Swearing on public transport and children

Again, what if they turned nasty. I’m surprised at all these loud aggressive sweary people who instantly turn into meek and mild little lambs because some middle aged woman tells them off.

How would you feel if your kid witnessed violence as a result of your telling off the wrong kind of person?

And again, someone swears, you tell them off, they tell you simply to ‘fuck off’? What’s the next move?

My toddler was fascinated by council workmen and their lawnmowers and tools and wanted to stop and watch but I had to drag him away because of the loud swearing. It didn’t occur to them a child is admiring them for doing the job they were obviously too cool to do with some pride and respect.

I wouldn’t ask everyone and I certainly wouldn’t ’tell them off’ that would be stupid. I phrase it politely as though I’m asking a favour. “Guys, you wouldn’t mind doing me a favour, I’ve got my kids with me, any chance you could ease up on the swearing. Thanks”. That type of thing.
People, even groups of yobs, respond better to being spoken to politely even if I secretly think they are trash. I come across as friendly and people tend to respond well to me so maybe that helps.
If I had misjudged it and they told me to fuck I would just fuck off!!! Simple really. It wouldn’t be worth getting into an argument. I don’t care that much.
It doesn’t always stop the swearing but I’ve not had a bad reaction. I wouldn’t bother if I didn’t have kids with me.

A the people who feel your DH was unreasonable seem to be split between a) those who are too cowardly to enforce societal decency due to fear of retribution, b) those who's version of sexual equality means zero accountability, c) those that feel that people should be free to swear in confined public areas and despite being out there for all to hear, its none of their business?

The bus companies/restaurant owners/shop keepers should manage this better. If you can't moderate your behaviour, please leave my bus/restaurant/shop.

Don’t forget people who mind their own business and don’t think they should enforce their personal morals on the rest of the world, even if they don’t agree with them.

But then I believe that you are responsible for keeping you or your kids away from things you deem unsuitable but are perfectly legal.

Could it not have occurred to them because they were working and not there to entertain your toddler?

I do a job that I am good at and I love, I have pride and respect. I also swear, although I try not to if children are about. The two things aren’t related

The thread is about swearing in public, especially when children are within earshot.

Given I have contributed several times, I am aware of that.

It was you talking about the workmen being ‘admired by a toddler for doing a job they were too cool to do with pride and respect’, whatever that means

So all parents who disapprove of loud repeated swearing on a bus should disembark rather than ask the person to moderate their language?

societies generally agree on acceptable behaviour and collectively enforce it. Try sitting on a cathedral steps in Rome and eat a sandwich. Might seem silly to you, but that’s what they disapprove of. Until recently apparently, in the UK you keep your conversation quiet and avoid swearing when in public, especially if children are about.

I mourn the days where a man would punch another man for persistent swearing despite requests to stop, in front of his wife and children, and he’d likely be applauded by the other passengers.

Well yes - because it’s much better for children to see their father punch someone than risk hearing a swear word 🙄

You say you mourn those days - when was that? This wasn’t a thing even in my grandparents’ time and they would be well over 100 if they were still alive.

Those also would have been the days where women were considered property presumably. So violent men and subjugated women isn’t a good trade off for people not swearing loudly.

Swearing in public (maybe not as loudly) has been a thing for 60+ years.

I have no idea what the relevance of the Rome thing is. Did you just find that out?

Societies do agree on what’s acceptable - unfortunately for some, it may not be the same as you would find acceptable.

People are louder and more annoying now unfortunately - I hate that but I recognise thats my issue.

If it’s okay to call out crap behaviour then that’s great - there are many things I could lecture others about. I don’t fancy the risk of getting punched or stabbed though.

As she was on speakerphone, she made it everyone's business. There are behaviours unacceptable on public transport, this is one of them. As this happened on a tram, the operator has the power to take the offender to court over her behaviour - both for the speakerphone use, and for the language.