foul language = lost of credibility

[nicedoc]

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I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

 

[MEG@COOL]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

You must learn to deal with this language small child. When you mature to become a lady or boy adult you will know the smart ones always swear. Weaker ones are only the ones who are repulsed by this. Learn more and listen to learn your own words to say about bad things.

 

[FIFASoccer]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

Its a word... Get over it..
You're latching on to what your parents taught you a DECADE+ ago..

You're an adult now .. think for yourself..
Realize that if your parents taught you not to use the word.. "medicine".. because it was a cuss.. you'd probably be hanging on to that enviromentally constructed norm.

 

[swifteagle43]

stfu TROLL

 

[UCLAstudent]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm turned off by it, but it is a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Babooshka]

I'm with nicedoc, is nothing profane anymore? Do I have to have a baby with a gun pointed at him to repulse people or something! Damn communists. Damn Mao. Damn Walmart. 😱

 

[crazy_cavalier]

You must learn to deal with this language small child. When you mature to become a lady or boy adult you will know the smart ones always swear. Weaker ones are only the ones who are repulsed by this. Learn more and listen to learn your own words to say about bad things.

 

[Truce57]

I'm with nicedoc, is nothing profane anymore? Do I have to have a baby with a gun pointed at him to repulse people or something! Damn communists. Damn Mao. Damn Walmart. 😱

I'll see your gun baby.

 

[FutureOrthoDoc]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

I'm more turned off by bad spelling.

 

[jjmack]

swearing is definately out of place in a lot of medical settings, but in private lives people need to get over it. Attitudes that are so against swearing are the exact reason the words have such strong meaning in the first place.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Just words. Who cares?

 

[63768]

obviously cussing is not permissible in certain settings. but saying that those people who use it "lose credibility" is childish. in an argument, i tend to say what you're saying since those who argue civilly tend to be the ones who win.

and lol at futureorthodoc. incorrect grammar and punctuation >>> cussing

 

[THP]

The language you use is an important reflection of the person, in the same way that what you wear is important.

I immediately judge people by the way they talk and the clothes they wear, as does everybody else.

In a social environment, physicians swear just as much as anybody else but it is totally unacceptable in a working environment.

 

[Medikit]

As long as there is actual content in what the person is saying then it really doesn't matter to me whether or not they swear. Could you perhaps explain why you equate cussing with incredibility?

 

[LVDoc]

I think there are limitations on cussing. Obviously, it is inappropriate to swear in a workplace environment or in front of strangers. Between friends or family, the lines are fairly blurred, and it doesn't matter as much. I would have to agree with Medikit though. As long as it isn't mindless swearing, and it has some content, then it shouldn't really bother you too much.

There is also a major difference between just cussing and cussing at someone in a derogatory way; I wouldn't value a person very highly or with much respect at all if they did the latter.

 

[tigress]

Personally I don't understand why anybody swears as much as people tend to do these days. I'm not repressed or overly conservative or anything like that, I just think there's no reason to use foul language that offends some people. If you have an appropriate command of the English language you shouldn't have to swear more than every once in a while. Sure, if I stub my toe or lose my keys I might swear just like the next person. But in my everyday speech I never feel the need to, and in fact I probably use words that are considered "swear words" maybe once or twice a week.

I don't think I'm better than anybody or anything like that. When I'm around people who swear a lot I sometimes pick up the habit for a bit, and I certainly don't hold it against them. I just think it's completely unnecessary. I also think it's a shame that so many of our swear words (or phrases) are based on sexual acts, effectively saying that these acts are themselves somehow shameful or profane. I know there has been a lot written on this topic, even going so far as to claim that many swears are derogatory towards women. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I agree with the general premise. It makes a lot more sense to swear with words relating to excrement; after all, the stuff stinks and is something you definitely don't want to have to deal with outside its proper place 😛. But why sex?

