Irish people and swearing

magpie · 03-03-2005 03:14PM #1

It struck me as I was wandering around the city centre at lunchtime the unbelievably high incidence of swearing you hear from the average punter on the street. All I heard was 'sure he a f ucking c unt' and 'yez are all f uckers' and 'f uck that' left, right and centre.

Given that our 'superior knowledge' of the english language is one of these fallacies that Irish people like to bandy about, especially as a means of annoying the brits, surely we should have a better means of expressing ourselves?

And this is the poeple in suits I'm talking about, not just the builders.

KlodaX · 03-03-2005 03:17PM

f'uck off

...

just kiddin. Do you propose a swearing ban?

kasintahan · 03-03-2005 03:18PM

F**k Off!

Spalk0 · 03-03-2005 03:18PM

What the F*ck are you on about?

magpie · 03-03-2005 03:21PM

just kiddin. Do you propose a swearing ban?

Nope, just for people to try and sound less like drunken tinkers in the queue for their sandwiches

dearg_doom · 03-03-2005 03:22PM

sure it's part of our ****ing culture!

Bottle_of_Smoke · 03-03-2005 03:23PM

I think the word Fúck gives great emphasis at times, also Kunt, and lots more. We need them.

koneko · 03-03-2005 03:23PM

If you think Irish people swear a lot, you haven't met any Scandis yet! :eek:
Man they swear like troopers.

[Jackass] · 03-03-2005 03:24PM

Are you trying to say builders don't have a superior knowledge of the English language? Just because they have a thick country accent, dosen't mean they're thick (or should that be tick accent?)
If you listen closely, they're actually discussing dickens up there on the scaffhold.

Sponge Bob · 03-03-2005 03:25PM

Ya must be some stupid cúnt if it took ya until this stage of yer life ta fúcking notice that

TerrorFirmer · 03-03-2005 03:25PM

Part of our culture? Thats a very smart thing to say, is that the international image you want for the "Irish Culture", that we are a bunch of ignorant and offensive foul-mouthed morons?

I think its actually pretty vulgar if you ask me sure I curse sometimes but not to the extent of using fuc'k in every since sentence!

ixoy · 03-03-2005 03:28PM

I was wondering how long it would take someone to reply with the likes of "f*ck off" as a reply. Not all that long...

I agree with Magpie on this. I generally don't swear that much because, personally, it means that when I do swear it generally means something. Carelessly, and constantly, flinging it about as a handy adjective/adverb/verb/noun for every sentence wears down its impact.

Even worse, it's generally just redundant phrasing - "bastard" gets the same idea across about someone as an "effing bastard" would.

It'd be nice to see people try it a bit less, to give it that bit more "oomph" when used and, as a substitute, try one of the myriad of other words that we have access to.

[Jackass] · 03-03-2005 03:28PM

MobileInfantry wrote:

sure I curse sometimes but not to the extent of using fuc'k in every since sentence!

Yes, your grasp of the English language is flawless.

Gilgamesh · 03-03-2005 03:29PM

DubGuy22 wrote:

they're actually discussing dickens up there on the scaffhold.

would that be dicken's Cider? Mwahaha

(say it fast and you'll know what I mean, for the high lag people out there)

azezil · 03-03-2005 03:34PM

I agree, the social mass is most repugnant, filthy buggers should given a royal trashing, what-oh, lets have at them! *perry, strife, twist and thrust!*

magpie · 03-03-2005 03:38PM

I agree, the social mass is most repugnant, filthy buggers should given a royal trashing, what-oh, lets have at them! *perry, strife, twist and thrust!*

You clearly think expecting people not to use absolutely filthy language when there are, for instance, children, or old ladies, or for that matter anyone who might get offended is some sort of redundant Victorian idyll. I just think its good manners, which clearly you don't attach any meaning or significance to.

Shabadu · 03-03-2005 03:41PM

It's much more creative and witty to insult someone without swearing anyway. Still a big massive string of profanities is just the ticket when you step on a plug.

TerrorFirmer · 03-03-2005 03:41PM

You clearly think expecting people not to use absolutely filthy language when there are, for instance, children, or old ladies, or for that matter anyone who might get offended is some sort of redundant Victorian idyll. I just think its good manners, which clearly you don't attach any meaning or significance to.

