# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/21 "2000-03-26T19:17:00Z")
## Nu Vo Da Da: Yer God damn right, motherfucker! You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. ---
**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, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/22 "2000-03-26T21:36:00Z")
I just find it amusing that an aribrary set of words is expected to elicit a response of shock in people. People are offended by curse words merely because society demands that they be. There’s nothing inherently evil about the word “fuck”. What makes it “not legitimate”? You say swearing is unnecessary, I say being offended at swearing is even more unnecessary. * * * **Gypsy** : Tom, I don’t get you. **Tom Servo** : Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/23 "2000-03-26T23:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Some men like women who curse like a sailor. Then again, some don’t. I took a moment from my day to think about this. I guess I don’t like women that curse like sailors, but I do like women that will let one slip every now and then. Naturally, I try to…limit my speech around women, and it makes me feel more comfortable letting one fly once in a while if they do too. * * * “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” -Winston Churchill ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/24 "2000-03-27T00:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Nu Vo Da Da: Yer God damn right, motherfucker! (sigh) I’m in a battle of wits against unarmed opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/25 "2000-03-28T00:30:00Z")
Fuck, man, it’s jsut the way I talk. I don’t always have a potty mouth, but when I am relaxing in a setting that I feel comfortable, I just seem to talk that way. I don’t curse like a sailor when I’m talking to my mom, or during thanksgiving dinner, or any other place that would make me look like an asshole. But here, sometimes the people you talk to need you to smack them between the eyes with a 2x4. And since you can’t do that, you have to say something that is going to get their attention. I don’t know, it’s just the way I express myself in a relaxed setting. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/26 "2000-03-28T04:27:00Z")
I think most of you answered my question. I suppose it was more of an opinion thing. I stopped cussing about 4 years ago. At first it was a challenge, but after a few months it just came natural to me to find other words. I am not perfect or anything I have said the occasional cuss word out of severe frustration, but I choose not to in my everyday life. Just a note to end this post on: Matt 12:34b (NIV) For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ---
**Author:** ![Flinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@Flinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flinx)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/27 "2000-03-28T04:44:00Z")
Adam wrote: > [@](#): > > 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) Good for you, Adam! That’s definitely something to be proud of, and I wish I could say the same about myself. Maybe I will in ten years. 😉 * * * Lemonade…10 cents Snakes…50 cents ---
**Author:** ![mipsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mipsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipsman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/28 "2000-03-30T23:08:00Z")
“Profanity is the crutch of the inarticulate mother-fucker.” ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/29 "2000-03-31T03:02:00Z")
Have you ever read _Catcher in the Rye_? You can bearly discern the plot through all of the swearing; and, yet, it is considered one of the great American novels. And, I doubt that Salinger was at a loss for words. So I think that, even if you choose not to swear, swearing does have a valid place - if only for effect. And, I don’t swear like a sailor - but I can pop off a good one every now and then. 😃 ---
**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 31, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/30 "2000-03-31T05:44:00Z")
Brilliant mipsman, utterly brilliant. I think that might have to be my new sig. line ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/31 "2000-03-31T06:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Rousseau: > Naturally, I try to…limit my speech around women, That ain’t natural, hon. That’s socially constructed. > [@](#): > > Originally posted by Alphagene: > Fucknut Ooh. I like that. Fucknut, fucknut, fucknut. Has a great sound, don’cha think? Fucknut. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/32 "2000-03-31T07:01:00Z")
Fucknut. Fuck-fuck-fuckity-fuckfuckfuck! You’re right. That makes me feel exponentially better, especially in my line of work. What I don’t understand is why some folks seemed to be kind of mad @ larry-boy. I don’t think he was ribbin’ on anyone. He just seemed to want to know why so many people felt the need/wanted to curse. Seemed like a simple enough straight forward. Just my two fuckin’ cents, shit, I don’t want to offend anyfuckinbody. Damn. * * * “Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.” And “This site is more addictive than caramel-covered crack!” ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/33 "2000-04-01T06:01:00Z")
Since it’s the Pit I’ll submit one of my fav’s… Fuck off you… . . _It’s coming…_ . . . . _Wait for it…_ . . . …YOU FUCKING BUCKET OF FUCK! Oh yea, I feel so much better now. Mean “Bucket of Fuck” Joe * * * The Sleeper has AWAKEN! ---
**Author:** ![mrsphlem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@mrsphlem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsphlem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/34 "2000-04-02T21:42:00Z")
LEAN MACHINE, GREEN MACHINE–LARRY-BOY!! Good for you, man. It was a reasonable question. (anyone else get the reference?) ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Feelgud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Major\_Feelgud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Feelgud)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/35 "2000-04-03T06:06:00Z")
We fucking need a place to blow off steam. That’s fucking why, you stupid piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/36 "2000-04-03T10:14:00Z")
I got yer ‘inteligence’ right heaaaa, Fuck Head. ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/37 "2000-04-03T11:44:00Z")
Gentlemen, gentlemen - I rested my case here over a week ago. You all don’t have to continue arguing it for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/38 "2000-04-03T12:16:00Z")
WillGolf, can you point to a post in this thread that has no obscene language that is unarguably more intelligent than every post that contains obscenity. If you consider every post here that contains obscenity to be unintelligent, and that proves that intelligence and swearing never occur in the same post, then one of the following must be true: 1. There is a post in this thread that contains no swears and is more intelligent than any post that has a swear in it. 2. There has been nothing said in this entire thread that meets your standard for intelligence, so generalizing the results to the entire SDMB is invalid. 3. Your case hasn’t been proven. 4. You automatically consider any justification for obscenity to be unintelligent, in which case your definition of intelligence is meaningless to many of us. Personally, I think the cleverest post in the thread is “obscenity is the crutch of the inarticulate mother-fucker.” And to all you people who think that swearing indicates a small vocabulary, that’s simply wrong. In some siutations it would be appropriate to call someone a troglodyte, while at other times “fucking cave dweller” might get the point across better. Swear words, I’ve found, are remarkably flexible tools that can be used to give just the right feel in a wide variety of situations. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Feelgud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Major\_Feelgud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Feelgud)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/39 "2000-04-04T05:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by WillGolfForFood: > **Gentlemen, gentlemen - I rested my case here over a week ago. You all don’t have to continue arguing it for me. 🙂** You stupid cocksucker, let my rest my fucking case on your godamn stupid piece of shit head. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832/40 "2000-04-03T19:00:00Z")
“Obscenity is like fine jewelry. It should only be taken out and used on special occasions, or it loses its impact.” —Dorothy Parker (I think) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-all-the-inteligence-why-all-the-cussing/5832.md?page=3)