This subject was brought to my attention earlier today, when a similar topic was being discussed on the radio. Now, I didn't hear much as I was just passing through the kitchen when the radio was playing, but basically they were debating on whether or not;

1. Cursing in public when there are children around is acceptable or not.

2. Whether or not it is a stranger's issue if a parent brings their child into a public place and that child hears something that the parent doesn't want them to. Should that stranger be subject to blame, or is it the parent who brought that child into said situation with the full awareness that adults use that public place also, and thus adult language is only natural?

A man phoned into the show, and was expressing his dislike at having to, I quote; "tone down his language and use words he wouldn't normally" for the sake of another person's child in a public place. Why should he have to?

This brought a lot of concepts into my mind, such as the key point, what kind of public place would this include? Should that matter?
For instance, I for one would hardly be surprised if a child was brought to a pub with their parents and there was consistent swearing going on in conversation.
HOWEVER; I do not see why places such as public transport, the beach and parks should be home to such foul language when there are children around.

Surely this issue all boils down to respect, and being able to respect that a parent would not want their child to grow up at a young age hearing foul, uncalled for language regardless of their situation; if a parent wants their child to grow up without being subject to this, does that mean they have to hide their child away from public areas? Is this fair?

It wouldn't be the first time I've heard a mother not far away from me sitting on the bus turn around to some people cursing on the bus and ask them to stop using foul language in front of their child.

I just wanted to hear this communities' views on the subject. Is it right? Is it wrong? And is it the parent's fault, or that of the stranger's? Is the parent well within their own right to, in such a situation, ask the perpetrator(s) to stop their foul language? Or should they have to in the first place? Discuss.

I sometimes cuss, and I always look around if I do, and apologize if I did cuss around a kid, but it is the language I use, and I am sorry, I cannot change how I speak sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I am not a sailor, but shit happens.

I would not cuss in a restaurant or movie theatre, or where a child might be, but if I'm at home, it can be rough (especially if I am playing a video game...)

But if a parent yelled at me for cussing, all I can say is you are not my mother, I am a grown adult. Now, it is your job to raise your child not to use that type of language.

Off/on topic, kids won't even notice the word unless someone used it before and they saw them punished. Watch Forresr Gump, I do not recall the sexual scenes or innuindos. I just remembered a movie about a guy walking to find his girl!

I do not like cursing much in public period. Sadly I've picked up the habit from being around sailors, the stereotype is very true they second their out of bootcamp all you hear is *******.

I think it really depends where, a mall in the food court go ahead no one will hear you it's so loud. In places children shouldn't be in the first place, aka rater r movie, bar, club etc. swearing is fine but in like a playground I think it's bad.
I always tell my friends to stop if they're swearing around small children and am quite horrified when even 13 year olds swear or are sworn around.
Plus swearing in public like that... it's just kinda... childish? Little swears are nothing but dropping the f-bomb and c word I only see teenagers do it cause they think it's funny. It really just makes them sound young.

I curse. I curse quite often.

However, I know when not to. When in a place such as a playground or something, I'll tone down my language, or if I'm anywhere near my mother. She doesn't like it, and I respect her, so I don't.

I still curse in public, though. I don't go around shouting bad words all over the place, but I might be having a conversation with my friends or something and I might say shit. I'm not exactly the loudest person ever, either, a lot of times I have to repeat myself, so if a kid heard me, they were likely uncomfortably close to me...

I don't want to be told I have to glance around while talking just because I might offend someone's delicate sensibilities, but I won't curse around children on purpose.

It depends on how old the children are. If the "children" are 17, they probably curse more than I do.

More than likely, if you're in a place with five-year-olds, you're in a place where one can also find little old ladies with proper sensibilities, religious people, and people who are sticklers for manners. Not only are you cursing in front of the children, you are quite possibly offending adults.

I censor myself as much as possible when there are children around. Sometimes I slip up, but it's a slip. It's not really hard to turn on the filter every once in a while.

I know you have free speech, and all, but your right to be free ends when it abridges someone else's rights, and I think people have a right to expect that they can bring their kids to the grocery store without them learning new and exciting words.

The way things are going, I think people in general could afford to use good manners more often.

In my opinion cursing is not "adult language", it is foul language. There may be situations were it is understandable that people curse, but most of the times, in such situations with children when parents reprimand others, there was no overall need to curse.
As others stated, you would not curse in a theater or a church, so I see no reason to curse in open public at all. If you are in a bar, a club or places were it is okay to drink alcohol and such, I personally have nothing against it, because these places can be termed as "foul", so one expects this language.

I once played a game with an online chat, which had a french and an english chat. I usually stayed in the french chat, although I rarely understood anything, but there was just too much foul language on the english one, most of the time with no apparent reason. I dislike being around rude and disrespectful people.

I don't think what children ear in public places is the worse they listen to.
See internet, the tv and school even ! One cannot shield their child from all foul language so why make people change their way of being around your children in public places. Plus I really don't think those who curse the most would even care if you tell them to stop.

@Asa did you turn your language filter in that game? Usually there is one. And moderators ban those using uncalled for foul language.

As far as I could tell, there was none.


Well, there is a difference between the severity of the words. Shit and fuck are not nice, but not nearly as bad as others.
If people use racist remarks as curse words or different terms for people that have something to do with prostitutes. That is something different for me and those are words that children really did not need to hear.