Who gives a @#$% about profanity?

Via CNN:

"You probably hear these words often, and more than ever before. But even though we can't print them, we can certainly ask: Are we living in an Age of Profanity?

Nearly three-quarters of Americans questioned last week -- 74 percent -- said they encounter profanity in public frequently or occasionally, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll. Two-thirds said they think people swear more than they did 20 years ago. And as for, well, the gold standard of foul words, a healthy 64 percent said they use the F-word -- ranging from several times a day (8 percent) to a few times a year (15 percent).

Just ask Joe Cormack. Like any bartender, Cormack, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, hears a lot of talk. He's not really offended by bad language -- heck, he uses it himself every day. But sometimes, a customer will unleash the F-word so many times, Cormack just has to jump in.

"Do you have any idea how many times you've just said that?" he reports saying from time to time. "I mean, if I take that out of your vocabulary, you've got nothin'!"

Read the rest here

Comments

[Thea]

I don't even use slang words associated with profanity. As I was taught in church years ago, the slang still begats the same meaning. I feel it's vulgar and shows low class.

Suprisingly enough, Ryan Marsh with the Church of the Apostle's in Seattle (who will be Pastor of his own church soon) uses a vulgar word three times in his poem "Alone". I really don't hold a person who is going to be a Pastor of anything in high esteem that has to stoop so low as to express himself that way. So many other words are available.

[Thea]

I don't even use slang words associated with profanity. As I was taught in church years ago, the slang still begats the same meaning. I feel it's vulgar and shows low class.

Suprisingly enough, Ryan Marsh with the Church of the Apostle's in Seattle (who will be Pastor of his own church soon) uses a vulgar word three times in his poem "Alone". I really don't hold a person who is going to be a Pastor of anything in high esteem that has to stoop so low as to express himself that way. So many other words are available.

[andii]

I think that we need to understand the sociolinguistics of 'profane' language, if we are going to think about it well as Christians. A key set of questions is about who is using what words and who is offended and why. It's not the last word but you might like to check out my own blogging on the matter at
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2005/01/swearing.html
and then on this very CNN article here:
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2006/04/who-gives-about-profanity-mar-28-2006.html