I Don T Curse In Front Of My Kids By Samantha Shanley

It happens sometimes. Something infuriating occurs, and the only words flying out are curse words. However, the situation undergoes new scrutiny when a little kid stands there in shock, his or her jaw hanging slightly. People are divided whether or not it is okay to swear in front of children. Samantha Shanley, a writer for Romper, argues that using such language is highly inappropriate, while Benjamin Bergen, a writer for the Los Angeles Times, insists that cursing—in most aspects—has no ill-effect on children. Though there are clear clashes when cursing in front of children, both sides have a mutual agreement in regards to social boundaries and children’s awareness.
In “I Don’t Curse In Front Of My Kids, & You F*cking Shouldn’t Either,” Samantha Shanley, a mother with an experienced potty mouth, encourages her readers to not swear in front of kids. She believes doing so is a sign of lack of control and crossing boundaries,

reciting the time when “her tiger instincts kicked in” after nearly colliding with another car (Shanley). Shanley instead urges her readers to use substitutes and gives examples to her readers, such as growling or groaning. Additionally, she encourages setting boundaries when it comes to cursing to set a good example of being articulate and getting respect. At the end of her article, Shanely finishes it off with casual but directive tone: “say what you mean, man, and say it well.”
In “Go ahead, curse in front of your kids,” Benjamin Bergen—who is a father, swearer, and scientist—explores why people discourage cursing, the studies pertaining to swearing in front of kids, and why it’s okay to curse when children are present. He acknowledges the social conditioning, the exceptions to “acceptable” curse words (slurs), and the problems that occur when children curse. However, Bergen also states that it is not technically wrong to curse, reminding his audience that “no there’s no… proof that exposure to ordinary profanity… causes direct harm.” Bergen instead suggests that his audience that they should coach their kids about cursing, specifically when and where it is not acceptable.
As one can see, Shanley and Bergen have contradictory views on the topic.

Shanley holds a largely negative stance on the issue; she insists that swearing in front of kids was like “splashing red paint on a delicate painting.” With the help of imagery, she paints cursing as language with dire consequences and tries to convince her readers to avoid hurting children. On the other hand, Bergen supports the idea that cursing isn’t seriously damaging to children. He reminds his audience that despite the research supporting the negative effects of slurs on college students and middle schoolers, there is no study that proves that general swear words have an adverse effect on children (Bergen). By proving that there is no scientific evidence to back the claimed damage, the writer proves that swearing in front children is not as harmful as initially perceived, directly contradicting Shanley’s statement. Although both sides provide different evidence, they both directly contradict one another when it comes to describing how cursing affects

children.
Despite their opposing views, Shanley and Bergen do agree on a few points—more specifically, children’s awareness and respect for boundaries. As Shanley continues her article, she reminds her audience that “[children] are learning and listening all the time.” Bergen adds on to this and tells his readers that kids are already learning about what’s appropriate in certain places; he further articulates by saying his kid is already aware that some actions are permissible in private areas (e.g. the bathroom) but not in public areas (e.g. the school). In their respective articles, both authors are fully aware of children’s capabilities. Additionally, both writers nod at the idea of boundaries. In “I Don’t Curse In Front Of My Kids, & You F*cking Shouldn’t Either,” Shanley states people should respect the boundaries pertaining to swearing. Berge agrees with that in “Go ahead, curse in front of your kids,” noting that people should teach that “some words are OK in some places, but not in others.” In these cases, both authors acknowledge there are certain places where cursing is unacceptable, such as public places or other’s personal space. Though the two disagree on the concept overall, Shanley and Bergen both agree on boundaries and children’s learning capabilities.
When it comes to cursing with children present, Samantha Shanley and Benjamin Bergen have two opposing views but sometimes agree on a few points. Shanley largely opposes swearing with kids, saying that doing shows one’s lack of control and laziness. On the other side, Bergen believes cursing in front of kids is not as horrible as it seems; while he acknowledges it can be inappropriate, he argues that using swear words with children is technically not bad and that one should coach their kids on where to swear. Both authors disagree if swearing in front of children is damaging or not, but the two writers do agree on children’s learning capabilities and respect for other’s boundaries. So, if one happens to blurt out the f-word in front of small kids, he or she can remember that he or she treads along the gray area.