The average American will curse an average of 80 times a day. Which, in fact, is more than three times per hour. So it’s not unimaginable to think that maybe curse words have become so common that they have lost their shock value.

As a 16-year-old girl who attends high school with other 16-year-olds and students as young as 13 and others who are upward of 18 years old, it wouldn’t be normal for me if a day were to pass and I wouldn’t hear at least some type of profanity. Whether it’s cussing at someone or something or maybe even using profanity when they’ve forgotten something or done something they’re not supposed to do, either way, it’s usually there.

I’ve never really cared if someone used profanity in front of me. It occurs so often that I don’t really see it as “that’s a bad word,” but as a way people expressing their distress. However, many people believe that profanity is a socially offensive language and shouldn’t be used in a formal setting or in daily life. Originally, the use of profanity was offensive but as people started using it more and more, the offensive part started to dull.

A person can only do something so often until it loses meaning.

As it’s becoming more and more popular to swear, the shock of hearing it lessens. At first, it was surprising to hear those “foul” words come out of people’s mouths but as time goes on, it becomes more normal.