Swear words in online forums

I really don’t like it when people use the F word in normal conversation, it really grates, but I suppose it’s a generation thing, its definitely not a word that I would use or that I ever heard my parents say.
My two sons were not allowed to swear in conversation at home although I’ve no doubt that they did in front of their friends. Now they’re older they still don’t, I think it’s a mark of respect.
I was shocked when I first looked on Mumsnet and saw how much they use the F word and the C word, what sort of language will their children grow up using, I think it’s awful.
I quite a trendy Nanny and have a great relationship with my children and grandchildren but swearing is a definite no for me I just think it’s not nice at all and they all respect that.

We all cuss when something goes wrong or when we hurt ourselves but there is no place for swearing in normal conversation.
None of my family do, nor partners family, nor my work colleagues, I am highly unlikely to associate with anyone who swears gratuitously.

A friend had two older brothers who set her up usually with swear words. There was a knock at our door and her mum asked if my friend could stay for a couple of hours until her dad cooled down.
"They had set her up to say'Pass me the sugar you baldy-headed old bugger". Her dad just walked out into the garden not knowing who to be cross with. We all had such a laugh then his wife went home. She watched what she said after that but often asked what words meants.

Witzend Thank you for returning the thread to swearing and making us laugh in the process 😂😂😂

Witzend 😂
I can imagine the horrified silence at your innocent remark.

I once said, ‘Balls!’ at the family dining table. I was only about 11 and had heard a girl at school say it - no idea that it was rude.

My father said firmly, ‘That is not a word to use in mixed company’.
I still had no idea why ‘balls’ - netball, tennis, etc. could be a Bad Word! It was a few years before I found out.

Which reminds me, a young nephew once remarked to my sister that the dog was licking his balls again.

Sister told him that the correct word was ‘testicles’.
Some days later nephew asked, ‘What was that word again, Mum? The one that means willyballs?’ 😂

I only post on the threads where I have something to say.

I tend not to make the kinds of posts that say "ohh, you're so right xxx! I definitely agree with you!" Doesn't make for good discussion, I find.

I posted positively about Happy Valley recently, I think...

Well, maybe not on every thread hey?

Not on GN its not.

No thinking outside the groupthink allowed. Don't go disagreeing with folks....

I don’t mind a few swear words, sometimes they’re apt and the only ones to fit the bill.

Stop postulating Volver it’s not good for the health.😲

Oh for goodness sake Yammy.

"Retaliate" if you like, I never said you can't.

Perhaps some of the people I mentioned will come along to say how they feel, perhaps they won't. There's no need for them to, unless they want to. You said I rarely agreed with anyone's point of view and I listed people I often agree with.

I haven't mentioned previous posts, but you alluded to my behaviour on previous posts.

Weird day today.

volver

Yes, you can.

May I postulate that you seem very intent on finding ways to to attack my personality at all turns?

Anyway I often agree with growstuff. And Casdon. And MaizieD. And lots of others. You know, the people who have facts to base up their ideas.

I'd mention Lucca but the thread would descend into accusations about wingmen.

So we have to sit back and let you do it to us, yet not retaliate, you've got to be joking. I've also taken note of the people who you quote as often agreeing with you. I wonder if they would agree when asked.
I've never mentioned any of them in any of my posts but will be watching with interest to see if they back up what you say. I thought we were not supposed to mention previous posts.

I can swear like a sailor. I do so when it seems appropriate to do so, which includes some internet forums. I don’t swear on Gransnet (although never say never).

What I can’t stand are the coy asterisks. Either swear, or use different words.

Back in the day, a popular chant on demos was - Margaret Thatcher has one. Norman Tebbit is one. A friend remonstrated with a group of men who were shouting this on the grounds that it was disrespectful to women. But I stood by, not brave enough to back her up..

Baggs

Is this swearing?

It depends on how you mean the words "O Christ". Are you saying them because you think the slimy things are happening and then you say "OH Christ", like saying Oh hell? Or you are asking Christ a question are the slimy things crawling?
I can remember discussing this for O-level English Lit.

Yes, you can.

May I postulate that you seem very intent on finding ways to to attack my personality at all turns?

Anyway I often agree with growstuff. And Casdon. And MaizieD. And lots of others. You know, the people who have facts to base up their ideas.

I'd mention Lucca but the thread would descend into accusations about wingmen.

volver

Why do you think using a couple of specific words means that you have a limited vocabulary?

I postulate that your perceptions in this matter are somewhat skewed.

Maybe we postulate that your perceptions are somewhat askew when you very rarely agree with anyone else's point of view on gransnet. It's a discussion forum, not an argument one.

What isn’t acceptable is those with a limited vocabulary who insist on overusing the same few words ad nausea.

A well chosen expletive is perfectly acceptable.

MerylStreep

Lixy
At a quick glance I thought your favourite swear word was the same as mine but then I saw it wasn’t enough letters 🤣

Sorry - just catching up!
It probably is - I put too many *s in - b****r!

HPQ the made up ones are often the best - my Mum's favourite is a very expressive 'blustering blunderbuss'.

When I was about 5 I heard someone called a silly s*d. That night at the dinner table I called my brother a silly s*d. I remember the stunned silence to this day. I never ever heard my parents swear.

B….r was the worst word when I was growing up. Would never have used it, would have thought I would be struck down by some godly force.

Couldn’t believe how casually it was used in conversation in Australia, after my DD moved there. “You little b….r” was used to describe our baby GS by his doting Aussie grandad.

I never ever use the f or c word.

Horrible.

Grandtante, l agree with you completely. I detest bad language in every way, she and form and seeing it written down seems worse somehow.

I think we are flogging a dead horse here.

I do not care for swear words dotted throughout ordinary conversation, on television or in books.

I can and do refuse to go on reading a book if the language is too coarse by my standards, and there are many expressions I do not use.

But I realise that many people consider this uneccessarily prudish and say that words are words.

All I feel we can do, is lead by example. I have no doubt the fashion will change again, and that our great-grandchildren will probably be as mealy-mouthed as our grandparents were. After all the Victorian era succeeded an age that had been extremely out-spoken and sexually much more relaxed than their grandchildren were.

volver

^It's even worse when people use it, then apologise and say that extreme circumstances made it ok by exception.^

I used to work in a very male organisation. One colleague in particular, younger than me, used to use the f-word then apologise to me. I guess he thought I would melt into a puddle with shock at hearing such a word, but wanted to use it anyway.

Things changed the day I told him to get tae f***.

I must say I love that quaint Scottish expression! IMO much more robust and meaty than a mere boring old fuck off!