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I was in Barmouth briefly a few weeks back and the language I heard being said to small children everywhere was awful. I got out fast.
When we had kids we made a big effort not to at home or in front of them, my parents never did to me or my older brother or sister. My boys are 12 now and both say they are happy we dont at home generally. We get caught sometimes and they tell us off now. We say you can swear with mates in the playground, just not in front of adults etc.
I personally think it should be illegal to swear to a kid under say 10 in public
@frankconway why do you think that? I work in industry, same rules apply.
I personally think it should be illegal to swear to a kid under say 10 in public
And what would that achieve?
I personally think it should be illegal to swear to a kid under say 10 in public
Even if they’re being a little *ing *?
On the subject of great parenting… the other day in the post office a young boy (4ish?) was sitting in a pushchair crying away. The dad (huge bodybuilder type) leaned down grabbed the bars either side of the boy and shouted into his face through gritted teeth “STOP CRYING LIKE A F****** GIRL”. It really helped 🙄
And so the anger issues are passed on from generation to generation, like a family heirloom.
mandalorian – was that in the forces?
Aye.
I personally think it should be illegal to swear to a kid under say 10 in public
I agree. I'm just wondering what a reasonable sentence should be for that crime, though.
I mean, obviously they should lose their kids, but what sort of custodial sentence should the perps be looking at? 2 to 5 years seems like a reasonable guideline, doesn't it? We are talking about kids, after all.
Let's start writing to our local Tory MPs right away!
I agree. I’m just wondering what a reasonable sentence should be for that crime, though.
I mean, obviously they should lose their kids, but what sort of custodial sentence should the perps be looking at? 2 to 5 years seems like a reasonable guideline, doesn’t it? We are talking about kids, after all.
Let’s start writing to our local Tory MPs right away!
I'd stick with a community sentence, a few weeks in stocks on the back of a flatbed, being toured around local schools so the kids can throw things at the nasty swearer.
For me context matters a lot.
I've worked with blokes who used the f words more or less as punctuation: because it was so routine and so entirely devoid of any ire it was unoffensive.
On the other hand, looming over someone physically smaller and shouting will be intimidating whether you swear or not.
I personally try not to swear in front of my kids as a matter of course, but they've all heard me swearing. Life's rich pageant and all that. If it was especially audible I will usually apologize for using the word and note that it's offensive and we shouldn't be saying it, but at the end of the day you can avoid swearing as much as you like but at some point they'll be coming home from school having learned some pithy new phrases in the playground and there's not much you can do about that.
A few ritual executions should get the message across.
And riding at FOD recently found this little boy with his bike all by himself.
A few years back I came across 2 kids about 8 & 10 at Glentress screaming for their Dad. Turns out Dad sent them down the Blue while he went off to do the Red. He had fun while I took his petrified kids back down to the Cafe. Kids were not local and had never been at GT before so had no idea where they were!!
Still sickens me when I think about it!
I don’t see the need for swearing at all. At least not in normal conversation.
Just… why? It is by definition rude, crude and offensive, so what’s the need for it?
Everyone does it, it’s normal… so what? Make an effort to be otherwise.
You do realise just how condescending you come across as, don’t you?
I use profanity quite a lot, however, I’m more than aware enough to moderate my language according to the circumstances and company that I’m with.
It might help to do a little research into language, profanity and how it’s used and changed over the ages.
BruceWee
But really, what harm is it causing?
Because most *ing swearing is gendered or discriminatory, and it all unnecessarily cranks up the *ing "heat" in a conversation, for *'s sake. Why the * do we need more of this *? There's enough *ing rage in the world.
perhaps my methods are superior
Does that phrase get automatically inserted in your posts by now? 🤣
**ng ts and ts here's a paul dacre double ting you **ng ty ts.
Is that **ng clear you cloth eared t; if not, get your **ng ears **ng syringed you **ng dozy ***k.
One of my teachers - a very long time ago - was of the very clear opinion that people who swore did so because they didn't have the vocabulary to express themselves without swearing.
I think there is some truth in that.
Forgive me for I have sinned.
I have used the F word profusely and even chucked in a c word in front of my 16 year old lad as I negotiated the roundabout up near Hyde Park Corner for the third time this evening.
