To curse or not to curse....

[curiouscrow]

that, apparently, is the question.

So, everyone on my flist knows that I don't curse yeah? If you didn't you do now!:P Anyways, at work today an officer came in and someone said something down the hall and he said STFU. But he it made it sound something like: stew-fo and I was like what the crap? So I turned around and asked him what he just said. He told me it was an acronym and- I cut him off there because I knew what he meant then. And, of course, he asked me what it meant. So I told him that I didn't curse but I knew what it meant. It's usually not a big deal about me not cursing. All the girls in the front now I don't. He sat down and started pestering me with questions.

Is it a religious thing?
Is it how you were raised?
Do you think people that curse are bad people?

What...the...crap!!!?

I told him no to all of the above and that I just felt that I sounded stupid cursing. Not ignorant stupid just like the words don't come out sounding right from my mouth. I told him that I think some people can make it sound...well not cool but how I THINK it should sound. LMAO! You have to understand I have a rather high pitched voice and everyone still thinks I'm about 18 even though I'm 27. I'm  not complaining about that! 

Now, I know people that read my stories and/or don't really talk to me aside from that aspect, probably thought that I cursed like a sailor. Nope! But when I'm writing a character I actually hear their voice in my head! I don't know if that's common place or not but it's not my voice so I think they sound completely different saying something that I wouldn't! Take, for example, Caine from Lycan Tales who everyone knows can't talk without cursing. Something happens that has him completely and utterly confused. Would he say:

"What the crap?"<~~which is what I say ALL the time!

or

"What the FUCK man?"<~~~Totally Caine. It's just...him! 

Don't mistake me! It's just not my male characters that curse. If it fits the character so be it.

IN RL it doesn't make me uncomfortable at all when people curse around me. Although sometimes I think some people curse entirely too much for NO reason at all but meh! Opinions are like butt holes...you know the rest. And it's not like I haven't been around cursing pretty much my whole life. I grew up military, lived in Newark NJ(yeah, think Jersey Shore the black version) and I work at a police department. Yeah, they really do curse like that! At least at the PD I work at.

Even if you Sim storytelling aren't your characters built BEYOND the Sims? Aren't they supposed to protray real people as if you weren't using them to TELL the story but to illustrate it? And if you write without the Sims how do you feel about it?

Whoa for completely long, rambley post!:P

Comments

(dolly_riot not arsed to switch accounts)

[azzy.livejournal.com]

Actually i curse much more in real life than on the internet, i am like the forgotten Osbourne, i think every third word out of my mouth is related to 'fuck' - which is actually used in the Danish language like it is in English, and i do mean the actual english word, and not the same word in Danish. I actually don't think i ever wrote a character neither in written stories or in a sims story that curse as much as i do. maybe it makes me super aware of it when i see it written, and it does actually look stupid in text, when i say it, i don't really notice.

Re: (dolly_riot not arsed to switch accounts)

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

LMAO @ the forgotten Osbourne! I used to watch that show on MTV and every other word was bleeped out. Even reading it!:P And i actually think curse words but don't say them. By the time it comes out it's like 'freakin'' or 'craptastic' or some other word! LOL! But I curse more in stories than anything. And it's weird that you, a person who normally curses, sorta filters yourself when writing. Hmm...

[(Anonymous)]

I am really bad for cussing. I think I might even be worse than some of my characters. It's not that I want or need to, it has just become a habit. I grew up surrounded by it; my dad, my brother... practically the entire neighborhood. I mostly do it when I am mad though.

[uys.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that was me -.-

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

LOL!! I've done that before so no worries!

Your characters really don't curse alot! At least not more than usual I guess! It never stuck out to me! Probably because it fits their character! *shrug*

Habits are SO freakin' hard to break! *_*

[followingwords.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough I only curse around people I'm really comfortable with. I've actually had people that I was just getting to know act surprised when I curse, even though I do it all the time when I'm with people I know well. I think cursing is a personal preference, and don't really care what people think. I do have a problem with other people censoring other people, unless it's around kids or something. And I do have a HUGE problem with people cursing around children (as I learned from hanging out with a friend of a friend who curses in front of her four-year-old all the time).

[pascal-curious.livejournal.com]

I swear, and I do it too much, but generally only when around people who know me REALLY well. For the most part, I end up at swearing at inatimate objects that have offended me in some way. I don't swear at people. (I mean calling people names, like fucking idiot, or the like) Thats just not nice. I work for an insurance company, so swearing at work is COMPLETELY innapropriate, so I have a whole list of replacement words I like to use, like "Oh poop." in place of "Oh shit" and "Judas Priest!" (I picked that up from my Grandpa, and people seem to think it is hilarious for some reason.) in place of "Jesus Christ" (which I say entirely too often, even though I don't really believe in the guy.)

