What Harm Does Swearing Do?

[Joe the meek]

The first two frequently happen and every successful business man that I've heard of swears at their staff.
Your third point is irrelevant which you would have noticed if you had actually taken the time to read the OP because I said that swearing directed at people is rude and I'm talking about swearing in general. If I was in a shop and the checkout person said shit or fuck as part of the general conversation, I wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

Who in their right mind curses during a job interview?

I don't know how things work in England, but at least in the US, if you continually curse at employees, it may be hard for some people to believe, but it can be construed as "verbal abuse". Personally if I had supervisor curse directly at me and not at the situation, I'd cold cock him on the spot. Wait a minute, I actually did do that. Guess what, he never cursed at me again:24: For myself, there is a difference between cursing at someone and cursing the situation at hand and not directing the words at the person. Both however, as noted, does show a lack of respect to some extent by the person cursing.

Funny, most successful people I've met and worked with actually know how to motivate people. You'll find you can attract better people with honey than vinegar.

 

[JoeCool10]

Who in their right mind curses during a job interview?

I don't know how things work in England, but at least in the US, if you continually curse at employees, it may be hard for some people to believe, but it can be construed as "verbal abuse". Personally if I had supervisor curse directly at me and not at the situation, I'd cold cock him on the spot. Wait a minute, I actually did do that. Guess what, he never cursed at me again:24: For myself, there is a difference between cursing at someone and cursing the situation at hand and not directing the words at the person. Both however, as noted, does show a lack of respect to some extent by the person cursing.

Funny, most successful people I've met and worked with actually know how to motivate people. You'll find you can attract better people with honey than vinegar.

Wait, so you hit him because he cussed at you? That is FAR more disrespectful than cursing. =/

 

[Pumpkin]

:horse

 

[Tuffdisc]

Who in their right mind curses during a job interview?

I don't know how things work in England, but at least in the US, if you continually curse at employees, it may be hard for some people to believe, but it can be construed as "verbal abuse". Personally if I had supervisor curse directly at me and not at the situation, I'd cold cock him on the spot. Wait a minute, I actually did do that. Guess what, he never cursed at me again:24: For myself, there is a difference between cursing at someone and cursing the situation at hand and not directing the words at the person. Both however, as noted, does show a lack of respect to some extent by the person cursing.

Funny, most successful people I've met and worked with actually know how to motivate people. You'll find you can attract better people with honey than vinegar.

I would totally ignore him

 

[HK]

As far as being appropriate, perhaps I'm the odd man out in thinking that a general forum that anyone of any age can join should monitor the language used.

Anyone over the age of 13.

If this were a forum aimed at children, or a forum that was aimed specifically at being family friendly then I would be agreeing with you. If you market yourselves towards younger age groups or demographics then certain language isn't appropriate.

However. Offtopicz is decidedly not aimed at anyone other than adults. Teenagers as young as thirteen can join, but there's no 'minors' section or anything that could possibly be construed as attempting to attract a younger audience. And that's reflected as well in the fact that of however many younger members do actually sign up, there are only one or two that have stuck around. Right now I can only name you two underage members. There might be a couple more lurking but well, you can do that without even signing up.

The admins could probably raise the age restriction, if they really felt it was a problem. But what are the chances that that would stop any minor signing up? All you have to do is change your year of birth to make yourself 18 and bang, you're in. The only good news is, they still wouldn't be able to get into VIP or the Underground, where all the actual adult material is, because they'd need to verify themselves with a picture. But they're already prevented from doing that, which makes the age restriction even more pointless.

Lastly, as has been pointed out many, many times already - teenagers (not children) very likely know all these words already and probably use them far more often than any of us do. It's not protecting anyone by suggesting we 'lead by example' because by the time they reach their teenage years, they've heard all these words and worse. And probably used them.

I don't think it's cute that teenagers swear so much, but I did when I was one, and my kids probably will when they are too. It's an exercise in futility to try and stop them swearing at all because it's part of our language and culture, not just some bad habit - far more important and actually likely to succeed is to make sure they understand and respect when swearing is grossly inappropriate.

