[honeychile]

The original post was extremely condescending, and implied that swearing was a substitute for poor vocabulary skills. This is patently incorrect - swearing is, in no way, a substitute for poor vocabulary. While there may be social decorum issues attached, and I'd like to thank all of you guys for beating that horse to death, there's absolutely no connection between swearing and intelligence/vocabulary. That's insane.

In your humble opinion, of course.

I would like to posit for you that it is excessively sensitive to deny someone's point simply because of swearing - especially considering the fact that we are not in 'polite company' or another such socially constricting situation. You are all adults - if you cannot see past a bit of colorful language and dissect the larger point therein, you are less taking the moral highroad and more copping out from rational, adult conversation.

You're making huge suppostions here. First, I do try to behave as if I'm in polite company - but if you want me to make an exception for you, I'll consider the matter. If you think that the more profanity you use, the more "colorful", "rational", and "adult" that makes you sound, then you're limiting yourself - which, of course, is your perogative.

Maturity must be manifested in the ability to deal with people and situations outside of your sphere of comfort without turning the nose up or putting another down. We are not children - you can examine a euphemism for sex or fecal matter without becoming rosy in the cheeks, and if you cannot, then you have little to no basis for cutting on another's maturity. In fact, especially in the case of honeychile, this sort of implication is par for the self-righteous course - how about you address the issues presented, rather than the presentation style? Wouldn't that be mature?

Oh, horrors, the self-righteous phrase! *faints* Look, I work with geriatrics every day. Do you think that I could possibly lose some clients if I swore like a sailor? You better believe it! Have you ever seen someone with severe dementia who can only say, "Oh shit!"? Sure, it's funny the first few times, but then you really start to feel sorry for the poor lady. I made the choice to cut back on my language when I realized that it's harder than most people think to shift gears several times a day, and that I don't want to embarrass any future children like that. Do you think that, when you or your friends start having children, that they'll want you talking like that around their kids? Of course not! It's simply easier to watch my mouth now, and hopefully set a good example, than otherwise.

Bottom line: if you decide not to take someone seriously because of swearing, YOU are proving yourself just as limited as the one doing the swearing.

Again, you missed the key idea: excessive. Few people can't handle some swearing. Excessive swearing or profanity does make more people wonder.