As for writing, just as you said, it depends on the character. If it fits the personality. Pascal swears, but not socially, because he is the character I have that is closest to my own personality. You will probably never, ever, hear Amber swear. If she does, that means some serious shit is going down. It is that way with my non-sims writing as well, completely character dependant.

People who say "fuck" every other word really annoy me. It is unattractive (even in a guy) and really illustrates a lack of imagination.

Cursing around kids is a BIG no-no in my book. I felt really bad last night, while babysitting my nephews, when I played a song that had the word fuck in it. The boys are one and three, and I doubt they even noticed, but I felt awful about it anyway.

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

I think I just confused myself with comments! My bad if you got some comment that's deleted on here! LOL!

And LMAO at swearing at inanimate objects! That's great! And yeah...I think it always factors in that I'm around the public and how you speak sometimes slips into every day talk. I know that I've had to catch myself on more than one occasion(I tend to mutter to myself when I'm upset! I can't do that when the person who is upsetting me is standing at the window!)

I say Jesus, Mary and Joseph instead of Jesus Christ! I don't know why! Or craptastic! LMAO!

Exactly! You know the characters and how they speak! Why censor them? It's like censoring another person. And yeah...although there is an officer at work who's favorite word is "fuck" and for some reason I think it's freakin' hilarious! Probably because he has a New York accent!:P

The first time my lil bro was singing a song(luckily it was a radio version) I knew that I couldn't play what I normally play around him!

[pascal-curious.livejournal.com]

I suppose I shoud tell you this since I broke my own rule of not swearing at people today.

I called a woman a stupid twat (Yeah, if I'm going to do something, I do it big.) for driving her Subaru at light speed through the Walmart parking lot and taking the parking spot I was waiting for. I was stopped for a little old lady for chrissakes!

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

LMAO!!! Oh man! She deserved that! Seriously! At least you said twat! I might have called her something else! O.o First off she shouldn't have been speeding in wal-mart parking lot ANYWAYS!

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

I can understand that! And yeah, it annoys me when people tell other people what they should or shouldn't say! When people find out that I don't curse(because they usually end up asking me after awhile) they seem sorta awkward until I tell them that it's not a big deal. Just my own preference. If I did have a problem with it I wouldn't hang around them. Now I've been known to curse when I'm drunk...apparently! I can't remember!:P

As for small children I don't like it for the simple fact the kids start mocking the parents and then you have to explain to them why they can't say it...awkward!

[eshuff.livejournal.com]

oh god I know exactly what you mean. I have a very light soft voice (people who call ask if they can speak to my mother), so cursing sounds like an 8 yr old pretending to be a teenager. It sounds GOOFY. However, that doesn't stop me when I'm really mad even if I do sound like Minnie Mouse throwing a tantrum.

I don't care whether or not people curse or what words they use. Occasionally something is going to slip out in front of the kids, like when husband drops something heavy on his bare foot. I don't stress over that. It would make me uncomfortable if someone routinely used four letter words in front of their kids but I don't know anyone like that.

Characters you've created should react and talk realistically, unless you're writing for an audience of children. I don't really know anyone who does that either or understand why they like to write like that. Whatever. Unless you're doing that, the characters should talk the way they'd really talk.

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

Hahaha!!! That's great Beth! And yes...EXACTLY! It just makes me sound goofy!! I have to be really, REALLY angry to say it out loud! Although I'm often thinking it!

Yeah, I completely agree. And I don't know anyone who curses in front of their kids all the time either. Well, I do but they've toned it down a bit since their kid slipped up and said a word in front of someone they shouldn't have!

And I agree! totally! And I don't feel bad about letting my characters say whatever. If I thought about what I was writing and who it would offend(meaning the cursing and not out right hate) then I'd be stuck in a rut!

[gloomaphobia.livejournal.com]

I used to swear quite a lot but I've cut down quite a bit over the last year. I don't swear too much on the internet, mostly because I don't want to come across as a stupid teenager who thinks a dirty mouth equals intelligence. My characters in Wilde by Nature obviously don't swear, but that's probably because three of the characters are just children. Now that I think of it, most of the short stories and things I've written don't have much swearing at all. I guess I've never had a character who insists on swearing. I never really noticed that you didn't swear, but I think it's a good quality to have :)

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

Gah! That reminds me I need to read the latest chapter! I bookmarked it but never got back to it! My bad!!:( And yeah...I can see where that would factor in! LOL! Teens already get looked down on for some reason in the Sim comm so I can understand your reluctance!

And it's because I don't make a big deal out of my not cursing. *shrug* It's not an issue really. Today at work the same guy came in and said a curse word just to see if I would say something. He's weird like that! But it's such a common place thing nowadays that if you got offended over someone swearing you wouldn't leave the house!

[maonao.livejournal.com]

Count me in as someone who feels ridiculous swearing. This was not always so, I did a good bit of swearing aloud in my teens, but now? Not so much. My parents swore like truckers. I don't mind people who swear, but there is the ability to go too far.

