Why do the Irish not realise swearing is offensive?

Yorky · 13-02-2013 01:09PM #1

It never ceases to amaze me how much the Irish swear- just in routine conversation & the more relaxed they seem to be the more profane they get. Men & women alike - young or old - men in front of women, women to women, women to men, even adults in front of children.

It's especially cringeworthy when listening to a non-Irish national whom, after being here a while, would make a native blush. I sometimes contemplate the rude awakening they will get if they move on to another English-speaking country.

Is it simply high-level ignorance - Do they actually understand what the words mean?

super_furry · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Waaaaaaaaah!

listermint · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Its not offensive.

You sir offend me with your off the cuff comments and general sneary attitude

Reoil · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Oh **** off. They're just words. Go and find something significant to be offend by.

Mocha Joe · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Because it isn't.

LostBoy101 · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

If you go to England, you'll find the same there. It's not just in Ireland it's everywhere.

An Coilean · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Why should Irish people give a toss what you find offencive?

FatherLen · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

it's only offensive if you let yourself get offended by it.

they are only words ffs.

Da Shins Kelly · 13-02-2013 01:11PM

Swearing isn't that offensive.

Henlars67 · 13-02-2013 01:12PM

Great, another thread about people being offended for no good reason.

If you're offended by someone throwing in a 'f***' mid-sentence then you need to get a life.

Tiddlypeeps · 13-02-2013 01:13PM

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHDxqigCco4/TpeLXt1w0GI/AAAAAAAADf8/4_aWa4D_QEE/s1600/fry.jpg

smash · 13-02-2013 01:13PM

Yorky wrote: »

Is it simply high-level ignorance - Do they actually understand what the words mean?

No, clearly we're all thick :rolleyes:

davet82 · 13-02-2013 01:13PM

ah go and fcuk off will ye :P

iDave · 13-02-2013 01:13PM

Only ethnic minorities are allowed to be offended by stuff

Monty - the one and only · 13-02-2013 01:14PM

Yorky wrote: »

Is it simply high-level ignorance - Do they actually understand what the words mean?

Thicker skins I would imagine. We just dont care as much as others might.

hawkelady · 13-02-2013 01:14PM

You should try swearing op. the louder the better .. It'll make you feel better about your f#*king self.

frank reynolds · 13-02-2013 01:16PM

it doesnt show ignorance, its just a cvnting dialect. fvck sake,. sh!t

Sofiztikated · 13-02-2013 01:17PM

Noone is that offended.

Why? Because few people are actually listening to each other, they're just waiting for their turn to talk.

gobnaitolunacy · 13-02-2013 01:17PM

Whatever about Irish, couldn't believe how Aussie women in a particular bar in regional Oz turned the air blue with repeated use of the word 'cnut'..... pronounced 'cant'. I wouldn't mind the odd f word but this was a whole new level of swearing.

faceman · 13-02-2013 01:19PM

OP, why don't you just go **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** which is also my bank PIN number.

What are we talking about again?

MurdyWurdy · 13-02-2013 01:21PM

because it's not offensive.

Also, other nationalities swear just as much. In NZ the term cúnt is even used as a term of endearment, as in "he's a good cúnt". Is that offensive?

Living there (and watching Jim Jefferies stand-up) made me embrace the beauty that is the c word - sometimes other words just won't do. I keep it for special occasions though!

mike65 · 13-02-2013 01:23PM

Swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate

BizzyC · 13-02-2013 01:23PM

I live in London, and I can say it's worse here.

The word c*nt gets thrown around an unbelievable amount.

Yorky · 13-02-2013 01:24PM

Might've known the sort of replies that Boards would attract...

endacl · 13-02-2013 01:27PM

It's only swearing if you mean it.

FFS

super_furry · 13-02-2013 01:27PM

mike65 wrote: »

Swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate

Not at all. You tell me of a word that has the same meaning, impact and felixibility as fcuk.

Yorky · 13-02-2013 01:27PM

mike65 wrote: »

Swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate

With the exception of this one. It simply displays a distinct lack of vocabulary.

krudler · 13-02-2013 01:27PM

Fuck is the greatest word in the English language.

Agricola · 13-02-2013 01:27PM

Because over our long history of colonization, oppression, famine, church and state sponsored depravity and economic disasters, we have realized that there are far more offensive things in this world than words.

FatherLen · 13-02-2013 01:28PM

Yorky wrote: »

With the exception of this one. It simply displays a distinct lack of vocabulary.

how?
You can't keep throwing out these statements without at least trying to explain them.

jimjimjimmy · 13-02-2013 01:28PM

Aussies swear just as much if not more than the Irish. Especially the word c*nt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-SUhJT3g1c

Why do the Irish not realise swearing is offensive?

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