I Have Something to Say

Why do some people swear so much?

I have just come back from a quick lunch in my local pub. While I was there two men came in and sat down at the table next to me. They were ordinary respectable blokes, in their 40s I would guess, chatting quietly and amiably to each other about nothing in particular. No bother to anybody - except that virtually every noun they used was prefaced with the adjective "f***ing". Why? What is the point?

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JaggedLittlePill · 46-50, F

I am not sure why other people's conversations have to be such a bother.

Why is a descriptive word so offensive?

Why could you not move or simply tune them out?

People have no obligation to watch their words in public places for the comfort of others.

If they were being hateful towards others or confrontational ..that would be a different story .but they were having a conversation which actually did not involve you so your offense is your own.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@JaggedLittlePill: You make some good points. I think I find the word offensive, or at least annoying, in the context I described precisely because it is not used descriptively. "The f***ing beer", or "the f***ing bus", are obviously meaningless phrases.

But I disagree with your fourth point. I think everyone has an obligation to try to behave in public places, in all respects, without annoying or discomfiting others.

daydeeo · 61-69, M

@MartinII:
@JaggedLittlePill: exactly. Society rests on a foundation of mutual respect. Simple common courtesy and consideration for others goes a long way. When those attitudes are replaced by, "If you don't like it, f*** you", we find ourselves in the the sorry condition we're in today.