Swearing and generation gaps

[brightlotusmoon]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89127830

I didn't utter a single "bad" swear word until I was a senior in high school. I never found any reason to, having no real friends outside of a scant few acquaintances. Some of my classmates actually started daring me to give them the middle finger, to say "fuck" or "shit." I think they found me to be a fascinating puzzle.
When I was little, my parents said "shit" and "fuck" around the house, and explained to me that most people didn't like when children said those words, so I just didn't say them, although I knew exactly what they meant in every context. My parents educated me well about that. My father, however, having been a Navy sailor in the late 1950's and early 1960's, made it a point to never swear even as his shipmates threw curse words around like confetti. He had instilled in me the understanding that those words were so offensive to most people that they were often forbidden, especially around kids. Even today, my dad gets easily shocked when he hears me curse. A couple of years ago when Adam and I were home for Thanksgiving, we were all watching Spiderman 2. There was a scene where Mary Jane was on a floor, about to be crushed by falling debris, and I just blurted out at the screen, "Oh would you just move, you stupid fucking cunt!" My father actually jumped a few inches out of his chair and his eyes got really wide. Adam and my mother burst out laughing. It really was funny. My dad finally saw the humor in it; he was just thoroughly stunned that his "baby girl" could curse that powerfully.
When I was a teenager, I was endlessly amused when friends of my parents told me to put my hands over my ears because they were "going to say a bad word" or that they'd say, "Oh, sorry, Joanna, I shouldn't have used that language in front of you." Even when I hit my twenties. I still looked like a teenager. Older adults didn't seem to realize that I was cursing like a sailor under my breath more than they knew.

Comments

[opheliasxflower.livejournal.com]

hehe, a friend of mine used to dare me to say the word "hell." He was like someone trying to teach a little girl a new word: "Say hell! Come on, say it!" When I asked him why he cared so much whether I cursed or not, he said it would "prepare me for the real world." Right. I refused to say it because his explanation wasn't good enough for me.

Now I curse a lot. My mom once commented on it, giving me the wide-eyed look of terror. "I've NEVER heard you curse so much. Ever." Maybe its just because I'm an angrier person now, or because I'm not used to hearing people express themselves in any other way. Even when I'm watching comedy skits, every other word is bleeped out - and this is coming from a person who is supposedly in a really good mood and is happy with life. I can understand cursing while angry, but why would you promote negativity with your words when you're HAPPY?

Anyway, that's my two cents. See ya!

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

*grins* I hear ya. I feel the same way.

[poelaramont.livejournal.com]

The first time I swore, I was totally alone, and it was relevant to the situation (wanted to get in a car and the door was locked, so I said "damn" or something). I felt so guilty I went back inside and apologized to my mom.

I think I had the foulest mouth among my friends. I'm pretty sure they pointed that out to me, like I was the alcoholic at the party where everyone is drinking.

I try not to curse too much nowadays, but I'm not perfect, especially when mad. There are some words I do not say, though, because they just strike me as wrong (anatomical swears, generally female). And I almost NEVER swear in my writing. I feel like it will turn people off of my stories.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I don't like words like "cunt" myself, but I've caught myself muttering it on a few occasions. I'm training myself out of it.

[poelaramont.livejournal.com]

But you just typed it, so you've set your training back.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Back to training I go. Infinite loop, see.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Heh. For our high school writers' workshop I had to address that issue, disclaimering that I've been in military families, grad school and newspaper newsrooms, so there was absolutely nothing I hadn't heard or probably said (or screamed) at one point or another and begging apologies if I said something nasty during the conference. (I think I managed to keep it to one "hell," so not too bad.)

"English is an ugly, lurching fool of a language."
"But it communicates hate well."
"That is nothing to be proud of."

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I may need to quote that quote. That's wonderful.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't.

That's the work I blame most for my current state of being.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I've never even heard of that comic. Neat!

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

*Giggles*

Another Eerie Similarity. I Was The Same Way About Swearing {To The Point Where I Was Nicknamed "Sister Immaculata" In High School. LOL!} And Oddly Enough, My Grandfather {Who I Lived With From The Day I Was Born} Was Also A Navy Man And A WWII Veteran And He Also Never Swore. Especially Around Ladies And Children. *G*

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Wow. We really need to meet in real life some day. These similarities have surpassed eerie and crossed into "Are you my long lost twin?" territory.

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

I Agree! We Really Do!