also..

[jezmatron]

why are swear words swear words?

What is so bad about a word?

When did people decide they were bad words? and why are they words that are associated to completely random stuff?

like a child born to an unmarried couple, or faeces?!

[Quizmonster]

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[Count_Emmup]

It was largely the prissy false modesty of the Victorian age, prior to then euphemisms were unheard of. The chamber-pot was the *******, your bottom was your arse and the lavatory (when there was one!) was the shot-house (or something similar!).

Bloody is a contraction of 'by our Lady', gor blimey = 'God blind me', strewth = 'God's truth'.

The rest are mainly earthy day-to-day Anglo-Saxon, which mealy-mouthed Victorians condemned as 'rude'!

[Quizmonster]

The Victorians have much to answer for, of course, but some of the worst of the so-called 'swear-words' - eg the 'c' and 'f' ones - were actually taboo in polite circles long before their age.

[emi-elektrik]

cant we swear on this site? oh..
Well its about if the person your saying them to takes offense. I dont think anyone in the younger generation does anymore, but i mean older people, especially those from the 30s, 40s, 50s, probably think they are terrible cause its how they were brought up. People arent that bothered nowadays an pretty soon swearings probably gonna be just accepted as common vocabulary.
The only word that i think is considered particularly as a bad word nowadays is c**t because not many people use it, so when they do its more of a shock..

[csummr1]

i've used that argument on my teachers all the time

[topogigo]

The "C" word comes from the latin Cunnus meaning what it sounds like, as in cunnilingus which is an Irish airline.

[chadad]

emi-elektric. states that swear words are not considered as offensive by the modern generation.
OK. fair enough, But as most expletives are employed in order to relieve the disgust or tension of the person who is swearing. ( Let's face it, most are very explosive ).
Sh1t, Damn, Fu*k, and especially the C-word.
What expressions do you use today to get the same effect and relief ?.
chadad

[emi-elektrik]

I dont. i just raise my voice? If i am swearing to show my anger or tension or whatever i just say them more loudly and aggresively, as i would any word. If im using them in my day to day vocabulary i just say them like id say the words radiator or bed. Normally. i dont know if it apples to everyone, but it does to everyone i know.

[johntrevor]

When frustrated ,I have been known to shout HOLLYHOCKS.