In the workplace, profanity can show status

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[...]

... profanity is a barometer of corporate culture because cussing up a blue streak may be taboo to some companies and expected in others. It's used as everything from a social bonding tool to a badge of status, from a weapon to a substitute for it.

[...]

In some workplaces, says Timothy Jay, a professor of psychology and author on cursing, "if you're the one who doesn't swear, you're the weirdo." He says "profane language can be very effective in gaining credibility," and has been a privilege of rank. Traditionally, "it works down the hierarchy, not up," he says.

[...]

Certain workplaces tend to lend themselves to swearing. Mike Dunton once worked for a bank where profanity was a mark of status. Traders on trading floors use foul language, he says, as a badge of accomplishment, sending a message that they swear because their value to the firm dictates they can. "You're not going to whack an earner over something verbal," he says.

Similarly, Jay Sapovits, a sales executive who won't swear in certain environments, distrusts other salespeople who never find occasion to swear. "There's an inherent element of dishonesty with people who are in a situation where a swear is warranted and they don't swear," he says. "If a salesperson doesn't swear, they're either 1) not dialing the phone enough or 2) are not to be trusted."

Not swearing was a career liability for Tim Orr. When he worked for an ad agency, the founder had one of the foulest mouths he had ever heard. It was contagious. "Over time, my mouth became pretty much just as foul as his," he says. "If you didn't give as good as you got, he would steamroller you." So they cursed like sailors, he says, " ... sort of like comparing antler sizes."

In almost any work environment, profanity can be a way to signal a level of intimacy among colleagues. As Amanda Jacobson Snyder, who works for a data publishing company, puts it, "It's sort of like a friendship's second base."

[...]

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles...bicle21-ON.html

[Sister Fracas 5]

Hmmm, well I'm not fond of what I think is the overuse of swearing just about everywhere. I'm not a prude and of course I swear on occasion, but I disagree that it shows some kind of status....that's just plain rubbish. If you can't make your point without becoming all foul mouthed, maybe your point isn't all that solid. That said, I worked in a construction office on a temporary job for about 6 months and first was astounded by the language of the people IN THE OFFICE. These weren't the guys out in the field, but everyone else. And to me, to see a man dressed well, in a suit, yelling some vulgarities across the telephone line to the field guys, made me lose some respect for him. It was explained that that was the only way to get their attention. Well, I became desensitized to it, but I didn't pick up that behavior either. I still prefer to use my outbursts for the privacy of my home. No one wants to hear my foul language like when I stub my toe...LOL

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I fcuking hate this sh!itty cursing all the fcuking time.

[eau_xplain 2]

I've been pushed to "cursing" at work under extreme circumstances. My cursing would probably be classified as very tame (and pretty lame) .... But then again, I grew up in a very conservative household and cursing was a no-no. But I can curse a storm in my head .. just not able to say them out loud due to cultural conditioning

[mercuryroad 0]

I've used the word poop at work many times.

"Oh yeah, eat my poop"

"Poop happens"

"Someone needs to flush that poop"

"I'm feeling pretty poopy today"

"Poop or get off the pot"

"The word synergy is a big pile of poop"

"When I get done with them they will be eating poop through a straw"

"This meeting is being run by a bunch of poop heads"

"You can't dress up a poop"

"If we don't get this project done there is going to be a poop storm"

"If you poop alone in the bathroom, does it make sound?"

[rbhigday 0]

I've used the word poop at work many times.

"Oh yeah, eat my poop"

"Poop happens"

"Someone needs to flush that poop"

"I'm feeling pretty poopy today"

"Poop or get off the pot"

"The word synergy is a big pile of poop"

"When I get done with them they will be eating poop through a straw"

"This meeting is being run by a bunch of poop heads"

"You can't dress up a poop"

"If we don't get this project done there is going to be a poop storm"

"If you poop alone in the bathroom, does it make sound?"

have Poop Fetish perchance?!?!?

[mercuryroad 0]

I've used the word poop at work many times.

"Oh yeah, eat my poop"

"Poop happens"

"Someone needs to flush that poop"

"I'm feeling pretty poopy today"

"Poop or get off the pot"

"The word synergy is a big pile of poop"

"When I get done with them they will be eating poop through a straw"

"This meeting is being run by a bunch of poop heads"

"You can't dress up a poop"

"If we don't get this project done there is going to be a poop storm"

"If you poop alone in the bathroom, does it make sound?"

have Poop Fetish perchance?!?!?

yes.....I'm very popular in England where skid marks are a sign of affluence

[rbhigday 0]

affluence or flatulance?

[mercuryroad 0]

affluence or flatulance?

Poop does not imply flatulance....however they can be related. A bad case of flatulance could lead to mudd butt. It just adds to the sex appeal for the English.

[faith 0]

I use bad words at work. Of course I'm the only one here all day long most of the time and when my boss is here it's my brother, so who really cares?

[almaty 19]

only accepted curse word at my work place is chopf##k..

Edited March 22, 2006 by almaty2004

[faith 0]

I think I'll call my boss a chopf##k when he comes in later

[mercuryroad 0]

I think I'll call my boss a chopf##k when he comes in later

How do you pronounce ##?

Hmmmm.....I'm sure Prince would know.

[faith 0]

I think I'll call my boss a chopf##k when he comes in later

How do you pronounce ##?

Hmmmm.....I'm sure Prince would know.

in the VJ dialect ## is most commonly pronounced as with a "u" sound (as in you) followed by a hard "c" sound as in "cat".

[ChristinaM 0]

"Allowed" in the workplace - yes. But I think that employees should understand when it is and is not appropriate to cuss, and be sensitive and mindful of the views of the other people in their environment.

(So yes, I sound like a sailor in the office and a prude on the road! )