My grandfather has never said a swear word in his entire life and I find that I mimic his style. We create alternatives. My husband laughs because when I get really, really frustrated I just start stringing random, ridiculous words together. My grandpa's favorite saying is "garsh darnit", which amuses me to no end. He says it with such passion and fury that it almost sounds like a swear word. When I try to swear now, it sounds awkward, unless I'm enraged. When I rant, I swear.

Anyway, I swear online more than I do in person. Although I do say "damn" and "hell" a lot. My characters, sims story or not, are allowed to do whatever. I don't feel weird having them swear. I have one particular character (non-sims), a female one, who enjoys swearing quite a bit. I actually enjoy constructing her expletives.

My husband was really, really bad with swearing until we started dating and I made him curb it. It was just really unattractive, he's incredibly, incredibly intelligent in all things academia and that, just ugh, no.

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

Yes, there is the ability to go to far! I've known a few people to do it. Mostly guys who think they have to be hardcore so they have to swear in every sentence even though it makes NO sense!

Ha! I do too! And they sound alright to me when I do. It really convoys my anger. Either that or I get really silent. Because when I get super angry I cry so I try to suck in the tears which makes me even angrier. It's a vicious cycle!:P I say 'gosh darnit' a lot.

And I agree. I don't feel weird either letting my characters swore. Sometimes it'll just pop out as I'm typing and I'll think: "where did that come from?" Haha! Good times, good times!

Yeah, having a super smart person curse just seems to lower the intelligence some way. I don't know how to explain it but I know what you mean!:)

[shimmertwist.livejournal.com]

I wish I didn't curse as much as I do. I'm usually pretty good until I get to work, then I drop f-bombs like it's WWIII.

You're completely right; it does sound stupid and uneducated, but sometimes the only way you can get something across to stupid uneducated people is to speak their language! ;)~

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I didn't mean it to sound like I thought people that cursed were stupid and uneducated. Not at all. It's just my choice and people think something is wrong with ME when I say that I don't! I always get: "WHY?" with this weird expression! LOL!!

And I agree! Sometimes it's the only way to get to some people! Sad but so true!:P

[elecy.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't curse. I don't really know why. I just never did it. I always just use other words to express my mood, such as "What the shnuzzle!?", "Holy Fudge Noodles!" or "Oh shnookies!" I suppose now I have a good reason to filtering my language. xD My nephews are at the age where they are beginning to repeat words and their parents, my sisters...they both curse like whoa xD I guess I have to be the one to teach them the right words, huh?

Of course, I have no problem with writing out curse words xD On the internet, I curse like a sailor! Whoo! But it also helps that some of my characters use curse words, I guess. I don't mind reading stories with alot of cursing, nor do I really care if I'm around people who curse alot because my mom curses enough to fill a cruise ship.

Plus, people get a kick at the filter words I use. xD

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

LMAO!! Oh goodness! The filter words you use are hilarious! Haha! And I'm around a lot of people that curse on a the regular so I know what you mean!

And writing out curse words comes very easily to me. What's that about huh? Even on the internet I don't. I mean I may use LMAO or WTF/WTH so I guess that counts huh?:P

[cumonroxy.livejournal.com]

LOL Stew-fo! If I speak text STFU sounds like Es-Tee-Ef-U, I have never heard someone say it like Stew-Fo! XD

I curse like a sailor. My father, grandmother and aunt have told me so. My dad hates it, he only curses in moments of extreme stress but my mother used to curse AT me so I've gotten so used to it that it seems like just second nature. I do try to gauge myself if a person is comfortable with it though - I wait until they curse before I do and I do the same on the interwebz. I get that some people just don't like it, my dad told me "it just makes me sound ignorant because an intelligent person doesn't need to use such vulgar terms" but it all depends on the situation I guess.

[phoenixfg.livejournal.com]

Yeah! That's why I had to ask him what he meant! He's a weirdo anyways!:P

Your dad is like me! And it takes ALOT to get me upset! LOL! Testing the waters so to speak huh? That's funny! And very polite!:P

DUDE!!! We have to kill some zombies soon! I'm going to night shift when I get back from my sisters so maybe then yeah? Seriously!

[cumonroxy.livejournal.com]

You should call him Stew-Fo, it can be his new nickname!
"Hey Stew-Fo, how goes it?"
"Whatcha doin for the weekend, Stew-Fo?"

Oh my God, if my father curses the shite is about to hit the fan. He gets all red and grabs his head, it's scary. My brother doesn't realize the first time he says a curse word is the time he needs to back down. I've learned that when the bad words start just agree and talk in a soft voice.

DUDE!!!! I KNOW! Message me on LJ when you get time, I start classes Feb 1st and I'm a girlscout co-leader on Thursdays from 6 to 9 so we gotta do it soon :D :D :D [lol do it]