Did some person, one day, decide that the "F word" was bad?\nWhy are certain words accepted and others considered profane?
217799
Fashion decides which words are okay, which words are sacred and which words are profane.  Usually driven by self-appointed arbiters of "decency".  It's actually an interesting subject if you dig into it a bit.
484295
The truth of the matter is that we live in a society which has itchy ears and no longer desires to hear truth.  Hate speech, to any common-sense type of person, would be any insult by the use of what is commonly known as insulting words such as telling a person that he is the son of a female dog, and so on.  However, in this day and age there are groups of people who live destructive lifestyles and no longer what to hear others criticize them and so they call the criticism "hate speech."  An example of this would be the homosexual community which is trying so hard to gain acceptance in the minds of the average person that it has gone as far as trying to ennact laws to curb the opinion of others in regard to their lifestyle eventhough everybody knows that homosexuality is a destructive lifestyle.  What is next, the pedophile way of life?  In Sweden, I hear, it is legal for a minor to engage in sex with an adult.  Is America next?  Not if the common man doesn't agree.  The "N" word is obviously wrong since it degrades the black race as a whole simply because of its color without regard for its contribution to society.  \nHate speech is a new term created by the hypocrite intolerant of today who does not want to hear the truth about its destructive lifestyle be it homosexual or other.  It is funny to note that they ask for tolerance for themselves while denying the God-given rights of others to have their own opinions and preferences when they disagree with theirs.\nMr. M on "hate speech."
273541
Everyone is wrong except the guy who said it was from Anglo-Saxon.  "F..k" has a long pedigree in the Germanic languages.  It was found in Proto-Germanic about 2500 years ago as the verb *fukan 'have intercourse'.  This was not vulgar at that time and was a euphemism for some older word.  Ultimately, it comes from Proto-Indo-European *pug- "to strike", from which we get the borrowed Latin form pugilism 'boxing'.
39459
I personally dont get offended by them because they were always my second language.  I do however think they can make a person sound extremely unintelligent when they use them simply for shock value.  I think that as we mature though, it does seem to make you cringe when people curse with every other word out of their mouth.  I can have a pretty dirty mouth when I get angry, or when I smash my thumb with a hammer or something- but in everyday conversation, whats the point?  Is it to sound "cool?"  I remember I used to do it for that reason when I was like 8, but when the thrill wore off- it just seemed like those words really didnt have any real purpose for being in my sentances, but I didnt get offended by them- more like turned off I guess.\n\nIf I meet someone and we are just having a conversation, and profanity takes up most of their conversation, I just think they are ignorant for the most part.  I am used to it though, so sometimes the profanity seems more natural in certain situations.\n\nTaking Gods name in vain though, I think that is absolutely offensive because it is against the religious beliefs of many, whether you understand it or not- it does offend a lot of people.\n\nby the way, tranced- you didnt offend me either,you just gave me a bad impression of you. Your comments are ignorant because the truth is, if everyone believed in Jesus there wouldnt be any arguments, so the world wouldnt be so messed up. Like it or not its true, because if everyone believed in something moral - no matter what it is- we would all agree on that morality.  So, to show you the ignorance in your statement- it is ridiculous to blame Christians for the worlds troubles when the worlds troubles are rooted in things that go AGAINST Christian belief!\n\nSometimes a little reason- goes a long way, no matter what your beliefs are.
476967
This is not the answer that you're looking for.\n\nI just have a major bee in my bonnet about the abhorrent standard of English used in this media.\n\nThanks. I have got it off my chest now !