Anyone who knows that roundabout would forgive me instantly
revs - you're **ng forgiven you ting useless k.
**ng learn how to **ng drive in that **ng there sh*le london.
If you **ng can't drive you **ng useless t stay away from **ng london.
Other than that, hope you got hime safely without any more * ****.
This place is full of good c* but also shit-c* and turboshit-c****.
Alright fellas, we get the point.
I was at the big park at the beach in Carnoustie a few weeks back. There were 3 slightly older kids (probably about 10) sitting at the top of one of the slides.
The 'father figure' standing on the ground smoking a cigarette shouted up to one of the boys:
[Father Figure] Oi, move out the way you fat dogsh*t, you are blocking the slide.
[Boy] What did you say to me? You shouldn't be smoking a fag or talking like that in a play park.
[Father Figure] Well come down here and I'll stub it out on your f*ck*ng puss.
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. How anyone can think it's acceptable to speak to a child like that beggars belief. Then there is the issue of speaking like that in a busy play park.
You do realise just how condescending you come across as, don’t you?
I did kinda, reading it back afterwards, and was hoping it wouldn't be taken that way... sorry, didn't mean to be.
Stand by my opinion though, please reword in your own mind as I'm not sure how to do so without making it worse or putting my foot in it further 😛🤐
Situation dependent. I can't ever recall my parents swearing. Or any of my mum's friends. Even when my dad was telling someone if he didn't leave the house he would throw him out (long story) he didn't swear.
Me? My friends and workmates swore. So I did but never in front of my parents or my kids.
And so the anger issues are passed on from generation to generation
"They **** you up, your Mum and Dad.."
And that 's poetry, so it must be ****ing alright.
“They * you up, your Mum and Dad..”
And that ‘s poetry, so it must be * alright.
I don't know if you're joking or not, but this is a really good book on the matter.
I personally think it should be illegal to swear to a kid under say 10 in public
1. Potentially it already is.
2. Which list of words would be prohibited. e.g. Bloody? Damn? Crap? and in what context? e.g. clearly "you've got a bloody knee" is not swearing but "if you bloody do that again..." is, and "well done, you were damn close to catching him" at the finish of a race and "have you done your damn homework" are different, and its not about the volume either as "watch the dog crap" requires a degree of volume and urgency!
3. Should it only be illegal to swear "to" a kid or in the presence of the kid? Where shouting and swearing causes a reasonable person fear or alarm it is already illegal. The presence of children is an aggrivating factor (not limited to 10 yr olds either, and not limited to it being directed at them). If I crash my bike and break my leg and the first person to see if I am ok is 9 yrs old am I going to be punished for saying "no I think I've broken my f***n leg".
4. Why only in public? You probably want to be more concerned about how kids are treated when nobody else is watching.
I think a reminder is due that this thread concerned itself with older people swearing in front of children, not swearing in general. As I’ve said, I don’t swear in front of my kids, just as my parents never swore in front of me. I do swear when with my peers, but generally won’t (unless in a social setting) in front of my employees. It’s just about choosing the right place and time.
Would the non-swearing apply to all kids? How about a ginger stepchild?
It's a bit of a problem of mine that I have the odd swear in front of the kids in moments of frustration. I've substituted in less extreme versions but the effect is our kids now regularly use holy hellfire and heavens to murgatroyd when out and about.
It’s a bit of a problem of mine that I have the odd swear in front of the kids in moments of frustration. I’ve substituted in less extreme versions but the effect is our kids now regularly use holy hellfire and heavens to murgatroyd when out and about.
My 3yo exclaimed "good grief!" when frustrated about something the other day. Was cute and amusing 🙂
I’ll give you necessary but then there are a lot of things in our lives that aren’t necessary. Please and thank you serves no real purpose but I’m sure you use both.
They may not serve any purpose, imo I think manners are important and all the children in our family were brought up saying 'please and thank you', It's common (sadly not common anymore) courtesy. If more people said please and thank you the world would be a nicer place.
Swearing and good manners are not mutually exclusive. My children combined the two and now say 'thanks very much, you ****!'
My 3yo exclaimed “good grief!” when frustrated about something the other day. Was cute and amusing 🙂
My 4.5 year old, having spent a week staying with her grandparents, now comes out with "oh bother!" whenever she feels the occasion demands it.
