Bad words

[BFG9001]

Why the fuck are certain words 'bad'?

Why, if I call someone a shitstick, I'm scolded for saying a bad word and if I call someone pusillanimous, they applaud me for 'being better for not cussing'. I think 'vapid' is worse than 'cunt', but I can say vapid in society, but not cunt.

I don't understand it. What are your opinions on the subject?

[Bath]

66K65z5lxlk

[matt257]

Yes i understand what you mean 'why are they bad', its a WORD!

[Genghis Khan]

Why the fuck are certain words 'bad'?

So we can insult the fuck out of people and make them feel bad for the lifeless little fuckwits they are.

But in all seriousness, let me break the obvious to you, if there weren't any bad words it would be a lot more tedious to put emphasis on your points in discussions and severity of certain situations. Plus, I can't imagine how boring a language would be in terms of conversation if there weren't any rules concerning what you can and can not say in particular situations. It jettisons the idea of vulgar and obscure humour and narrows things down a whole lot.

To sum it up, that's a pretty fucking stupid question OP.

[BFG9001]

So why the fuck is 'fuck' a bad word? Who decided that 'shit' was bad?

[embers]

So why the fuck is 'fuck' a bad word? Who decided that 'shit' was bad?

It's how words develop, man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck#Usage_history). Why do we call toast 'toast'?

[Jupiter]

Fuck mae why dis shiiii be so bad?

Well, as it was posted above, yeah... it's how they develope. But the way I see it.. Don't call people names at all. Of course this really isn't what it's about.

But, yeah. Like Sachal said.. it's how it all developes, and to be honest, I have no idea what the other words are that you put.. like the vapid.. what the hell?

[emmettman]

if you know profanic words (profanity) then thats bad words

[Sporadica]

Piss
Shit
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Motherfucker and
Tits

Well swears are just words and merely those.

[Maxxie]

It's funny. If someone were to take an objective look at our language, we throw around "bad" words every day. Pain, hell, agony. We use the worst things a human can do to another (torture, betray) on a daily basis? And yet..

1) Fuck? That's what we humans do best, next to killing ourselves.
2) Cunt? I don't particularly fancy an Arby's sandwich, but whatever creams your cucumber...
3) Dick? 'Nuff said.

And what's funny, shit and damn and piss didn't originate as "bad" words, they were merely descriptive.

I think it's rather fucked up.

[BFG9001]

So, in a few hundred years will the bad word list grow? Like in the 50's, 'gay' was ok, but now it's offensive?

[kenoloor]

So, in a few hundred years will the bad word list grow? Like in the 50's, 'gay' was ok, but now it's offensive?

Since when is "gay" offensive?! Sure it's departed from its original meaning (happy), but I fail to see how it's offensive at all.

[CaptainObvious]

So, in a few hundred years will the bad word list grow? Like in the 50's, 'gay' was ok, but now it's offensive?

you were alive in the 50's?

in fact, in some ways "gay" or slurs like it would've been worse in the 50's: in a time when homophobia was far stronger and more widespread than today, calling someone gay would be a deeper insult. it is only "offensive" nowadays in that we understand that being gay is not a bad thing, and so attempting to use it as an insult is not ok. the word itself is not offensive in any way. for example: i'm gay. <- not offensive