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Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

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Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#51
post #48

Profanity is about emotional honesty. Swearing implies anger. Replacing "that fucker beat up my friend everyday" with "that ill-intentioned person beat up my friend everyday" is emotionally inaccurate.

Perhaps, but I think the words are far less important than other means of emotional expression.

You could easily say that first line like you're joking about a friend, and the latter with the cold malice of hatred.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#52
post #20

I like how comedian Jerry Seinfeld put it: "If you have to use profanity in a joke then you failed to nail it." Applies to other things as well. It may be a (crude) indication of honesty, but it is a clear indication of failure.

Please, Carlin was one of the best comedians... And fuck me if he didn't swear his ass off.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#53
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Would you swear in an interview? No." Yes. And if someone held it against me it's unlikely to be a place I want to work.

Interesting. I mean, do what works for you but to me, swearing in an interview shows weird judgement. I would not put a lot of confidence in someone who makes that choice to be easy to work with, professional, and treat their coworkers with respect. I'd just think, you know, this asshole doesn't want to have a respectful relationship, and doesn't really get this situation. I swear plenty but I hold it in at work. I'v…

Who says it's a sign of poor judgement? Profanity only indicates a lack of respect if you're intentionally insulting someone, and believe me, there are plenty of ways to insult people without swearing.

If a team can't stomach a few "fucks" now and then, they probably can't tolerate an honest review of their code either. I've seen enough teams who'd rather give themselves a congratulatory circle-jerk than face the fact their code was a steaming pile of shit that was nigh on unmaintainable.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#54

Totally fucking true because, when I was a kid, I caught such hell from my parents for lying that I've become a pathological truth teller. And I cuss, a lot.

Did your parents cuss while giving you hell, because that might be why you are cussing today. Also, do you have kids? Do you give them hell for whatever reason?

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#56
post #54

Totally fucking true because, when I was a kid, I caught such hell from my parents for lying that I've become a pathological truth teller. And I cuss, a lot.

Did your parents cuss while giving you hell, because that might be why you are cussing today. Also, do you have kids? Do you give them hell for whatever reason?

Anecdotally, I swear a lot, but my parents never did when I was growing up, at least in front of me. I started swearing like a sailor pretty young and I've never really stopped. I swear a lot in the workplace. My relationship with my parents has relaxed a lot over the years, and we enjoy swearing somewhat gratuitously in each other's company.

Some more anecdata: I realize that when I am in the company of strangers or acquaintances, a bit of casual swearing goes a long way to create a relaxed, open environment. I've had some pretty candid conversations with otherwise very serious people that I otherwise would have been very nervous or apprehensive about.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#57
post #20

I like how comedian Jerry Seinfeld put it: "If you have to use profanity in a joke then you failed to nail it." Applies to other things as well. It may be a (crude) indication of honesty, but it is a clear indication of failure.

Please, Carlin was one of the best comedians... And fuck me if he didn't swear his ass off.

I went to a Carlin show once. He was witty. But overall the impression he left was that of a vulgar bitter man.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#58
post #12

The people who cannot spend energy to control themselves and therefore curse are less prone to using self-control-dependent strategy of lies and deception. Wowsers.

I don't swear because I lack self-control. I swear because those words are powerful and useful. "Bullshit" is an immeasurably better word than any of the alternatives. Some people are entirely deserving of the label "arsehole" or "bastard". I fundamentally distrust people who don't swear. To me it has always signalled priggishness, timidity and conformity. People who see swearing as a sign of poor education or a limi…

I swear in certain contexts, especially when I'm using a computer, and I find this statement utterly ridiculous. There are many reasons why people might prefer not to swear - how you were brought up; because you think it exhibits a certain sense of self-control; because you take delight in using circumlocutory expressions which avoid swearing (I'd be more interested, frankly, in a speaker who says "unmitigated bunkum" than one who says "bullshit"); because you work in a context in which swearing is inappropriate... To say that all of those reasons make people "priggish" or, worse, untrustworthy is just very silly.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#59
post #12

The people who cannot spend energy to control themselves and therefore curse are less prone to using self-control-dependent strategy of lies and deception. Wowsers.

I don't swear because I lack self-control. I swear because those words are powerful and useful. "Bullshit" is an immeasurably better word than any of the alternatives. Some people are entirely deserving of the label "arsehole" or "bastard". I fundamentally distrust people who don't swear. To me it has always signalled priggishness, timidity and conformity. People who see swearing as a sign of poor education or a limi…

And I'd so like to have your trust.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#60
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotally, you have some supporting evidence but ultimately don't trust it. That seems silly. You also conflate anger and profanity. Which is clearly a load of shit. They are distinct things. I doubt it is cut and dried, but I'm interested in the research. And I distrust it as much because it confirms my general beliefs. And that should be a red flag for everyone.

> a load of shit Your comment is anecdotal proof that profanity doesn't have jack shit to do with anger.

fucking used as an adverb is an intensifier which quite plainly does often express anger. If I say to my colleague, "Have you finished that task yet?", or I say, "Have you fucking finished that task yet?", which is angrier?
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