Posted on 03/23/2025 7:04:15 AM PDT by DoodleBob
The other day, this headline from Elizabeth Nickson’s Substack appeared on a website I visit daily: “’Give Us Back Our Fu**ing Money.’ How Washington Stole Everything.”
Breitbart ran the following headline the same day: “Kyle Busch Threatens Opposing Driver: ‘I’m Gonna Wreck His A**!’” As reported in the article, that was the mildest of the NASCAR driver’s profanities.
A post covering the appointment of talk show host Dan Bongino to the position of FBI Deputy Director included an obscenity-laced rant Bongino wrote in 2022 after that agency’s raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. You can read it here.
These headlines aren’t unusual nor are the commentators from all parts of the political spectrum who now freely weave profanity in their reporting. In 2021, for instance, the popular Megyn Kelly said, “I (expletive) love the swearing.” Media personalities Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson routinely toss around profanities during their interviews with guests.
Some celebrities also show an affinity for what was once considered crudity. Robert DeNiro lost the respect of many of his fans for the F-bombs he spat out at Trump. Novelist Stephen King left X in November because it was too toxic, but returned on Feb. 20, saying: “Just wanted to say that Trump is a traitorous, Putin-loving dips**t! Goes double for Elon!” King apparently missed the irony of his own toxic words.
Given our propensity for four-letter words, it should come as no surprise that America leads the world in swearing. A 2024 analysis of 1.7 million English-language tweets show that our nation ranks far ahead of the closest runner-up, Great Britain, in our use of profanities.
Wordtips, the blog that conducted this study, tells us, “Swearing has become fun again,” and “that just means we’re going to be exposed to more of it and that’s going to normalize it, and so people have become inured.” Mental Floss sums up what some contend are the advantages to cussing: “[L]etting curse words fly has been linked to everything from intelligence and honesty to an increase in our ability to tolerate pain.”
If obscene language is acceptable, why do so many editors and bloggers still use the grawlix, those symbols like %#, for swear words rather than the word itself?
Plenty of people I know never or rarely curse, but I have a friend who routinely constructs a string of obscene words, some of them vivid and disgusting, when we’re alone. When we’re around my grandkids, those same words never make an appearance. So, if cursing is so swell and dandy, then why do parents and almost everyone else attempt to protect children from vulgarities? And do we really want our four-year-old declaring, “I hate fu*#ing broccoli and I’m not going to eat this s%#t?”
And finally, what does our increased use of once-obscene language in our conversations and in the public square say of our culture? Does it elevate our social and civil interactions, or is it one more sign of crudity in our increasingly ragtag civilization? Does it add or subtract to the dignity of the human person?
Some public commentators recognize and honor these concerns. Newsmax contributor and radio talk show host Jennifer Kerns has said:
My goal is to have a show that moms can listen to as they drive their kids to school, therefore it’s got to be clean … we have conservatives, families and religious audiences tuning in. I feel a higher calling in my career to live up to Christian standards. It’s easy not to curse on-air—it just takes some creativity and an impeccable vocabulary.
My mother agreed absolutely with this stance. I don’t remember the circumstances – perhaps I said some word that was never spoken in our house – but Mom sat me down and explained that people cursed because they were angry or ignorant, and lacked the vocabulary and temperament to better explain themselves. That was long, long ago, but the conversation stuck with me.
Language is infectious, which means I do curse from time to time, mostly when I’m alone. But I don’t like that in myself, and I don’t want to die someday with the last word from my lips being some stupidity like “s%#t,” so I’m always working on self-censorship.
If it’s a choice between joining a culture of crudity or heeding my mother’s wise advice, Mom wins hands-down every time.
—
“”The point was to uphold military decorum and protocol.””
And sadly, I fear, that ship has sailed (sunk, and is rotting at the bottom). My dad was retired Naval Air and I never heard him swear... ever. (my mom would have cut him off, probably...lol).
“”I would be all for more civil discourse in our society.””
Yeah, it’s funny-not funny (ironic).... how the radical idiot left is all so hell-bent on not offending folks with their woke cancel culture... even while they applaud, encourage and enable “gangsta rap” and vile comedians that do, in fact, offend Christians. But offending Christians is not only A-OK with their agenda... I suspect it is now a requirement.
‘You’ is a swear word?
