Bad Words

Words are funny things. They mean something different depending on how they are used. They can be polite and harsh at the same time, or crude and affectionate at once. The way we use language is a reflection on us.

All of us are familiar with the mythical image of an old granny washing out a vile mouth with soap and water. In our culture, some words are acceptable in polite company, around little children, and on formal occasions. Other are not. They are considered crude, rude, and vile enough to pollute the mouth. We focus so much on the words that we forget what they really mean.

Growing up in a conservative Christian household, I learned to watch my tongue. I still probably haven’t heard half of the good swear words out there. When I was ten we were even allowed to say ’stupid.’ Yet for each of those bad words I was never allowed to say, there is a corresponding ‘clean’ word.

Is it better to say fudge, drat or dang? When we let out a forbidden explicative or a cleaner version, does our word choice really matter? Because what we mean is the same. Christians are supposed to worry about the heart, about the state of a persons life, not the state of their mouth. If I say darn and you say damn, what difference does it really make? We have ostracized a group of words from ’appropriate’ language, but not the feelings behind them.

I'm not trying to give a directive here, or even a concrete opinion, because my vote is still out. But does it matter if I use 'bad' words? What difference does it really make? Is it okay to use the toned-down, aceptable versions? Is that really any different? Should I try not to make any exclamation at all when I am angry or upset or surprised? Does that exclamantion reflect an un-christian mentality? Or is it ok? And if the sentiment is the same, does it matter which words I use?