I hate busybodies. The f word never killed anyone.
Simple solution: get out your cell phone and start walking near him, singing "Jesus Loves Me." If he complains, simply explain that you're singing to your granddaughter.
Having an expectation of common decency in a public place is not being a busy body. I don't hesitate to tell people to tone it down, espicially if my kids are around. I don't think the retired gentleman went after him because of the language, I think it was because of a complete lack of respect.
It may not be harmful per se but it is downright vulgar and disrespectful especially around children and the elderly.
Taking a dump on the hood of someones car never killed anyone, but, that doesn't mean the perp doesn't need to be corrected.
Oh, it's killed plenty of people. Especially the idiots who use it on the wrong person. You don't use that kind of language in polite society in case your mother didn't tell you. It must be a regional thing.
I'm going to end up getting into a fight over this kind of thing one day.
Society is going to hell in a handbasket. The majority of people would rather excuse someone for foul vulgarity in a restaurant than stand up to them and tell them to shut their yap, and ask them to take it outside.
There have been a few instances of deaths from road rage due to the careless uttering of that word.
It does show your IQ, though.
"The f word never killed anyone"
Use it to the wrong person at the wrong time and it might get you killed - well, at least slapped silly. :-)
Bottom line is that free speech has limitations. A genteel person would recognize this.
Personally, I have been called down in public for using "salty" language in front of small children, and I deserved it.
No, but using that word, and a few others, has resulted in the deaths of many, good and the bad.