Agreed. Having manners is hardly old fashioned now is it?

There is a time and a place for swearing - and thats not in everyday conversation when its in most cases not even needed - people just throw it in anyway!

thafitz · 03-03-2005 03:43PM

magpie wrote:

Nope, just for people to try and sound less like drunken tinkers in the queue for their sandwiches

sometimes a good swear word is needed to emphasize (sp?) your point. for example: if someone is annoying you and you tell them to buzz off it doesnt have the same effect as the old classic **** off.

Sponge Bob · 03-03-2005 03:43PM

The Irish have a high tolerance of bad language by International standards, the Spanish are pretty bad too .

The English are schizoid, the upper and lower classes are as bad as anyone including us while the middle classes frown on bad language .

In Ireland it is quite classless .

the_syco · 03-03-2005 03:46PM

koneko wrote:

If you think Irish people swear a lot, you haven't met any Scandis yet! :eek:
Man they swear like troopers.

What the funk are Scandis?

=-=

2000AD. Every swear word is there, but its "disguised". Class, tho.

=-=

I'm gonna funk all you muthafunkers, and there's funk all you can do about it!

Different word, but the same meaning. Words mean little. Its how you use them that has the impact factor.

azezil · 03-03-2005 03:48PM

magpie wrote:

You clearly think expecting people not to use absolutely filthy language when there are, for instance, children, or old ladies, or for that matter anyone who might get offended is some sort of redundant Victorian idyll. I just think its good manners, which clearly you don't attach any meaning or significance to.

My dear boy I was but agreeing with you and suggesting a course of action to deal with this menace by removing these rapskallions from our presance.

*Smiles and bows low*

koneko · 03-03-2005 03:49PM

the_syco wrote:

What the funk are Scandis?

Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians and Finns). They admit it themselves, they have total pottymouths.

magpie · 03-03-2005 03:49PM

I understand there's a time and a place for swearing. I'm quite good at it actually. What gets me is people who are incapable of discussing with a friend what brand of crisps to buy without saying f uck about 15 times.

"What about the fuc kin' whatchacallem, hunky dories?"
"Nah, fuc kin, they're crinkly and fuc kin jus don't taste right"
"What about fuc kin tayto?"
"Fuc kin tayto are ok, king are fuc kin ****e" etc etc.

This is almost verbatim what I had to listen to from a couple of apparently educated office workers behind me in the queue today. There's just no need for it.

seamus · 03-03-2005 03:50PM

There are no verbal substitutes that can adequately express your emotion in the same precise way as "Arsehole", "shitehawk" and "buggerin' bollox".

Swearwords help add colour to a language.

[Jackass] · 03-03-2005 03:54PM

lol, this thread reminds me of Homer and the swear jar....when he puts a nail through his hand "Oh fidle-dee-dee, that will require stitches"

*Ahem* Sorry, back on topic...swearing bad...manners good.....

the_syco · 03-03-2005 04:01PM

I have a habit of swearing about every 5th word, at least. The only time I don't do this is between 7pm & 9pm on Saturdays.

Mossy Monk · 03-03-2005 04:44PM

i speak to english folks all day at my work and they swear the whole time

simu · 03-03-2005 04:44PM

The Irish do not speak English better than the British - that's a total myth. They're about the same.

Swearing is appropriate at certain times but I don't like when people use it needlessly.

Spalk0 · 03-03-2005 04:50PM

MobileInfantry wrote:

Part of our culture? Thats a very smart thing to say, is that the international image you want for the "Irish Culture", that we are a bunch of ignorant and offensive foul-mouthed morons?

I think its actually pretty vulgar if you ask me sure I curse sometimes but not to the extent of using fuc'k in every since sentence!

I think Colin Farrell has allready added substance to that!

upmeath · 03-03-2005 04:56PM

well it depends on tone more than anything. you're right, you hear it everywhere:
ya stewpah fooker
you silly focker
ya dumb kunt
it has to be said that geordies, cockneys, yanks have pretty colourful abusive terms compared to our own f's, k's and w's

Irish people and swearing

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