WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised. The following may
contain language and opinions that are offensive or disturbing to some readers.
Over the past weeks, largely because of the “Stay Home”
directive flowing from the coronavirus pandemic, I have spent an extraordinary
amount of time watching Netflix. As have the other 170 million of its
subscribers. So attuned to the
introductory formatting of movies and television series, I have become part of
what I would characterize as a type of ‘herd immunity’. In fact, the warnings,
typically in relation to “graphic bloody violence”, sexuality, and “strong
language”, have become teasers, of sorts, enticing audiences with what amount
to invitations to discover what exactly is meant by those terms.
Growing up, swearing and foul language were not permissible in
any circles of society in which I took part. And the F word reserved for itself
a special level of disdain during those preteen and teenage years. Sure, some
of the rough, rebellious crowd used such language within their own social
cliques, but it was considered unacceptable in any public setting. Perhaps
taking the metaphor too far, I heard teachers and parents threaten children
with “washing their mouths out with soap” for use of such profanity, although I
cannot say that I ever saw the ritual performed.
Today, it seems the use of “foul” language by almost anyone,
women or men, professionals or politicians, elicits little more than a raised
eyebrow or, more likely, a yawn. Given its proliferation in music, movies,
stand-up comedy, television, book titles and entertainment of all sorts, not to
mention everyday verbal and written communication, many people do not even
recognize its frequency of use. Take, for example, the F bomb. It seems this
verb has lost all of its supposedly redeeming explosive power and shock value
due to its common usage (often multiple times in one sentence). Of course,
there are numerous derivatives in the F bomb family, such as F off, F you, WTF,
FUBAR and the more recently adopted disparaging mother-f___. Although it
remains tethered to the original definition of the F word, “violent and, typically,
elicit copulation”, it seems to be bandied about with a large variety of
meanings, leaving it difficult to define except in the context of its use in
any given sentence or phrase.
Now, despite my introductory warning, I can almost hear the
responses of some of those who are reading this post saying, “I can use
whatever language I want. You’re just being judgmental and “puritanical”,
trying to control others freedom of expression.” Look, I know there is little
chance that anyone reading this post will cease using the word, or watching
movies that do. Perhaps because, as one author noted, “few words in our
ever-expanding language are as flexible or versatile[i]”
as the F bomb?
However, I think it is worth asking the question, “is the
use of the F- word beneficial, helpful, definable, or worthy of including in
our daily lexicon?” Or, has the expletive worn out its welcome, becoming just another
tired, overused and meaningless expression that is better left out of any
helpful communication?
[i]
"Why F___ Is One of the Best Words in the English Language", by Max
Hill, The Peak, March 3, 2014
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