"Flip, Dagnabit, and Sugar.

Or, to name it more appropriately: When is it appropriate for a mobster to swear?

Maybe this seems at first glance to be too obvious a question.. As I have heard many times on the streets "We're fookin criminals, we'll fookin swear whenever we like"

But of course it's not that black and white.

Could it be as simple as "Only swear in the presence of those of equal or lower rank than you"? Well, this has its merits, in that you're among your peers.. should anyone take offense, so what? You've earned that right.

But to put another slant on it, would a don openly swear in front of his underlings? Swearing in most cases represents a loss of control, is that an image that aforesaid don wishes to put across?

I would be interested to hear other people's views on this issue that has been nagging in the back of my head for quite some time now."

Franky looks around expectantly.

I think we're all adults here. Obviously it would be a good idea to use some common sense. When approaching someone, or being approached, based on business, you don't want to sound like a complete utter fool. But if you're at the restaurant, having drinks, eating food, busting balls, who the fuck is to say I can't curse?

Yes i do agree, a mobster should be careful who he swears in front of and especially high ranking dons,and bosses should keep a certain respectability about them.

I think the way a Don has to act in from of his members, is considerably different to how his members have to act amongst themselves.

If a few of my guys are in a bar knocking back a few, I imagine they could make sailors blush. That is natural and I have no problem at all with that. These are my wise guys and they can enjoy themselves.

If I am with them though, then I imagine it'll be a much more formal, respectful gathering. I'm not here to be friends to these guys, they work for me, I'm their boss. They will be on their best behavior around me and probably be out to impress. Again, this is perfectly natural behavior.

In short, I think a lot of it depends on context. When I'm conducting my day to day business, I'm setting an example as a Captain and I doubt I would earn much respect from my members if I flew off the handle, into a stream of expletives because my shoelace became untied. If however, I needed to motivate my men to get out and earn more, or needed to gear them up for a war, then colourful language is likely to be the flavour of the day and would have the desired effect.

What language is appropriate is context sensitive.

~T~

I grew up in a small town that was very religious.  I used to be left handed, however, when I started school I was slapped with a ruler each time I used my left hand because it was the sign of the devil.  As strange as it sounds, due to this environment I was close to 10 years old before I heard swear words.  I know that it seems an impossibility, however it was indeed a long time ago.

Anyway, due to such a boxed in lifestyle at such a young age I never swore, I had to rely on adjectives, prepositions, and adverbs to build descriptive sentences.  In truth, for the longest time I thought people who swore were lazy; that was probably due to brainwashing.

In short, I'm not one to swear and I would be very certain not to swear in-front of someone whom I did not first hear swear.  Nor would I have the audacity to swear in any formal setting; hence swearing in a bar is acceptable.  I could not, under any circumstance, bring myself to swear when talking directly to an elder.  Again, I was raised at a time when you were forbidden to address adults by their first name.

I myself spent most of my life in a sleepy town in England. And I when I was twelve I still thought that "Damn" was a bad cuss-word. Well, since my arrival in Detroit I've had one hell of a wakeup call I can tell you that.. But other than the minor swears, I still can't bring myself to swear casually at all. I have to think before swearing.

Another point: If you hear someone swearing all the time, how do they add particular emphasis to something? If you've used the strongest words in day-to-day conversation, what do you use for your enemies?

Many of the topics I wanted to address have already been discussed.  But I didn't want to come in here and just say "I agree with Tallien" again.  (Though what he says is exactly what I was thinking.)

I feel myself paying more attention to those who speak to me without using a swear word for emphasis, or just as part of their normal conversation.  I heard plenty of swearing when I was growing up, I just don't feel the need to emphasize what I say with a curse here and a curse there. 

But what I want to talk about is something my father was very passionate about, and therefore what I am very passionate about - first impressions.  If your first conversation in this world is laced with swear word after curse after swear word, I think you lose credibility.  If your first impression (i.e. that badge you wear in your profile) is "F you all.  You F with me, I will F'ing kill you." or something similar, you've succeeded at turning me off and having no interest in your abilities as a mobster.  Others might view it differently, but that's my take on first impressions.  Come out here and present yourself respectfully and without all the bonus of the swear words, and you'll be better for it. 

My opinion.

Honestly, a Don or Godfather has earned the right to talk however he pleases. If he wants to sling fuck shit damn and ass around, he has earned that right. 

As you said, we are a community of mafioso. This is not all rainbows and lollipops.

Panda takes his leave.

I believe a swear word can be justified every now and again in a private mail orso

but out in public sometimes its un called for and un professional 

Even i believe when im pointing my gun at someone even if it were say im greatest enemy i wouldnt start gambling on F this and that, It would be ended with haste respectfully the same way i'd wish for him to take my life Remember what Winston Churchill said?

I would never imagine using it in het presence of a don or any high ranked mobster

and if i were a don i sure as hell wouldnt swear in front of family how idiotic would we look?

"My family stands for respect and honour so Fing do this a F this blah blah"

Can you see my point of view?

As Denis Tatcher said:

Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than open it and remove all doubt

Don Tallien,

I understand your comment about not being friends, but rather, business. But I am sure that in over the years, you have acquired some friends who now work for you. Would you feel offended of your friends were, lets say, in the back room with you somewhere, busting your balls, having a good time? Wouldn't that be an acceptable situation to swear?

Yeah sure, that would be fine. That is where formality is left at the door and it is just guys who've grown up together having a good time. That is clearly acceptable, but as I said earlier, it depends on context. If one of those same guys comes up to me in the streets in front of one of my Wise Guys, starts having banter about my mother being less than saintly, then clearly we're going to have issues.

It is the context that is important. I do not mind expletives in general conversation, this isn't the girl scouts and I'm not going to pull one of my guys up if his conversation is a little blue. Sure if he is offending someone important then I'll make sure he watches his mouth, but that will be because it is not appropriate for the context and siutation.

~T~

I feel that with peers that are known well, it is accpetable to cuss. However, excessive cussing is not acceptable, it gives off the impression that you are violent and angry all the time. One should hold himself with an air of honour, not swear to those lower nor higher than him, but keep an air of respectability about him, of cool headedness. For if you are seen to be a wild person then someone may take offence and the repercussions could be bad.

Terry, xxx

I feel that if you are ranked lower than a player you shouldn't swear at the higher ranked player, and as you progress through the game you will find more people respect you for doing that then if you swore at everyone you would probably be Wacked in a few days 

Sal

Player? Game? Will someone please escort this man back home, or to some kind of asylum. I think he's had too much sun.