Swearing and cursing in films

[buckthesystem]

I was going to put this in "problem, looking for advice" as it is really "getting to me", but I thought it was more of a "discussion" topic.

I work night shift during the week so this doesn't often come up and I am home by myself during the day. I don't ever watch TV except for the programme on on Sunday evenings "My Name is Earle" - I really like that programme, it is so funny.

At this stage in my life the only people living at home are me and my husband and our younger son Andy who is 21. Andy gets up early in the morning to go to work so is always home on Sunday night and if he is home on Saturday he hires a video or a DVD of a film and watches it with my husband and they always watch the film that is on TV on Sunday night.

The thing is that the film, DVD or TV or what ever, is usually a very up to date one and almost always features people saying the "F" word literally every second or third word. One DVD that he got last week (don't know the title, but it something about somebody having unwittingly ingested a slow acting poison and they were driving a car fast and recklessly to "keep moving" in an endeavour to slow the poison's affect) was so bad with the swearing and cursing - and lack of sensible story - that it was hard to even discern what it was all about. I never watch these films, but "play on the computer" which is at the other end of the room to the TV set so I am constantly bombarded with "F" words. If I complain about it, Andy tells me "everybody swears, get over it!" I think if I was having a conversation with somebody who talked like they do on these films I would soon avoid that person altogether and if it was a workmate I just wouldn't work with them until they agreed to not talk that way. I just don't want to hear "the f'ing this, the f'ing that" all the time. Is this so strange?

My husband just sits there and the language "brushes over him" and it is like he doesn't even notice. He is not as rude about it as Andy, but thinks I am over reacting. Andy works "out in the bush" so maybe his workmates do talk like this, but I doubt if my husband's workmates do.

Am I? Or does anyone else feel the way I do about this? And why do filmmakers find it necessary to weave obscenities several times into every sentence in their movies? Is it to show realism? Or is it a way to make swearing acceptable because kids can say "everybody swears, just listen to that"?

[Leonard]

The shock value is a smoke screen for lack of good, original, intelligent writing.

[Scarletprayers]

The shock value is a smoke screen for lack of good, original, intelligent writing.

Is there any shock value anymore?

[Northern lass]

There was a programme on over here a few weeks ago about a school in West Midlands, England where the language of the pupils was absolutely FOUL! Literally every other word was a swear word, most of which I hadn't even heard. They were blaming films and peer pressure and felt that the way the young people used the words in the playground to goad each other fuelled violence.

I was so sickened and depressed by the programme that I couldn't watch it to the end although they were going to call in an "expert" to try and change the situation.

[Carol R]

Hi,

I have to agree with you, you dont say whether your husband is a christian or not, but i wont have that kind of film on in my house. Just because everyone else is doing it does not make it right. Can u wear earplugs or something so you cant hear the swearing. Just a thought. You are right to stick to what you know is right.

Carol R

[Guest]

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2 Timothy 3:1-4

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

Love, Your Brother Joe

[ted]

It comes down to a few things, really.

There's a certain shock value, as mentioned before. And yes, it still works somewhat in today's society.

It also is an intentional act on the part of writers, directors, producers, etc, to push the envelope as to what is allowed.

There are days when I can't tell if culture dictates what's in it's various forms of entertainment, or vice versa.

t.

[OopsMartin]

I personally wish they would take all the swear words out of movies. If you are asking why they put them in, I think the main reason is to get the desired rating from the MPAA to reach the target audience they want. I don't know if you were aware of it or not, but often times, when a movie is made, there are 2 takes of the various scenes. One take has the vulgar language, and one has more cleaned up dialogue. They do this to get the PG-13 or R Rating in the theater, and so they can also have their movie show on over-the-air television.

If the vulgar language is creating a serious problem for you, you might want to look into a new devise, available in many Christian book stores, that you hook to your television set that will actually remove the curse words from a movie while you watch it? I think it sells for under $100, and it might be a way where your husband can watch current movies, and where you won't have to have your head filled with foul language?

Great idea Butero.

I have actually gotten up and walked out of movies where the vulgarity was prominent. I got it out of my personal life when I accepted the Lord and I've no desire to let it infiltrate my attention anymore.

Didn't know that about the double shooting of scenes. Interesting.

[DarkNebulaWelder]

Unfortunately, most of the people in this world swear, so movies utilize this because this is something the audience can relate to.

I don't go to many movies, but when I do, have pretty much trained my mind to expect this sort of thing...if the rating is PG or higher, that is. I believe that the last really good movie that I saw which DIDN'T incorporate swearing was "Cheaper By The Dozen," which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is just the world that we live in, you guys, and I'm puzzled that so many Christians are so surprised when the actors/actresses curse. This, to me, is standard now, unfortunately.

The thing that REALLY disturbs me about cursing, and which I really HATE, is when the kids in movies curse. I HATE that they are made to recite filthy language in a script. This, to me, is intolerable. It's one thing for adults to do it, but when a child is made to curse.....sorry, but that's just WRONG!!!!

[OopsMartin]

Unfortunately, most of the people in this world swear, so movies utilize this because this is something the audience can relate to.

I don't go to many movies, but when I do, have pretty much trained my mind to expect this sort of thing...if the rating is PG or higher, that is. I believe that the last really good movie that I saw which DIDN'T incorporate swearing was "Cheaper By The Dozen," which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is just the world that we live in, you guys, and I'm puzzled that so many Christians are so surprised when the actors/actresses curse. This, to me, is standard now, unfortunately.

The thing that REALLY disturbs me about cursing, and which I really HATE, is when the kids in movies curse. I HATE that they are made to recite filthy language in a script. This, to me, is intolerable. It's one thing for adults to do it, but when a child is made to curse.....sorry, but that's just WRONG!!!!

Agreed about the kids. totally intollerable. In don't think children should be allowed in films that have vulgarity, explicit sexual content, drug use, or brutality and blood gore. And I'd put the limit at 18. Far as I can tell kids today are more immature in some ways than they were 50 years ago. And this influence may likely contribute.

As for the shock value of vulgarity, I just don't have it in my life anymore and stay away from folks who do. Thus, when I hear it repeated in more than two sentences my ears start rining. I consider the condition a blessing as vulgarity used to be a regular part of my life 40 years ago.