Expletives Should Never be Used

Firstly, my opponent's first argument may be somewhat true, but it does have a flaw. My opponent said that any word could bring up painful memories. I'd agree to this like if someone has just gone through a divorce; any mention of someone's relationship can bring up painful memories and emotions. However, expletives have a much higher chance of offensiveness. Many more people would get upset hearing expletives then other common words. Talking about a relationship wouldn't offend most people, but expletives would offend many people. We have assigned words meaning, and because of this, expletives are offensive to many more people than the mention of a specific event that will only be painful to one individual. Overall, my opponent's argument doesn't work because of the meaning that we've assigned words and language, so that one particular word like an expletive can be offensive to more than a few specific individuals. I'll use a possible example of how an expletive could damage a friendship. Firstly, if the person was sensitive, an expletive used directly at them could be very harmful or painful on its own. This could be extremely damaging to a friendship, and it may take that one person weeks to recover. It can be very shocking and hard on that one person. Secondly, what if the expletive was used in a discriminatory way? In this case if somone is discriminating against race or gender and using expletives as their means of doing it; now expletives on their own have gotten a lot worse. This could offend someone even more if they feel like they're being discriminated against by the other person using expletives. Overall, with sensitive people or people who feel like they're being discriminated against it is very easy for someone to get extremely offended thus ruining a relationship by using one expletive. I'd agree with my opponent that expletives can be used for art. However, I'd say they shouldn't be. My opponent says that it's a denial of expression. However, there are much more creative ways of expressing yourself than expletives. Some of the best songs and books never use expletives, yet they're often the ones that are most popular. It's not denying expression; it simply getting rid of this bad language that should never be used. What if someone didn't do enough research, and took one of their children to one of these plays or movies with expletives? Then, by the time that they've walked out the child has already heard the bad langauage. If we had no expletives, there would still be other things that wouldn't be appropriate, but at least it would eleminate some of the risk. Also, as I said before, some of the best pieces of art ever never used expletives. Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, William Shakespeare, and the list goes on. These are authors that barely ever use expletives, yet they are considered some of the best writers of all time. Therefore, it wouldn't be a denial of creative expression; it would just be getting rid of the bad expression. Any emotion or event could still be potrayed well without expletives. Overall, I believe that most of the best art even never used expletives, and people can still express themselves very well without expletives. Firstly about political philosophy that may be true, but The Bill of Rights is a legal item whereas that is simply an idea. It could be illegal to protest, but people could still do it because it's morally right. This applies to expletives because people do have the right to use them, but they still shouldn't. Also, I'd like to ask my opponent what other justifiable uses do expletives have? When have expletives actually helped relationships? As in my earlier example with friendship I have proven how expletives can damage relationships. Someone could be sensitive to them and feel uncomfortable, and that could ruin the relationship. If soemone is calling it directly at someone, that can make that person feel really bad about themselves and start wondering what they did wrong when there is nothing that they did wrong, and this can make them feel upset and not want to spend time around the person who called them that expletive. Finally expletives can be used in a discriminatory or derogatory manner. Even if that's not the person's intention or if it is a joke, it could go wrong and really damage a person. Discrimination is a big issue, and expletives certainly don't help as they can make that discrimination even worse. Also, even if someone means it as a joke, they shouldn't make jokes like that, but then they've said it, and the fact that they used an expletive has made the joke a lot worse. If this happens enough times, it can leave a person feeling incredibly bad or even have suicidal thoughts, and the expletive could have helped to do that bad effect. Overall, expletives can majorly damage relationships, and therefore, they should never be used. Firstly, I believe I've already adressed in my previous paragraphs who expletives can be damaging or offensive. Also, as to the someone overhearing, depending on the situation. With my opponent's car example if the chances were high enough of the person overhearing, it would be more like crossing a six lane interstate. You wouldn't do that as it's too big a road to cross. The same thing applies to expletives. If there is a 5 year old, in the next room, and you stub your toe you're not going to close the door or say it quietly as it's an automatic reaction. The 5 year old could overhear, not understand, and start using the word, and then everything's gone wrong. Or what if you were in a busy shopping mall with little kids all around? Then again there would be a high chance of someone overhearing. Overall, in some situations there is a high chance of someone overhearing the language, and therefore, it's one of the reasons not to use expletives. I'd agree with my opponent; that people do have self-control, but people also have automatic ways of reacting to certain situations without thinking about it. If you get used to saying expletives while you're alone if you injure yourself while you're out, you're not going to think of the situation you're in; you're simply going to do what you always have done and use that expletive. This could lead to someone overhearing, and especially if it was a young kid, this could lead to problems. Secondly, someone might not express their discomfort. If someone's enjoying an evening out with friends, and someone uses an expletive, this might make the person very uncomfortable. However, they might not want to say it. Firstly, they might find it embarassing in front of their friends to say that. Secondly, they might think that it could ruin their evening out. Finally, they may think that it could estrange their friends by making a comment like that, and their friends would think less of them beause of it. Overall, expletives can make friendships worse by making people who don't like expletives uncomfortable. Alternatively, they can be used for discrimination in discriminatory jokes that should never have been told in the first place which can make them worse. Overall, expletives are bad and should never be used.