Why do the Irish not realise swearing is offensive?

Mark Tapley · 13-02-2013 01:29PM

Op you are a sensitive little flower, too good for this world. insert sarky emoticon

mike65 · 13-02-2013 01:31PM

super_furry wrote: »

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

You're missing my point (quite deliberately I'd suggest), there is an art to the use of foul language but most people use swear words like a sawn off shot gun in a hen house. Its a lazy shorthand for people who are essentially ignorant and proud to be.

runawaybishop · 13-02-2013 01:32PM

mike65 wrote: »

Swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate

Swearing is a really important part of one's life. It would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing... There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who used to say swearing was a sign of a poor vocabulary -such utter nonsense. The people I know who swear the most tend to have the widest vocabularies and the kind of person who says swearing is a sign of a poor vocabulary usually have a pretty poor vocabulary themselves... The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest or -is just a ****ing lunatic... I haven't met anybody who's truly shocked at swearing, really, they're only shocked on behalf of other people. Well, you know, that's preposterous... or they say 'it's not necessary'. As if that should stop one doing it! It's not necessary to have coloured socks, it's not necessary for this cushion to be here, but is anyone going to write in and say 'I was shocked to see that cushion there, it really wasn't necessary'? No, things not being necessary is what makes life interesting -the little extras in life.

Stephen Fry on the joys of swearing. Stephen Fry: Guilty, BBC4, September 8th 2007

mike65 wrote: »

You're missing my point (quite deliberately I'd suggest), there is an art to the use of foul language but most people use swear words like a sawn off shot gun in a hen house. Its a lazy shorthand for people who are essentially ignorant and proud to be.

Did you just stereotype most people as lazy and ignorant because they swear? How ironic.

Where To · 13-02-2013 01:32PM

The OP has a ****ing point in fairness. I cringe sometimes when I hear the language of people here. A lot of it is ****ing filthy.

super_furry · 13-02-2013 01:33PM

mike65 wrote: »

Its a lazy shorthand for people who are essentially ignorant and proud to be.

That's an entirely different argument to 'swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate'.

Caliden · 13-02-2013 01:33PM

“It’s now very common to hear people say, ‘I’m rather offended by that.’ As if that gives them certain rights; it’s actually nothing more….. It’s simply a whine. It’s no more than a whine. ‘I find that offensive,’ it has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. ‘I am offended by that.’ Well so fcking what?”

- Stephen Fry

Yorky · 13-02-2013 01:34PM

mike65 wrote: »

You're missing my point (quite deliberately I'd suggest), there is an art to the use of foul language but most people use swear words like a sawn off shot gun in a hen house. Its a lazy shorthand for people who are essentially ignorant and proud to be.

Well said. It does have its uses & has a far greater impact if used selectively for emphasis. I used to have a boss who could be incredibly profane but was fully in control of when to use it; Never in front of women or polite conversation & only in extreme emphasis.

smash · 13-02-2013 01:34PM

Caliden wrote: »

“It’s now very common to hear people say, ‘I’m rather offended by that.’ As if that gives them certain rights; it’s actually nothing more….. It’s simply a whine. It’s no more than a whine. ‘I find that offensive,’ it has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. ‘I am offended by that.’ Well so fcking what?”

- Stephen Fry

post #11

krudler · 13-02-2013 01:35PM

Yorky wrote: »

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

Assuming that because a person swears implies a lack of vocabulary is far more ignorant than swearing itself.

HTML5! · 13-02-2013 01:36PM

Did you ever hear of context? It's quite f*ckin' important here I think...

Dravokivich · 13-02-2013 01:37PM

Yorky wrote: »

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

Meaning through spoken communication requires intention and with the casual use of swearing in the manner that we generally do, offence usually isn't intended.

Yorky · 13-02-2013 01:38PM

runawaybishop wrote: »

Swearing is a really important part of one's life. It would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing... There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who used to say swearing was a sign of a poor vocabulary -such utter nonsense. The people I know who swear the most tend to have the widest vocabularies and the kind of person who says swearing is a sign of a poor vocabulary usually have a pretty poor vocabulary themselves... The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest or -is just a ****ing lunatic... I haven't met anybody who's truly shocked at swearing, really, they're only shocked on behalf of other people. Well, you know, that's preposterous... or they say 'it's not necessary'. As if that should stop one doing it! It's not necessary to have coloured socks, it's not necessary for this cushion to be here, but is anyone going to write in and say 'I was shocked to see that cushion there, it really wasn't necessary'? No, things not being necessary is what makes life interesting -the little extras in life.

Stephen Fry on the joys of swearing. Stephen Fry: Guilty, BBC4, September 8th 2007

Did you just stereotype most people as lazy and ignorant because they swear? How ironic.