 

[kenmc3]

I agree with tigress. Quite frankly, I cannot think of a situation where swearing has positively benefited me. Sure I occasionally swear in social situations or when I am enraged. However there is really no need for it in our vocabulary. I would be very surprised if someone here could give me a GOOD reason for using vulgar language. I realize we all do it and it doesn’t bother me when I hear it – but there really is no reason for it, it serves no purpose that couldn’t be accomplished with non-profane language.

In response to the credibility issue. Let’s say you were at the docs office for a hemorrhoid. You pull down your pants and show the doctor. The doctor takes one look and says “Sh**, that’s the largest hemorrhoid I’ve ever seen!” Nobody can tell me that is professional response. Granted I wouldn’t think the doctor would loose all credibility, but I would second guess his professionalism.

Remember, these are just words which society considers uncouth. Essentially there is no difference between sh** and feces. However society considers one to be inappropriate. As physicians we need to show respect for our patients. We usually don’t know if they approve of profane language and therefore it is inappropriate to use in a public professional setting.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

👍 agreed

 

[DrYo12]

I have read arguments here about how foul language is not preferred as a means of communicating, but i still haven't seen any reason why foul language can be equated with a loss of credibility. What is it about using a four letter word that makes someone's opinion or advice not credible?

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I have read arguments here about how foul language is not preferred as a means of communicating, but i still haven't seen any reason why foul language can be equated with a loss of credibility. What is it about using a four letter word that makes someone's opinion or advice not credible?

it makes one appear immature, unprofessional and cheap. one often resorts to cursing when they have nothing meaningful to say. Anything can be explained without cursing and there's no reason the english language can't explain anything without resorting to cursing.

 

[kenmc3]

What is it about using a four letter word that makes someone's opinion or advice not credible?

It’s all about psychological perception in the mind of the receiver. If a physician who is seen as a professional figure swears in front of a patient who takes offense to foul language, of course the patient is going to loose respect (and therefore credibility) for the doctor. Just use logic and the connection can be made.

 

[doc05]

Nothing wrong with using a few swear words here and there. Just be sure to use them sparingly; otherwise they will lose their cachet.

 

[kingcer0x]

swear at your patients? no
swear in publications? no
swear on your resume? no

(credibility gained)

swear at other people in other situations? hell yeah

swearing evokes feelings of drive and confidence. all things forbidden do. its what drives us and what makes us human.

remember, "people are bastard coated bastards with bastard fillings"

 

[DrYo12]

It’s all about psychological perception in the mind of the receiver. If a physician who is seen as a professional figure swears in front of a patient who takes offense to foul language, of course the patient is going to loose respect (and therefore credibility) for the doctor. Just use logic and the connection can be made.

Losing respect is not the same as a loss of credibility. Just use logic and the connection can be made.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Losing respect is not the same as a loss of credibility. Just use logic and the connection can be made.

Nice.

This is not a big deal, small child. Hahaha man MEG's response still cracks me. Anyway, yes I don't believe a swear word suddenly means that the person swearing is no longer credible. Also, it would NOT make me lose respect for someone. Not at all.

I guess I grew up in a house where the traditional idea of swearing is different. The swears said around my house were much more creative, and interesting, nothing really vulgar. Most foreign cultures are like that. Calling someone a stupid cow - this is the type of thing you'd hear from my parents when they get upset driving around. It's just fascinating: my aunt will get cut-off in traffic, and then BAM! "You reckless eater of dirt! You have consumed the brain of a sheep and thereby attained a lower intellectual state! I will now desecrate your father's tombstone by defecating on his soil!"

 

[vikaskoth]

superficial perception = irrational judgement

 

[jmugele]

Do professionals who spell incorrectly or misuse punctuation or grammar lose your respect?

 

[TucsonDDS]

It is never appropriate to swear in front of patients or their families but it happens every now and then. Whats the first word that comes out of your mouth when someone dies on you unexpectantly. "Oh fxxK" is what comes to my mind. I have also heard some very good doctors who I would trust with my kids lives call some of my coworkers "fxxking idiot" which may not be totally appropriate but of course they did deserve it. Did I lose respect, no.

 

[reggae girl]

Do professionals who spell incorrectly or misuse punctuation or grammar lose your respect?

