Swearing (and yes, for those of a sensitive disposition, swear words are used in this entry)

Just wondering what people's views are on this?

My view is that swearing in general should be avoided because (a) it makes you look uncreative in your vocalbulary (b) some people get offended by it (c) sometimes its just not that descriptive. For example, saying 'shit I dropped my pen' doesn't make sense - dropping your pen has nothing to do with poo.

However, I think its the meaning behind words that are more important. my family disagrees. You are faced with a problem. This may or may not be a hypothetical problem depending on how much travelling you do. You encounter a village called 'Cocks'.

This village actually exists. The picture on the left is the village sign. hahaha.

Whilst I would probably blush a little whilst saying the name of the place, I can't see anything wrong with actually saying it. I do not mean 'penis' - I mean 'that village'.

My family however would think it was still wrong to say the place name. I don't get it? Does a certain combiantion of sounds make a bad word? Isn't it the intention behind it that can make something bad?

Its like, if my aunty had to relay something soemone had said and it included a swear word, she wouldn't say it, but would isntead spell it. How does that make it any better? I never understood.

Also, what is the definition of a swear word? there seems to be a middling category of them. I'm not quite sure what my family thinks of those because I haven't gone through a list with them.

They seem to be ok with my using the word 'bitch', and i may have used 'crappy' though probably not 'crap'.

Of course in Court (yeah, I'm a lawyer) and in plays I've done etc, I've used them all. Am I gonna burn in hell for this? I'm guessing not.