I wish I could remember how I conducted myself around my soldiers. I was an ADA officer from 76-84. I didn't go out of my way to swear, though there were a few times on field exercises where I used profanity with great volume...lol.
I do recall a tac eval that sent me over the ledge. I had to wear the XO & Maintenance Officer hats, and things were falling apart: a platoon leader missed his morning mission time by 30 minutes, my CO encoded a mission's coordinates incorrectly, and there was a lack of urgency throughout the battery. I blew up in the evening meeting, I was an equal opportunity flame thrower.
I didn't realize how effective it was until I bumped into the Chief Evaluator outside our CP. I thought, "dammit he heard it all". Instead, he gave me a big smile and said, "that was beautiful, LT." I'd like to think my performance played a role in passing that evaluation.
You're right, though, profanity does not enhance military bearing.
I now work in the tax department of a real estate company in Dallas. I'm surprised and chagrined with the prevalence of f-bombs from several coworkers, to include my supervisor. Another coworker noted his displeasure with a woman who favors using the acronym LMFAO. She's an acquired taste that has taken me over a year to get used to.
I'm happy to sit in my cubicle and do my work.
If my last act on earth is to go sky diving and discover my chute fails to open, I doubt I'm going to yell "Oh shucks"......
The odd thing about this coarsening of printed and spoken language, is that the left - the “free speech” defenders - censor words THEY find offensive.
To wit: if Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” is played on the radio - I think even on XM satellite radio - that song’s “f” word is eliminated entirely.
They will uncork f-bombs etc left and right, and mock anyone they detest. But, if you say “ya know, the Covid shots don’t prevent getting the virus which was the basis for issuing the EUAs” they’ll sew your mouth shut.
I endeavor on FR and even at work to use “alternative” language like “jackwagon” or “thank you very little” or “what in the Wide World of Sports?” It works, even if people look at me like I’m slightly off.
What is REALLY offensive is when The Lord’s Name is taken in vain.
Your mileage may vary.
How do we know you don’t have a high voice? :)
Eph 4:29 - 30
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. [30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
If you’re living for yourself then relieve yourself emotionally all over everyone else in the world any time you want because it’s all about you.
If you’re striving to die to yourself and let Jesus live through you, then the above verses (and others) apply.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Evidence of saving faith is obedience to the Lord & his Word.
“”What is REALLY offensive is when The Lord’s Name is taken in vain.””
I agree. An occasional “gdammit” in a momentary fit aside...especially if someone does something to accidentally hurt themselves, I can deal with. But I take offense when I see or hear someone use the name of Jesus included with expletives. And it is getting more and more prevalent.
One such example is the foul mouth on the sister, Debra Morgan, of the Dexter TV series, who used the name of Jesus in many of her cursing rants. A bridge too far for me, and I’m pretty tolerant, usually.
Oh yeah, well I say “f*ddl*st*cks” to that.
I am now, an educated man.
Danke.
“”Language is infectious, which means I do curse from time to time, mostly when I’m alone. But I don’t like that in myself, and I don’t want to die someday with the last word from my lips being some stupidity like “s%#t,” so I’m always working on self-censorship.””
Yes, it is contageous and yes, the more you’re around someone that cusses, the more likely you are to pick up on it, too. That said, I must confess to having a perverse sense of humor. While I may not want to use cusswords myself, I still find some cussing funny. For instance... someone sent this to me the other day in reference to my irritation with automated voice customer service that runs you in circles, wastes your time and gets you nowhere. I tend to want to cuss at those machines.
Even with all the cusswords, I think this is pretty funny....
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OWIC8BXcDtQ
with the exception of the F word, mild swear words are ok... we are adults. naturally never directed at someone personally. making up words to say ass or hell or poop is no different than the meaning of the actual words.
Lets grow up a little and put forth your efforts to something constructive instead of being a tattle tale because johnny said a bad word. jeeez....
Because vulgarity is degrading, and enhances a conversion about much as passing gas does in close company, and both bring attention to the source. Meanwhile, I have enough issues with my own heart without being reminded of a bedroom and or bathroom by listening to someone.
If our speech and or writing was a plate of dinner, would anyone want to eat it?
Moreover, profanity exposes the destitute authority of the speaker, as he must invoke deity for authority.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:16)
Wow...super fascinating
I agree with you.
That is why i love watching the DryBar on youtube
comedians who have to be funny and not be cursing or vulgar.
It works
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