i dont think there is anything wrong with swearing in itself and i certainly dont think it means you are scum - i am aure the royal family swear sometimes, and i am sure many upper class toffs and well educated people do
it is more the WAY they are used that defines the user, i think
some one who peppers their language with random swear words in the hope of sounding cool or tough - such as a teenager might, is probably the most pointless and ill educated usage, but using them in certain circumstances, usually to punctuate extemes of emotion i think it is quite normal and acceptable...
obviously thoughts to who may over hear and who you are actually with at the time would dictatae appropriateness.