The F-Bomb: Legitimate Stylistic Feature or Blot Upon the Landscape?

[Plaid Adder]

Poll question: The F-Bomb: Legitimate Stylistic Feature or Blot Upon the Landscape?

I was amused to discover that someone had reposted "The Politics of Whup-Ass" to a Lutheran list and then bleeped out all the profanity (the "fuckings" were deleted and "good Christ" was changed to "good gravy"). My partner always teases me about the fact that I can't seem to finish a column without using hte F-bomb at least once. I feel that the F-bomb is a legitimate stylistic device that connotes, among other things, how truly outrageous and insane are the policies about which I am writing. On the other hand, it is apparently too much for those nice peace-minded Lutherans.

Well, I'm not afraid to change my mind if I can be persuaded I'm wrong, so here's a poll. Should I eliminate profanity from the Plaid Adder column?

[Political_Junkie]

1. Keep doing what you're doing, honey.

"Should I eliminate profanity from the Plaid Adder column?" - Fuck no! That's why I read your columns 'cause you're as fired up as I am.

[jfxgillis]

2. Um. You answered your own question.

I clicked the "Yes, but I can't forward it to Aunt Gladys."

What you should do is is create an "Aunt Gladys" version with a link "For fowarding to Aunt Gladys or printing off at the office."

Make a running joke out of it.

FYI, I agree with Lutherans on "good Gravy." I drop the F-bomd myself with alaming frequency but I stay away from blasphemy. Pisses too many people off.

[blondeatlast]

3. I try very hard not to curse, but I've got no problem wiith reading,

hearing (unless it's my 7 yo son), seeing it.

It's legitimate discourse, I just prefer it not discourse from me!

And if the f- or s-bomb should come out fo my mouth--DUCK.

It means there is HECK to pay!

[blondeatlast]

4. Just use "cheney" instead.

Acceptable in even the strictest Baptist households, heck, WELCOMED in them!

I would really love to see this used like that!!!

[mrboba1]

7. lord no!

Don't disgrace the word fuck by replacing it with cheney. It was cute for a couple of days but that is just disparaging the word and the intent!!

[Plaid Adder]

15. I've been thinking of switching to "frelling"

but the non-Farscapians will be bemused, and there's probably not too much overlap between the Farscape fans and the Lutherans.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[TXlib]

20. Explain, please?

[Plaid Adder]

5. Kick for the Monday vote n/t

[Screaming Lord Byron]

6. I never understood why people call it the 'F-bomb'.

It's just a word, same as any other. Words don't hurt, intent does.
Fuckers.

[TXlib]

9. Because, in polite society,

saying "fuck" pretty much nukes the conversation. Hence, F-Bomb.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

11. 'polite society'? What 'polite society'?

That sounds like a load of bourgeois crap to me.

[TXlib]

12. That would be the society of which you are apparently not a part.

:evilgrin:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. Damn right!

Bourgeois fucks!

[TXlib]

8. It should be used very sparingly, if at all.

This is not so much for the sake of decency, but to preserve the word's value. When somebody who almost never swears drops an F-bomb, people take note.

[Ron Green]

17. My view exactly. When I was discussing language issues with students

who were trying out the "bad words," I suggested that to the extent they used the "f" word, the "s" word and others, their language, and by extension their argument, would lose power. After all, when your casual conversation is sprinkled with "f'n this" and "f_ that," what do you do when you really want to make a strong point? Talk louder? I suggested they save the big ones for when they really needed them. And kids, of course, haven't generally experienced those times quite yet.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Profanity is legitimate, however, the editing by the Lutherans is not.

Instead of deleting the "fuckings" and editing the "good Christ", they should have used "expletive deleted" in their place. That way, if someone comes across the original article, they will know that the language therein reflects the author's true intent. I think the way it was handled by the Lutheran folks was intellectually dishonest, although probably well-meaning.

[Plaid Adder]

14. The guy did put a little note at the bottom explaining the 'editing.'

I thought it was cute, especially the "good gravy" part. That is just so not part of my vocabulary.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[GOPisEvil]

19. Oh, ok. Their minor sin is forgiven, then.

Oh, golly gee whillikers, Marge, did she say "the F-word"?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. Not this "peace-loving Lutheran" cuss away dude.

Who cares?
It is just words.

[sniffa]

18. one of my mom's fav. words

aLong with more festive curse words.

[MrBenchley]

21. Fuck that shit, as people say in Brooklyn

I think it's a legitimate rhetorical device....

P.S.: Guy with Tourette's in Brooklyn walks down the street blurting out "Pardon me! Thank you! Excuse me!"