What constitutes a "swear word"?

[ralerin]

(Mods, feel free to move or delete if this is inappropriate)

Posting this here because I had a bit of a discussion with C (new girl) and F about using the word "crap". I told C not to use that word when talking to customers because people will whine and bitch that she used a swear word, and both C and F disagreed and said it wasn't a swear word, it was a slang word and they can use it, just not often.

My list would include F word, mother effer, C word ( the one that rhymes with "dunt" and also crap), N word, S word, bitch, piss (at least not in front of a customer that I didn't know well), dick, "gangsta" talk, etc. Having said that, I don't use them out on the sales floor at all, only if I'm in a place safely out of customer's earshot and only if I'm talking to coworkers or management, who generally don't care. I tend to get called a "prude" because I refuse to swear around customers and my coworkers tend to when I do swear in the privacy of the breakroom or backroom. I already swear too much at home, why should I do it in front of my customers?

So I'm sort of curious to hear what you guys think is a swear word or other word that's inappropriate for the workplace.

[bainsidhe]

Inappropriate depends on the audience. Use of the word "crap" can be considered crude, though I personally don't think it's a swear word. Certain words, attitude and behavior are not appropriate for the workplace. Again, that depends on the workplace.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I think when on the clock and especially when dealing with the unknown public, it's best to err on the side of prudish. It's not likely anyone will be offended and complain about someone NOT using "crap" at least once in the discussion.

[Bright_Star]

Wouldn't that be considered a double standard? It's ok for customers to swear like sailors but not associates cause it may offend the public? The public doesn't hesitate to offend everyone & anyone they come into contact with.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Wouldn't that be considered a double standard? It's ok for customers to swear like sailors but not associates cause it may offend the public? The public doesn't hesitate to offend everyone & anyone they come into contact with.

That does not make acting like that in a professional environment okay. When they do it, it's offensive. It does not make it less offensive for you to retaliate in kind Let them be the bad guy, not you.

Crap is not a swear word. It is not, however, professional speech. SC already have the opinion that if you work in retail, you are low class. Don't reinforce that myth.

If you really want to put them in their place when they act like that, tell them that "we dont tolerate that sort of language here and you cant talk to them if they don'.t clean it up." That will probably embarass them into better behavior.

Not always, but it's been known to happen.

My husband pulled this on someone in one of the labs we worked at once. The place's nickname was "M Cussin' Photo", if that gives you any indication of the type of language we ourselves used when the customers weren.t around. So J saying that to the guy was particularly funny. But it worked.

[Darkforge]

personally I don't care whether words such as "crap" are swear words or not, I maintain a professional manner while at work and "crap" is certainly not something you say when trying to appear professional.

I always try and avoid slang at work when I can.

Oh, and Bright_Star, it isn't really a double standard. I am just lazy, if I start using words that might offend customers then I might have to deal with complaints about said language, so I put a little bit of effort in to begin with to tone my language down, and that way I get to be lazy in the long run with no complaints or hassle from my bosses.

[Calvin St.Hobbes]

As someone whos mouth has got him in trouble before I think the advice to "err on the side of prudish" is best.
Customers blow dead bears enough without us giving them extra ammo to make life even harder...

[elsporko]

Depends on who you are talking to, but if the customer isn't somebody who has established that its okay to speak casually with then you should definitely keep the language professional. At my job where I am speaking with residents its okay to be loose. I don't swear around them, unless its an accident, but at my other job where I deal with clients with whom my relationship is alot less casual I keep everything very PG.

[Hobbs]

Definition: The unacceptable and rude words of a language are known as the swear words , or bad language. They include the strongest and most offensive words; stronger than slang and colloquial language.

[Broomjockey]

Definition: The unacceptable and rude words of a language are known as the swear words , or bad language. They include the strongest and most offensive words; stronger than slang and colloquial language.

Both useful and germane to the discussion. Do you also answer "here" when someone asks you where they are?

I'd say acceptable language varies greatly depending on your place of work. The majority of retail environments, it's probably going to be extremely low tolerance, just because you'll never be able to account for the attitudes of those around you, and it's too easy to be dismissed.

[Merriweather]

Wouldn't that be considered a double standard? It's ok for customers to swear like sailors but not associates cause it may offend the public? The public doesn't hesitate to offend everyone & anyone they come into contact with.

No double standard at all. Customers are representing themselves alone, and if that's the image they want to project, that's them.

You, however, when on the clock, represent your business, not your personal self. So you should be as business-like as possible, and avoid anything not "business approved", such as swear words, crude language, off-colour or crude topics, even much slang.

It's all image while being paid to represent someone other than yourself, and no different to dressing in a uniform or certain type clothing rather than your own choice when at work.

[csquared]

Merriam-Webster says that the usage is vulgar. That, to me, says that it should be left out of polite or business conversations.

Moral standards do change over time. In 1939, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." shocked society.

However, it is always best to play it safe. While you may know the customer and know that they won't be offended, you don't know who may over hear the conversation.

If you are still in doubt, ask the top boss. If they say it is OK, get it in writing. That way, when you are written up for using it...

[simplyanother]

I let my kids say crap. But even they know when it is and isn't appropriate (and whom it offends. They know that some of their cousins have different rules about that word).

But yeah, agreeing with everyone else, skip it at work with customers, at least, unless you know it's not going to offend.

There are all sorts of fun cuss (swear/curse/whatever) words I'd LOVE to use at work.

Love love love.

[Estil]

Moral standards do change over time. In 1939, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." shocked society.

Indeed, back in the 1990s, things like guys getting their ears (plural) pierced and nose piercings were considered pretty extreme. Now I see middle-aged women all the time with nose studs.

But to answer the OP, I figured swear words were:

Female dog
Wall that holds water
Fiery place where bad people go
P-word involving going #1
S-word involving going #2

And of course:
The c-bomb
The f-bomb
The n-bomb

[Zellie Crescent]

At both the jobs I work at crap is used as just another word for stuff, nobody really has any problem with it but I don't say it in front of little kids.