ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > July > 17 > Entry
Do you have a dirty mouth at work?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Comedian George Carlin passed away in June. I am sure he will be remembered for a lot of things but the one thing that stands out in my mind was his seven dirty words you can’t say on radio or TV routine.
I personally don’t like to swear but we all slip up every once in a while.
And then there are those where every other word out of their mouth is a curse word. To them, it is so natural to swear, they don’t even realize that they have a limited vocabulary.
I have worked for a couple of managers who felt compelled to strategically use curse words when administering discipline with their subordinates. One manager justified this action by explaining that this will leave a lasting impression with the worker. Well, he was right. It also impressed the EEOC in a discrimination charge for which the company paid dearly.
We have all heard the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. This is not true. People don’t forget broken bones and people don’t forget hurtful words.
There are over 500,000 words in the English dictionary. Surely we don’t have to use the seven George talked about when communicating at work.
Cursing does not belong in the work place in my opinion.
Do people curse in your work place? Does it bother you or do you have a dirty mouth as well?
Comments
By Tony C.
July 17, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Wow Gary, I applaud your sensibilities; but I wonder what type of work you do?
By Perkle
July 17, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
What a timely subject. The person in the office next to me seems to not know how to say anything else. On top of constantly swearing, he always talks loudly and sometimes yells and screams to get his point across. I have for the most part learned to ignore him but it is hard when every other work is f* I honestly don’t think he knows that he says it so much. It is part of regular conversation for him no matter whom he is speaking to. Happy, sad, mad, doesn’t matter. Nothing I can really do about it anyway. I sometimes will listen to my iPod to drown him out or will leave my office for a few minutes. We have no insulation in our offices so even with the door closed, you can still hear everything. Which he doesn’t seem to realize either. He gets louder if he closed his door.
By That's what I am talkin about
July 17, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Gary, what the &*%$^ do you mean, that ^##& work is not a )_&^^$place for #@@%@#$ cursing?!? It is THE best %^%$@$@ place to let it all %$@# hang out. ^%#@#%# you and the *^^$#5 horse that you rode in on, Pal!
By That's what I am talkin about
July 17, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Gary, what the &*%$^ do you mean, that ^##& work is not a )_&^^$place for #@@%@#$ cursing?!? It is THE best %^%$@$@ place to let it all %$@# hang out. ^%#@#%# you and the *^^$#5 horse that you rode in on, Pal! Just kidding…..I agree with you
By Sugar
July 17, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
I have a co-worker who drops the “F” bomb every other word…….”I “f’ing” went to the “F’ing” store, and the “F’ing employee, didn’t know “F” about the “F’ing” product. It was an “F’ing” waste of my “F’ing” time…….
Words don’t offend me, they are just words, but one simple sentence laced with 15 “F” bombs is more than I care to hear.
And yes, I have a potty mouth too…….
By DisgruntledWorker
July 17, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Obviously you do not work in television. If you did, you would know that cursing is essential in the workplace.
By bbb
July 17, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Cursing is a good way to build comraderie. Everyone behaves a certain way at work but then you get an aside from your boss or coworker- that says, “that Steve is a real d%^k” You both smile because you share the secret bond of cursing. Cursing should be in private and between someone you share a close bond or intense hatred. Words are too important to waste on the neandertals I deal with daily.
By jg
July 17, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I got so sick of my co-workers and their potty mouths I started a swear jar - and make them give me a dollar every time they cuss - it worked!
Don’t say anything you would not say in front of your Mother or Grandmother!
By Toni
July 17, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
YOU KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN ON ME ABOUT MY MOUTH.I TELL THEM THAT IF IT OFFENDS YOU SO BAD WHY ARE YOU MY FRIEND. IT IS ME AND WHO I AM, I CUSS AT WORK, HOME, BATHROOM, AND ANYWHERE. MINE YOU I KNOW WHEN TO TURN IT ON AND OFF. I AM NOT A DISRESPECTFUL CUSSER. WE DON’T CURSE WE CUSS IN THE ATL. WHO SAID THE WORDS WE SPEAK ARE CUSS WORDS?
By Toni
July 17, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
YOU KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN ON ME ABOUT MY MOUTH.I TELL THEM THAT IF IT OFFENDS YOU SO BAD WHY ARE YOU MY FRIEND. IT IS ME AND WHO I AM, I CUSS AT WORK, HOME, BATHROOM, AND ANYWHERE. MINE YOU I KNOW WHEN TO TURN IT ON AND OFF. I AM NOT A DISRESPECTFUL CUSSER. WE DON’T CURSE WE CUSS IN THE ATL. WHO SAID THE WORDS WE SPEAK ARE CUSS WORDS?
By Magenta
July 17, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
I moved from NY to the south over 20 years ago, and although there are some things I miss about the north, the nasty language of NY is NOT one of them. I sensed the “taboo” about words, especially having to do with God, the second I arrived here and cleaned up my act immediately. When I hear people speak that way now, I feel sorry for them the same way I would toward someone who is illiterate. It’s just low-class.
By DisgruntledWorker
July 17, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Low class, ha ha…whatever. Yeah, just try to start a swear jar at my office. What kind of f-ing idiot would put money in there? Someone who deserves to be called an f-ing idiot, that’s who. You know what offends me more? Stupid religious people at work that think they can forward you e-mails about Jesus or use “Have a blessed day” on their e-mail signature. To me that is way more offensive.
By Mr. Webster
July 17, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
I really find the whole concept of being offended by certain words interesting. Now if they are aimed at you that’s one thing, but to be offended just because some part of society has declared them “dirty” is ridiculous.
Is it the word that actually offends you or the act/item/sentiment it stands for that bothers you? Would you be less offended if someone used accurate biological terms? What if the meaning has been corrupted from it’s original? For example I seem to remember that in Old English the F-word meant “to plow”.
I’m much more annoyed by the use of the terms “like” and “you know” repeatedly in a conversation than a couple of sentence enhancers.
By Atlanta Pearl Girl
July 17, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Heck…let’s talk about potty mouth Jesse Jackson…. let’s do what they did to Don Imus and ban him from the airwaves….
shall we?
By GTSUX
July 17, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I work for the f*** railroad and we cuss all the f*** time because we are real man. Gary you sound like a f*** p***. Why don’t we meet at the BP and fight. I’m 36-0-1 in fighting at the BP you homo.
By F-bomb
July 17, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
I think some environments have more cursing than others. Like DisgruntledWorker says, Television is one of those places (behind the scenes). My Grandmother had a nice saying for words, don’t say anything that you would not want to put in your mouth.
By Gary Wheeler
July 21, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
It is nice to see so many different comments on the subject. To answer a few questions-no I am not a saint, I worked for Brown for 24-years and swearing was not the norm, based on the area of the country.
As far as IMUS, he paid a heavy price but actually has rebounded with a very interesting and entertaining radio show that is broadcasted in the Atlanta area every morning.
I definitely think standards are different for different people and agree with the person who made the comment that it is not fair.
As far as swearing helping people to bond, I don’t believe you even believe that.
Thanks for the comments. I enjoyed seeing them!
By deborah
August 5, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
I don’t have a dirty mouth but my former coworkers sure did. I can vividly recall be cussed out for some minor infraction, so that the whole office of 40-50 people would hear. I’m retired now but I STILL suffer from PTSD(post-traumatic stress syndrome), related to the verbal abuse I endured. The place was a freaking madhouse. My co-workers thought nothing about calling you a fu**ing idiot or other choice words and for a long while management refused to discipline the filthy mouthed tyrant. I never want to work in a office with women(esp. black women) again.