Because polite isn't always enough.

Sometimes you need to get the point across in the universal currency of strong language. Swearing.

http://www.youswear.com/

Politely lifted from:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/08/uh-oh_the_commenters_will_romp.php

I don't often swear. Either online or in person. IMHO it cheapens the language. When I swear most people around me realize it is not done casually. That said it has a place. To break people out of their complacency and fog.

That and knowing how to do it, do it well, and in several languages is a moderately useful skill. And knowledge is fun.

I Beleive it strengthens the Language,Especially if done with Tact & Appeal,I often use it to great Effect in other languages, than The English tongue I'm more familiar with,Though I prefer to "Cuss" as opposed to "Swearing"!

Well, as a long time pro cooks I tend to swear way too much- imagine a sailer turning red and starting to cry! I try to dial it back in polite company, though.

If you have a criticism to make you should be able to make it using normal language. Swearing is just adding insult to the mix and building resentment. Not the best situation for a group trying to work together. Every boss that ever swore at me instantly lost all chance of co-operation and respect. Even if I was in the wrong. Wouldn't you feel the same?
You'll also lose sympathy with some members of the jury if you get to court.
I never got into the habit; one pleasant result when I was a cop; any complaints obviously included a definite lie. Criminals can't imagine anyone not swearing so usually report your language as including it.
Unlike the laughable idea that 'swearing at a mugger/ intruder will show you are serious'.
QJS

Hmmm. Can we say potty mouth? I recall my Drill Sgt making the following admonishment - "For all you guys taking leave, please remember, it's not "Mom please pass the f***ing butter", ok?"

There are social situations where swearing is the norm, and social situations where if you swear you will look like the proverbial turd in the punchbowl.

If you take swearing personally, that is any swearing that is not personally directed to/at you, then so be it. But it would be nice if you told everyone that you disliked swearing. I try to refrain from cussing in polite company, works most of the time.

In normal life the use of swearing is often seen as a mark of poor social skills, weak education, possible low intelligence. Cussing in a job interview can scuttle your chances if you aren't going for a job as longshoreman, drill sergeant, or boatswain's mate.

That said in an emergency situation a few well chosen and well placed swear words can serve as a tonic to break people out of their illusions that things are normal and that their usual concerns with modesty, decorum, property rights, and civil behavior are misplaced.

For all things a time and a place.

I'm Irish. I swear all the f'in time. I am finding however that lowering my tone and looking directly into someone's eyes while I'm calling them out works better.

Art said it Best"For All things,A Time & A place!",Albeit,Some of us find that there are Too many Times,In Too many Places!

If it wasn't necessary, it wouldn't have evolved. Or survived.

When was the last time you used the words "ye olde" "sooth" "couth" in normal conversation? Cuz I guarantee that some curses have been around since those words, and I can tell you which ones have been stricken from English.

Even for those that are against it, there is definitely a very appropriate time and place for swearing. Trust me, when I tell a "bad guy" to put his F*ing hands up there is much less discussion than when I ask him to please take his hands out of his pockets.

Maybe I'm just being uncivilized, but I absolutely agree with the title of the thread.

I believe there was a quote, from a founding father, regarding the use of curse words to prove a point. I dont remember it verbatim, but it was something along the lines of a person who resorts to cursing & name calling, has already lost the argument.
That being said, it DOES have a place. Getting someone to comply, move, or, as was previously stated, get them out of their fog of complacency, it certainly does work. High stress situations, sometimes there is a need to be loud. And, sometimes, loud involves swearing. I admit, I swear a LOT. But, when I am making a point, I REFUSE to either name-call, or swear, for the reason stated above. The best part of that is, that usually the person who I am having a discussion with, gets frustrated, and will resort to it first. Simply because they know me-and that I use colorful language. So, speaking intelligently with them, without resorting to that, throws their game off. A neat little trick I learned years ago