Once in a manager’s seminar at Mountaineer, those present were encouraged, as usual, to wake up and ask questions of the speaker. Since nobody (aside from said speaker(s)) at all wanted to be there one nano-second longer than necessary-we all had ACTUAL work to do-any attendee prolonging these pointless affairs drew dirty looks and undying enmity from the silent majority.
Nonetheless, I felt compelled to violate this strict code of omerta just once when the guest “expert” gave a talk on sexual harassment. “What about the “F” word?” I interjected when the dude came up for air. “It’s never used these days in a sexual context, and it’s expressive in so many ways,” I continued. Clearly, the most versatile of profanities had evolved beyond rubber-stamp taboo status. And what was I supposed to do, rebuke or write up every subordinate who so much as uttered it? I’d never have time for my own work-and I hadn’t signed on to be the speech police.
One look at our pompous visitor’s expression, and I knew I’d made a mistake. After giving me the sort of glare that Wyatt Earp might have fixed on Ike Clanton, the same guy who’d IMPLORED his audience to hit him with ANY concern unblinkingly replied: “I have no idea why you would permit that kind of filth in your workplace, and besides, I never hear anybody use that word.” Excuse me?? What total bull..er,ah, manure.
@$%^ing mad and tempted to initiate the man’s (50 something) virgin ears right there, I should instead have demanded his take on the 684 (according to research) other curse words used by folks he, evidently, had not encountered. The three/fourths of our fellow Americans, that is, who need their mouths washed out with soap at least once a week.
In my case, more like once per minute, and I don’t walk in shame. At least, not much. Four letters aren’t what they used to be back when profanities bordered on heresy. In fact, “profanity” literally MEANS “outside of the temple.” And (likewise taken straight from Latin roots) “blaspheme” denotes “evil speech.”
But what’s so sinister about body parts , the natural byproduct of Taco Bell, or a kid born out of wedlock? And if you think the invocation of female canines still carries much sting or insult, we must be living in different worlds. No way is the “B” word even gender specific these days. And I’ve even known chicks that take it as a compliment denoting toughness and swag.
Profanities have evolved with society. Not much shocks modern sensibilities, so we’ve repurposed traditional curse words to convey any range of meaning(s): surprise..anger..disappointment..pleasure-it’s all in the inflection. My dad used to inflect quite a bit.
In some cases, spicy language can even be beneficial. Earthy chatter cuts tension and can strike an intimate tone. Also, studies have shown that bad words can lessen pain or make an argument more persuasive. I guess lawyers should talk like sailors.
But not everything foul makes noise. The ancient Romans scrawled their curses on walls, sometimes altering just one letter in a targeted deity’s name so as not to incur the God’s fearsome wrath. Zeus must have been easy to fool. Or fresh out of lightning bolts. (Hey, did I just blaspheme?) So, in addition to inventing sewage systems, concrete, and multi-level buildings, that legendary society graced the world with the gift that is graffiti. (Blame THOSE sandal-wearing schleps, Iris, when some sicko calls for a “good time.”)
The good citizens of Rome may have written, rather than spoken, their obscenities to avoid a stint in gladiator school. Historically, speech deemed blasphemous has been punishable by law. That changed, at least under the red, white, and blue, in 1940, when Justice John Harlan ruled that “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyrics.” In that case, my golf pals could top the Billboard charts.
Believe it or not, an archaic Michigan statute criminalizing “vulgar language in the presence of women” remained on the books until about 10 years ago. And North Carolina (I’ve always suspected that Deputy Fife knew a few choice terms.) STILL outlaws bad talk on public highways. Presumably, nipping road rage RIGHT in the bud. The Michigan law, at least, was repealed when ruled “unconstitutionally vague” in the case of a cussing canoeist. Boy, those must have been some choppy waters. And who pressed charges, a 5 lb. carp?
Unwritten standards of linguistic expression are harder to discern. They can vary confusingly with place and situation. But there’s nothing ambiguous about verbal boundaries in my house. Devoutly religious, my spouse calls out any usage of profanity. Evidently, none of the three rowdy brothers she grew up with ever spouted an obscenity. (Not to mention her cynical, down-to-earth dad) She should guest speak at seminars.
Sent from Outlook