Jmugele, you and others who mentioned this bring up a good point. I'd lose more respect for my physician if she couldn't spell the words "whether" or "you're" (I've seen future doctors on this site use "weather" and "your"!!!!). I'd rather my esteemed doctor occasionally say damn or s**t, than write me a referral or prescription with misspelled words (Aargh, bad spelling is a pet peeve of mine 😡 ).

 

[stomper627]

hukt on foniks workt fur me

 

[reggae girl]

👍

 

[curiouslygeorge]

Losing credibility or respect is a matter of perspective; I am not sure it can be justified. What offends one person may not offend another. In that light, no, I don't think it is appropriate to swear in a professional setting.

Personally, I cringe when I hear swearing in any setting. (So to me, swearing still IS swearing--it still achieves its desired effect.) However, it has become so commonplace nowadays that I am not sure people who swear even think that they are swearing. To them (as to most of you), they are just using "words."

I must be one of the rare ones who has not become desensitized. And while it may not have anything to do with credibility (whatever is meant by that), it seems that today, swearing means nothing to most people, but to those who care, its absence is a sign of respect.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Losing credibility or respect is a matter of perspective; I am not sure it can be justified. What offends one person may not offend another. In that light, no, I don't think it is appropriate to swear in a professional setting.

Personally, I cringe when I hear swearing in any setting. (So to me, swearing still IS swearing--it still achieves its desired effect.) However, it has become so commonplace nowadays that I am not sure people who swear even think that they are swearing. To them (as to most of you), they are just using "words."

I must be one of the rare ones who has not become desensitized. And while it may not have anything to do with credibility (whatever is meant by that), it seems that today, swearing means nothing to most people, but to those who care, its absence is a sign of respect.

excellent post and i agree with you 100% 👍

 

[Haybrant]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

wow, i totally havent heard that word cuss in forever

 

[wetlightning]

Nice.

This is not a big deal, small child. Hahaha man MEG's response still cracks me. Anyway, yes I don't believe a swear word suddenly means that the person swearing is no longer credible. Also, it would NOT make me lose respect for someone. Not at all.

I guess I grew up in a house where the traditional idea of swearing is different. The swears said around my house were much more creative, and interesting, nothing really vulgar. Most foreign cultures are like that. Calling someone a stupid cow - this is the type of thing you'd hear from my parents when they get upset driving around. It's just fascinating: my aunt will get cut-off in traffic, and then BAM! "You reckless eater of dirt! You have consumed the brain of a sheep and thereby attained a lower intellectual state! I will now desecrate your father's tombstone by defecating on his soil!"

LOL...crazy cav, i agree...growing up in a different cultural milieu as well 👍
of course, i'm indian...what's your family background??

 

[dr.z]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

I don't like it much either. Doesn't have to be doctors/meds too.

 

[kenmc3]

Losing respect is not the same as a loss of credibility. Just use logic and the connection can be made.

It is very ignorant to think that respect and credibility don’t go together. Credibility is the quality of someone being believed or trusted. There is no way you can believe or trust someone if you don’t have respect for that individual. I guarantee that my 80 year old grandmother would loose respect for any physician that used fowl language. She would probably stop seeing them because she would consider them a “bad doctor.” Granted my grandmother has very staunch views on verbal obscenities, but that’s the point, you don’t know which patients approve and which disapprove.

If you love swear words SO much, and CAN’T refrain from using them in a professional situation then you have problems. There is absolutely no reason why swear words need to be used in place the many clean and appropriate words.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

LOL...crazy cav, i agree...growing up in a different cultural milieu as well 👍
of course, i'm indian...what's your family background??

ah, this shall remain a great mystery. I'd rather people continue to imagine whatever picture they have in their head of me, rather than give them too many details and limit that potential. I'm a fan of imagination 😀

 

[deleted50541]

swear at other people in other situations? hell yeah

swearing evokes feelings of drive and confidence. all things forbidden do. its what drives us and what makes us human.

remember, "people are bastard coated bastards with bastard fillings"

Working in EMS, I swore up a storm while hanging around firefighters, cops, and my coworkers. However, I think we all knew and agreed that such language had its place away from the job and the public. I cannot recall one incident where either myself or a colleague swore in front of or at a patient. The second we walked out those sliding ED doors though, you can be sure the expletives would begin to flow. That's just the way things went.

