One choice phrase of my grandmother's has been ingrained in my brain since I was old enough to listen and reiterate speech-- "The only people who curse are the ones that are too damned dumb to figure out something else to say." I've taken this slice of wisdom with me and, appreciating its twist of irony, have since employed it in my day-to-day interactions and colloquial speech.

When used properly, they serve to enhance a strong statement; when used improperly, they make the speaker look like the idiot they are.There are a variety of curse or swear words, translatable into any language, that invade the public speech forum daily. Most of these are unnecessarily uttered by those that are, in fact, inarguably too dumb to think of anything else to say. When faced with a minor roadblock along the highway of life, people forced to turn off their cruise control are often too pestered and intellectually subordinate to come up with a more literate way of expressing their feelings. It's much easier to belt out a one-word response than it is to eloquently express the host of feelings that prompted one to lash out in the first place.

That being said, "bad" words can certainly be useful when employed correctly.  When emphasis is needed, for example, to make a point already eloquently expressed, that last little oomph provided by a "bad" word can make a difference. When one curses, it is generally accompanied by a blatant thrust of forceful speech, whether uttered loudly or emphasized with capital letters in print. The brunt of any message will inevitably get across when such methods are used.

Curse words are not a means to an end in and of themselves.  When used properly, they serve to enhance a strong statement; when used improperly, they make the speaker look like the idiot they are.

One argument that has been made in favor of curse word usage (employed by myself while sitting in the principal's office during my illustrious elementary school career) is that curse words are used in the Bible, for mostly emphatic purposes. Apparently all the fire and brimstone of hell, as well as eternal damnation, is awaiting those who behave like asses.

Another way of looking at it: sometimes the only way to communicate with people less intelligent than oneself is to speak their language, clearly and preferably loudly.