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Oh Shit! Science Says Cussing is Good for Us
Yet amazingly, the reason swearing has such power and influence on us remains a mystery
Cussing is frequently considered taboo and is frowned upon in polite conversation. But… it’s also a lot of fun. I mean, I quite enjoy swearing. My mom, on the other hand, is less inclined even though I know her favorite word is arguably the “worst” of the bunch. The wonderful and dreaded capital F-word — Fuck.
I always tell her to let it rip and to cuss to her heart’s content, but she grew up in a different time with different rules and rarely swears except in moments of extreme duress or when around loved ones — and even then, it’s with caution. So, I’m writing this newsletter for her. Because guess what, Mom? Science confirmed that cussing is actually good for us.
The Taboos of Cussing
I don’t think I need to explain why cuss words are considered “bad.” Most of the terms used as swear words don’t exactly have flowery meanings. Though, of course, cuss words are rarely used for their dictionary definitions.
After all, if I call my computer an asshole — because most of my cussing is aimed at objects or for emphasis, and rarely toward or about people — it’s not because I actually think it’s a literal butthole.
