<p>I've been wanting to rant about this forever. What makes certain words "bad"? It makes no sense why we have to censor how we express ourselves just because some people hundreds of years ago decided that certain words are 'bad'. This concept is ridiculously outdated and unfair. And the FCC with their stupid fines! This whole thing is just a charade by the government for money and power over the people. What makes 'darn' and 'fudge' more acceptable than their curseword counterparts? If I mean the exact same thing when I say them, why can't I use one or the other interchangebly without appearing rude or insensitive? Why can't I listen to my gangsta rap without all that dead airspace in between phrases? Why must precious dollars be wasted on redubbing music so it's 'clean'? Why must an otherwise good family movie like 'Little Miss Sunshine' be rated R just because Alan Arkin uses some choice language? (ok, granted he snorts coke and steve carell attempts suicide in the movie too, but otherwise, it's mostly clean) I think the whole concept of 'bad words' should be abolished and we should get to use the language that we want when we want.</p>
<p>We have this discussion all the time at the radio station I work at. We have a list of words we CAN say, and words that we cannot. However, it's really so stupid. We're allowed to say ...a certain word that rhymes with 'pick...' if we use the word in reference to a person (he's such a "pick"), but not in reference to the body part. The line seems to have been drawn rather arbitrarily. We can say sl-t, but not wh-re. We can say d-mn, but not godd-mn. There are certain racial slurs which obviously are rude, and using them is NOT socially acceptable, but I agree that the concept of 'bad words' is rather stupid. However, the usage of these words invariably elicits a negative response in today's society. They have simply evolved as "dirty" words, and, whether or not their "dirtiness" came centuries ago, it's impossible to suddenly erase the negative connotations that they hold. There are people who will always be offended by the "f" word. And, after all, is it really so surprising that these people exist, given the "f" word's root? Abolishing 'bad' words would be impossible, because there are many who have very strong moral codes (not to say that those who swear aren't moral... but I'm sure you know what I mean) who would be outraged by such an act.</p>
<p>Curse in binary! :)</p>
<p>01000110 ... 01010101 ...</p>
<p>it's just an innovation of the Victorian Era, where such words would be considered improper in "high" society. For me, I don't really see them as "curse words", but just more like terms of familiarity, like stuff you'd say around your friends, but not necessarily around strangers.</p>
<p>Actually, I like that certain words are generally forbidden. It gives them more power/feeling when you actually do use them. Hence why they're called "choice" words.</p>
<p>My shift buddies (at the radio station) and I came up with a plan. One day, we're going to go on the air and say, "Ok, listeners. We're now going to read you a list of all the words we're NOT ALLOWED TO SAY. If you hear us say them, please call in and tell us! Thanks!" And we'd then launch into the list of Unspeakable Words. All ten of mankind's most hideous curses: bam-bam-bam! Right in a row. It would be great....</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more princessbell. It's just stupid that the "f" word can't be said on television(unless it's like HBO). It is not always hateful and evil. Racial slurs are really the only words I see that should not be allowed to say.</p>
<p>LesOs, you'd like George Carlin very much if you don't already. He did a whole act on a list of words that you can't say on television.</p>