*Warning* Possible offensiveness ahead. Read quick before it is possibly deleted.

Swear words are pretty much culturally defined. The actual site or sound of the word is "defined" as vulgar although it may mean the exact same thing as another euphemism. Euphemisms often start out as a strong variation on another word and then work their way into general use. If you said "crap" or "damn" a generation ago, it was looked at much differently than today. Even "darn" might have carried a strong stigma. If you say, "Holy Cripes," do you realize that it is just a variation of "Holy Christ"? Some people might find the latter offensive but would they say the same about the former?

Basically, when I swear, I should be looking at my meaning behind it. If I'm angry and swearing, then anger is my problem. If I'm swearing for humor, then maybe my thoughts should be examined. Does my swearing affect people's view of my character? That depends on the person. Do I look like an idiot because I can only use swear words to communicate something? Maybe.

I had a history teacher in 9th grade who said we could use swear words in her class all we wanted if we used them properly. Saying, "Aww, s#%t," was not allowed but saying, "I stepped in some s#%t" was ok.

Fer"You rascals"rick

> >There's thousands of available words in any given situation and NONE of them should be swear words or one that resembles a swear word. "shucky-darn" is more fun to say anyway.
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> Some people would argue that you are being hypocritical, since the word "darn" is really just a less forceful derivitave of "damn," which is a valid word when used properly, but when used in the same way that you would say "darn," is a swear word. "Dang," "dadburn," and "doggone" are similar words. These words are really just less colorful substitutes for a word that you have an inhibition against using.
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> "There's thousands of available words in any given situation and NONE of them should be swear words or one that resembles a swear word." This argument seems to imply to me that one shouldn't be using expletives of any kind. I'm sure that's not what you meant, since you used one in the very next sentence. I know, you didn't use it as an expletive, but the word still is one.
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> You said, "I don't like to use words that might even REMOTELY seem like a swear word..." What is your definition of "remotely?" To me, "darn" only seems to be one step removed from "damn." You stick "shucky" in front of it, which lends it a silly quality, further distancing it. I myself would probably use the word "blast" to express the same emotion. To me, that sounds nothing like the swear word, and is a sufficient distance from it that I feel no guilt over having sworn.
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> I'm not attacking your position at all...your post just generated a train of thought in my mind, and I thought I'd throw out some of the ideas I had at you to see what you and others thought about them.
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> Gri"let your speech be seasoned with salt"shny