 

[Peter Parka]

Who in their right mind curses during a job interview?

I don't know how things work in England, but at least in the US, if you continually curse at employees, it may be hard for some people to believe, but it can be construed as "verbal abuse". Personally if I had supervisor curse directly at me and not at the situation, I'd cold cock him on the spot. Wait a minute, I actually did do that. Guess what, he never cursed at me again:24: For myself, there is a difference between cursing at someone and cursing the situation at hand and not directing the words at the person. Both however, as noted, does show a lack of respect to some extent by the person cursing.

Funny, most successful people I've met and worked with actually know how to motivate people. You'll find you can attract better people with honey than vinegar.

Oh dear, you really struggle with this reading thing, don't you? If you actually had a basic level of reading skill you would see that I never said that.

 

[Joe the meek]

Wait, so you hit him because he cussed at you? That is FAR more disrespectful than cursing. =/

If I remember correctly, I had asked him a couple of times before hand to refrain from cursing AT me. Ironically enough, he never cursed at me after that incident. That was what I'd consider a "low end job" and perhaps would of handled matters differently in a different work environment.

 

[Joe the meek]

If this were a forum aimed at children, or a forum that was aimed specifically at being family friendly then I would be agreeing with you. If you market yourselves towards younger age groups or demographics then certain language isn't appropriate.

However. Offtopicz is decidedly not aimed at anyone other than adults. Teenagers as young as thirteen can join, but there's no 'minors' section or anything that could possibly be construed as attempting to attract a younger audience. And that's reflected as well in the fact that of however many younger members do actually sign up, there are only one or two that have stuck around. Right now I can only name you two underage members. There might be a couple more lurking but well, you can do that without even signing up.

The admins could probably raise the age restriction, if they really felt it was a problem. But what are the chances that that would stop any minor signing up? All you have to do is change your year of birth to make yourself 18 and bang, you're in. The only good news is, they still wouldn't be able to get into VIP or the Underground, where all the actual adult material is, because they'd need to verify themselves with a picture. But they're already prevented from doing that, which makes the age restriction even more pointless.

Lastly, as has been pointed out many, many times already - teenagers (not children) very likely know all these words already and probably use them far more often than any of us do. It's not protecting anyone by suggesting we 'lead by example' because by the time they reach their teenage years, they've heard all these words and worse. And probably used them.

I don't think it's cute that teenagers swear so much, but I did when I was one, and my kids probably will when they are too. It's an exercise in futility to try and stop them swearing at all because it's part of our language and culture, not just some bad habit - far more important and actually likely to succeed is to make sure they understand and respect when swearing is grossly inappropriate.

Ultimately, I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm probably not in the majority "demographic" wise per most of the members on this site.

 

[Joe the meek]

Oh dear, you really struggle with this reading thing, don't you? If you actually had a basic level of reading skill you would see that I never said that.

Normally I don't struggle with reading, but I do prioritize. Apologies, but in a rush dealing with something else, but in my post you responded to, I made four points, but you only quoted three, but responded with four points of your own. I made a mistake, hopefully you could see why.

However, per your comment

every successful business man that I've heard of swears at their staff.

I would still say you're probably more wrong than right. At what salary level would you consider a business man "successful"?

 

[Maulds]

Wait, so you hit him because he cussed at you? That is FAR more disrespectful than cursing. =/

I can see it. I wouldn't stand there and be disrespected in that manner by a co-worker or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Peter Parka]

However, per your comment I would still say you're probably more wrong than right. At what salary level would you consider a business man "successful"?

Well I'd say, for example Alan Sugar is one of Britains most successful businessmen and he swears like a trooper.

From my own personbal experience, I'd say you're wrong. I have worked at many different companies in my life and I have yet to meet a boss who dosedn't swear at his staff.

 

[Joe the meek]

I can see it. I wouldn't stand there and be disrespected in that manner by a co-worker or anyone else for that matter.

Thank you. Added the fact that I had warned him not to do it again. Tell a man you're going to do something and you don't, if that man loses respect for you, you have no one to blame but yourself.

