Why do we have cuss words?

[Seven Jeans]

I have always wondered about cuss words. Why are they so dirty to say? What makes them so unbareable to hear? I have always wondered this and would really like to know. Same thing with nudity. Why is it so shameful to be naked in public? We all were born in our birthday suits. I don't know, just voicing my opinion.  

[abarrach]

People take themselves too seriously.

Every society has a certain set of taboos. Talking about those taboos makes people uncomfortable, and cuss words are words used to talk about those taboos. For example, the infamous f-word is said to be bad because people are ashamed to talk about sex.

For people who are more religious, saying Jesus out of context is also cussing.

Even the word cuss is a bastardization of the word curse.

As for nudity, I think it comes in large part from the literal interpretation of the Bible's account of the fall from Eden.

At least, those are my theories...  

[SilverBellsAbove]

We have cursewords because... because... I am sure the first word ever made was a curseword.

Thog trip over rock. He say '@!%^'.

Sooo... yeah.

both of these things have been around since' the dawn of man. I have never heard of a nudist culture. Except maybe the ancient Egyptians to an extent.

That's all I have on it. razz  

[CristoVII]

I suppose people needed a way to quickly express displeasure, pain, or anger.

For example, the "middle finger" otherwise known as a "flip off" was devised by French archers in the Middle Ages. It used to be insulting putting your index finger under the tip of your nose and arching it forward, but for some reason the French failed to do this, so they used their middle finger and "pop!" they just "flipped off" the English.  

[darkrose_eve]

I actually heard that we're more stringent on those kind of things now than before. Makes you think, huh?  

[abarrach]

darkrose_eve

I actually heard that we're more stringent on those kind of things now than before. Makes you think, huh?

I thought these comics seemed appropriate :
http://ohmygods.timerift.net/strips/2004/10/06.php
http://ohmygods.timerift.net/strips/2004/10/07.php

Edit : Here's another one :
http://ohmygods.timerift.net/strips/2005/01/27.php  

[Setsu-P has stepped out]

darkrose_eve

I actually heard that we're more stringent on those kind of things now than before. Makes you think, huh?

I blame that on this crazy idea people seem to have gotten that they need to "protect" their children from everything. Can't explain the media, though.. the TV and movie industries have been getting looser and looser. Ever notice how few "G" rated movies there are anymore?  

[Muffin Manic]

Personaly I don't see whats wrong with cuss words and poeple have failed to explain it to me!  

[SilverMaple]

I cuss when I'm mad, just not in every single sentence like some people at my school, who think it's totally acceptable to call their friends 'bitches' as a so-called "affectionate" term.  

[darlingcrescent]

I have wondered about that, myself. If you think about it, most curse words' origins are not very offensive at all. Whenever I have asked someone this question, the response I usually get is something along the lines of, "It's the meaning behind the word that makes it bad."

So, you might as well say that "butt" is a curse word. Or "fornicate." Because both words have the same meaning behind them as "a**" and "********" in those particular contexts. So, what is it that makes these words so obscene?

As for nudity, I think that it should be a little less taboo because you're right, being naked is natural. Although, I'm sure it has something to do with your level of self-comfort and moral values. If we were all naked all the time, it would, for example, be less of a special occasion when one has sex for the first time. I don't know. Bleh. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. neutral  

[Once Was]

I think cussing is a big deal because when you are mad, most people anyway, aren't like darn I bumped my toe. They yell out GD or F***. I don't cuss and I don't really approve of it. Because most of the time the words are said in anger or to belittle someone else, as in getting cussed out. And that's why I don't cuss or really like to tolerate it, but I go to high school so I do, but if it gets too out of hand I leave. If I can't leave I say something.

And for the nude thing...Honestly I don't think people should be showing off their bodies except to the one they love. And there would be so much temptation if people when around nude, not saying everyone wouldn't be able to control themself, but it would be a lot harder.  

[abarrach]

Once Was

And for the nude thing...Honestly I don't think people should be showing off their bodies except to the one they love. And there would be so much temptation if people when around nude, not saying everyone wouldn't be able to control themself, but it would be a lot harder.

If everyone was naked all, or at least most of the time, the nudity itself would become less sexual. What I mean is that it would be so common place that nudity would turn people on just as much as, say potatoes do now (no offense to potato fetishists). However, I don't believe it would devalue the act of having sex.  

[Once Was]

Yeah, I see what you're saying.  

[Patron with a Mission]

I'm guessing it's because of society's own wonderful cycle of irony and chaos. We don't like cuss words nor nudity, but it's increasingly popular.

As for being nude, I suspect that at one time it was okay, but eventually it became a social taboo.

But...that is something to think about.  

[Alexia Angel Holtes]

Well, cuss words have a more definite meaning than other words that people come up with, not to mention easier to spell and such.