Is anyone else sick and tired of hearing the F-bomb all the time now?

[Diamond_Dog]

Was walking into Walmart earlier today and behind me were two 30-ish looking white males having an animated discussion about something in very loud voices. One of them said “I don’t give a FUCK what anyone says!”

A couple days ago I saw a woman in the grocery store wearing a t shirt that said I DON’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT something something that I don’t remember.

And of course the big FUCK BIDEN banner hanging on the house across the street from the ice cream shop I pass occasionally.

I’m not against swearing and cussing occasionally… I do it myself …. but never in public the way people seem to do it now. Must be a sign of the times, I guess. I’m so glad my kids are all adults.

On edit: No problem with using it here on DU because many times that’s the only word that works adequately…. I’m more tired of seeing and hearing it in public places where little kids are around.

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. Fuck no!

It's my favorite fucking word! Very fucking useful and flexible.

[OnDoutside]

12. Bollix is quite handy too.....

Ya bollix
Ah, bollix
Some bollix

[PatSeg]

49. Oh yes, I really like that one!

[PatSeg]

48. It is so overused, that it has lost its impact

Now it is often just a redundant filler-word with little or no real meaning anymore. When I watch videos of rude right-wing malcontents and instigators, every third or fourth word is a version of the F-word. They don't even have enough of a vocabulary to adequately insult or attack their adversaries.

I remember when not so long ago, it had some power and could get people's attention. Now a perfectly good swear word has been diluted by excessive and indiscriminate use. I find myself using it a lot less these days.

[boston bean]

2. No.

[mitch96]

27. +1

[Dial H For Hero]

3. Yes.

[The Wizard]

4. The primitive element

knows of no other way to communicate.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. Actually...

science says differently.

[grumpyduck]

28. I just read the article, thanks.

Years ago, I was working at an architectural firm and went to visit a job site, in my usual suit, tie, trench coat, and with the obligatory roll of drawings. So I walk past this room where a bunch of drywall guys were taking a break, and "fuck" was every other word. I didn't think anything of it, but a moment later one of them comes out, stops me, and apologizes for the language. Even called me "sir."

I didn't miss a beat. I looked at him in the eye and said, yeah, I was going to tell you to shut your fucking mouth. I'm a fucking gentleman.

He gave me this weird look, said oh, okay, and went back in. A moment later the room exploded in laughter.

From then on, every time I visited that job site, I was one of the good guys.

[Deuxcents]

30. 😎

[PatSeg]

52. In the past, I've done things like that

The F-word coming from me was often totally unexpected and would catch people off guard and break the ice. Now everyone seems to use it all the time, so such tactics don't work much anymore.

Of course, I don't think everyone swears as much as television and the movies would lead us to believe. Who are these screenwriters who believe the more "fucks" in a script, the better the ratings? Are there really viewers out there who will turn off a show or movie, because there aren't enough swear words? Sometimes, it feels like a competition. Meanwhile, MAGATs don't seem to know any other words. That alone has caused me to cut back on my swearing.

[The Wizard]

71. I swear regularly

I just don't do it in public place where some might find it offensive.

[The Wizard]

74. British and Irish TV comedy shows

substitute feck for fuck. It's effective for expressing a strong sentiment and no one is offended.

[msongs]

5. hostility, anger, aggression, bullying, all rolled into one nt

[Dirty Socialist]

6. He's still Fucker Carlson to me

[Pinback]

7. Are we in danger of losing our beloved "rat's ass"?

While I’m not generally offended by the F-word, ignoring the many other colorful options available is just lazy.

[DeeNice]

19. rat's rosy ass is a colorful option

I too am in favor of more variety and creativity in the utterances of oaths.
Fuck is just punctuation at this point.

[ChazII]

21. +1

While not clever or colorful, I will say, "Fire truck". That helped when I was still teaching in the primary grades. It went over most of my 9 year old students' heads.

[PatSeg]

57. Oh yes, I totally agree

We need to get more creative and colorful! We might look to the Brits and the Scots for some inspiration. "Custard-flavoured jobby, leather-faced piss jar, utter cockwomble, wankstain, witless cocksplat (one of my all time favorites), etc."

Shakespeare also had some great ones!

[Pinback]

64. Ha!

I remember learning some of those after Trump congratulated Scotland on voting for Brexit (which of course they didn’t). One Tweet called him an “orange-faced shitgibbon” (that one may not be traditional), and another just said “Scotland voted Remain, you spoon.”

Spoon!

[PatSeg]

69. Oh yes, I remember that too

I had a list of those insults somewhere, but I can't find it now. They can be so inspiring!