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't like it much either. Doesn't have to be doctors/meds too.

I would tend to agree -- the more refined professionals simply don't swear a whole lot in their day to day professional lives, and certainly not in front of patients/clients. (Outside of the work setting, that's up to them). However I really don't think I'd be offended if eg. someone performing surgery screwed up and nicked an organ or their fingers and reflexively shouted a curse word - that's pretty appropriate under the circumstances and I probably will be guilty of that too (hopefully not very often).

 

[stomper627]

Id rather hear **** as a patient then "OOPS" (esp in the OR).....

 

[Dr. Josh]

It should never be done in public and never ever to a patient, patient's family or other professional.

 

[DrYo12]

It is very ignorant to think that respect and credibility don’t go together. Credibility is the quality of someone being believed or trusted. There is no way you can believe or trust someone if you don’t have respect for that individual. I guarantee that my 80 year old grandmother would loose respect for any physician that used fowl language. She would probably stop seeing them because she would consider them a “bad doctor.” Granted my grandmother has very staunch views on verbal obscenities, but that’s the point, you don’t know which patients approve and which disapprove.

If you love swear words SO much, and CAN’T refrain from using them in a professional situation then you have problems. There is absolutely no reason why swear words need to be used in place the many clean and appropriate words.

I particularly enjoy the inference as to my repoire with patients when I have never expressed in either favour of using obscenities or not. Credibility comes from experience and proven success. Regardless of whether one approves of the manner in which a physician conducts themselves, the fact remains that a physician that is verifiably successful is latently credible. With or without respect, a physician can be credible.

 

[kenmc3]

I particularly enjoy the inference as to my repoire with patients when I have never expressed in either favour of using obscenities or not. Credibility comes from experience and proven success. Regardless of whether one approves of the manner in which a physician conducts themselves, the fact remains that a physician that is verifiably successful is latently credible. With or without respect, a physician can be credible.

The intent of the last paragraph was to speak in general to everyone and not to you specifically. I didn’t mean to accuse you of swearing, I should have made myself more clear. However credibility, while it can be generalized, is also in the eye of the beholder. Granted a physician can have general credibility (i.e. Dr. X is a good experienced physician). However the physician can loose credibility with certain individuals if he upsets them enough. People take things out of context and make rash generalizations, therefore a physician swearing in front of a patient who doesn’t care for that language can project an image of being unprofessional and therefore a poor doctor. This patient can then manifest an opinion that the physician lacks credibility. Let’s say there is a popular journalist, revered by many. If you were to ask most people, they would consider him a credible source. However I personally know that he often lies and stretches the truth. This journalist is going to be less credible to me, even though he has a general credibility with the population.

 

[deleted50541]

swearing is a lazy mind trying to express itself verbally

For the most part, I tend to agree with this statement and believe swearing is inappropriate where professionalism counts. However, there's nothing like dropping the f-bomb to blow off some steam when you're really irate. "Nutty-fudgekins" just does not cut it in those situations. 😉

 

[Babooshka]

How about in a stern voice, "this is not acceptable".

 

[billybama]

I guarantee that my 80 year old grandmother would lose respect for any physician that used fowl language.

... unless your grandmother's doctor is a rooster.

 

[Peterock]

I'll see your gun baby.

Sometimes, I get jealous of a great post. This is one of those times!

 

[nicholonious]

I'm very turned off by doctors/meds who cuss a lot. Does anyone feel the same one.

Even Ghandi swears occassionally. Life's lessons. (Sigh...)

 

[irlandesa]

just wondering if those of you who are very turned off by cursing lost enough respect for Dick Cheney after he dropped the f-bomb on the Senate Floor to stop voting Republican? um, somehow I didn't think so.. bet lots of people burned their collection of U2 albums after Bono let one slip on TV.. 🙄