Frequently Asked Questions Please bookmark this page for ongoing news and comments. 1. Lots of people swear. What's wrong with it? It depends on why, when and where you are swearing. Swearing can be rude, crude and offensive. It can reflect a bad attitude that hurts your image and your relationships. People might perceive you as an abrasive person who lacks character, maturity, intelligence, manners and emotional control. 2. What if everyone I know swears? Why not sound a bit more refined than everyone else? Besides, maybe everyone swears, but no one swears everywhere. It isn't appropriate in many situations. To avoid slipping or struggling to find a word to replace that foul word you are accustomed to using, break the cussing habit and practice speaking intelligently. 3. It isn't a crime or a sin, so what harm does it do? Better to ask, what GOOD does it do? Sometimes it's funny and sometimes it helps you vent anger, but swearing never earns you respect or admiration, enhances your reputation, makes you more pleasant to be with, exhibits your intelligence or vocabulary, or reflects strong character. It doesn't demonstrate respect for others, help you win arguments, set a positive example, get you romantically connected, or help you get hired or promoted. 4. I only swear when I get angry or frustrated. Is your anger or frustration always justified? Swearing has increased partly because we expect everything to go right in our lives. We aren't coping, we are cussing. Don't let little annoyances and daily aggravations get to you. Instead of taking everything seriously, allow yourself to have greater peace of mind. 5. I think swearing adds color and emphasis to our language. Just the opposite, because most people keep using the same old swear words. If your vocabulary is limited or you can't swear creatively, try inflections, as in "I was FURious!" 6. I must not offend anyone, because no one ever tells me to watch my language. It is rare for someone to criticize another person for bad language, but that is not a sign of acceptance. People could be passing judgment on you without telling you how they feel. 7. I'm not going to bother because, quite frankly, I don't give a damn. Lots of people don't, and that's the problem. We want to do and say whatever we please. Our reluctance to restrain our impulses and to make the effort to be polite is contributing to a coarser, less civil society. 8. I doubt if I could ever stop completely. If you can reduce the use, that's better than not even trying. 9. Aren't you trying to eliminate swearing from the English language? No. It is one of the ways we express ourselves and communicate, but we overdo it. 10. Okay. So how do I take a class? See Classes on this web site. We give presentations to large groups across the country. As an individual, you can review the Ten Tips on this site or purchase a copy of Cuss Control, The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing at any bookstore or through www.amazon.com Have a question? We will try to answer every serious one. To submit a question or for more information contact us via e-mail or see our contact page.