this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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Swearwords increasingly used for emphasis and to build social bonds, rather than to insult, say academics

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[–] [email protected] 52 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I’ve found that many people can’t differentiate “swearing around” vs “swearing at.” If I am swearing, it is to add filler words to my sentences that serve many purposes. I am not (rather, very rarely) attempting to insult or denigrate someone else. I do not understand why someone takes offense at “I really struggled to hit my fucking steps today” or “Shit I dropped the fucking ball.” I do understand why someone takes offense at “you ignorant fucking walnut” or “fuck you you fuck trumpet.” Conflating the two situations is so fucking dumb.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago

Also, even when hurling invectives someone can be just as abusive without swearing.