Something is bothering me. It has to do with words. Though I’m a word person, I’m concerned that I may be calling the kettle black as I write this. But It won’t let me go. It has to do with cussing. So here goes.
Ever since I was a kid the F word was a no no in polite company. It was like the most disgusting word you could use. I never had the guts, but I heard that the soap came out and some of my friends were bubbling at the mouth before they knew what happened when they dared to use it. Now I know we were kids, but that word wasn’t heard when there were women around. Just didn’t happen. In fact, if some ruffian deigned to speak it when somebody’s wife stood there, it was a fightin’ word.
Okay, fast forward. Bake and I are out for a nice Valentine’s dinner and the table across from us is graced with a dude who can say the F word two or three times in one sentence, loudly. He had other talents, too, but this is about cussing.
I couldn’t help it. I looked up how long the F word has been around. Since 1475! In all those years it was saved for impolite company. Well, until lately. Now I know, there are lots of cuss words, and Facebook will attest that I have said at least one myself, darn it. But I think we’re losing ground when the big F loses the impact it used to have. When the young folks tell me that it means nothing.
It doesn’t mean nothing. Words have meaning. And I, for one, would like to see that one return to the darkside. Okay, I’ve said my piece.
Agreed. One sure way to make me stop listening to anything you have to say is to use the F word.
On Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 8:44 PM Jane Carlile Baker wrote:
> Jane Carlile Baker posted: “Something is bothering me. It has to do with > words. Though I’m a word person, I’m concerned that I may be calling the > kettle black as I write this. But It won’t let me go. It has to do with > cussing. So here goes. Ever since I was a kid the F word was a n” >
I’ve been so happy to work where I do now because the “F” word isn’t said a gazillion times a day. At my last job there was a girl who had it as a major part of her vocabulary. But I agree, we’ve as a culture become so crass. Too bad. There’s probably no going back…
I’m glad you’re in a better place, Becky. Who knows, if we speak up maybe it’s a finger in the dyke.