RSS Feeds: Watch your language, young man!
Before I joined the military in 1978, I never cursed, cussed, swore or whatever you want to call it. With eight siblings constantly around, I would've surely been smacked when uttering obscenities. After joining the military and before getting married, it was different story.
Between September of 1978 and January of 1985, every other sentence I spoke contained some form of vulgar language. I toned it down a bit after getting married in 1985, but I didn't stop doing it completely until later, as my boys started growing up.
One time in the late eighties (possibly 1988), I took my wife and kids to visit my parents. Whenever I visited, other siblings would somehow manage to be there as well. While I was talking to one of my brothers, I must have said something vulgar because my mother yelled at me, "Watch your language, young man!", and to this day I can't remember what it was that I said.
As time progressed, I learned that using the correct words for all the expletives was much more effective than swearing. Military people were so conditioned to hear the foul language that the correct terminology sounded foul to them. Nowadays, it takes considerable effort to actually use foul language in every day speech and probably more effort to include it in any writings.
When reading other blogs, and I won't dime anyone out, I find it rather annoying to come across those colorful metaphors that really don't belong there. The point can be made with much more eloquent writing or even with the proper terms for such things. This is an open plea for all writers to examine their work and see if something can be written a little less offensively. You do, after all, want me to read your writings, right?
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I agree. Too many swear words are not just annoying. They reduce the effect of an otherwise good argument.
Well written, well spoken but cutting words are a lot more effective, especially in writing.
I agree 100% here RT. It just isn't necessary to use foul language. Law enforcement was pretty good for it too. It started to change in the early 90s though. Have a great day.
Commonly referred to as "potty mouth", it doesn't add to any conversation at all in my own humble opinion.
The language has grown considerably more coarse over the years — I would never have cussed in front of my parents the way my own kids (girls too!) have cussed in mine. And when they are by themselves (or think they are) — heavens! And just as often in IM's — written there for the world to see.
I try and explain: First, you need to control your language because there are certain settings in which indelicate language will get you in serious trouble (in court, for instance). Second, I say, these words have power — and you're using them for trivial reasons. What will you have left to say when you're really angry — or really hurt?
But this is, I fear, a losing battle.
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