# people who are adicted to four letter words **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475 "2002-04-19T07:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deeward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@deeward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deeward)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/1 "2002-04-19T07:06:23Z")
Why do so many have to use a four letter word to express themselves? It’s like an epidemic ,and I think it starts with what the kids hear in movies and read etc. when they are very young. Like eating a certain food when you’re that age so you grow up to like it and think of it as part of your life in general. If that same person tried to eat that food later on in life he/she might very well have a negative response to it. Some grow up thinking that’s just part of everyday talk because their parents speak that kind of classless jabber all day. once in awhile I say a f\*\*k -type word, but I’m not going to make it a part of my regular vocabulary every day. It’s especially poisonous when any form of media says those words in every fouth sentence that’s spoken. The producers seem to think that belching out foul words all the time is going to sell more tickets. It’s as though they are taking advantage of our society’s slovenly tastes. I like to say they insult us, but too many seem to think the flavor of slop tastes good. I’m at war against society , and have been for many years. Beleive me; it is at war with me too. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/2 "2002-04-19T07:09:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deeward \* > \*\*I’m at war against society , and have been for many years. Beleive me; it is at war with me too. \*\* Now you don’t take yourself too seriously at all, do you? ---
**Author:** ![BalmainBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@BalmainBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BalmainBoy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/3 "2002-04-19T07:21:15Z")
Engl! EBER! Thum! Perd! INCK! (last one with clenched fists, jumping up and down) ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/4 "2002-04-19T07:32:06Z")
In the beginning was deeward, and deeward was hump. ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/5 "2002-04-19T08:05:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Why do so many have to use a four letter word to express themselves?[ Speaking for myself only, I don’t _have_ to use four letter words to express myself. I do it because I _want_ to! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/6 "2002-04-19T10:13:58Z")
Four lttr word post very no-no good! Hate folk what only uses four lttr word post when talk or rite! Folk what will post like that very much JERKS! :mad: Fenris ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/7 "2002-04-19T10:15:02Z")
Hey, look everyone, it’s Ned Flanders! ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/8 "2002-04-19T11:39:53Z")
That post very good post Fnrs. Tnsu like alot. Also nice post from SPFE - good bloke, that SPFE. Tnsu make sure that fuck = daly vocb word. Tnsu know this word fuck only sinc aged nine. Know sald crem sinc bfor then aged four, hate icky sour sald crem tody. Bleh. Still like word fuck tody. Also word cunt, which nice thng also. Warm, silk feel cunt, mmmm. Dwrd idea wrng, then. haha. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/9 "2002-04-19T12:43:22Z")
Why do I feel like I need to take a shower? ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/10 "2002-04-19T12:51:23Z")
> [@](#): > > because their parents speak that kind of classless jabber all day. “Class” should be a four-letter word. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/11 "2002-04-19T12:57:07Z")
you not ken joy dat tri ltr wrd hav. all dem ppl wit jnz for xtr chr. – w.a.d. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/12 "2002-04-19T13:00:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deeward \* > Why do so **many have** to use a **four** letter **word** to express themselves? > > It’s **like** an epidemic ,and I think it starts **with what** the **kids hear** in movies and **read** etc. **when they** are **very** young. **Like** eating a certain **food when** you’re **that** age so you **grow** up to **like** it and think of it as **part** of **your life** in general. If **that same** person tried to eat **that food** later on in **life** he/she might **very well have** a negative response to it. **Some grow** up thinking that’s **just part** of everyday **talk** because their parents speak **that kind** of classless jabber all day. > > **once** in awhile I say a **f** k -type word\*\*, but I’m not going to **make** it a **part** of my regular vocabulary **every** day. > > It’s especially poisonous **when** any **form** of media **says** those words in every fouth sentence that’s spoken. > > The producers **seem** to think **that** belching out **foul** words all the **time** is going to **sell more** tickets. It’s as though **they** are taking advantage of our society’s slovenly tastes. I **like** to say **they** insult us, but too **many seem** to think the flavor of **slop** tastes **good.** > > I’m at war against society , and **have been** for **many** years. Beleive me; it is at war **with** me too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/13 "2002-04-19T13:19:46Z")
Tits! Boob! Arse! damn! Heck! Darn! Poot! Eggs! pan! ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/14 "2002-04-19T13:20:34Z")
I think the problem came in when people decided to give certain words power over other words. It’s absurd that ‘fuck’ be considered completely bad, but ‘anus’ can be used on TV. Just who decided that ‘those seven words’ (thank you George Carlin) were _really_ bad as compared to the thousands of others in the English language? Words in and of themselves have no value good or bad, they are given a symbolic meaning by the person(s) who hear(s) them. Sometimes symbols are used to represent those words. So we see things in newspapers like ‘F **k’ and the _meaning_ still comes across, but those two letters that complete the word are absent. If the word is objectionable because of what it means, then how is replacing two letters with asterisks any better? The meaning was still conveyed, the objectionable message was still there. If I type ‘Fuck you’ or 'F** k you’ to someone, I’m telling them exactly the same thing. But one is better than the other? Seems silly. Perhaps it’s time to start removing the ‘power’ of certain words. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/15 "2002-04-19T13:24:47Z")
What else must they burp? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/16 "2002-04-19T13:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deeward \* > **Why do so many have to use a four letter word to express themselves?** **drumroll** Ahem… FECK! ARSE! DRINK! Thank you. **applause** ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/17 "2002-04-19T13:33:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*FECK! ARSE! DRINK! > **applause** \*\* You left one out **NUNS!!!** > [@](#): > > Mrs Doyle: Now come on Father, what would you say to a nice cup of tea? > Jack: FECK OFF CUP!!! ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/18 "2002-04-19T13:34:16Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by deeward \* > **once in awhile I say a f** k -type word_\* Which one? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/19 "2002-04-19T13:40:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\* > > You left one out > > **NUNS!!!** > > \*\* FECK! ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475/20 "2002-04-19T13:40:22Z")
I’m actually gonna attempt to answer this seriously. . . For me, “4-letter” words provide a form of stress relief. Also, I didn’t start using them until 7th grade, when I started hanging around with my still-friend-for-life, Mike. He’s since stopped using them, but I haven’t. Yeah, I’m one of those people who can sound like Jay. However, I _have_ learned where and when swearing is absolutely not appropriate. For instance, it is not appropriate when talking to teachers. It is also not appropriate when at a family gathering. It is, in general, not appropriate outside of conversation with friends, though it _is_ acceptable when one is under extreme duress. I don’t see anything wrong with swearing, but I do recognize that others don’t like it. To be honest, I don’t understand it. Curses like “God!” and “Jesus!” and “Christ” seem worse to me, yet those are considered to be marginally more acceptable than, for example, “fuck!” I do deplore those who speak to their children that way. Way to raise a kid who knows what’s socially acceptable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-are-adicted-to-four-letter-words/104475.md?page=2)