What makes a cuss word a cuss word ............?

People make this designation..and I have bucked the people system my entire life and say whatever word I please. I am not going to have everyone else decide for me what "their" version of a good word or a bad word is...so I use all the words that people say are "bad"...just to be sure that I don't get caught up in this head game and fear saying words.....just simple words. I am a no fear type of gal...and refuse to let other people do my thinking for me! I mean...what the f$ck???

a cuss word is just any word deemed inappropriate by your bond group. These are just frond upon and it is believed that you are less mature or refined if you use them. A "curse word" is a word actually used towards another person, these are words that show anger or make threats or defame a person. All the bible refers to is using the lord's name in vain - by which it means silly ways, or ways that are for ill use - such as god damn you - I have no right to ask the lord to damn you, and I am using it in anger to take vengions out - this would be wrong according to the bible - however, since I am an ordained reverend, I do have the power to banish 1 soul to hell.

i know! the words are just letters put together to sound like something. i don't get how a cuss word is a cuss word. i just follow the rule that you can say "bad" words at the right situation, but not at the wrong one. like u can cuss if ur team at a baseball game is losing, but not at a formal dinner if u spill water on yourself.

Society makes up the cuss word rules. You can use ANY word as a insult or threat and eventually society will deem it a cuss word

Society majority decides if a word is or is not appropriate. Just look at how language has changed in the past 100 years or so. ***** use to be an acceptable term. It is not a curse word but not entirely acceptable either. Gay use to be a term for happy. Now gay is a term used to describe sexual preference. Once the majority of society takes offense to a term it is then deemed ugly or vulgar. And what can be deemed a curse word in one society can be acceptable in another society.

well in my beliefs a cuss word is simply a word taken into a different term. in other words i can scream "You A JACKASS!" to someone and technically im cursing, but if i direct that same comment to and actual donkey there is nothing wrong with it. cuss words are technically a words dictated by society to be bad. and since "bad" words were used back when man basically started we were raised to know what to say and what not to. even though it is "only a word."

The meaning of the word is what makes it a "cuss word".

like F*ck meaning to have intercourse. A meaning that is not socially acceptable in a public place. Sh*t meaning dung which an uncommon word that most people would find unacceptable in a social area.

It's the value/meaning that we as a society associate with the word.

"Dictionary of Word Origins" by John Ayto is really cool this way.I've had the same curiosity, and was able to look up swear words in it:)

Pertinent Bible verses would include Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Colossians 3:8 "But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these...filthy language from your lips."

James 4:17"Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Also, an article by Tony Warren at www.mountainretreat.org really lays it out well.

To keep these verses in context, remember that they were written to people with a Christian faith, as to what God says is right and wrong, and the loving reasons behind it.

People decide it's bad.

Why is penis OK, but c**k isn't?

Why is copulate OK, but f**k isn't?

Why is feces OK, but s**t isn't?

Why is breast OK, but t*t isn't?

Why is vagina OK, but c**t isn't?

Obviously it isn't the idea or both forms of the word or both forms would be offensive because they represent the same idea. Somewhere along the line, we decided that one representation of the idea was acceptable, and one was obscene.

I don't understand why, but obviously this happened at some point. It's all a little goofy to me. The funny thing is is that they are only offensive because we say they are (there is nothing inherently offensive in those combinations of sounds.) If we one day said, "These combinations of sounds are no longer obscene.", then they would cease to be "cuss" words.

For example, the word "damn" used to be very offensive, no you hear it on TV. Maybe one day it'll be on Sesame Street.

Peace,

Kevin

What makes cuss words bad is if you are cursing or putting down someone, or offending a person by talking disrespectful. It is also a sign of lack of intelligence and vocabulary. Cursing usually falls into judging someone and using The Lord's name in vain. That's reason enough not to do it.