It's pointless even attempting to reason with the likes of this

MurdyWurdy · 13-02-2013 01:38PM

Yorky wrote: »

Never in front of women

because we women are so weak and would swoon and faint at our poor, delicate little earsies hearing such uncouth language?

I think we can take hearing a bit of swearing - it doesn't kill you

runawaybishop · 13-02-2013 01:40PM

Yorky wrote: »

It's pointless even attempting to reason with the likes of this

Then why did you bother quoting it? Feel free to launch into a discussion about how swearing is linked to poor intelligence, or just lazily stereotype people.

krudler · 13-02-2013 01:40PM

Yorky wrote: »

Well said. It does have its uses & has a far greater impact if used selectively for emphasis. I used to have a boss who could be incredibly profane but was fully in control of when to use it; Never in front of women or polite conversation & only in extreme emphasis.

How sexist, as if women's poor little ears can't handle a swear word, little flowers that they are. I know and work with plenty of women who swear.

Seaneh · 13-02-2013 01:41PM

In my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqPcjm-X5GQ

ejmaztec · 13-02-2013 01:41PM

BizzyC wrote: »

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

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

Near the Tourettes ghetto?

I find those at the bottom of the social ladder in the UK have mouths like drains, whereas the rest of the people restrain themselves, and "ladies", for example, only swear when it slips out.

In Ireland there's no fucking restraint from anyone, whichever bit of the ladder the person happens to be on.

sheesh · 13-02-2013 01:41PM

Yorky wrote: »

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?

women ? swearing ? Oh Saints preserve us! :eek:

someone phone joe duffy.

**** off!

13-02-2013 01:41PM

MurdyWurdy wrote: »

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!

Cunt is such an excellent word, it's onomatopoeic (spelled that properly first time without spellcheck, get in! :pac: ) for all it's uses, whether "You're a funny ****" or when a computer crashes and you call it a ****, or on rare occasions in the boudoir. :pac:

krudler · 13-02-2013 01:41PM

Yorky wrote: »

It's pointless even attempting to reason with the likes of this

An articulate argument?

miller50841 · 13-02-2013 01:42PM

Who gives a Sh1t.

Dravokivich · 13-02-2013 01:43PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Cunt is such an excellent word, it's onomatopoeic (spelled that properly first time without spellcheck, get in! :pac: ) for all it's uses, whether "You're a funny ****" or when a computer crashes and you call it a ****, or on rare occasions in the boudoir. :pac:

I usually blurt out something along the lines lines of

"come on ya hoer ya"

in such circumstances.

13-02-2013 01:46PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

I usually blurt out something along the lines lines of

"come on ya hoer ya"

in such circumstances.

All 3?
If I could pronounce it like Frank I'd say it all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC7hZY3sVxE

13-02-2013 01:46PM

Yorky wrote: »

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

Why do you even care. I wouldn't really have a sentence without a so called "swear word" (why is the term swear word even used it makes no sense).

I couldn't imagine not using them. You would really want to get a bit of sense and stop worrying about a few words.

SB2013 · 13-02-2013 01:46PM

I understand if the swearing is directed at you in a verbal attack but I can't see how using swear words in general conversation is offensive. You only find it offensive if you've been led to believe it's offensive. It strikes me as strange that people have no problem hearing the word rape or the phrase sexual assault but cringe when they hear a "vulgar" term for having sex.

hooradiation · 13-02-2013 01:47PM

mike65 wrote: »

Swearing is the refuge of the inarticulate

And that trite soundbite is the hallmark of the intolerably dull.

MurdyWurdy · 13-02-2013 01:47PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Cunt is such an excellent word, it's onomatopoeic (spelled that properly first time without spellcheck, get in! :pac: ) for all it's uses, whether "You're a funny ****" or when a computer crashes and you call it a ****, or on rare occasions in the boudoir. :pac:

Buttonftw - he/she's a good cúnt

BBDBB · 13-02-2013 01:47PM

Your question was "Why do the Irish not realise swearing is offensive? "

I think the above shows that they (the Irish) dont necessarily agree that it is offensive and of those that do think its offensive, a good proportion dont seem to give a ****

Son Of A Vidic · 13-02-2013 01:48PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

In Ireland there's no fucking restraint from anyone

Irony, you'll see it when you read it.

CreepingDeath · 13-02-2013 01:50PM

Yorky wrote: »

It never ceases to amaze me how much the Irish swear- just in routine conversation

English offended by different culture shock !

Actually, about 20 years ago when a gang of us went for a weekend away to London, we got the ferry then train down.

Some natives got offended by the language of some of our group, called the transport police and got 2 of our friends thrown off the train.

I think some of the English are still hung up about their middle/upper class legacy... as if they still live in Downton Abbey or something !

Why do the Irish not realise swearing is offensive?

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