I don’t get it. These words restrict what can be on TV and radio. They change the ratings of games and movies. We go through all this effort to keep these words hidden away from our children, even though the second they hit school they are going to pick them up from another kid most likely.
Why is it that we treat these words like black sheep?
In: Other
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XByiHpUvrj0
Nicholas Cage can tell you on Netflix.
https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Sh-Brief-History-Swearing/dp/019049168X
Or there’s books on it.
In short? There’s 4 kinds of swear words. Excrement or body functions. Sex. Religious. And racial, but that gets into slurs over profanity.
Humans have always found bodily functions gross and humorous. Sex is usually used as a stand in power dynamics. Religion has been found “not for humor” for a long time, so it becomes a target for excited utterances. Slurs I’m sure you can figure out.
Why those words? Depends on the word. Different words have been not for polite company at different times. Religious people don’t like their god mocked. Most people don’t like to be reminded they poop. Rules change depending on the group.
Sometimes they sound funny. Some similar to another word. Usually, people use them as proxies when they’re happy or sad or angry. We yell when we’re in pain and swearing helps you overcome that. Sometimes we’re calling the gods to right a wrong. Some it’s being childish with a silly body noise.
edit: I realized part of your question was why in America… because America is prudish and allows religious conservatives an outsized amount of control on public life. European countries versus American values show how much more of an effect religion has on all Americans.
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