31 October 2011

The F-word... Yea or Nay?

I don't ever swear in front of my kids.

Hardly ever.

Really.

But I have been accused of a foul mouth in other areas of my life. Honestly though, it's how I was raised. In fact, nowadays I have to keep on my folks to not swear around my kids.

I recently read a blog in which the writer was decrying the dropping of f-bombs in a movie detailing intense physical exertion, camaraderie, sleep-deprivation... In the 2-hour movie, the word was used something like 6 times.

The comments left by readers were mostly of the "oh, I hate the f-word" ilk. Except mine.

I find that Sick. Physical. Effort. strips away my already-porous filter. And I have heard training partners, teammates, other athletes fall into that same camp.

I ran this yesterday...


I'll tell you more about that amazing, mutherbleepin', hilly-ass run tomorrow, but right now I am talking about the f-word.

While I just exercised some self-censorship in the blog, you can bet I dropped a few f-bombs out on that trail... in the 80ºF blazing sunshine, most notably at 0.75 miles, 2.5 miles, 4.5 miles, repeatedly from 6 to 6.6 miles, and again when I hit 12 miles and realized I still had at least a mile to go. There might have been a few additional moments of f-ness and maybe a few other choice words tossed in, but honestly, I was pushing my limits... and when I push my limits, it is that edge I am leaning over that becomes my focus... not my choice of language.

I challenge you to run this route and not drop an f-bomb...aloud or in your own head.

I could say something judgmental like "People who do not ever drop an f-bomb in a super intense workout are simply not pushing themselves hard enough." Or "People who never drop an f-bomb ever are repressed, uptight, dispassionate beings." But instead, I understand that they are working with a different vocabulary than I.

The f-word is not offensive to me in certain situations... well, in most situations. But I don't want it used around my kids.

How do you feel about the f-word? Do you ever use it? When?


Do you think less of me now that you know I do use it sometimes?




This post is linking up with Lovelinks #29! Come check out the great blogs participating :)

45 comments:

  1. Don't mind the F-word at all. In fact, I use it too fucking much honestly. I blame it on being a Marine. Go figure. I try not to use it around my kids, but it comes out far too often, and don't even get me started on doing anything physical or frustrating! Long live the f-word!

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  2. I wouldn't expect anything less than you, girl!! And I still like you :).

    Nice hilly run! You're ready to come out to Colorado and run the mountains with me now :).

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  3. Bring it! I may or may not enjoy this word when the kids are not around. Kind of therapeutic really. :) GREAT elevation there girl!

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  4. Funny to read this today. Someone sent me a joke that was very funny, but went just beyond where Laugh Quotes will go. So, I passed it on to another blogger. I have no problem with what others do on their blog, or say in their home. So for me, no F-word, but it won't stop me from reading you :)

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  5. I used to use it all the time in corporate life because everyone did. Since the kids came along my f-bomb has changed to 'fruit'.
    Sounds totally crazy but it's tame and kid-friendly so I go with it.
    Fab run girl!

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  6. I use the F word so rarely that it really gets my point across. My husband uses it too much - esp in front of the children.

    I think it should be an emphasis word..it's really the only word of it's kind right? It should be used sparingly to maintain it's integrity.

    The worst is when someone (usually 18 year guys) use it as every adverb and adjective in every single sentence. I've actually given my "c'mon on now" face to some of these punks recently. They looked at me like I was really old (which I am ;-)

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  7. I figure that if it comes out of my mouth, I must really mean it, so therefore, it must be necessary! As long as you're not dropping it every other sentence or around little ones, I'm okay with it :)

    Just as a random fun fact--a friend and I were actually talking about that word the other day and I googled the origination. In case you wanted to know, it came around during the plague. After so many people had died, the king ordered people to have sex to procreate--the order was decreed as "fornicate under command of king." F.U.C.K. So see? It was really just a command by the kind :)

    And now, I'm done with my nerdy trivia for the day!

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  8. Like you, I try not to say it too much. At school we were taught that swearing showed a lack of vocabulary. Actually, that's kinda true, since I only use it when there is no other word that will do the job!

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  9. I dont swear anymore, I use to, but now I dont, I have PG rated swear words instead, Like Fudge or Freak or Mudder Fudger, Son of a Biscuit Hole, Snikey. I took awhile to replace the PG13 stuff with the PG words

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  10. Yeah...not so much for me. I'm surprised at how much people use it in regular conversation anymore, like it's just another word. I guess it just reminds me of high school-people thinking they were tough and cool for using it whenever possible but who really just sounded dumb. It bugs me when they throw it in movies just because they can....like they wait till the last five minutes and think "oh, we have to throw that in somewhere!" dumb.

