bed? ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/55 "2011-12-13T20:50:25Z")
I swear, but half the time, it isn’t even because I’m angry. For me, ‘bitches’ is a way to describe a group of people. Before my boss and coworker went off to a meeting, they asked me to fix something and when I was done I texted my boss ‘hey bitches, I got it fixed.’ I think the only way to really explain it is for me to record myself talking, but fuck that, I don’t wanna. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/56 "2011-12-13T20:54:54Z")
When my first good friend had a child, we all went over to marvel at the wonder of the tiny babe. She was newly home from the hospital and hadn’t opened a lot of the toys they had gotten as many of them were for older babies. One of the gifts they got was [this](http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Alphabet-Pal%C2%AE-Caterpillar-Colors/dp/B00005OWEP/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323809345&sr=8-4) adorable toy. Mr. Caterpillar has letters on his legs and has a mode in which you can type out words and he will pronounce them as the letters are put in. Of course the first thing we did was open him up and see if he would say swear words. Sadly, we could not get him to say any. If you typed in F-U-C, he would say, “Fuh, Uh, that tickles hahaha.” Now, that toy is the staple baby gift I get for people. I like to watch to see if they try and get Mr. Caterpillar to swear. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/57 "2011-12-13T21:27:28Z")
[Swearing is good for you.](http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2009/07/swearing_increases_pain_tolerance.php) Me… meh. I find it childish for a society to create words for the sole purpose of telling people not to use them. All language is a legitimate form of communication. Moderating language use to circumstances is as easy as remembering not to show up naked at the office. And very few adults care about a swear word here and there. Last week I had an interview with a VP who casually dropped a “shit” into the conversation. I almost missed it, because I was listening to what he actually meant. Insulting people is rude regardless of the actual words used. I also use “scifi” swearing, often “frak” and “drek” and probably a few others, as well as English ones. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/58 "2011-12-13T22:20:49Z")
My way of dealing with chronic pain and frustration is to swear. A lot. This went ok with kid #1 because she is a rules follower, and knows not to do what I do 😃 kid #2 on the other hand is trouble. I need to curb my swearing. Sadly, “oh geez” has far less cathartic effect than Jesus Fucking Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/59 "2011-12-13T22:37:02Z")
> [@SDMBKL](#): > > What is your favorite swear word? What is your least favorite swear word? How many swear words have you uttered? Are you a person who curses frequently or rarely? Alright Bernard Pivot. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997/60 "2011-12-13T23:30:41Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Alright Bernard Pivot. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Probably not “Go to Hell!”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-said-a-swear-word/605997.md?page=4)