It appears that a judge, Mr Justice Bean, in the UK has deemed swearing and more specifically swearing in front of a police officer is not an illegal activity as its become such common place in the wider culture that it has lost its offensiveness. Does this simply a reflection of the current attitudes towards profanity and that with increased usage it has decreased import or does it suggest that respect for authority and common decency amongst citizens has been eroded in the wider UK society? Although North Americans seem to be particularly hostile to swearing or as they would say, 'cussing', is this something that should concern us over here or is NA just full of a lot of boring prudes?


Here's the article.

Swearing Article

I recently visited the UK and was horrifed - I had my ten year old son in tow -on the tube, in the middle of the day people were effing and blinding as part of a conversation, these were British adults, men of about 30, every third word began with an F! - kids and foreigners often get mixed up about when it's appropriate to swear. I am not a prude, but there is a time and place for everything. I didn't notice that kind of thing so much in Canada. I don't think the police should give up on it, it's unacceptable - by the same token I don't see why doctors, nurses etc., should be expected to deal with people who have stupid baseball caps jammed on their heads like some kind of halfwit - dear God I'm starting to sound like my mother!

All North Americans, or just US North Americans? I haven't come across much swearing among the latter (a couple of years ago I spent a couple of hours in a bar with some drunken gas drillers from Arkansas; they were not swearing). Canadians, on the other hand, swear lots, at least as much as the Brits, although the C-word is very rare.

Quebeckers swear an awful lot, or appear to. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that $hit and f**k are not considered to be rude here.

Tabernac!

As you're so keen to learn, this explains it all very well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_French_profanity

Do not know where you are from, but yes it is RUDE AND VULGAR....
I often say things to people who are blinding and f'ing in public. For pete's sake there are millions of words in the english language can people not use anything other then profanity? And the C word here is one of the worse, along with the "T" word as well.
Everyone lets out a "shite" term.....

I was in family court last week and a man and I use the term loosely, was f'ing and cussing a storm, didn't take long for old bill to put a stop to it! and told him he would be arrested! The room was full of children, older people, and young....There is no need to it, if you can't express yourself any other way, you need to increase your vocabulary. Many people say it and do not realize it they say it so often.....am not a prude but what you do or say in your home is your business, but in public have some respect for others who find it offensive.
Freedom of speech didn't mean profanity......

I am in Quebec. If you read the link I posted, you will understand that some words considered rude to the anglophone ear are simply not rude here. Even sweet old ladies use the F-word. Quebec swearing is not based on sex or bodily excretions but on Catholicism and the liturgy.

TBH don't know which is more annoying the F word or 'have a nice day' both annoy me intensely. Although being a newbie to this country I am somehow missing the gritty edge of living in the UK, everyone is so damn nice here I just feel like saying something just to get a reaction. Yes I know, before you all start, its culture shock kicking in.........

The 'T' word? I'm stumped.....

Funny you should mention family court. I didn't hear a judge swear in any Court that I ever appeared in in England (civil as opposed to criminal), they swear all the time in family court here. Pissed, in the non drunken sense, appears to be way more acceptable here than in England, as is crap. One hears them all the time in court.

If you have athletic kids - enroll them in hockey, or just go check out a AAA/AA tournament - you will find that Canadians are not so nice then. Anyone who has not experienced this particular aspect of Canadian life, and think that they are all so polite, should really give it a try.

"Tory", you silly twat.

Oh, I'd assumed "Thatcher".

I suppose it would be rude and vulgar to respond by calling you 'scroat face'?

Kaching. 9.35 am

Oh really? Why?