    I get that it's used more frequently now, most of the time I think "well, you could have used a different word there", but to each his own. Not in my house though.
    I can honestly say I've never dropped the f-bomb. Shocker, right? ;)
    When things get really bad I've been known to say Hell. Yep really. I know. Pick yourself up off the floor and stop laughing!

    That does look like an awesome run though.....

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  11. I do have to add that when people say just "F!" (like just the name of the letter), it totally makes me laugh. :P

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  12. In daily life, I cuss like a trucker.

    On the blog, near "little ears," in conference presentations, and when I'm teaching, I keep it PG (occasionally PG-13 might slip in)...

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  13. I love the f word. My favorite lately is "f-face". Mind you I don't say this in front of the kids of course...but out on my runs if my headphone falls out...there is a steep hill and I can barely breathe...I am telling you the f word is the best word and I feel so good saying it sometimes!

    And what a run! That's some climbing!! GREAT job!

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  14. It always amazed me that as soon as I became a mother, I was able to censor myself as needed around the kids, while still enjoying much more colorful language away from them. It's a skill, I tell you!

    I'm a fan of dropping an f-bomb when the occaision calls for it. I find that TOO much is annoying, but then again, too much of anything is annoying...

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  16. I don't swear a whole lot, especially around the kids. When I do it really catches them off-guard:)

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  17. fuck is an adjective. simple as that :) I don't use it on the blog b/c I know how people are but you can bet I'd say the f-word if the situation calls for it. I was raised in a house with TONS of swearing and I've been swearing non=stop since I was in grade 4. Trucker mouth yes, parent yes, has Logan heard me say "fuck" yes.....I try to curb it for his sake but I think sometimes it's needed as a form of expression. To be completely honest I think people that have an issue /w grammar, vocabulary or swearing have too much time on their hands.

    My motto is, if you have time to critique someone else you have time to look in the mirror and focus on your own faults ;)

    PS: I don't mind it at all. I don't think anyone else should either. Obviously there's a line, but overall I think you could easily leave the situation if it really bothered you.

    GREAT POST

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  18. I am not much of a f-bomb dropper ... so when it does come out of my mouth, you know I mean it!

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  19. I don't mind the F-word, because honestly used correctly (!) they could be funny! BUT, a big but there... definitely a no-no in front of my kid. And I never said the F-word to my spouse--EVER. Although in light of the recent events in my life, the F-word is now almost always present following the word 'A-hole' whenever I conjured his image in mind. lol

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  20. Ahh .. this is a great topic! I do use the F-Word. I'll say that up front. But it's almost one of those words that you have to use responsibly. I try very hard not to use it in front of my kids. And it bothers me to no end when other people swear in front of my kids, my husband included. And I have to agree with someone else's comment, I think it does demonstrate a lack of vocabulary. So yeah .. I'm guilty of using it too much and I am really trying to cut back. But at the same time we all have filters, I would never "accidentally" drop it in the middle of an important meeting at work. So why do I "accidentally" say it in front of my kids sometimes. Clearly I need to try harder .. lol.

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  21. Fun topic! I'm sure my kids have heard me mumble it. If I've said it aloud in mixed kid company, it wasn't intentional. Never ever ever around my parents, although I often wish they were cool enough to use it.

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  22. I am a frequent F-bomb dropper. The thing is, it just happens. But, I have some inner filter doesn't allow me to do it in front of kids and the elderly. If only I could figure out how to harness that and apply it to everyday life, like when someone cuts me off!

    I will say this, I once accidentally dropped the F word in front of my project director, who was in her late 60s. Immediately I apologized, and she smiled and told me not to worry. She said the f-word is the most versatile adjective out there, and when it's a verb it's even better.

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  23. I hate the F-word, I really don't get it and I have never used it.
    But as long as people don't say it in front of my kids I don't mind what others do. I have a friend who says it all the time and it makes me smile cause it's just the way she is.

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  24. I lack the filter that most humans possess so it just sometimes blurts out of my mouth. Hate it when that happens at work or in church (kidding)!

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  25. WOW that run looks insane! I'm so impressed!!! On another note though I grew up without swearing of any kind being acceptable and so I do find use of any foul language offensive to a certain degree. I have never used such language myself and don't find it necessary but I don't think less of someone for using it unless it is excessive. I think a lot of our vocabulary is gained when we are young and if that is what we are around it becomes "normal". I am much more offended by the constant use of the name of God and the Lord in vain!

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  26. I've cleaned up my language a lot since the boys were born. I use "friggin'" or "frig" more often than not. As others have said, when I do drop the F-bomb you know I'm serious.

    That was some hilly run!

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  27. I love the F word. And I have never once used it in front of my children, other peoples' children, or my students. I think it can be overused, but for me it's just one of those words that is exactly what needs to be said sometimes. Or several hundred times, as occurred in the course of the private half ironman I did. It's typically (though not always by a long shot) said to myself.

