We were having coffee, when my friend ticked me off (albeit teasingly) about my bad language – I’d been using the F word … and also the C word!
Before you get too shocked by my potty mouth, let me explain.
- The F word in this instance was “farting” – as in, “he was just farting around instead of getting the job done”; and
- The C word was actually “crap”, as in “it was such a load of crap”.
What do you think? Do you consider “farting” and “crap” to be swear words or bad language?
I don’t think they are at all, so I was surprised that my friend would take offense (even jokingly).
Is Bad Language Getting Worse?
When I was a little girl, we used to be horrified if somebody said “Shut up!” or “bum” – which seems laughable now. But they truly were considered to be swear words, and quite rude back then – and certainly not for use by children. Nearly 30 years later, when my kids used these words as tiny tots, I don’t think anybody turned a hair.
Mulling over my friend’s gentle dig, I thought about all the words I *could* have used. Instead of “farting”, I could have easily substituted “fiddling” or “faffing””; or “rubbish” or “codswallop” for “crap” – and probably wouldn’t cause any offense.
But what if I’d chosen to use words like “bleeding”, “flipping”, “fricken”, “darn” and “sugar”? These are frequently employed as a more acceptable substitute for coarser language. But when you get right down to it, we all know what they mean – and that they are a watered down version of a swear word.
Personally? I don’t find them offensive at all, and think they are the preferred alternative (in polite company at least).
I’ve been known to drop more than the occasional “f bomb” of late, which my kids find highly amusing as when they were little I was very careful with my language – setting a good example and all that. But now they’re grown up it doesn’t matter so much 😉 . In fact nowadays THEY are the ones ticking ME off for using the F word!
I have fallen into bad habits, and do need to clean up my act mouth. But I will still be using “farting” and “crap” … better than SOME of the alternatives hey!
Which F word would you find least offensive? Where do you draw the line on swearing and using bad language?