Nothingness

[Tonus]

I've never understood why some people get so up-in-arms about this so-called "vulgar" language. They're just words, and by being offended by them, you're giving them a power that they otherwise would not have.

Because there is meaning behind them, and we read intent into them. I don't swear frequently in real life, but I do so freely around those friends and family that I know are comfortable with it. Sure, some will take offense because they are "dirty words." In that case, it isn't intent or meaning that offends them, but the usage itself. I'm willing to respect that for people who I happen to care about, and I'm cautious around strangers because I don't know which type they are.

But words do have meaning, and language does transmit intent. Telling someone "leave me alone" is passive and weak but it gets the meaning across. Telling them "fuck off, asshole" gets the same meaning across, but the intent is aggressive. A person may comply with the first request more easily because it makes them feel in control, whereas they are more likely to instigate a confrontation in response to the latter because it's an attempt to force them into a subordinate position, and they'll subconsciously react to that.

I read the OP and shrugged my shoulders. Two paragraphs of telling us that we're uncouth louts followed by a question that's been discussed pretty frequently here? Not very civil, IMO. The passive-aggressive approach strikes me as much more insulting than one or the other.