Personally, I think swearing is just a way of expressing emotion to some people, otherwise its just meaningless words... Seriously, what 'exactly' about a swear word offends you? If someone just idly says one, how is it offensive to you personally? I understand if someone is swearing 'at' you, you can be offended, but if someone just swears, big whoop IMO :) People put too much emphasis on language, but its the meaning behind it which counts, and seriously, what do the swear words 'mean', and is it actually offensive? *shrugs* Just food for thought :)

Yes indeed. There is no need for profanity on answerbag. Some people with a limited vocabulary may make up the deficit by an abundant use of curse words. Others resort to bad language for emphasis. Profanity breeds profanity. Why is this? Foul language fuels the emotional fire. There are many young people on this site that do not need this negative influence, All that this improvement to answerbag calls for from us is for us to exhibit some self-control.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I do not think "swear words" should be banned nor do I think they should be overused. They are part of the language just like any other word, and should not be banned simply because someone somewhere decided that they are bad. The burden is on the user not to use such words in an inappropriate way, such as a personal attack or vulgar insults.

No, because you're advocating the limitation of free speech. Also, you're presuming to impose your standards on someone like me, who isn't at all offended by mere words. People choose what they are offended by! It's a choice THEY make! Words in of themselves are not offensive, if they were, we'd all feel the same way about them, like we all feel the warmth of the sun. Sometimes the use of more emotive language is useful in conveying a mindset that couldn't be expressed effectively in any other way, and sometimes it's just funny, besides, people who find certain words offensive have the option of ignoring the post, but they don't have the right to deny the rest of us that choice.

Nope, its a real-life conversation and exchange of ideas, not an academic journal.

No if you dont like it ****** off!

I have always tried to keep my answers and questions alike free of profanity, simply because of the wide range of ages/walks of life AB is home to. I do not believe in limiting peoples' active vocabulary, however. It is a matter of free speech. If people want to use explicit or obscene language, it is up to them. If you don't want to read explicit or obscene language, then don't.

No. I don't want anyone limiting my freedom of speech. Personally, I don't think vulgar words are necessary but sometimes they do get the point across like no other words can. The last thing I want anyone to try to do to me is "gag" or "hush" me in anyway. I am what I am and if you don't like my opinion or viewpoint, that is fine with me, but at least I am allowed to state it. I have no idea how "swearing" and "cursing" have come today to mean "vulgar" "obscene" or "profanity". In the Bible actual swearing (like I swear on my mother's life) or cursing (i hope your whole tribe gets jock itch) was to be avoided. I like to call it what it is "obscene" "vulgarity" "profanity". I am sure there are other words in other parts of the country that translate better with these words than "swearing" or "cursing". Leviticus 5:1 5 “‘Now in case a soul sins in that he has heard public cursing and he is a witness or he has seen it or has come to know of it, if he does not report it, then he must answer for his error. James 5:12 12 Above all things, though, my brothers, stop swearing, yes, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let YOUR Yes mean Yes, and YOUR No, No, so that YOU do not fall under judgment.

Fuck no

There won't be many. There is much debate about what constitutes a swear word, for example the words bastard and arse were used not so long ago as acceptable words, meaning one who is illegitimate and your posterior. Exactly how or who decided that they were no longer nice words but bad words, is as subjective as wether or not you find any swear word offensive or not. Nothing can punctuate a sentence like a well placed swear word, swearing profusely however merely serves to make you look stupid. People who get offended by swearing, all swearing, really need to find something worth worrying about. If it annoys you enough, it is your right not to use the site, but it is not your right to tell anyone else what they can and cannot say. Although you do have the right to think they're stupid for saying it.

I personally do not think they should be allowed on AB and I flag any question or answer with a more serious swear word as 'offensive'. I just think if there are going to be kids on here, then we should keep it clean. It adds nothing to the site. Some would argue that kids will see this stuff elsewhere, but that's not a reason to allow it. Just because kids will be offered drugs sometime doesn't mean I should make them available to them.

No. I think it should be monitored, as other places do. People can easily use ***'s if they want to make a fu**ing point. I also see no reason why the words damn, hell, crap, and many other commonly used terms that some consider to be "swearing" cannot be used if they are not used in a way that is abusive to another member, a race or religion or in that vein. Age 13 is the minimum age to be here. I hear kids age 13 saying things I am not even sure about meaning wise, and the music they listen to is riddled with really raunchy profanity. Some places have "slang filters" you can switch on or off, and any word on a long list that most would be considered swearing, are given %$^#&$^% type characters. Ask the AB Staff about that. I am sure if they worked hard enough they could easily install that on here, and in the members profile and preferences area, he or she could have the profanity filter ON or OFF. Simple.

i honestly think it should be ok and i also think that that there should be some kind of filter so the kids dont see it.

Yes, Thank you for raising it as a point.

I agree that it should be avoided for the same reason that racist/sexist/homophobic/xenophobic language should be avoided. This is supposed to be a website where we go to get and offer help, not a place where we vent our spleen or demonstrate our limited language skills. Saying 'It's just a word, it's just part of the language' is a cop-out. It's no better than saying 'It's just a fist, it's just a part of my body, there is no reason for you to be angry because I happened to smack you with it.'

sometimes if i feel the need to swear i use **** and people can understand what im saying. using *** doesnt really make a difference though because if you were f*****g reading this you would say the swear word anyway. i no there was no need to put that swear word in i was just making a point.