 

[Panacea]

I think it's ridiculous and immature to resort to physical violence in a work place because someone is swearing. Surely there is a better way to find justice.

 

[Maulds]

Well I'd say, for example Alan Sugar is one of Britains most successful businessmen and he swears like a trooper.

From my own personbal experience, I'd say you're wrong. I have worked at many different companies in my life and I have yet to meet a boss who dosedn't swear at his staff.

I have had plenty of co-workers and bosses who would swear a lot. I got used to it. I can handle them cussing the situation just not me in particular. I accept people swearing around me a lot in the work environment, it dosnt even phase me so long as they arent in my face cussing me personally. Thats a different story.

 

[Joe the meek]

From my own personbal experience, I'd say you're wrong. I have worked at many different companies in my life and I have yet to meet a boss who dosedn't swear at his staff.

When I was in operations, most of the men I supervised made over 45k a year, and they were good at what they did (if they weren't good, they wouldn't be making that kind of money). I never once swore at the men I supervised (now, I'd be lying if I said I didn't let a word or two slip out depending a dire situation LOL). I can think of at least three other businesses who are some of the largest in my industry who I know very well, both professionally and in some cases personally, and verbal abuse (AKA cursing at someone) would NEVER be allowed. The fact is, If I told a coworker to go "F" himself, I could be terminated myself. God forbid we actually respect the people we work with. I also remember when I cold cocked an old co worker, and I wouldn't want that to happen to me

That said, to better myself professionally, I now use the word "fudge" if something were to slip out. It actually works.

I accept people swearing around me a lot in the work environment, it dosnt even phase me so long as they arent in my face cussing my personally. Thats a different story.

Likewise, I can accept people swearing at a situation, but not AT the person.

However, keep this mind...

Take nepotism out of the picture (real world, I know) and take two men who have the same position and perform the same tasks, and they both the job equally well. A job opening comes up that both of the men are qualified for. One man never curses, and the other man curses like a sailor. Who do you think will get the position? Keep in mind, the only difference between the men are their vocabulary.

 

[Joe the meek]

I think it's ridiculous and immature to resort to physical violence in a work place because someone is swearing. Surely there is a better way to find justice.

The supervisor was directing an obscene name towards me, not the situation. I TOLD him not to to it again or I'd "crack him one". He called me an obscene name later (not in a funny way either), so I cracked him.

Personally, if I called someone an obscene name and they warned that if I did it again they'd come after me, if I did call them a name, I'd at least be ready for them.

 

[Panacea]

The supervisor was directing an obscene name towards me, not the situation. I TOLD him not to to it again or I'd "crack him one". He called me an obscene name later (not in a funny way either), so I cracked him.

Personally, if I called someone an obscene name and they warned that if I did it again they'd come after me, if I did call them a name, I'd at least be ready for them.

Not saying he should have thought you were bluffing, but while I'm with you on the idea swearing in the workplace isn't often very professional, and in this case possibly threatening, I'd expect a person who hit someone at work (not in direct self defense) to be fired and possibly charged with assault.

 

[Pumpkin]

The supervisor was directing an obscene name towards me, not the situation. I TOLD him not to to it again or I'd "crack him one". He called me an obscene name later (not in a funny way either), so I cracked him.

Personally, if I called someone an obscene name and they warned that if I did it again they'd come after me, if I did call them a name, I'd at least be ready for them.

How can you come here and preach at people to lead by example and not swear (because its just oh so bad), and then say you attacked someone because they did something you didn't like.

If you had any credibility before, its all gone now.

 

[Joe the meek]

How can you come here and preach at people to lead by example and not swear (because its just oh so bad), and then say you attacked someone because they did something you didn't like.

If you had any credibility before, its all gone now.

I hit someone "on a job" a VERY long time ago. The man was warned not to do something, but did it anyway. I'm telling people not to swear at people at the work place, it may save them from being hit

May I ask who likes to be called a "F in A**hole"?

 

[Ryder]

I don't believe it does much. I find it a good way to be a reliever of anger and allows me to calm down. I don't swear around family that much but around friends, yeah I swear a lot.