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  28. I don't like to use it - thus I don't... much. So when I do, it's quite effective, but also harsh. I always regret it once it's out. However, I do enjoy the word freakin' as more of a playful word - the way many people use the F-bomb.

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  29. I'm not a fan of the f word. BUT I love how you said it, "they're just working with a different vocabulary than I." That's what it all boils down to isn't it? Choices. To each his own. Live and let live.

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  30. I definitely use it much less depending on what is going on and who I have been with. My running bestie and I have been known to let it fly on early morning runs often!! Sometimes it is the best word/adj I can find! My Mom would not approve!

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  31. I used to never use it and recently I have started. ????
    What is that about?

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  32. Funny-when I read the title, I thought you were referring to fartleks! :)

    My favorite- "F-me running" a friend of mine who is super prim and proper but will bust that out every now and then. It totally busts me up! As for in front of the kids, I think it's up to their parents to expose them to that word....not me.

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  33. Holy eff! That's some f-ing steep elevation! I find that the f-word can make the exact emphasis that no other word can, but you I try not to use it much--def not around young-ins or people I just met!

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  34. 4 letters - so much controversy.

    I'm shockingly good at keeping it on the QT around Ian and other kids and also in situation where I don't know the other people I'm with that well.

    But if you are over 18 and a friend, it's on. I like it on it's own and also mixed with other controversial or semi-controversial words that when joined together make new ones. Some are original, some not so much. Like fucktard, for example.

    I look at it this way - I know who I am and I dare say I'm happy with that. I know I'm pretty smart and I know that I would do anything to help others. So if people want to judge me based on what comes out of my mouth, they'd be wrong.

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  35. PS not a huge fan of the term "fuck you". There are better ways to express this sentiment to another, with "eat shit" being one of the better ones. That said, I do enjoy the self deprecating term "Fuck Me" quite a bit.

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  36. I'm an fbomb dropper...I blame my run friends as we tend to bust it out during our crosstraining sessions and track workout. I'm with Patrick...not an FU kind of thing but Fme.
    Or HolyF..that is a big term in our house...

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  37. What's the big f*ckin deal?? It's just a f*ckin word. It's one of the only words in the English language that can be used as a f*ckn verb, a f*ckn adverb, a f*ckn adjective, a f*ckn command, a f*ckn interjection, a f*ckn noun, and can be f*ckin applied as an infix (e.g., "Fanf*ckintastic!"; "Woopidyf*ckindoo!") It's f*ckn awesome and I often use it to emphasis the f*ckn importance of what I'm f*ckn saying. (except around my kids... mostly to my husband) Was that too f*ckin much?? ;^)

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  38. I use it all the f*cking time: around my kids, around my co-workers, around my parents. I find that it punctuates sentences rather nicely. And when I'm doing a really hardcore workout, I not only say it frequently, it's usually what gets me over the f*cking hump. I won't judge people who don't like the word, but I find I get judged all the time for using it. Know what? I don't f*cking care...I didn't use the real 'f' word here out of respect for you 'cause I love you :)

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  39. I don't mind it. I say it but I've never typed it. No reason, just doesn't feel right when I do. But I'm never opposed to reading it from others. That elevation deserved a lot of curses in my opinion!

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  41. Um, yeah well...I'm guessing you already know where I stand. Not proud of it, but it just tends to slip out every few minutes or so. Funny thing, my kids don't swear. No f*cking clue why! :)

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  42. Hi, just found you from lovelinks#29 (where I also linked). I gotta say I can;t for the life of me imagine getting all worked up over foul language. Shakespeare himself certainly had quite a salty quill. I used to curse freely and often - working in the film and television world, with a lot of men can do that to you. Plus I was raised in a bohemian liberal household. That said, my parents took pains to not curse around me much until I was a teenager and finding my own foul mouth. And I have carried that through with my kids.

    Since I was around them pretty much ALL the time for their first 4 years of their lives (they're twins) that meant I stopped swearing completely, a feat I would not have thought possible. When I did start having "adult only" time again as the kids went to school full time, I found I had become so unused to swearing, I was shy about it.

    Now of course, that the boys are 9 it's creeping back into my vocabulary to the point I have to be careful to check myself around the kids again.

    OK, long winded answer. Short version: Nothing fucking wrong with swearing, but not in front of young kids.

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  43. Haha, I wrote a Naughty Words post a week or 2 ago talking about how uncomfortable it is for me to hear children swear. I don't say the f-word much. I want it to have oomph when I do.

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  44. ahhh the F word
    I am not American as you know
    I am not a huge fan of that word
    I dont use it myself because well it means nothing to me
    if I cuss it will be in French
    I dont care people using the F word in certain situations I dont like the F you though. I do use freaking in English. The over use of the F word in movies or in a stand up comic act will make me use MUTE
    I still like you no matter what my friend!

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