Ryan Bridge: Is swearing really that bad?

Swearing. Most of us do it.

Unless you're a Bishop (or maybe they do it in private, too?).

Especially in New Zealand. 

We all know what a GC is and it's nothing to do with the white sandy beaches of Queensland. 

You don't say them in front of mum, and you shouldn't shout them in anger at people, unless they really deserve it. 

But have you noticed the media's obsession with calling out people for swearing, lately? 

Exhibit A: furious Benji Marshall's (Wests Tigers coach) expletive-laden presser.

The media had been saying he was in a spat with a now former player, and they were at war, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 

None of which, according to Benji, was true. So, he responds and they say he's ranting and swearing and 'going nuclear'. 

Isn't that what they used to call gaslighting? 

Then there was Winston Peters...

Media called that one a foul-language outburst. How can a word so many people use be so offensive or worthy of mention? 

Christine Fletcher, Auckland Council, complains about swearing in the council chambers. The Dunedin council boss was done for swearing about councillors and calling them bad words behind their backs. 

Who hasn't done that?

The truth is most Kiwis don't mind, occasionally. Too much and you sound like trash. Too little you sound too cautious. Directed in anger? Never a good idea and should not happen at work. 

The obsession with people using it from time to time, especially in the age of the internet where people do and say what they want? 

Waste of f***ing time. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Swearing unless you're a bishop, or maybe they do it
in private as well. Most of us do this, don't we,
especially in New Zealand. We all know what a GC
is and it's nothing to do with the white sandy
beaches of Queensland. You don't do it in front of mum.
Everyone knows that that's just one oh one of swearing
and you shouldn't use the words and anger at people
unless they really really deserve it, and then it's fine.

(00:22):
But have you noticed lately the media's obsession with calling
out people for swearing. Exhibit A is a furious, apparently
furious Benji Marshall, West's Tigers coach at the expletive laden presser.
Is how they described this. The fact that people can
make up rumors that we're having a relationship breakdown or
a rift between our friendship. There's absolutely so. The media

(00:45):
had been saying he was in a spat or a
row with a now former player and they were at war,
et cetera, et cetera. You know what the media does,
none of which, according to Benji, was actually true. So
he responds and they say he's ranting and swearing and
quote going nuclear isn't what they used to call gaslighting,
remember that. Then there was Winston Peters and you will

(01:05):
remember this one. I haven't been around this long to
come on this program to talk about that sort of
whack up them in question.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Now the media called that a foul language outburst. How
can a word that so many people use describing an
act that clearly so many people do, be.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
So offensive and worthy of mention? Christine Fletcher Auckland Council
complains about swearing and the council chambers at the moment
the Dunedin Council boss, did you see this yesterday? Was
done for swearing about counselors and calling them bad words
behind their backs. Who hasn't done that? The truth is
that most of us don't mind occasionally too much and

(01:43):
you sound like trash too little, and you sound a
bit too cautious directed in anger. Never a good idea
should not happen at work either. The obsession with people
using it from time to time, though, especially in the
age of the Internet where people do and say whatever
they want, well that's a waste of beeping time for more.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
From early edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
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