Comments on: I Should Have My Mouth Washed Out With Soap

By: Jeane

Jeane — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:45:59 +0000

I grew up in a very religious home where not only all swear words were considered bad, but also “shut up” and “butt” etc. I did get my mouth washed out with soap- it’s horrible once as a kid, and to this day, although I’m much more relaxed about it now, I still don’t swear hardly at all. (I’ll say sh- and h- but not much else). My husb can be pretty mouthy, though, and I have to ask him to cut out the curse words, just so my four year old won’t stop repeating them. The one that really makes me uncomfy is f-.

By: Amy (Park-Avenue Princess)

Amy (Park-Avenue Princess) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:59:58 +0000

Um…Trish…I just wanted to make sure that *I* wasn’t the friend you were commenting about that could turn her curse words on and off…*ahem* because I would never – ever – ever be able to do that! (*LMFAOOOO*) Great to SEE YOU!! XOXO

By: Jennygirl

Jennygirl — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:00:17 +0000

I was never allowed to curse in front of my parents and I still don’t, for the most part. I’m in my mid-30s, and the occasional curse word does slip out now and again when I’m with mom, but ususally becasue I’m driving and someone cuts me off.

By: Susan @ Reading Upside Down

Susan @ Reading Upside Down — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:01:24 +0000

I have asked my children not to use the word stupid. When they were younger it was a blanket “not a good word” rule. Now that they are old enough to understand, they have been told it is not a word that I want them using to describe a person.

There are several words and attitudes that I want my children to understand are wrong, so I explain to them why I don’t want them to say or do certain things. I think just saying “That is a bad word” and leaving the explanation at that helps no-one. The kids have a sense of the forbidden about the word that makes it more appealing and it doesn’t help differentiate between words that are always inappropriate (racial slurs etc) and words that are inappropriate in certain circumstances or uses.

Now that my children are getting older, when they use a word that I don’t particularly like/appreciate, my response tends to be “surely you can find a better word to use than that?” or “Would you appreciate someone saying that about or to you?”. I am more interested in targeting the attitude than the actual words. If they can develop good character and a healthy attitude, I don’t think that they will be likely to use words in an inappropriate way.

My kids are still young, so the jury is still out on the longterm success of this strategy. I’ll let you know how it has worked in another 10 years or so.

By: ammo

ammo — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:57:35 +0000

– IF used in the correct form . It is how we use it that matters – -
I have never heard it said any better then the way my mother told me – “Foul language is just a persons way of showing that they can not express their option in a intelligent matter”-

This worked on me and all of my kids too!

By: natalie @ book, line, and sinker

natalie @ book, line, and sinker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:20:55 +0000

okay, could you please stop being my cosmic twin sister? are our parents related??? fart was an absolute NO-NO at our house–to this very day. lol. i do use some profanity, but like your friend, can flip it on and off–i need that talent since i work in a school. just one of the many services i offer. lol.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:21:18 +0000

I read a Steven Pinker article a while back on how the scatalogical/sexual is replacing the profane as “dirty” words. As a literalist and a linguist, I used to point out the literal meaning of the word if my kid used it, and inquire politely if that was what the kid really meant. Mostly, though, I’ve always echoed my college professor parents, who would ask if I couldn’t express myself any better if I used a “bad” word. My kids (13 and 15) come home from school saying “crap,” but that’s about the extent of it. And if I’m ever really furious, I have some words handy that everyone knows I say very rarely–so they produce more shock and awe.

By: sarah pekkanen

sarah pekkanen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:06:31 +0000

How funny — I was interviewed by NPR a while ago on this very subject. Here’s the link if you’re interested: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89127830

By: Dreamybee

Dreamybee — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:59:00 +0000

I agree that teaching a child why something is wrong or inappropriate is often more effective than just banning the behavior. As many have pointed out, banning it often makes it a challenge, a goal to be obtained. I know that, even as an adult, I am much more likely to follow the rules if I know there is a good reason behind them, not just because there is a sign that says so.

Keep in mind that no matter how many words you don’t expose your kids to at home, once they reach a certain age, they are going to hear them anyway. I don’t know how many times I have been shocked by the language being used in the mall, on the bus, at the store, in front of children, next to grandmothers, in line behind mothers. I don’t curse a lot, but I certainly make a point of trying not to in public because I don’t know what others around me will find offensive, and there’s really no need for it. I feel like I am in the minority though as society, in general, seems to be largely unconcerned with what anybody around them thinks. The attitude seems to be, “If you don’t want to hear it, then you shouldn’t listen to what I’m saying.” I don’t know how you get around that other than talking to your kids about what is appropriate, when it is appropriate, and why (or why not) it might be appropriate.

By: trish

trish — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:26:40 +0000

*snort* “Boomers”?

I still won’t curse around my family…just doesn’t seem respectful.