In an effort to see how the other, clean-mouthed half lives, I attempted to stop swearing for a week and man, I f—ked that up. My inability to stop was unbelievable and after every filthy word I wondered, “What is wrong with me?”

I certainly wasn’t raised to pepper “goddamnit” throughout conversations and am quite capable of keeping my mouth under control in front of my family, around children and any other venues where swearing would be inappropriate.

College and newsroom culture is pervaded by swearing. When the people around me frequently swear and don’t flinch at anything that comes out of my mouth, it becomes normal to constantly swear. And is that such a bad thing?

A study, published in NeuroReport and cited in a Scientific American article, found swearing actually can assist in relieving pain such as a stubbed toe or paper cut. But that doesn’t excuse the habitual use of curse words as an all-purpose filler.

There definitely are times when any other word just won’t do. Cee-lo Green would agree that “eff you” isn’t strong enough for crappy girlfriends.

And, yes, President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill was a “big f—king deal.” Recently I locked my keys, purse and phone in my running car and the first thing I said was an angry, panicked “f—k.”

However, it’s time to consider what the words we’re saying really mean and how people react to those words.

MSU has pushed to get rid of the “first down, bitch” football cheer — with little success — by having the marching band attempt to drown it out.

The general populace took offense to the cursing and wanted to hush up college students who are more prone and open to swearing.

Sure, some students disagreed with the offensive cheer, but enough were yelling it to be heard echoing through Spartan Stadium, and that says a lot of MSU students’ view of swearing.

As children and young adults, most of us were conditioned not to swear at all and especially not in front of an adult. Now, without that restriction at school and at home, many take advantage of the new, colorful vocabulary words we’re allowed to use. It no longer strictly is taboo.

People forget swearing is a part of us — as humans, as Americans and as college students. There’s a strange disconnect between ourselves swearing and others doing the exact same thing.

Parents often tell children not to swear, but follow the lesson with a slew of curses over something trivial.

Context is key. A broadcaster on a TV news station probably shouldn’t curse about the latest tax hike. Why? Because that’s the way it is.

If one is looking to speak with the general public and demand respect, there is a cultural expectation one will not say “shit” or “bitch” or worst of all “f—k.”

When people swear and swear often it degrades their authority and makes them seem childish and immature. It shows they can’t control their emotions and have limited capacity for language.

Swearing profusely makes the words lose value when spoken to make a point or insult. If one says, “Shit,” 57 times a day, it no longer means anything to those who interact with that person.

Furthermore, it can be off-putting to clean-mouthed peers. Save the curses for when it truly is needed and stop using it as a four-letter word crutch, which often is what I do.

In my week of trying to clean up my vocabulary, I’ve realized at least 75 percent of occasions where I might swear absolutely do not warrant it.

So from now on, I will not say another curse word unless quoting someone else or in very specific circumstances.

Nah. F—k it.

Alanna Thiede is the State News Opinion Writer. Reach her at thiedea1@msu.edu.