BLEEP-BLEEP! How Profanity Shapes the Child

(SALEM) - As I approach my 66th birthday, the mind wanders back to a much earlier era when the use of "dirty word" was strictly taboo. Today's young people -- and even some middle-aged folks -- might view this attitude as obsolete.

When yours truly was coming of age in my hometown of New York, gangsters and bullies were largely associated with profanity. Those who indulged in such language were considered the icons of violence.

In fact, users of profane terms were viewed as being drawn from a less-educated, less-refined social class. People wanted to avoid them.

Yes, I vividly recall when my then-naive sister Elaine came into the house repeating a few choice taboo words, such as the gutter term for excrement. She swiftly got her mouth washed with a very stringent soap called Lava that is no longer manufactured. That would discourage us--evermore!

On another level, profane phrases are often mere cliches, shorthands geared to express anger. Who would say in real life to "go fornicate yourself" or complain of being "urinated off"? Such would be absurdity.

I've always been short of height at 5-2 and came to define profanity as the weapon of the big overbearing bully. Blind anger and name-calling have never endeared themselves to my persona. Others may view it differently.

During those days of my youth -- the distant 50's -- profane words were tainted with disrespect for females in particular. So-called dirty words were invoked to put down women. Even before there was an Equal Rights Movement, I found that practice repulsive. I recall an incident in junior high in which the crudeness of some young boys in the lunchroom was so irritated that I simply moved away rather than give it any validity.

Up to the present, my brand of values is to skip those "R" movies and avoid porn-prone websites. Somehow I've managed not to use profane language in the presence of women. That is my personal testament to respecting their inherent worth.

There may be others who would snicker at this, and vulgar lingo may well be woven into their daily vocabularies. That is their decision to make. By the same token, those who share my beliefs merit the right to think to live by their own set of principles....and avoid profanity.

Let my four-letter usage focus instead on one word: L-O-V-E. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Coyne is a retired newspaperman living in West Salem, OR, who continues to freelance for Salem-News.com and other groups while engaging in community projects.
Tel: 503-365-7533

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UE January 18, 2011 8:12 pm (Pacific time)

When I was 11, (I'm 31 now) I was astounded by the phrase 'son-of-a-bitch' in the Adrian Mole books. Now it seems VERY tame.

a woman March 25, 2007 5:30 pm (Pacific time)

Barry, MARRY ME!

Allen March 25, 2007 2:55 pm (Pacific time)

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/lava_faqs.html Looks like it's still available. As a former "newspaperman" Mr. Coyne should check his facts if he wants his opinion to be taken seriously. Sadly, I agree with him, but to have these types of errors is unacceptable. Do you guys not edit the stories? Just curious.

Lava with Pumice March 25, 2007 10:08 am (Pacific time)

I remember Lava very well and the commercials of workmen with heavy grease on their hands. It was marketed as man-soap. If your parents did what you say they did to your sister, they should have been locked up. You do not put a poison in someone's mouth. What were they thinking? They should have shoved the Lava up their own kazoos.

Lifer March 25, 2007 9:50 am (Pacific time)

There is no excuse to use bad language when you can still buy a gun.

Dear Yep March 25, 2007 9:35 am (Pacific time)

F-U! Live in your fantasy about the fifties. People were less educated than they are today which is very, very sad.

Yep March 24, 2007 11:39 pm (Pacific time)

To the author- I appreciate your point of view. In many ways I wish it was the '50s still (I'm only 30 and I MISS the good old days of years back) I have a hard time not blaming cell phones, fast food and the "right now" attitude for most of the society tension these days. America has gotten quite spoiled and downright rude. I use profanity still but have long wanted to continue to reduce it as it just has no real ultimate healthy purpose. There are many other much healthier ways to express frustration and anger. Alternative words, walks, working out, punching bags, jogging, etc. all work much better as a prophylaxis to hotheaded behavior. It takes more effort but in the end the real winner is ones self. A slip here and there is one thing, nobody is perfect. Being a vulgar person all the time takes it's toll and ultimately makes the person doing it look silly and ignorant. Many people miss the real point of it. It isn't and shouldn't be so much about religion or god, or weather you even believe in god or a religion, but what and how it affects you and those around you. At least for me it is a cycle of negative energy I just don't need or want. Unfortunately a word is not just a word, it is a word with all of the bad attitude, negative behavior and energy that comes with it.

Matt Johnson March 24, 2007 3:06 pm (Pacific time)

Good points Barry, I hope people listen to this. Surf to live live to surf - The Malibu crew

Curmudgeon March 24, 2007 2:43 pm (Pacific time)

I think the manufacturer of Lava soap would be surprised to learn that it is no longer available. They would wonder where is all goes once it leaves their factory.

No Prude March 24, 2007 10:43 am (Pacific time)

A word is a word. When you are very angry and f'd over by someone, it is better to use harsh language than to put a bullet in their head. Jesus wants you to use profanity because it does not carry the death sentence. Smile, God loves you!

JAFO; March 24, 2007 3:51 am (Pacific time)

yes.,I am guilty also of occassional multi lingual cursing.,good thing I'm not a churche goer or I'd be seeking forgiveness till I was useless! I thought the baby eating animation was aticulated quite effectively without stooping to vulgar,graphic exclamations.,wouldn't you agree? And "for unlawful carnal knowledge" is pretty drawn out when your urinated .,so it kind of depends on the immediate circunstances. If you can look at the news and not swear I'd say your supremely articulate.

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