We need to get more creative. Saying "fuck you" to most people these days just doesn't really mean anything anymore, it just rolls right off. Surely, we can do much better.

Oh, I found some: "Buttplug face, fuckmuppet, Cheeto-faced ferret wearing shitgibbon!" And of course the Brits welcomed him with some priceless signs: "I'm missing Wimbledon for this, you Tangerine Wankmaggot; Its like they say, small hands = Big Asshole; White House Wanker."

We really need to up our game!

[Mme. Defarge]

8. Merde, unfortunately,

doesn’t seem to quite cut it these days.

[OnDoutside]

9. Don't ever holiday in Ireland or the UK....

[BlackSkimmer]

22. My mom was from Wales, Dad from London.

Never heard either use the word.

I have an Irish friend who uses it all the time, as well as the c word, but she comes from that sort of background.

None of my Irish or Welsh family use it. Some of my cousins, but rarely.

[OnDoutside]

23. You're the exception then. I live in Ireland and have worked in the UK over the

last 30 years. And yes the c word is used all the time in Ireland.

[RobinA]

26. True, That

I was walking down the street while vacationing in London about three years ago when a bicyclist and a car driver got into a screaming match about someone's perceived failure to yield the right of way. Both males, not youngsters, and the cyclist at least was well-groomed and put together. F-bombs flying in all directions. Except for the accents, I felt like I was home. I have to say, I was a little taken aback. I had this mistaken impression they were a little more civilized over there.

[meadowlander]

85. LOL. Reminds me of

1. Walking around Galway and the seven year old boy just ahead of me suddenly shouting "FOCK, that's me bus!" and then tearing down the street.

2. Walking in an extremely wealthy part of the Cotswolds where two elderly ladies in full QEII gear complete with headscarves and Wellies were each walking their dog in opposite directions. One dog took a little too much interest in the other one without being pulled away and as the aggrieved dog's owner walked away you could very clearly and loudly hear her say "Stupid fucking woman!" about the other one.

[Jerry2144]

10. Fuck the fucking fuckers

[LongtimeAZDem]

11. Yes

[Torchlight]

14. "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."

Mark Twain, a Biography

He was an old cuss.

[kskiska]

15. I was just saying that last night.

Last edited Mon Nov 22, 2021, 07:22 PM - Edit history (2)

Now they're even saying "bullshit" on the national news. I remember the shock when Clark Gable said "damn" in Gone With the Wind. The word "pregnant" couldn't be uttered on I Love Lucy. All of a sudden, after TFG, it's open season and anything goes.

[PatSeg]

59. Yes, the pendulum has swung to the total opposite side

A lot of really good swear words have lost their flavor and zing.

[Buckeyeblue]

16. Cussing is seasoning for language. You have to know how to use it.

[Disaffected]

17. Absolutely.

It's symptomatic of the dumbing down and disrespect of discourse we see pretty much everywhere nowadays.

Sort of like "I mean", "You know", "I'm like", but a lot worse.

[BlackSkimmer]

18. Lol, you've asked for it now. nt

[Amishman]

20. word selection doesn't bother me, tone and presentation are the key

I've heard 'I'm sorry you feel that way sir' delivered with more scorn and insult than someone saying 'fuck you' to my face.

That being said, I hate being called 'sir'. Feels old fashioned and cold.

[budkin]

24. It doesn't have the gravitas it once did

It's just become a part of our day to day lexicon tbh.

[eppur_se_muova]

25. Not tired of hearing cursing, just tired of having so many *reasons* to curse !

Increasing age will provide all the reasons you could need, so why add RWNJ ginned-up outrage and Anus Orange's outgassings to that already more-than-adequate list ? Earth would be a better place without either of those.

[njhoneybadger]

29. Yes, It really pisses me off when it's done around small children.

[happybird]

31. I come from a long line of women who can cuss like sailors

My mother is especially noted for her creativity and spontaneous invention of new, exciting, and ridiculous combinations of mundane and swear words. It was always hard for her to discipline me as a teenager because she’d get on a roll and we’d end up laughing at what had come out of her mouth.

These lovely women also taught me appropriateness. You don’t swear in front of kids, in public where others can hear you, etc, etc. You have to be able to “flip a switch” and turn it off completely.

I cannot stand seeing cuss words on bumper stickers, clothing, signs and the like. It’s disrespectful of others and selfish. It’s bad manners. It’s uncouth and self-centered. Having a sign like that on an ice cream shop is beyond the pale, imho.

My sister, who is the black sheep (evangelical, hard core republican, health nut, not really interested in music or art... we can’t figure out where she came from, but Mom swears she remembers giving birth to her) does not like cussing. It sincerely bothers her. That’s fine. We “turn it off” when around her. I cannot imagine how distressed she would have been if she had seen a banner at an ice cream shop with the F word on it, especially back when my nieces and nephew were kids.

