Swearing or not.

Um, no Did I miss something?

 

I have neither the time or the interest to get into a verse by verse exegesis with you. But let me say this as a general reaction to the verses you quote.

1. Unclean thoughts are really defined in some of these verses as thoughts that would do harm to another person. While swearing may offend someone's sensitivity -- misdirected sensitivity in my opinon, I believe that swearing is an amoral issue -- these unclean thought are things like "theft, false testimony, slander". You don't have to swear to slander someone. Minstrel does it to me all the time.

2. The use of the word "swear" in the verse you quote, that does specifically use that word, uses it in the sense of swear an oath or make a promise. Like swearing on the bible in a US court room. It has nothing to do with using coarse language.

In fact I would suggest at the time of translating the bible into English the word "swear" only had the meaning of swearing a solemn oath. If I was going to do bible research on this subject I'd probably look for "blasphemous" or some form of that word.

 

You are right Compar, but I would ad that if it does offend (even being overly sensitive) then that would be a form of harming someone. I know I fail in this area a lot, where words I have spoken (not swear words) have hurt someone unintentionally (well, most of the time, unintentionally.)

 

Better yet just do a Google search on that acronym and have a look at some of the web sites if you really want to be offended.

 

But that's going too far. What if someone is offended because I wear glasses? Should just go blind so as not to hurt them?

I know it is not a perfect analogy, but if someone has an irrational sensitivity -- and I believe the sensitivity to coarse language is irrational -- then surely I can't be held responsible for offending that sensitivity.

 

I didn't find it too hard to stop swearing. Now to not be a Christian like the PC crowd would want - that is going to far.

It is a balance and I can't convince you, that would have to come from you. That is were you get to exercise your choice.

 

What a generous offer, compar!

Now THAT is what I call a philanthropist

 

Holy crap...I can't believe I missed that! Personally, I'd like to think I am And sorry, but that didn't offend me. It would take a whole lot more than that.

 

I read much of this thread and then decided to stop, but I did want to say that I am one person who has never sworn. My father would never allow it when I was young and when I got older, I couldn't see the need. I still don't. One time in High School English we were reading a novel aloud, going around the room reading page by page. My section contained some sort of swear word. I deleted it when it was my turn to read. I wondered if I'd get into trouble for deleting it. I didn't. No one said anything about it at all. Years later, a classmate ran into me and said that was one of the pivotal moments in his High School life. He realized people really did have choices.

I can't imagine using my words to offend someone if I knew that's what would happen. Why would I want to do that?

I can fight evil, express my displeasure and tear strips off miscreants if necessary, all without using foul language.

If I thought this forum was full of swearing, I wouldn't want to wade around in it. No other forum I participate in has swearing. I'm not aware of any rules outlawing it, but no one does it. It's just good manners to speak politely.

 

Um......ok.
You are the first person EVER that I know of then.

I guess I'm just used to it. My brother has Tourette Syndrome, and one of his regular ticks was F***. I still don't think swearing is always appropriate though.

I'm sure my husband gets annoyed with me on a regular basis, cause whenever he swears in front of my daughter, I give him sh....I mean heck.

 

Missed one

 

Thanks, I think I've got them all now. I shouldn't post slumped over the keyboard past my bedtime. What is someone in Ottawa doing up at this hour?

 

Getting ready to go to bed

 

i actually know quite a few people who have never sworn. My in laws and most of their family included.

I swear - usually when i'm playing unreal tournament and get shot in the head though

 

I'm sorry, but that's a mild form of censorship. Censorship isn't having a choice, it's taking away other peoples' choices to make an informed judgement on what they're reading. Having a choice would be not to buy a book you knew contained swearing. In the situation you describe, you're imposing your moral standing on others.

Having said that, I agree totally with noppid's view on swearing. Nuff said.

 

Yes I agree and "holier than thou" is insufferable and insensitive and offends me mightily.

 

The book was imposed on me by the school system. I had no choice about being asked to read it. I had a choice about what came out of my mouth. This is not holier than thou. It is a choice I make about how I speak. As a teenager in the early 1960s, I was scared out of my mind about what I did. I was certainly not showing off.

I told that story in response to the comment that everyone swears. Since I'm not around anyone but myself 24/7, I'm the only one I can be 100% sure of. I do, however, have many, many acquaintences I've never heard swear. (I have others who do.)

This thread asked if people are offended by swearing. If the answer gets a person tagged as holier than thou, why would anyone respond with an honest answer?

It's always dangerous to attribute motives to someone else. It's hard enough to be clear about one's own motives.

Name-calling (and holier than thou is definitely in that category) offends me at least as much as swearing. It's certainly personal and I suspect, although I can't know, intended to offend.

If the question about whether others are offended by swearing was a request for information, that's one thing. If it was meant as "don't you dare tell me what I can say or not say," that's something else altogether.

I'm interested in the exchange of information. I don't care to be involved in put-downs of any kind.

I now feel like this thread "belongs" to people who prefer to swear, think those who don't swear or don't want to read swearing are odd, and I will stop following it.

 

Excellent point, Audrey.

This thread asks the question, "Are you offended by swearing?".

Evidently, the correct answer is, "No"... any other answer can and will be attacked

 

You aren't going to change someone's morals or beliefs by attacking them... Regardless as to whether or not you agree.

Why would you want to anyway???

Am I missing something?

 

Definitely, this poll was a loaded question. I realize that in almost every forum I've been in, if there is a question of right or wrong - you better agree with everyone else or you will be judged.

It's really sad actually, but hey...that's another choice to involve yourself in a forum like that (and this).

On a side note - I have yet to be offended - even though some people have directed 'not so nice' comments at me. It's also my choice to take it with a grain of salt.