ANSWERS: 47
  • Freedom Of Speech. Impolite yes, illegal NO
  • No. Unfortunately, if people want to disgrace and lower themselves in public by using profanity, that is their right, and a choice that they are entitled to have.
  • If you take away my right to swear you take away everything that I think founds the nature of America. No, I think it should stay legal. If you don't like it, don't listen.
  • No. People have a right to use whatever words they want without it being illegal. If someone doesn't like others swearing near them, then they can say that. People can govern their own social contract without needing the law to get involved.
  • I wouldn't be able to speak in public! No no no!
  • No. Can you imagine all the admin that would have to go on just to fine someone for saying the f-word when they missed the bus? It would be more trouble than it's worth.
  • Going to school is a privilege. If a student swears or conducts himself in other ways that is against school rules then it is up to the school to dictate a detention or expulsion. If the student does something that is illegal then the proper authorities should handle it. Such as the way it is done now.
  • No, the courts and jails in the US are already filled with frivolous cases.
  • Doesn't the government dictate enough of our personal freedoms already? I don't like swearing in public and I think people that do aren't being the best they can be, but it shouldn't be illegal.
  • Does any one really want to hear profanity? I know I don't. I have told many people went I am talking to them. "at anytime did you hear profanity come out of my mouth? than why so you think that I want to hear it?!" You can make it illegal, it their choice.
  • I would be in BIG trouble
  • Public swearing IS illegal in some places, though it is not usually enforced unless the swearing in question is directed AT an officer of the law or while the perpetrator is in commission of another criminal act. My exboyfriend was recently arrested for public swearing and public intoxication, so I know this is true.
  • If anything there should be fines for swearing blatantly accross the street in public, as no-one likes that. How can you really stop people cussing under their breath. E.G. someone stubs their toe, says 'oh f**k' and gets banged up for stubbing their toe!
  • No...I just wish some people would watch their mouths when little kids are around.
  • No. The world hasn't gotten that bad yet. I do try not to swear in public if there's an old couple or children near me though.
  • F#cK NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • hell no. that is why we have self censorship
  • No, it cannot be illegal, but it must not be encouraged.
  • I find it offensive however, it becomes a freedom of speech issue. At which points does your right to freedom of speech negate the rights of others not to hear offensive words. If this were to be imposed how would it be policed? Would it only apply to foul language in English or would it be any language and who is to be the one to interpret that yes a person swore in Hindi or German etc. I believe there are better ways to express oneself however banning swearing in public is not feasible.
  • It should not be made illegal, but i would hope it would be the exception more than the rule
  • Nope. Usually I just think people are uncreative and irritating when they constantly think of a better way to say things. If they want to go around watching their IQ level in others peoples eyes drop significantly, be my guest. Nothing is more irritating than listening to a story where every noun is after 'f***' as an adjective for it. "So there was this f***ing driveway with this f***cking red truck in it and like the f***ing tailgate was all f***ed up" ...invest in a vocabulary, no?
  • Hell No. I don't want anyone trying to control me.
  • No... But perhaps a limit on the auditory volume?
  • Nah. If it was illegal, I'd be wandering around hearing silence. Words are words. And where I come from at least, swearing is a way of expressing yourself. Emphasis. Obviously, if it's used constantly and for no reason it just sounds really bad, though.
  • If it was illegal I'd never get out of jail (lol)
  • No, people do not need to be legislated in that manner. Swearing is a form of expression, and spoken expressions are protected by the first amendment. I believe it would be unconstitutional to create laws making swearing in public illegal.
  • It is. It's called harassment yo...
  • Hmmm... THAT would require changing the constitution (Free Speech, you know). I don't think it would EVER fly. I DO think that there's are times and places where you should NOT swear THAT loudly, though! ;-)
  • Nope. However, in most areas, any objectionably loud behavior is citable as "disturbing the peace", regardless of content.
  • No. Disrupting the peace should be and is illegal, and when the swearing reaches that level there are legal remedies in place.
  • No - we don't need more big brother
  • NO! i'd be in jail 24/7 otherwise. every time i get out, i would go back in like an hour later lol
  • No, because it would be almost impossible to enforce aside from wasting time better spent on serious anti social problems.
  • no. just because society calls them bad words doesn;t mean they are bad.
  • NO!! 1st Amendment Guarantee 95% of Americans have cursed in public though they may not admit it publicly
  • Course not. It ought to be socially unacceptable but the law cannot create society's norms. Only we can do that.
  • Goodness, no! I'd be a habitual offender. Would it carry the death penalty? ;-)
  • It is illegal up here in Alaska. You can do hard time for some of it.
  • No,profanity is used very often in public,and if one does not like it they should ignore it.
  • Only if listeners/eavesdroppers are offended... say a child is present or something.
  • The problem is defining profanity. I personally don't want to hear a bunch of m/fs and sob expressions, especially in front of children. However, if you censor it, you are screwing with our right to free speech and that's dangerous. I think it's something that should be taught at home. Washing your mouth out with soap wasn't just a figure of speech where I grew up..lol
  • no it shouldn't..I think the government controls us enough as it it..there's already too many laws...there's already too many words deemed un-PC....they are just words...we as people need to learn to govern ourselves or we will end up in a gustapo run state! It's not the governments place to raise our kids, shield our eyes from things or close our ears from things...profanity is rude but its not a crime...it's only words! IF we start making profanity illegal because it offends someone how long is it before more words are deemed offensive...next thing you know you can't speak at all and I thought freedom of speech was a right we all have (and even that is not really free speech anymore). Then of course if they can control what we say, they will control what we hear and see (more than they already do) and then how long is it before how someone looks is offensive and illegal, or how someone dresses, or their skin color or their weight? We need to let go of such petty things and focus on the much larger issues at hand all humans face!
  • I am an atheist. There is nothing "profane" to me because I don't believe in invisible skyfairies who hand down lists of rules on stone tablets. If I come to your home and say "fuck" and you don't like it, then you have every right to tell me to leave -- which I will do gladly and never return. However, I can, will, and do use any fucking language I fucking well please when I am in a public fucking place, and any motherfucker who doesn't like it can eat shit and die.
  • :o no!!! i'd be constantly in jail!
  • No ofc that's ridiculous. Swear words are just words and if people are offended by a set of letters strung together they really need to sort their lives out.
  • I think it IS illegal. A few years back, some people on a canoe trip, were either fined, or sued for their swearing...I don't remember which now...
  • No. It's far too trivial to waste money on, when there are real criminals getting away with real crime.

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