ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > October > 17 > Entry
Swearing at work…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“What is your favorite curse word?” I love that question when it is asked by James Lipton (or Will Ferrell doing a great imitation of him!) on the Actors Studio. Most of the actors who are interviewed have their answers bleeped out. We all laugh. Why? It validates that sometimes an off limits swear word is the best way to release a particularly strong feeling or emotion.
What about at work though? Is it okay to swear? Officially and according to most policies and rules of business etiquette, it isn’t. But reality and experience tell me it may not be so simple.
Don’t assume those you work with are comfortable with bad language. At one company, employees were asked put money in a jar in the office every time they cursed! I imagine that cut down on the amount of profanity flying around that place!
At another organization, it was perfectly acceptable to swear when frustrations boiled over.
Here are unwritten rules about swearing that I have observed:
- It’s okay to curse in the field but not in the corporate office.
- Its fine for men but women are seen as “crass”
- Men should clean up their language when women are around.
- If some words slip out when with others acknowledge it and apologize if you offended anyone.
- Leave your “potty mouth” at home!
- Swearing occasionally is okay but doing it a lot means you have an anger management problem.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Malone
October 17, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
We all have potty mouths at my office. Even the women. We have all worked together for well over 10 years, and it’s just par for the course. Sometimes you get so frustrated that you have to fire off the “F” bomb, GD or whatever.
One of my co-workers use the “F” word practically every other word. We count how many times he uses it per sentence. We have gotten as many as 6 in one sentence.
I have a friends who’s kids swear, and they are only 5 and 7. Their parents say it is ok, as long as they don’t use those words at school. I, myself, don’t think kids that little should use those words, much less hear them. My daughter, 20, still gives me a look when I swear. She doesn’t like it at all…..
By Sam
October 17, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
“Swearing occasionally is okay but doing it a lot means you have an anger management problem.”
It could just mean that the individual is a low-class person. He may not be angry—just low-class.
The minimum requirement of an educated person is good manners.
By Rusty
October 17, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
My dear ole’ grandaddy used to say that vulgarity is an ignorant mans way of expressing himself.
By Karen
October 17, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
Yes, we must remember there are people out there with a “limited vocabulary” and no manners.
By Fred
October 17, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
It does not shock me to hear it at work.The culture has embraced it to a degree.. Look at the words used on television today that once were taboo. I do not take verbal abuse from co-workers or ourt clients. If either aims bad language at me to gain something it fails. I stop the converstion by just walking away.
By and
October 17, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Ya see it quite a bit here in the blogs although in disquise with a few symbols. I’ve even seen the devout christians blog about how we’re all sinners and the sec someone ruffles their feathers they throw out the f%$# you line.
By Joan
October 17, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Sam,
What the HE-double hockey sticks does education have to do with manners? Some of the most educated people are the rudest and crass people.
By Baine
October 17, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
It’s not ignorant when I tell you to f-off. It’s direct and to the point. There is no room for interpretation. While we are on the subject, why is it acceptable to type “G@# D&^m” or “F%&$ You” when we are all saying the full words in our heads as we read? Have we really preserved anybodies innocence?
By Potty Mouth
October 17, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
Joan - I agree. My husbands boss is a PhD and has a wonderful and lucrative career in the pharmaceutical industry and he burps aloud, chews with his mouth open, swears like a sailor at sea, and tells people to eff off.
Education has nothing to do with… home training does.
By J
October 17, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
I’m college educated and love to cuss. I wouldn’t consider myself low class, but just able to have a sense of humor. Believe me, if you worked with computers…you’d be cussing too. Take a human communication class—-words are just words. The person who gets offended by a word is just giving that word the power to offend themselves. Why give words the power to offend? In the world we live in, I can think of a lot of things that are more offensive and disgusting than a few F-bombs.
By LM
October 17, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
I now work in an office where cussing the norm. I knew when I came back to work with this employer I’d start to pick up the habit. I don’t use potty mouth much, but it does happen.
My Mother’s advise, an excellent vocabulary will express yourself much better than a few ugly words. Which is so true. Cuss words are used so often and in the wrong way they mean nothing, it is just noise.
By Annalee
October 17, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
I feel that cursing is not for the workplace. A co-worker wore a T-shirt to work with a profane comment emblazoned across the front, When I complained to HR that I was offended by it within ten minutes I had several men approach me and tell that they used to think that I was cool and they were surprised that I would get someone in trouble. My reply was that there were older women than myself in the office that were offended also but I was the only one “cool” enough to complain. So much for confidentiality in the HR office.
