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For the past few years I've made a conscious effort to not use swear words like "fucking" and "shit" casually. I feel like if they're overused they lose their power, to yourself and to others around you. Everyone of us knows that guy or girl that never normally swears, so then when they do you know it's serious.

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Right on topic, since overuse does in fact reduce their power to relieve pain: https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(11)00762-0/fulltext

Do habitual swearers need to resort to racial slurs for pain relief?

My alternative is to use old-fashioned swear words like Fudge, Poppycock, Scullion or Harlot.

It satisfies my urge, and it sounds funny.

I have no idea when or why this happened but, in my everyday usage, I've flipped the intention of vulgar swear words with the old-fashioned swear words.

Are you fucking kidding me == lol

Are you fricking kidding me == Rage

Oh frick yes. It also makes you sound like a goodie two shoes schoolboy from a 1950s movie. Has delivered quite a few laughs and joy to people at work.

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