Those who know me are well aware of my frequent use of curse words. To most, this comes as a surprise because I am a sweet, seemingly-innocent, young woman who “shouldn’t be swearing.” I’m professional and parent-approved. So, why does it seem behind closed doors I can let the F-bomb fly? Simple: because it feels good. There is nothing quite like being excited in a moment and using those taboo words we were taught not to say.
- Stubbing your toe, or hitting your funny bone. There’s nothing like using the F-word to truly express the anger and frustration I feel in that moment. Research suggests that swearing is a great way to release tension. And better yet, you verbalize your emotion instead of externalizing it physically. Which is better: using some “taboo words” or becoming violent?
- My perfectly-timed usage of swear words can truly convey my sincerity in a moment. For example, while attending a concert I could simply say: “I’m having fun!” Or, a more flavorful response could be: “This concert is f***ing awesome!” Which do you believe?
- Swearing leads to confidence. Hear me out: When someone isn’t afraid of using these naughty words in public, they gain a level of self-confidence that really lets them break down barriers and easily communicate what they are trying to tell someone.
- Another aspect of swearing is learning when NOT to swear, or what level of cursing is appropriate. It might be acceptable to say “sh*t” around colleagues but maybe don’t go full throttle and drop that F-bomb. Some people can be touchy. Which leads me to acknowledge that we should always be cognizant as to who is around us. If you are meeting someone for the first time, maybe don’t use your entire list of spicy words but save some for later. Also, the right thing to do would also be to try not to swear around children. It just seems wrong to swear around children.
- Linguistic Myth No. 1: Swearing doesn’t mean someone is stupid. Nor is it a reflection of social class or education. Everyone swears. There is power in these words, and the history is vast when it comes to how these words appeared on the “Naughty List.” There is an innate drive in people that makes them want to swear. We can even see this in children when they first learn to swear. We hear others say these words, and we want to, too.
This isn’t to tell you to go up to your boss tomorrow, or even today, and use the most vulgar language possible. There should still be words we don’t say, especially ones that lead to hate speech or defamation. However, I think there are some words we can dare to say without crossing a line.