[Bayard]

32. About all you can do,

Is wear a, Fuck Trump, tshirt.

[Voltaire2]

33. It is just a word.

It’s been in common public use for, oh about 50 years or so. Perhaps get the fuck over it already?

[LuckyCharms]

34. Is wee wee still ok?

[Magoo48]

35. Nope.

[Raine]

36. Yes. I swear a lot but I keep it at home. I'm sick of it in public, it's lost it's effectiveness. nt

[hamil]

37. Sign of weak vocabulary

In my experience, the F bomb is most often used by those who don't have a vocabulary large enough to express their opinion.

[PatSeg]

61. Yes, it is often lazy and uninspired

Welcome to DU!

[obamanut2012]

66. You are mistaken -- it is the opposite

Lots of studies on it -- another poster upthread linked to an article.

[LuckyCharms]

73. Yep. The key is to use it for either maximum impact, for emphasis,

or to express intensity. It's difficult to curse well.

There is nothing wrong with it in my mind. Words are words.

I've read several articles indicating that cursing can be a sign of intelligence.

Even if people say the word fuck five times in a sentence, it doesn't really bother me. Misogynistic or homophobic words however, some of which are curse words, do bother me.

Every one expresses themselves in the way they know how. I'd rather listen to someone curse, than know that they are clamming up because they are afraid to say what they want to say.

[NewHendoLib]

82. it's just a word.

[leftyladyfrommo]

38. I used to like it but it's become so common that it's

not any fun anymore.

Now people use "cxxx" all the time. I hate that word and never use it.

[Celerity]

42. I would advise you stay away from the UK if this is the case:

Now people use "cxxx" all the time. I hate that word and never use it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

58. I don't plan on visiting ant time soon. nt

[Jedi Guy]

60. Ditto Australia.

One of my D&D buddies is from Australia, and he cuts loose with the c-word pretty frequently. Every time he rolls a 1, for instance. Or a natural 20, for that matter. Pretty much anything can trigger the word, now I think about it...

[Celerity]

63. All over the Commonwealth, lol. Have some South African mates who are just walking curse bombs.

Deffo correct for Aussies, one of my besties is a girl from Perth by way of Zimbabwe (her family's story is insane, going back to when it was Rhodesia), and she can hold her own with anyone. I have a bad London-raised potty mouth and she can make me blush, lol.

[Jedi Guy]

65. Here's the thing, though...

A British or Australian accent adds a delightful air of whimsy to any conversation, even one in which the obscenities are flying fast and furious. And the slang is highly amusing, too. Many years ago I played a character in an RPG who was British, so I made damn sure to study up on British slang. I never regretted the time spent, and still use some of it today.

[Celerity]

68. Go to scouser (Liverpool) or brummie (Birmingham) pub and you will likely amend this:

British or Australian accent adds a delightful air of whimsy to any conversation

roflmaoooooo

[Jedi Guy]

77. Okay, you got me there.

Some British and Australian accents lend a delightful air of whimsy to any conversation. And in my experience, they're magnets in the dating game, to boot!

[BannonsLiver]

39. Americans can be pretty trashy.

That’s my view as an American.

[Celerity]

40. no

[XanaDUer2]

41. Yes nt

[AngryOldDem]

43. Yeah...I kind of am.

And I use it a lot, mainly as a stress reliever.

[Mossfern]

44. While tempted to say "fuck" often

I usually ask myself if there's a more creative way to express my sentiment.

My therapist said "fuck" in some context during our first session - I wondered why she said that - thought it may be a test to see if I would be offended? Considering that it's been more than five years with her, I've forgotten exactly what she said but apparently made some sort of impression.

[dumbcat]

45. Sadly, it's another sign of the devolving of society

I grew up in a time and place where such language was not used. It's still not used in my immediate social circle.

I think it says something about our society. It's not good.

[former9thward]

46. What is the white identification have to do with it?

Are you suggesting this is a white thing? That other races don't use it just as much? I would suggest if you don't have a problem with it on DU then that is a problem. People who use it here will use it anyplace.

[Torchlight]

91. No issue with the age identification?

I'd think what applies to one applies to the other as well.

[davsand]

47. Not sure anybidy is entitled to an opinion about it really.

My opinion on it doesn't mean much really.

I can't (and wouldn't) presume to instruct or lecture anybody else on how they should express their thoughts or opinions. I agree completely with the comment upthread that discusses the sadness and weariness with feeling such anger and dismay so much lately, but beyond that I think it's probably none of my business.

YMMV.



