Do you get offended when older people swear?

Question

I work in a job where I hear members of the public swear all the time. It especially offends me when elderly people (especially old men) use bad language in front of me. The way I see it, they're from a generation that was taught to not swear in front of ladies and should know better. Therefore, I find it particularly disrespectful. Does anyone agree? Or does anyone think it's worse for children or women to swear?

Answer 1

Swearing isn't exactly a new thing. People in all cultures and all languages and all generations have had vulgarities in their vocabulary. People have always had vile language and have always used it even in normal conversations. Some people just swear more than others be they young or old. Swearing in and aggressive manner is another thing altogether though, but it sounds like your talking about in general conversation.

When people swear in general conversation, it's not necessarily a sign of a lack of vocabulary, or necessarily a sign of ill manners even. But I must admit I find it tiresome when talking to or overhearing someone talking where every other word is a swear word. To me it's just boring and tiresome be it coming from someone old or young, male or female.  

Answer 2

Swearing is used as an expression of disagreement or anger and I'd sooner have my ears bashed by a few expletives rather than by  someones fist. It can be offensive to hear but I know of people who swear every other word and they mean nothing by it.

I guess you're right in that older folk should know better but in these times where just about anything goes the main problem is upholding our own personal standards when we are all too frequently accosted by derogatory aspects of human nature and culture.

Dunno why but to hear a swear word slip out from someone who's otherwise apparently perfect, can make you see them in a different light

Answer 3

My parents use words like D.m and Bl.st all the time and I am used to it. I did hear one of the gardeners use the word Ble.ding once and I think that that was a bit naughty.

Answer 4

I do agree with what you're saying as a gentleman should always have manners, especially when in the company of ladies and children. I guess it's just with the changing of the times, sadly a lot of old habits are now dying out.

Answer 5

Why is it wrong to swear in front of women ? you women wanted equality now cope with it if you really want to be treated as equals.

Swearing in front of ladies is wrong however all women are not ladies.

Answer 6

It sounds bad coming from anyone, but I agree, they should know better. The problem with older men using foul language is that it's a habit they more than likely picked up on the job. I worked in a predominantly male job for about 10 years and was appalled at the language that came out of otherwise nice men's mouths.

Answer 7

I don't see anything wrong with it young people do it so what's wrong with the old people doing it and there is nothing you can do about it any how  

Answer 8

I hate to hear anybody swear  young or old. Its a disgusting  

Answer 9

not as much as hearing children swear

Answer 10

In my opinion, swearing is a form of degrading your professional character at work. It undermines your abilities to work in a professional attitude as well as diminishes your positive outlook.

Therefore, swearing shouldn't be used in the workplace. I think you're right when you say that swearing shouldn't be done infront of women. In general, there shouldn't be any form of swearing in the workplace that would endanger your job or character.

Personally, I've never got offended by people swearing because that's what they also do outside the workplace. It's something that has turned out to be a bit uncontrollable nowadays.

Hope this helps

Answer 11

Depends why they are swearing.

But I find it hilarious when I hear a little old lady swear.  You just don't expect that!

Answer 12

Well where i work the amount of people that are swearing are swearing because they are sick and either don't know their doing it or honestly dont care. It doesn't offend me at all, however that is a particular situation....I can however tell the difference between a person who is there and swearing just because thats how they are and they really don't care that they are not the only ones there.. I have to be very delicate about how i handle each individual situation because it happens for so many different reasons

Answer 13

No I find it quite funny. When my Nanna swears it's hilarious cos it sounds so odd.

Answer 14

For, me no one should really swear. It offends anyone. I don't think there's a scale for how offended you are. When anyone swears, where man or woman, young or old, it's just plain disrespectful.

Answer 15

Funny but what we will put with out of people our own age and think little of, we take as horrid if done by old people or children. I do think it is really bad when older people do it because as you say they ought to know better.

A shame you can't say, "Sir, I wasn't raised hearing that sort of language, please don't disgrace us both with it."

Answer 16

some people when they swear i barely notice as it fits in with there voice (its hard to explain) were when some people swear i think it sounds stupid and it doesnt suit them ( i realise this is abit of a stupid and vague answer but its the best i can explain)

Answer 17

No i swear a lot myself, my friends swear most people i know swears apart from my mother...

I think swearing sounds funny

Answer 18

My grandfather never swore,and owned his own building firm. He wouldn't tolerate any of the builders on site swearing,especially if they were at someones home.

Swearing in general is horrid, and can only be carried off as funny,by certain circumstances or people.

There was an incident in my road once and an old lady of about 85 who saw it referred to the perpetrator as 'that f.cker'. Everyone looked at each other and thought,no,she didn't say that. Then she said it again and I squealed in shock,and ran in doors. I have to laugh about it now,but it was awful.

Swearing has been around for yrs and taught to younger generations by older generations,there is a time and a place for it,but if people use it at the wrong time it makes them look stupid.

Answer 19

Most swearing simply shows that the perpetrator has a poor grasp on the English language.

Answer 20

I work with a 63 yr old who swears every other word so no, not anymore! I don't even notice when he does swear now!

Answer 21

So it is alright for young people but not old people?

You feel that it is alright to hold them to a higher standard than you hold yourself?  If swearing is wrong, then it is wrong for all.  

What is also wrong is to judge people based on a stereotype.  Like assuming that an entire generation would feel differently about swearing in front of women.  Swearing was ALWAYS taught to be wrong.  That teaching sticks to some, but not to others (regardless of age)

Answer 22

I detest profanity in both, young and old alike.  

Answer 23

I think they have earned the right to be bitter a bit more than a 17 year old. I find its equally offensive either way.

Answer 24

I'm not usually offended by swearing, but i find it upsetting to hear young children swear because it doesn't seem right. Other than that, I don't really take that much notice, although i do hate having to listen to people who choose to add a swearword into every sentence. I'm 19 and EVERYONE my age seems to have this habit! The 'F' word seems to have become as common books in schools these days!

Answer 25

Sorry, I don't understand.your problem or the reasons you give. You might just as well ask if someone gets offended when immigrants or any other particular group swear.

It could possibly be that if younger people showed more respect to older people then older people wouldn't be reduced to swearing.

Answer 26

well i agree and diagree. I don't think anyone should swear when it's directed at another person in an aggressive way, but i think in certain circumstances swearing is acceptable, for example slamming your fingers in the door, you'll probably let out the odd "$hit". I personally would never swear in front of a girl, but that's just me. i swear in front of my friends but that is always in a light hearted manner and never very explicite and never in front of kis. The most i would normally say is "c**p" of "bugger". I Think it's appalling hearing little children swear, last night my cousin came around to my house and her two year old son said the "F" word. My mum practically went into shock. i think swearing in general is disrespectful and is normally the sign of a very limited vocabulary, but having said that sometimes you can't help it like what i said above.  

Answer 27

mm like the other day i caught the bus home from asda with my little boy, and there was a group of girls teenagers swearing and going into detail about sexual encounter the night before i looked over a few times so maybe theyd see i had a child with me,they carried on even people at the front of the bus heard everything too.,i personally dont like either swearing im not any saint by the way.i just think some people use swearing in every sentence nowadays.i wouldnt dare swear at home and even out on the streets as someone would of told my parents and i didnt like the belt from my dad

Answer 28

Old people can curse as much as they want they don't have that much time left on this earth before they take a dirt nap so I would not blame them. Also, women can swear just as much as men - what's the difference?