Poll on swearing in Canada, the US, and Britain

Category: Let's talk

Post 1 by Leafs Fan (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 05-Aug-2010 12:47:29

I heard this on the news last night and found it interesting. Enjoy!
http://www.visioncritical.com/2010/08/canadians-swear-more-often-than-americans-and-britons/

Post 2 by Senior (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Saturday, 07-Aug-2010 14:04:48

I can't believe people are spending money researching this. In my experience, you are more likely to hear swearing at football matches than in churches, and I would imagine my experience is consistent with that of people in many countries.

I don't think there is any link between swearing and where a person lives.

Post 3 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Saturday, 07-Aug-2010 14:18:30

I agree with senior on this. swearing is just that; it makes no difference where people live.

Post 4 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Saturday, 07-Aug-2010 14:22:42

i do notice that younger people, twenty five and below usually, swear more often than those over 25. at least in the Uk anyway. This is probably down to the culture which pervades now, a culture that does not nurture good language skills at all. i'm not saying over 25s can't or don't swear, it's just that they do it with more care and consideration, rather than using the words as every day currency.

Post 5 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Saturday, 07-Aug-2010 15:48:12

Oh it's probably true here in the US as well. It seems like every other word out of most young folks' mouth these days has four letters and isn't generally used in shall we say, civilized conversation.

Post 6 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Sunday, 08-Aug-2010 23:44:33

I agree with Smokey bear on this one. I have a friend under 25 and he swares all the time.

Post 7 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Monday, 09-Aug-2010 9:17:39

I know quite a few people over twenty-five who swear like sailors. I think it is about maturity and vocabulary rather than physical age. Don't get me wrong. I don't think there's anything wrong with swearing at all when the time and conversation is appropriate, but some people just don't know when to swear, and when not to. Again, I have to agree with those who say it's not really about where you're from, either. Of course, I'm sure the family in which you were raised plays somewhat of a role. My parents swore quite a lot, but told me never to swear. So, of course, being a little kid, I came to the conclusion that swearing must be cool, because adults were allowed, but I wasn't.

Post 8 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 10-Aug-2010 18:43:34

They said the same when we were kids: younger people have probably as an average sworn more often than older people forever. They usually fight more, get fired up more, all sorts of stuff. And there's always the exception to every rule.

Post 9 by Perestroika (Her Swissness) on Wednesday, 11-Aug-2010 6:18:40

I don't know, it's interesting that they only polled the english speaking countries. I sware a lot, and people are often shocked here in Switzerland to hear it, and young people don't sware as much here, so I wonder why.