By nene
October 17, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
People make sure they don’t curse around me, I don’t know why, because I’ve never said anything when they did. I just don’t join in when they do. I just ignore it.
By Sailor
October 17, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
I am college educated, and far from low class…. I just love to cuss……. If i want to call somebody a Cee U Next Tuesday….. I will, right to there face. Better than being rude and talking behind there back….hahahahaha….
By alton
October 17, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
cursing should not be ok in the work place. however, the effect of what you are talking about is amplified if you use curse words sparingly. if you use curse words every other word, then what you are saying is tuned out and you are looked upon as a nut in my place of employment.
By Rick
October 17, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
First there is never any excuse for cursing, some people seem to have a lack of adjectives in their vocabulary, so they use curse words, Then you have the young folks and teens who think it is “big or grownup” to use curse words. This shows mostly their lack of upbringing at home, l think. Its rude and l personally forget or ignore the rest of the conversation when when people have to swear just to communicate, leave the foul mouth stuff for the locker room if you must. Don’t use it in public or in mixed company.
By Sailor
October 17, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Hey Teresa: Watch a little to much napoleon dynamite lately ? Your a freak…… I bet we could have some fun :) Raise a little Hell…. ehheheheheh
By CL
October 17, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
I think my favorite comment was from “Sailor”… “I am college educated, and far from low class…. I just love to cuss……. If i want to call somebody a Cee U Next Tuesday….. I will, right to there face.” You really gotta love it when someone is bragging about being college educted and far from low class, but doesn’t know the third grade lesson of there vs. their.
By anonymous
October 17, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
To Annalee—-people like you just make me so sick—-running and telling on other people about stupid stuff like t-shirts—-get a life!!!!!! I am glad someone in HR told someone else you were complaining, it serves you right you little stupid a$$
By alton
October 17, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
and the crowd goes wild after the overhand right by cl
By alton
October 17, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
theres you are full of it;) pun intended
By Sailor
October 17, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Thanks CL, but you seem like a real Cee U Next Tuesday. Teresa your killing me…. love a person with a personality.
By alton
October 17, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
theresa i meant, not theres
By Elaine
October 17, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
With profanity as well as all word choices, we have to consider our audience. The problem at work is that often we don’t really know our colleagues all that well—acquaintances, but not close friends. If someone is offended, he/she usually won’t say anything, just go away feeling strange. No one wants to cause that. I think that’s why it’s a really bad idea at the office…you just can’t assume that what’s customary/normal for you is the same for everyone else.
But here’s what’s worse: Being in a group of coworkers who often use profanity, and being “the one” who doesn’t. Then, anytime someone swears, he/she says, “Oh, sorry, Elaine,” singling me out. It’s so condescending. Just say it or don’t say it. I’ll deal.
By CL
October 17, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Alton, I don’t think Sailor gets it. Either that, or he’s waging his riveting, derogatory-filled, put-down laden come back that he’s hoping will offend me. Which I think will prove the point of everyone above stating that those who use cuss words superfluously simply don’t have the knowledge to wage a decent verbal disagreement.
By Teresa
October 17, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Alton, your a midget!!!!!!
By Jo
October 17, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
I agree with you wholeheartedly, “Anonymous.” While I think excessive cussing sounds uneducated, I cannot tolerate the other extreme, i.e. prissy, delicate little flowers who get offended over everything. Yes, GET A LIFE!
By sailor
October 17, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
also CL, please check your own grammer, spelling, whatever….. before YOU hit send……. you always this anal ? I am glad thats the only thing you found..
By Sailor
October 17, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Teresa, I think I am in love… will you marry me?
By Teresa
October 17, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Alton! WELL I NEVER!!!!!!
By Teresa
October 17, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Alton! WELL I NEVER!!!!!! How did you know!!!!
By mamaj
October 17, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
It’s funny, but I curse only around certain people. It does not always mean that you are a low-class person, but that another word just simply will not do. I do not advocate cursing, but for those of us who do, I will just say be cognizant of who is around you, and always be willing to apologize if you notice that it offends. I said a curse word to one of my children at my mothers house, at the age of 35, and my mother overheard it. I was so overcome with nervousness and guilt, I actually packed up my children and we left. That was many years ago, but suffice it to say, that was the last time my mother heard me curse.
By sailor
October 17, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
fisting, such words with all these virgin ears around… I must pray…. Hello god its me margret.
By Teresa
October 17, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Alton, do you have Tourette Syndrome?!
By alton
October 17, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
teresa, no i don’t have tourette syndrome, but if i did have the syndrome it would be tourettes
By Teresa
October 17, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
Alton, I do want you.