# When You Curse People Are You Serious **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424 "2011-05-02T00:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/1 "2011-05-02T00:33:51Z")
Pointing to the BBQ Pit as evidence: when you call people obscene names, do you truly mean it? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/2 "2011-05-02T00:36:30Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Pointing to the BBQ Pit as evidence: when you call people obscene names, do you truly mean it? You mean if I call someone an arsehole on the internet, do I genuinely imagine there’s a typing rectum at the other end? No. Did you mean something else by your question? I can’t think of any way the answer could be yes. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/3 "2011-05-02T00:38:22Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You mean if I call someone an arsehole on the internet, do I genuinely imagine there’s a typing rectum at the other end? No. > > Did you mean something else by your question? I can’t think of any way the answer could be yes. I meant if for instance “asshole”, do you fully mean that insult? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/4 "2011-05-02T00:44:52Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I meant if for instance “asshole”, do you fully mean that insult? It really depends on the circumstances. If I were to insult someone on here, I’d almost certainly mean it, simply because I realise that in purely textual conversation with people I don’t really know it’s best to say what you mean, and mean what you say. With people I know it’s a very different story - in real life I could call a friend a fucking cunt and mean it affectionately, in the right circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/5 "2011-05-02T00:46:25Z")
Those aren’t examples of “cursing.” They’re vulgarity; specifically obscenity or scatology. Real cursing breaks the 1st Commandment. I’m not above using any of these figures of speech but do prefer more imaginative language if I’m expressing myself in writing. And I generally use rude words against inanimate objects–like recalcitrant printers or slow networks–not people. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/6 "2011-05-02T00:51:15Z")
Yes. If I call someone a name, I mean it. I don’t swear at people lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/7 "2011-05-02T00:52:01Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Those aren’t examples of “cursing.” They’re vulgarity; specifically obscenity or scatology. Real cursing breaks the 1st Commandment. > > I’m not above using any of these figures of speech but do prefer more imaginative language if I’m expressing myself in writing. And I generally use rude words against inanimate objects–like recalcitrant printers or slow networks–not people. The thread title specifies cursing, but the OP mentions obscenity. Breaking the first commandment would presumably be profanity, although I’m not sure how one uses that as an insult without some obscenity, overt or implied. _Real_ cursing would be wishing a plague of moths upon your enemies formalwear on the eve of their daughters wedding, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/8 "2011-05-02T01:40:53Z")
Pretty much, yeah. Unless I’m just joking around with friends. As for cursing someone, literally, only when I’m watching sports. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/9 "2011-05-02T03:33:49Z")
Considering that I’m not paid by the word, on this board or IRL, I wouldn’t expend the effort to call someone, say, an “asshole” if I didn’t really mean it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/10 "2011-05-02T04:31:25Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > The thread title specifies cursing, but the OP mentions obscenity. Breaking the first commandment would presumably be profanity, although I’m not sure how one uses that as an insult without some obscenity, overt or implied. > > _Real_ cursing would be wishing a plague of moths upon your enemies formalwear on the eve of their daughters wedding, for example. Wait, isn’t cursing the 2nd or 3rd commandment (depending on your religious background–they’re not all enumerated the same way.) We’re talking taking the Lord’s name in vain, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/11 "2011-05-02T04:52:16Z")
If I said “goddammit”, I’m not asking god to damn anything/anyone. It’s a figure of speech, not a literal statement. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/12 "2011-05-02T05:53:27Z")
I am serious, but not literal. I don’t want someone to get fucked, which IRL is a rather pleasant experience. Nor do I think they actually fuck their mother. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/13 "2011-05-02T06:56:12Z")
Not really. I specifically use it on here because it seems my tone gets drowned out otherwise. Unfortunately, it has leaked into my other conversations, when, before, I never event thought those words. And only recently have I started censoring my thoughts again before posting them. Anyways, that gives me an idea for a decent tag-on question: Do you cuss as much in real life as on this board? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/14 "2011-05-02T07:59:54Z")
Hell, yes. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/15 "2011-05-02T08:26:01Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Hell, yes. More, probably. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/16 "2011-05-02T08:41:48Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Real cursing breaks the 1st Commandment. Have no other gods before me? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/17 "2011-05-02T10:57:18Z")
I curse a fuckload more in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/18 "2011-05-02T11:39:36Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Have no other gods before me? Sorry. I was never very good at numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/19 "2011-05-02T13:17:16Z")
Oh, god, not MATH! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424/20 "2011-05-03T02:10:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Not really. I specifically use it on here because it seems my tone gets drowned out otherwise. Unfortunately, it has leaked into my other conversations, when, before, I never event thought those words. And only recently have I started censoring my thoughts again before posting them. > > Anyways, that gives me an idea for a decent tag-on question: Do you cuss as much in real life as on this board? Honestly? I probably swear even more. I really need to start watching my mouth. (Swear jar, perhaps?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-curse-people-are-you-serious/580424.md?page=2)