Kids, teens cussing more: Guess whose fault it is?

[Jahness]

Kids, teens cussing more: Guess whose fault it is?

They’re dropping F bombs at school and at church, but guess who
they’re picking that language up from?

By Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Experts call it “conversational swearing” and they say preteens and teens are cussing more than the generation before them. Apparently, teens are having a harder time switching gears between talking with their friends and talking with adults, and cuss words are slipping out in all kinds of conversations. Read the full story http://www.ajc.com/search/content/ne.../cuss0225.html.

Timothy Jay, a psychology professor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a leading scholar of cursing in the United States, estimates that teens use 80 to 90 swear words a day.

“ ‘Elementary … teachers report that children are using more offensive language at school than they have in the past,’ said Jay.”

“He said the Internet, TV and other media may be making adolescents more comfortable with swearing, but their parents’ own language habits are the biggest influence.”

” ‘It starts as soon as they learn how to talk,’ he said. ‘At a young age, they’re attentive to emotions. When you’re swearing to be funny or when you’re angry that just draws them right to it.’ ”

I have to admit to being a terrible cusser. There’s no way I am saying 80 to 90 bad words a day, but I do spout my fair share. I did pick the habit up from my dad and my brother. I rarely take the Lord’s name in vain, but I drop F all the time. I have slightly modified it to “freakin,” or “F-in,” but it’s just as terrible. I am truly trying to work on it because I don’t want the kids to pick it up.

How about you? Do you curse: at work, at home, in front of the kids? Do you kids, teen cuss? Do you punish them for it? What is your general punishment for bad language? How do parents break the bad habit of cussing when they have kids?

http://www.ajc.com/health/content/sh...eens_cuss.html

[Mamazen]

And I thought it was just me imagining that kids were doing this more...not only more but unabashedly in front of adults too...
I have had to tone down my use of curse words quite a bit...not only because my youngest is able to parrot word for word what I say, but because they have a very long lasting effect on the atmosphere in the home when used prolifically and carelessly. I prefer serene peaceful surroundings.

[Elisa Keisha]

yes, i curse too much. and i dont know where it comes from, not from my family. maybe tv, and also enviroment and friends in school.

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by Mamazen

And I thought it was just me imagining that kids were doing this more...not only more but unabashedly in front of adults too...
I have had to tone down my use of curse words quite a bit...not only because my youngest is able to parrot word for word what I say, but because they have a very long lasting effect on the atmosphere in the home when used prolifically and carelessly. I prefer serene peaceful surroundings.

Greetings Mamazen!

No, it is not only you that has been noticing that children were cussing up a storm. What was shocking to me was the fact like you said they did it in front of adults with no hesitation or discretion. To me that was the horrific part. Now I know children will always try to act grown in front of their peers just to impress them by cussing and just talking junk in general. But when I started to see them do it in front of adults that made me cringe, to the point that whenever I hear it I will stop to bring it to their attention, or just give them the look. Some will stop and say sorry miss and cover their mouth, but their are others who just don't care who they cuss in front of.

Elisa being in certain environment, and being around friends who cuss is a definite way to pick up the habit. TV, videos, music and media in general has made the cussing even more acceptable as well. sometimes people are cussing when their is no need to but they have just gotten comfortable using the terms.

Cussing does have a lasting affect on children and more and more as well we are seeing parents cussing out little babies when they cannot get them to do what they want especially in public.

Thanks Mamazen and Elisa for taking the time to share your views on this issue.


Peace & Blessings!

[tyydae]

Originally Posted by Jahness

What was shocking to me was the fact like you said they did it in front of adults with no hesitation or discretion.

I am 28 years old, and this has been going on for years now. I was 17 cursing in front of elders, and they were telling us at that time, how we had no respect. In their time, "It was unheard of." It was something that you just did not do. For those that refused to respect their elders, it was a back paddle to their behinds.

What's funny to me, is that the children (I believe) he is referring to is white youth. Because, as sure as the sun rises each morning black children have been doing this for the longest.

[Fenix]

Hmm. This is funny. When I was younger, I remember accidentally saying "damn" in front of my mother once after dropping something on my foot and getting hit in the head almost as soon as the word came out of my mouth. And I still catch myself in front of my mother or grandmother. Maybe that's just my family but I honestly don't believe Black kids are swearing in front of elders. As a matter of fact, my grandmother still looks at me crazy when I say "lie" in front of her. Let alone dropping f-bombs. I'd fear for my life if I ever accidentally let one out around any of them.

[Raha]

I never used to curse until I got to the 6th grade. Lol

Now, I curse quite frequently (not like a drunken sailor or anything, but it is noticeable), but I NEVER curse in front of my mom or any of my family or anyone that I perceive to be an elder. I also try not to curse in front of kids. I LOVE kids, and I don't want to give the wrong impression, ya dig?

Essentially, one has to know the right situations and people to let out such expletives.

On the flipside, though, I'm trying to cut back (Lol, I sound like a cursing junkie or something).

[tyydae]

Originally Posted by Fenix

Maybe that's just my family but I honestly don't believe Black kids are swearing in front of elders.

It depends what black children you are referring to. Those raised in loving homes or those raised in the streets. Because you are right, if many children were in loving homes as you were brought up in there would be that level of respect.