# With all the inteligence, why all the cussing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 25, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832 "2000-03-25T03:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/1 "2000-03-25T03:17:00Z")
It is really not an offense thing. I am just curious. There seems to be an extraordinary amount of intelligence here. What makes someone feel they need to swear on every post? With the exception of flaming, I would assume that you could all find other words that would better express your thoughts. Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/2 "2000-03-25T03:20:00Z")
Can’t help you with the answer either Larry, my WAG would be that it makes the ‘flaming’ just a tad hotter than it would be otherwise. * * * “Um, according to who? Nothing more than a high brow troll, though occasionally the bi polar personality swung in a constructive direction on innocuous topics.” Omniscient ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/3 "2000-03-25T04:12:00Z")
We learned it on the streets. * * * Everybody knows that Steve McGarrett only takes orders from the governor and God - and occassionally even they have trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/4 "2000-03-25T04:36:00Z")
Val – I learned it here. Damn this internet! Pathway to information or straight shot to hell? Actually, there are times and in certain situations that what we call a “blue” word or an expletive can really shine. I don’t recall anyone who makes a point of swearing on every post. Let me know who so I can go read their stuff! 😉 * * * Best! Byz Voted most sex obsessed. (Yeah, blow me smart ass!) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/5 "2000-03-25T04:49:00Z")
Oooooh! Ooooooh! I found one for you: . . . . . . . Yeah, blow me smart ass!: Byzantine ---
**Author:** ![Per](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@Per](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Per)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/6 "2000-03-25T05:13:00Z")
All the inteligence? What inteligence? ---
**Author:** ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/7 "2000-03-25T05:33:00Z")
tomndebb – hey! Wait just a gosh darned second here! There isn’t one true “blue” word in my sig line! “Ass” isn’t a bad word, and “blow me” isn’t a bad phrase at all. I think you are reading something into my sig that isn’t there. Calling someone a “smart ass” is a heck of a lot better than calling them a “jack ass” or a “dumb ass”. And “blow me” means I want you to fan my body gently. Gosh, ya pervert! 😉 * * * Best! Byz Voted most sex obsessed. (Yeah, blow me smart ass!) ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/8 "2000-03-25T13:17:00Z")
Now that we’re on the subject… > [@](#): > > Voted most sex obsessed. (Yeah, blow me smart ass!) ## Am I the only one who finds the two sentences _very_ ironic when put together? 😉 You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/9 "2000-03-25T14:10:00Z")
IMHO, there’s a lot of intelligence here and a lot of bad language here - but the two seldom show up on the same post. (Make that IMNSHO) ---
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/10 "2000-03-25T15:33:00Z")
I agree with Byzantine. Those words can be VERY effective for getting your point across (when they’re used in moderation, of course). If somebody swears in every post, the words start to lose meaning coming from them. But when dispensed somewhat judiciously, they can really hammer home a point. * * * “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” -Winston Churchill ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/11 "2000-03-25T16:28:00Z")
plus, you don’t need spell-check! “We recieved paralel vacumes.” ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/12 "2000-03-26T06:11:00Z")
I “cuss” because I do not find the subset of posts herein determined to be “intelligent” and the post subset designated “cuss-filled” to be mutually excusive. The ultilization of the vernacular, regardless of how caustic the terms are to a casual observer, does not indicate a lack of intellectual prowess. Therefore, I fail to see the purported inconsistency. Fucknut. * * * **Gypsy** : Tom, I don’t get you. **Tom Servo** : Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby. ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/13 "2000-03-25T20:03:00Z")
(rising to face the judge) You honor, the prosecution rests its case. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/14 "2000-03-26T13:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Larry-Boy: > **It is really not an offense thing. I am just curious. There seems to be an extraordinary amount of intelligence here. What makes someone feel they need to swear on every post? With the exception of flaming, I would assume that you could all find other words that would better express your thoughts. Just curious.** ## Well, a few points. First off, who says we feel the “need” to swear? What if we just _want_ to? Also, I don’t buy into the whole swearing = unintelligent/small vocabulary thing. I mean sure, people who fuckin’ say some fuckin’ swear word every fuckin’ other word, yeah that sounds fuckin’ lame. But swearing is a quite legitimate way to emphasize speech and writing. It gives a different tone (not always negative, either, it’s a matter of context) and feel that other words don’t. – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/15 "2000-03-26T13:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > But swearing is a quite legitimate way to emphasize speech and writing. It gives a different tone (not always negative, either, it’s a matter of context) and feel that other words don’t. There are people who live their entire lives without swearing. I have not uttered a single swear word in ten years. (I’m very proud of that fact, by the way) It’s just not neccessary, no matter _what_ the circumstance. And no, I don’t see it as “legitimate,” in any way shape or form. * * * “Life is hard…but God is good” ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/16 "2000-03-26T13:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by ARG220: > There are people who live their entire lives without swearing. I have not uttered a single swear word in ten years. (I’m very proud of that fact, by the way) It’s just not neccessary, no matter _what_ the circumstance. And no, I don’t see it as “legitimate,” in any way shape or form. Please show me where I said it was neccessary. ## I don’t really care if you think it’s legitimate or not. I’m sure you and I would disagree on whether a great deal of things were legitimate. Swearing has a valid place. You may not like it, but that isn’t the point. – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/17 "2000-03-26T14:02:00Z")
- Swearing has a valid place \* Again that is a matter of opinion. I’ve heard all through the educational years…just like Larry-boy about the limited volcabulary. That swearing is due to a limit of words. I think it is used more as a “shock” tool. Take for instance the movie Gone With the Wind. The last lines spoken by Rhett were certainly shockers to viewers at that time not used to it. It’s totally up to the poster on whether or not they use them, I think they are unnecessary, but hey, if it makes you feel better have at it. Some men like women who curse like a sailor. Then again, some don’t. * * * _I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it._ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/18 "2000-03-26T14:31:00Z")
Opal, I never said that you said it was neccessary. Sorry if I implied that. I don’t think that swearing has a valid place either. But, we’ll just have to disgaree on that. Adam ---
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/19 "2000-03-26T15:12:00Z")
I seldom swear when using the spoken word. I only swear with the written word when I’m really, really ticked. (See the Telemarketing thread for an A#1 example.) Either way, I’d much rather have someone express themselves with cursing than violence. Just something to think about… * * * My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny. ---
**Author:** ![Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/97f17d/32.png) [@Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nu_Vo_Da_Da)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/20 "2000-03-27T06:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > (rising to face the judge) You honor, the prosecution rests its case. Here is a good example of how swear words can improve a sentence. For instance, > [@](#): > > (rising to face the judge) You honor, the prosecution rests its fucking case. Doesn’t that just sound better? * * * Still later, Gerald did a terrible thing to Elsie with a saucepan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832.md?page=2)