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Comment by Rjevski | Hacker News Reader

Is that a problem? Swear words have their place in a language. You should explain when it’s appropriate and when not to use these words instead of pretending they don’t exist.

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So much this. I was brought up being told swear words were the worst thing and never heard my parents utter a single one. All while classmates used them all the time.

All this did was cause me to use them all the time in literally every situation possible, outside of my parents earshot.

Now I'm almost 30 and I am still the most foul mouthed person I know. Its totally ingrained in me, I can't hold a conversation, a meeting, an interview, without swearing.

Yeah, but kids lack the ability to not have every other word be a swear word. And them becoming looked down on for their use of vulgar language isolates them and can become depressing.

Should we teach our children about the history of mass murderers and millennia of crimes against humanity? What about the massive problems their generation will face, in geopolitical, environmental, and other problems?

Your logic, in a vacuum, makes sense... but most parents cherish the few years of their child’s innocence, and would prefer to avoid teaching them in 3rd grade that you think it can be appropriate to drop F bombs under certain logical conditions.

Moreover, opinions that start with “you should” are unlikely to convince your audience.

/endrant. Sorry your comment just struck me as rude lol.

Not sure what the question is here. We should absolutely teach them, at the appropriate age. Same argument as with swear words: They're going to learn about it anyway at some point.

You're misinformed if you think children above 1st graders have never heard the "f bomb." Also, what's the problem with them hearing a word? Can you explain how hearing an expressive curse word ruins your child's innocence? I mean, seriously, you sound like the type of parent that would never let their kid watch SpongeBob until their 16.

It's about use of the term being normalized. Children mimic the behaviour they observe. When they see people using curse words casually/often, they are less likely to see it as something to be avoided. This doesn't apply to all kids, but it does to some, hence the concern some parents have.

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