Laura

[Trueblue1968]

50. i read THE "F-BOMB" too often on this board too. I won't read a thread if "F" is in the title

[lamp_shade]

55. Thank you. Yes.... IMO it's used unnecessarily way too often.

[48656c6c6f20]

51. How would I warn people about republiQan ratfucking?

[johnp3907]

53. Yes.

Especially since that word usually means “rape.”

[obamanut2012]

67. lol no it doesn't

[Scrivener7]

76. In what language?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

92. I don't think that word means what you think it means.

I hope to fuck my wife tonight. It will be consensual.

[lamp_shade]

54. YES.

[KentuckyWoman]

56. I became a Betty White fan because of the F Bomb.

She dropped it on SNL. I could have cared less about her up until that point. Now I'm a fan. Not her biggest, but a fan none the less.

[GoCubsGo]

62. I'm tired of all the language police complaining about it, actually.

[mvd]

70. Not really

I rarely swear, but I don’t mind hearing it unless it’s every other word - prefer some other vocabulary be used.

BTW, here’s an amusing clip of some swearing from the Eagles game:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/eagles-fan-explains-her-viral-142747078.html

Sometimes it’s funny.

[Kingofalldems]

72. I find myself saying it now and don't like it.

I used to swear very little and only when angry.

[Scrivener7]

75. Nope.

[UTUSN]

78. It's bad enough dropped gratuitously here at DU.

[tavernier]

79. Oh gosh no! Every time I hear it I am shocked and horrified!!

That word has such power!! Why just yesterday I heard a third grader yell it into the face of a middle schooler!

Yawn.

My shit word is worth a hundred times your fuck word. You can do an awful lot with a pound of shit, even when you’re going up shit creek or down a shit hole.

[Poiuyt]

80. I find it very crass

Unless you hit your thumb with a hammer. Then it's okay.

[CrackityJones75]

81. Fuck no I fucking love that fucking shit.

[Silent3]

83. The only thing that bothers me is Joe Pesci-style f-bombs...

...which are so frequent that it's just an annoying verbal tic more than a swear word.

[meadowlander]

84. I'll be honest. It doesn't crack my top 1000 things I'm sick and tired of.

[albacore]

86. I blame the Marine Corps.... I was a sweet, impressionable youth ... and then....

[Tarc]

87. The fuck I'm not

[ecstatic]

88. What's interesting to me is how basic cable networks are going all in now

I'm currently watching a couple of cheesy but entertaining shows on Syfy and USA. F-bombs are dropped regularly now. A few years ago I thought there was a limit to how much could be said in one show. That said, I don't mind. It adds authenticity to the script. Lol.

[Autumn]

89. Get used to it or wear ear plugs. The word fuck is here to stay.

Gonna hear it a lot. It's the word that best fits the fucking time we are in.

[progressoid]

90. "Freaky Mothafocka" - David Sedaris.

They were like children from a catalogue. The little girl’s skirt was a red-and-white check, and matched the ribbon that banded her straw hat. Her brother was wearing a shirt and tie. It was a clip-on, but, still, it made him and his sister the best-dressed people in line, much better than the family ten or so places ahead of them. That group consisted of a couple in their mid-fifties and three teen-agers, two of whom were obviously brothers. The third teen-ager, a girl, was holding a very young baby. I suppose it could have been a loaner, but the way she engaged with it—the obvious pride and pleasure she was radiating—led me to believe that the child was hers. Its father, I guessed, was the kid standing next to her, the taller and more visually dynamic of the brothers. The young man’s hair was almost orange, and drooped from his head in thin, lank braids. At the end of each one, just above the rubber band, was a colored bead the size of a marble. Stevie Wonder wore his hair like that in the late seventies, but he’s black. And blind. Then, too, Stevie Wonder didn’t have acne on his neck, and wear baggy denim shorts that fell midway between his knees and his ankles. Topping it off was the kid’s T-shirt. I couldn’t see the front of it, but printed in large letters across the back were the words “Freaky Mothafocka.”

I didn’t know where to start with that one. Let’s see, I’m flying on a plane with my parents and my infant son, so should I wear the T-shirt that says “Orgasm Donor,” “I’m No Gynecologist but I’m Willing to Take a Look,” or, no, seeing as I’ll have the beaded cornrows, I think I should go with “Freaky Mothafocka.”

more...https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/09/standing-by

[Cuthbert Allgood]

93. The OP absolutely doesn't want to read Sedaris.

I feel he's a treasure, but his language might not be a fit for them.

[progressoid]

94. I saw Sedaris read that live a few years ago.

It was doubly funny because I was with a family member that resembled the grandmother in the story. Including voting Republican.