Is this racist?

[Broletariat]

Please bear with me I'm trying to ask a genuine question and I understand issues around racism tend to be very sensitive so be gentle with your responses and know that I have the best intentions.

Anyway.

I commonly hear the sentiment that using words like "fuck, shit, damn, etc." makes you sound ignorant. Is this a racist claim? I ask this because typically when I hang around my more "white" cultured friends I hear these words less frequently than when I hang around my more minority cultured friends. These words obviously do not make one more ignorant by using them, nor do they betray your ignorance or lack thereof for using them. Is the idea that they ARE tied to ignorance a racist reaction?

[ed miliband]

I think it has more to do with class than race; to swear is seen as a sign of a poor vocabulary, bad upbringing, lack of civilized manners, etc.

[scarletghoul]

The more oppressed you are the more you're likely to swear, I guess.

Its not racist sentiment to think of swearing as a sign of ignorance; its just stupid and somewhat snobby.

[The American]

I don't think race has anything to do with it. My understanding is that unintelligent people use profanity in place of other words because their vocabulary is limited.
That being said I am not fucking sure

[Rooster]

Here if you listen to young white people speak every second word is "fuck".

[scarletghoul]

I don't think race has anything to do with it. My understanding is that unintelligent people use profanity in place of other words because their vocabulary is limited.
Its not a question of vocabulary. If you can provide a civilised alternative to 'fuck off' I would be glad to hear it.

[Broletariat]

I think it has more to do with class than race; to swear is seen as a sign of a poor vocabulary, bad upbringing, lack of civilized manners, etc.
Hmm alright this would make more sense. My trying to relate it to racism could be linked to the fact that minorities tend to be lower class as an average because of racism. Thanks.

[Broletariat]

Here if you listen to young white people speak every second word is "fuck".
Ehh maybe it's because I'm from what is known as the bible belt and everyone is a good little christian who does no wrong.

[hatzel]

If you can provide a civilised alternative to 'fuck off' I would be glad to hear it.

I heartily suggest you instantly remove yourself from my vicinity, sir!

Actually, that just proved it's got nothing to do with vocabulary...

[ed miliband]

I don't think race has anything to do with it. My understanding is that unintelligent people use profanity in place of other words because their vocabulary is limited.
That being said I am not fucking sure

I'm not really a Stephen Fry fan but he's bang on here:

s_osQvkeNRM

0:27 on.

[Irish Left]

I think its to do with class rather than race but. In "white" countrys like england the minority cultured tend to but in the lowest class because of state oppression.

[Dimentio]

In Sweden, there are differentiations between Swedish youngsters cursing and for example minority youngsters cursing. The Swedes are using curse-words in every other sentence. "Devils", "Shit" and "Satan" could even be positive words, like "what a shit-tasty cake" (actually a compliment) or "you are as strong as Satan!"

Arabs are using "Your mother" curses instead. Used against other Arabs, it could lead to hostility for life. Used against Swedes, it is producing shrugged shoulders and indifference.

Typical scene in school:

Kid with Arab background: "Your mom is a whore!"

Kid with Swedish background: "Whatever."

Generally speaking, ethnic Swedes are using more curse-words than minority people in Sweden (though it's more usual in rural areas). In Sweden, even cultured people could shout "Devils" and "Satan" if they have experienced slight daily misfortunes (and those words are not necessarily seen as vulgar). In some cases, a dialogues could work like that.

"Oh hi Marcus, you old devil! How damn has your life been? Satan knows I wanted to talk with you!"

"Oh, this cake was shit-tasty! I'm sooooo jealous that you've made it!" (Amongst Swedish females, it is typical that they use they claim to be "jealous" as a compliment).

[Quail]

I don't think race has anything to do with it. My understanding is that unintelligent people use profanity in place of other words because their vocabulary is limited.
:confused:

I don't think that's true at all. Most people I know swear a lot, and I wouldn't class a single one of them as "unintelligent" or even lacking in vocabulary.

In response to the OP: It's already been said, but I think swearing has more to do with class than anything else. People from a minority background are more likely to be lower down in the class system because of prejudice against them.

[Manic Impressive]

Actually the bourgeois tend to swear a hell of a lot as well I reckon it's just the "middle class" Christian values type people who have a problem with it.

