Using Profanity Can Make You Sound Ignorant

Profanity is almost everywhere. It seems as if people do not know how to use proper English anymore. Is it something that is suppose to make us sound more sophisticated, or to shock or offend people?

According to the American Heritage Dictionary the definition of the root of the words is to treat with irreverence, to put to an improper, unworthy, or degrading use, abuse. Profanity then is defined as the use abusive, vulgar or irreverent language.

When speaking privately or publicly, is there any reason to have abusive speech? Is there any rhyme or reason for using such unnecessary, ignorant words that are used by people? There is no need for it, it's disrespectful to yourself and the people you speak to. What are the benefits of such improper speech?

Originally profanity had reference to blasphemy, sacrilege or using God's name in vain. Today it includes derogatory sexual and racist expressions. It can be referred to as swear words, curse words, dirty words, four letter words.

Zoomerang's a premier survey technology group at www.zoomerang.com Wordwit, the world largest on line community for professional women spanning 25 countries, recently asked it's 40,000 members, "Has workplace profanity increased over the last five years?" While just 29% percent answered no, nearly 80% of those surveyed have grown accustomed to vulgarities in the workplace don't mind profanities 'used sparingly" and say that such language is usually only used in times of stress, it still diminishes one's character," as one survey responded noted.

One respondent said, "a profane expression communicated a low threshold for managing difficult circumstances. It raises issues about the effectiveness of that person's style of communication.

While another respondent said, "well placed profanity has it's purpose, if used sparingly to get a person's attention or in a humorous situation."

While yet another responded, "it really depends on how they said it and in what context but I still think it's very unprofessional and tasteless.

One of the questions asked on Yahoo also discussed profanity, some of the responses were, "I find it boring and an indication of limited use of vocabulary and intelligence and a lack of courtesy toward others." "I do not like any person who has to swear a lot to express themselves."

Another remark was " I do not think it is proper for anyone to use profanity. It is crass and belies poor education, up bringing, and probable emotional problems and difficulties relating to people."

"If you can't express yourself without cursing, you may be lacking social skills," was the reply from one man.

March 28, 2006 74% of Americans questioned said they encounter profanity in public frequently or occasionally, according to an Associated Press - Ipsos poll. Two thirds said they think people swear more than they did 20 years ago. 64% admit they use the four letter word ranging from several times a day (8 percent) to a few times a year (15 percent).

Irene Kramer a grandmother is Scranton Pa, gets her ears singed when passing by the high school near her home. "What I hear is gross," says Kramer, 67. "I'll tell them "I need to have a dictionary and a Roget's Thesaurus, and I don't see any of those words in there!' I don't understand why the parents allow it."

For Kramer, a major culprit is television, "Do I have to be insulted right here in my own home?" She asks. "I'm not going to pay $54 for cable and listen to that garbage." And yet she feels it's not a lost cause. If people say, "Look I don't want you talking that way if they demand it, it's going to have to change."

Maybe Ms. Kramer would find a person to respect her when they are talking to her to her face, but most people I have asked not to use that language, they try to watch it around me and if they do curse, they do have enough manners to say, "excuse me." They, however do not get that it sounds so disgusting and ignorant to use such language. So they will continue to talk like that because that is all that they know.

I can see the most handsome man or a woman canbe a most stylish beautiful woman, but if they open their mouth and all comes out is profanity it takes away from their looks and personality. I lose something for them right then.

Young people do not seem to be offended by profanity. They encounter it more and less bothered by it. Profanity is used by their peers, it is on the music videos they watch and listen to, the games they play, the movies they watch. Young people are bombarded by profanity. The AP-Ipsos poll showed 62% of 18-34 year old acknowledged swearing in conversations at least a few times a week, compared to 39% or older.

Regardless of what people think using profanity is disrespectful, it is not use proper communication skills and just sounds ignorant. I will try not to ever disrespect you the reader by using such disrespectful language. If you see yourself as someone who respects themselves, that means you never use such useless unnecessary words.