586274
"Terms of profanity have historically been taboo words. Some words originally considered profane have become much less offensive with the increasing secularity of society, while others, primarily racial or ethnic epithets which can be considered part of hate speech, have become increasingly taboo."\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity#History\n\nCursing/swearing/using profane language is, in a small way, "crossing the border" into that place where we're not supposed to be.  It is a small, and yes most of the time childish, way of rebelling against the status-quo.\n\nUnfortunately many of the words uttered traditionally in cursing have now become so common place in conversation, TV, movies, popular music, that many people who utter/hear these terms have become "immune" to their senses of "taboo" any more.\n\nIn short... cursing is usually a small form of rebellion against societal morality which is becoming more the norm rather than the exception.\n\nI should add here that there are places in literature/dramatic arts/life where cursing is meaningful and effective.  I saw a movie years ago where a mother lost her child to a terrible disease.  There is a point in the movie where, soon after her child's death, the mother goes out into her yard and night and yells at God....  "Damm you!  Damm you!"  (and yes... I'm misspelling the curse word to make sure it passes yahoo's screener).   Cursing God is a big "taboo" in all major religions but the intensity of her feelings is brought out in her doing this.... her anger at God/the Universe and her deep love for her child. \n\nThere are times, when used selectively, when cursing has a deep impact in transmitting feelings/emotions.\n\nBill
312092
Yes, that was very rude. I don't know why today's society thinks it's ok to use foul language and be so rude. Almost every other sentence of a teenager contains something like screw you, or a swear word. Children just aren't learning manners and respect and their carrying it onto the next generation. If it really offended you report abuse on him.
607504
Some people just feel the need to be vulgar without any real reason for it.  I have found that there isn't really a lot of religious tolerance demonstrated on this forum.  I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but I also try to respect the views and beliefs of the other religions of this forum.  Someone else on this site asked once, "why can't we just agree to disagree?"  The foul language isn't necessary.
414396
There's NOTHING wrong with that question. What most likely happened is that someone who has serious hang-ups of a sexual nature got offended by it and reported it. Often, the Yahoo censor system just automatically removes questions that are reported instead of going thru the trouble of actually adjudicating. Saves time, and time=money.
23343
depends on the "polite company".  You can judge.\nIt really isn't a "bad" word, I have used it around my students many times.\nIt did start from oral sex, but has developed beyond that, much the same as the word "jerk" started from the word that means self gratification (****off) but has evolved past the vulgarity.
297475
One thing to keep in mind is that the words that are okay today are the "non-PC" words of tomorrow. It's funny how terms come in and go out of vogue. \n\n(For example, people used to use the word, "dwarf" for someone suffering "dwarfism" -- now the term is "little person." Eventually people will tire of that, the term will be decried as bad, and another one will be chosen.)\n\nSome people understand this and see terms like "retarded" as just words, and aren't offended by its general usage. Other people are more sensitive and will become heavily offended. It's strange how different the sorts of reaction can be -- sometimes VERY strong in either direction, all over the same word. \n\nI usually just try to remain aware of why I use certain words, and which situations might demand a higher level of sensitivity even if the word doesn't bother me particularly.
582937
absolutely...i hate seeing the "bad" words on here...i have reported a few of them, but it would take for ever to report everyone who does it...and they might not be punished
541522
You know what.  You're right.  I mean, way back when, when the British used the acronym F.U.C.K. for rape victims, it wasn't a bad word and now it is.  And we do have so many crazy rules and regulations.  People should have common sense enough to at least follow the 10 rules God gave us.  Those are really the only rules we need to live by anyway.  Like thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, thou shall not commit adultery, etc., etc..... It's crazy and I do not know why we have so many rules to follow.  So, sorry I couldn't really answer it.
415953
For a while yes.  I used to staff on an on-line RPG that had a rule against profanity.  Some people got pretty creative but they did tend to forget that the staff was from all over the world and would catch them eventually.  And there were always the other players to rat them out.
329554
I guess that's the one to use for the perverts.  Adult content, targeting minors, and obscene/profane don't seem to work.  Good to know.  Sad that chatting is worse to them than the rest.\n\nI don't mind stupid, or even irreligious, but sick is offensive to me.\n\nI've been drinking Dr. Pepper, for the record.
222296
That dragon-hoe needs to get a life..lol. \nSorry if my words are profane, I just drank a lot !\nI know I was in the wrong before, but some people just don;t know man!\nTell that girl how it is, hun!
226991
it is rude to label anything in a derogatory manner.  I am gay, and i do occasionally say it when something is just over the top "gay"... and I especially use it when I see my straight friends (who have made fun of me in the past) do something effiminate.  However that still doesn't make it right.  I can't even discuss here the things that could be labeled in politically offensive manners, but think about religious affiliations and race issues....