to ask schoolkids on the bus I was on to watch their language?

[StudyFullTime]

travelling on a bus at school kicking out time and school kids got on and sat by me and 4 year old ds, they start effing and jeffing, they couldn't be older than 13/14.

Anyway I let that go until one of them calls the other a fucking cunt so I turn to them ask could they watch their language please.

They do watch their language but are still mumbling.

Then I thought balls, should I have said that? So, wibu?

[StudyFullTime]

The whole point of swearing is to curse someone or something, to put across your anger. If you think that this is ok for your kids to do then that's your perogative, I wouldn't like to be there when they turn their anger onto you because chances are they probably will.

It's a sad state of affairs and why this country is on it's arse...

[Eliza22]

Common as muck, some people. And I say that as a working class woman who was brought up on a difficult council estate.

I did however, go to a very posh boarding school, on a scholarship when I was 10. By the time I was 12, the "posh" girls had taught me all manner of foul language. I used it too. But never, ever in public. Common as muck.

[HelenHen]

Study i swear in jest. In humour, as much as in anger! If you only swear in anger, maybe you're doing it wrong! However, is it better to bottle your anger up? Hardly seems healthy

[FindoGask]

swearing is not why this country is on its arse. What a Daily Mailish thing to say!

That said, you were being entirely reasonable. Funnily enough, yesterday I passed a group of 9 or 10 year old boys who were doing some sort of rap that involved saying "motherfucker" a lot. They clocked my little girl, who is 4, and one of them said "sssh lads - there's little ones about". Made me smile, actually.

[MostlyMama]

I hope to god her parents aren't the abusive type. You have no idea what you have done.

[OwlCapone]

Many of you admit to swearing at home but not in public... Why? If it's so offensive, why do it at all?

I tend not to have sex in public either. It's called having a time and place for things.

As for letting teenagers be teenagers, since when did being a teenager in Clyde swearing profusely in front of adults and small children? It certainly wasn't when I was a teenage. We swore, yes, but had better manners than to do it in front of adults.

Manners have deteriorated over the years. When I was at school it was ingrained in me that you stood up for the elderly etc on a bus. Even now, it is an automatic reaction to offer my seat.

The "I can do whatever I fucking well like and fuck who it offends" attitude, as demonstrated nicely by Helen, is nasty. To blame it on nationality is ridiculous - I am fairly certain that the vast majority of Irish aren't straight out of Father Ted or Mrs Brown.

[Eliza22]

OwlCapone!! Love the username . Well put, but I fear you're wasting your time with HelenHen.

The "fuck you" attitude of many many people now, leads to anti-social behaviours that are threatening and highly offensive to most people. But it sounds like Hen and her sort don't give "fuck". Lovely attitude to pass on to your children. Just lovely.

[FiveExclamations]

I don't have an issue with swearing in general, it's the aggression that often comes with it. So, if someone stubs their toe and utters a string of "cunting fucks" as they weep in pain then I can live with that and explain it to my child if necessary (Don't think a child will notice unless it's pointed out to them).

Some teenagers (and adults) swear on buses etc in a "I'm so hard, I can do what I want, no really, I am" kind of way which can leave you wondering where the situation is going to go. I'd assume in most cases that they're insecure, but insecurity doesn't mean they won't turn nasty if challenged and that is what I personally react to. The implied threat.

It was a drunk teenager who called me a fucking cunt and shoved me over because I wouldn't let him insult me and my friends without being told to back off.

I've still challenged people who are being aggressive because I'm buggered if I see why I should creep around being scared and letting them have everything their own way.

I always enjoy Stephen Fry's activities and his thoughts on whatever he cares to give his attention to, but I've read what he had to say on swearing and I don't think he's talking about that part of the swearing spectrum, the insecure, aggressive swearer who just wants to intimidate and big themselves up.

I'm no saint, I swear mightily when the occasion calls for it, but not as a rule in public, or in front of my child. I don't want to scare or upset anyone.

So to summarise a short burst of public swearing because of stubbed toe/sudden bad news or an thoughtful and isolated "oh fuck" doesn't bother me, aggressive swearing does and IMO the OP was perfectly within their rights to challenge it on the basis that groups of swearing teenagers can come across and frightening and aggressive.

[MoominAndMiniMoom]

Laughed out loud at Helen's reasoning that because she's Irish, she can swear wherever she likes.

I'm Welsh, doesn't mean I can walk around calling everyone a 'cont bach', just because it's expected of us!

[Aeroflotgirl]

Helen use your common sense, swearing is negative, it's cursing and it is rude and undesirable so it's understandable the great normal majority of use would find swearing unacceptable, especially in public. Why the hell should I be subjected to you swearing when you are adult enough to control yourself!

[HelenHen]

Laugh out loud at the 'common as muck' thing Now we're getting to the real issue here!

And yes, Irish people do swear more... And we probably always will! Swearing's wonderful and I will continue to subject poor terrified strangers to my language lol.

And whoever said about my kids... Read my posts! I've said I'll teach them otherwise cos of you judgmental fuckheads!

[HelenHen]

Oh and I stand for elderly and disabled people too!

[HelenHen]

Interesting how it's the anti swearing brigade here who are trying their best to offend me . Yas have called me all sorts! Bless! Ahhh the irony

Did the girl in question call the ops dc a fucking cunt? No, I believe she was having a private conversation! Typical conservative country where you pride yourself on free speech and it's an offense. Could I be arrested for saying fucking cunt in a pri

[HelenHen]

Private conversation (fucking phone)

There's all sorts of things I wouldn't do at work... Cos I'm paid to act a role.

I do know people get offended by swearing but I also think you're stupid to be offended and far too easily fucking offended!

[MyrtleDove]

YY FiveExclamations I am with you. If someone is swearing at someone aggressively, that is not OK, but someone swearing in public because they missed their train or stubbed their toe shouldn't be such a big deal. It's just words.

[Ruushii]

A private conversation is less private when it's loud enough to be heard by everybody else. If people can't keep their own conversation private, how can they complain about people having an opinion?

Keep swearing away, Helen. It obviously makes you feel good about yourself and at the same time lets other people know to avoid you.

[HavannaSlife]

I think MrsW is right, I doubt you spend your working day swearing infront of your colleagues

[HelenHen]

Myrtle well put! I'm not in favour of aggression, whether accompanied by swearing or not, regardless of how rough this lot must think I am!

Tis amazing I have so many great friends really!

[HavannaSlife]

So you don't allow your dc to swear and you don't swear at work, probably because you know people find it offensive.

I think your intention here is to goad, really you are just like the rest of use

I smell bullshit

[HelenHen]

Havanna have you read any of my posts?

I will not allow my kids to swear, only because I know people would judge!

I did actually swear loads in front of my colleagues, as did they! I wouldn't swear to a customer though.

I have said that I know people find it offensive but also that I don't care because I have nit been given any good reasons as to why it's offensive

[Martorana]

Apart from the judgement of others then, you would have no problem with your child calling another child a fucking cunt ? Yeah, right.

[SoFetch]

I'm always one to stick up for the teens, but YANBU. I love teens even especially the cheeky ones! But if they need to be told about their language, tell them.

[HavannaSlife]

Exactly, because you know people will judge so you conform like everyone else.

So all your crap about swearing loads, not seeing why dc shouldn't swear is pointless rubbish really isn't it? Seeing as you don't do it, even if you can't understand why people find it offensive.