One of my teachers – a very long time ago – was of the very clear opinion that people who swore did so because they didn’t have the vocabulary to express themselves without swearing.
I think there is some truth in that.
Actually just the opposite: https://www.sciencealert.com/people-who-swearing-cursing-rude-words-better-vocabulary-science
It’s common (sadly not common anymore) courtesy. If more people said please and thank you the world would be a nicer place.
My kids and all their friends seem to be very polite, and 'please' and 'thank you' are in regular use. There are, of course, exceptions, but I suspect it's just as common (or as uncommon) as it was in 'our day' etc. I'm sure they swear like troopers when they're on their own, but understanding context is more important than telling them not to swear, IMO. They're going to learn from their peers anyway, but I'd much rather they knew that some words were worse than others, and that they weren't inclined to use the F word in front of granny...
Actually just the opposite: https://www.sciencealert.com/people-who-swearing-cursing-rude-words-better-vocabulary-science
/blockquote>I'd get banned for swear filter avoidance but it's amazing what words you can make.
I don’t see the need for swearing at all. At least not in normal conversation.
Just… why? It is by definition rude, crude and offensive, so what’s the need for it?
It exists because it expresses meanings that people want to express. No, you shouldn't swear in front of kids or in public, but the idea that swearing serves no purpose is utter nonsense.
As far as regulating it goes, good luck with that. If you make a law against using some specific word, people will make a point of using that word just on principle so you're in the embarrassing position of either throwing them in jail and looking like a fascist or just surrendering. Do you really want to get into a losing fight with someone like George Carlin?
I don’t see the need for swearing at all. At least not in normal conversation
Well that’s just not having the imagination to fully exploit its possibilities
Watch the Thick Of It or listen to the chants at a particularly venomous football match and you will hear swearing elevated to an status of an artform
There’s nothing more stirring than listening to tens of thousands of people singing at the top of their voices “My old man said be a City fan, I said * off, bollocks, you’re a *!”
Or any number of Malcom Tuckerisms
Apparently, on Bake Off (never watched it myself) When it all goes horribly wrong, and a contestant ends up in tears, Mel and Sue go over to them and Eff and Jeff with them so the producers cant use the footage of them crying.
Which is sweet.
Personally i dont think **** should fall foul of the swear filter, but there we go.
While we're having a celebration of swearing, another selection of the finest proponents of the art...
As an aside on swearing I've always wondered why you don't see (hear) swearing on the radio as much as you do on TV?!
LBC late night phone ins would be made more lively with the inclusion of a few effs here and there.
So… I asked my girls last night if they swore (explaining why I was asking the question and I made it clear that I was not at all bothered if they do). Child A (the one I mentioned earlier that I thought may do) said that she does occasionally ‘just the sh#% word’. Child B (as I suspected) says that she doesn’t (although admitted that she did swear once accidentally in front of her best friend). She said that none of her friends ever swear so she’s feel uncomfortable swearing in front of them.
And before anyone suggests they aren’t telling the truth, I know they were. I’m kinda happy that I called it right and happy that we’ve taught them well - it’ll mean that, should they have kids themselves, they will probably teach them similar habits.
I am short tempered and foul mouthed usually, but tried to avoid swearing in front of my two till they were at secondary school, and even now I'm still conscious of it.
Neither of my kids, or their friends, are remotely feral, but I've rarely heard them swear.
Normalising foul language is wrong - if you don’t reserve it for proper frustrations and anger, what have you got left? Violence?
Normalising foul language is wrong – if you don’t reserve it for proper frustrations and anger, what have you got left? Violence?
🤨
I think I'm beginning to see the problem...
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<li style="text-align: left;">Well, I can't remember my Dad swearing much, Ma certainly didn't. I tried not to in front my lads and they don't in front of me (only mildly). But Grandkids! They're fair game! In fact, in a great relationship with my 10yr old, he tells me all sorts."Dad said F*** the other day, I thought it was really funny". So I try to send him back with something new everytime. He knows some of it is naughty but he loves the risky stuff. I love winding my kids up.
Shaun Ryder on celebrity gogglebox taught my kids to swear. Did a good job tbf.