F*PUNDIT
Kevin Drum has some kind thoughts for the F* word, the use of which got a Colorado high schooler in some trouble. The defense attorney’s brief on this one is rather amusing.
I must admit to having used it on occasion myself, although I try to refrain, having once heard that, “Profanity is the crutch of inarticulate mother—s.”
Update: Ogged actually broke this story first.
Hmm, didn’t I have soemthing to say on the subject of profanity just a couple of days ago? Now what was it I said? In accordance with my linguistic philosophy, even the coarsest of terms are just words that convey some meaning of one kind or other. Sometimes the coarseness of the term is an essential part of the meaning intended to be conveyed, setting the mood and tone of the communication.
Uh-oh.
A friend of mine once noted that most swear words are “meaningless intensifiers.” Which is true.
Of course, I have nothing against the occasional meaningless intensifier.
Thanks for the credit, but I saw lots of links to it on technorati before I posted it. Lots of good stuff if you poke around there!