[ed miliband]

Actually the bourgeois tend to swear a hell of a lot as well I reckon it's just the "middle class" Christian values type people who have a problem with it.

I think it's more of a comic stereotype that old aristocracy figures swear like sailors. To be honest anyone with a slightly plummy accent sounds shit swearing.

Edit: or rather they are shit at swearing. It just doesn't sound right.

[Os Cangaceiros]

My parents swear a lot. I think that's where I got some of my own cursing habits from.

They'd get creative with the insults, too...one time my dad said that I was "as worthless as tits on a boar hog". LOL

[Magón]

My parents swear a lot. I think that's where I got some of my own cursing habits from.

They'd get creative with the insults, too...one time my dad said that I was "as worthless as tits on a boar hog". LOL

My parents were creative like that too. Sadly for them, I was at the age when insults like that were more of a laugh than an actual hurtful insult. I'd even use them myself.

[Rafiq]

There is nothing wrong with swearing.

[FreeFocus]

To me cursing is pretty emotive, I try to not just throw the words around and use them only when I'm frustrated or angry.

If a person uses the words a lot, yeah, they'll look like they have poor control or social skills. That can be true. It isn't racist though, as others have said, it has more to do with class; but if it's coupled with a stereotype like "Black people are loud" (which it often goes hand-in-hand with, in my experience), then it's racist.

[Manic Impressive]

I think it's more of a comic stereotype that old aristocracy figures swear like sailors. To be honest anyone with a slightly plummy accent sounds shit swearing.

Edit: or rather they are shit at swearing. It just doesn't sound right.
nah seriously I've got first hand experience of the evil bastards. Kerry Packer was one of the foulest mouthed people I've ever met one of the biggest scum bags too Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah was pretty bad as well.

[Black Sheep]

This thread reminds me of
6S2cX046xlU
mmmm activists swearing, mmmyees

The way you express yourself is meaningless and subject to the current behavioral status quo.
I swear like ... uhm .. dunno, someone that swears a lot.It doesn't matter.
Ultimately what matters is what you say, not how you say it.

[Meridian]

I curse all the time. I am pretty confident cursing has nothing to do with 'race', intellect or the extent of anyone's vocabulary. It has to do with what language is used in which situations, in the environment anyone is in.

It's pretty naive to think cursing shows much about intellect or vocabulary. People talk differently, there are different language cultures, also within the same languages. As an example, I could show (the presumably English-capable) readers of this post a website in English where probably half of the sentences would be unintelligible to them.

[Blackscare]

My parents swear a lot. I think that's where I got some of my own cursing habits from.

They'd get creative with the insults, too...one time my dad said that I was "as worthless as tits on a boar hog". LOL



My dad says that too, except he says "X was as useful as tits on a bull".

[gorillafuck]

The more oppressed you are the more you're likely to swear, I guess.
I have a seriously hard time believing that.

Class in the U.S. isn't working class people with sailor mouths and then rich people with monocles and top hats talking like you see snobs in movies talking.

[Amphictyonis]

Its not a question of vocabulary. If you can provide a civilised alternative to 'fuck off' I would be glad to hear it.

bPWVq6MwW4E

[BlackMarx]

Please bear with me I'm trying to ask a genuine question and I understand issues around racism tend to be very sensitive so be gentle with your responses and know that I have the best intentions.

Anyway.

I commonly hear the sentiment that using words like "fuck, shit, damn, etc." makes you sound ignorant. Is this a racist claim? I ask this because typically when I hang around my more "white" cultured friends I hear these words less frequently than when I hang around my more minority cultured friends. These words obviously do not make one more ignorant by using them, nor do they betray your ignorance or lack thereof for using them. Is the idea that they ARE tied to ignorance a racist reaction? White culture is very bourgeoisie, in my opinion, thus formalities and such are given more weight. I, myself being a black person, find swear words to be a more proletarian vocabulary. Working people/poor don't have time for pleasantries and "brunch speak". If we want to get our point across, we will make it plain. The idea that swearing is a sign of ignorance is a classist view of common people. I wouldn't say racist. Now in American political life it has racialized stigma's but its penultimately class. Race is merely an appearance. However, class is the essence.