The Swearing Debate (or Why A Subtle F-Word Goes A Long Way)

I swear. Just in case you never noticed. Except for pub quiz machines and Internet pornography its my biggest vice, but unlike the other two its a habit that I couldn't and wouldn't want to break.

"Swearing is a really important part of one's life and it would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing...

There used to be mad, silly, prissy people who would say swearing is a sign of a poor vocabulary as such; utter nonsense! The people I know who swear the most tend to have the widest vocabularies!"

Stephen Fry.

I do think that context is a massive factor in when to swear, but just like a normal word, its a string of phonemes with certain connotations and meanings attached to it. Swearing is not a sign of a poor vocabulary. I would agree that someone who can't order a plate of Reggae Reggae Chicken Nachos at Wetherspoons without exclaiming that the waitresses mother prostitutes herself to Mexicans, does have a problem, and would most probably come back with a side order of spittle alongside the beautiful plate of crunchy Levi Roots infused chicken-chips.

As I think I've mentioned before, I've never sworn in front of my Mum on purpose except for one time when telling her the name of Quentin Tarantino's latest film. But I think that is just due to mine and my Mums bond, we're very close and that bond hasn't broken throughout my childhood. I would however swear in front of my Dad for 24 hours straight if enough alcohol is poured down my neck.

My latest work for University is a piece of fiction, in which the first 500 words includes the worst of the worst of all swearwords, the C-word. It was used for nothing else but for shock and awe, to get the message across that the character that the story deals with is considered a right wrong 'un. If I'd have used a "right wrong 'un" instead of the C-bomb, I'd have made the character seem like he's the latest Jack-The-Lad to enter the cast of Eastenders, instead of the paedophile and sexual deviant that he is in the novel.

I hope you've noticed I've not sworn at all throughout this. It seems tame in comparison. Was fun though.

Love and foxtrot, uniform, charlie, kilo.

Jc