Musings in Search of a Muse

In several previous posts you've read my rants about the F-word and its inappropriate over-use in today's society. Other than that nitpick, I rather of like the word. The power it has to hurt, stimulate, offend, and express is tremendous.

Very, very seldom is it a word I use, however. There aren't many situations where I find it useful. Without it I can still get my point across, though perhaps with less vigor than the listener might require, but quite a few more talented individuals have managed to find impressive ways to employ the word than I could.

The master, of course, is comedian and curmudgeon George Carlin. His infamous 1973 monologue "Filthy Words" is still the penultimate treatise on the use of the F-word in everyday life. The work was so good that when it was aired on WBAI-FM radio it led to a landmark court ruling via FCC v. Pacifica Foundation 438 U.S. 726 (1978). If it hadn't had been riddled with truth it probably wouldn't have made a ripple in the legal pond.

More than a few years ago, one of my brothers sent a .WAV file to me that does much the same thing as Carlin's routine, but with a twist. Against a background track of Vivaldi's "Spring," a deeply baritone voice gives a brief etymology then executes an extensive grammar lesson with examples. Then it winds up (in part) with "Use this unique, flexible word more often in your daily speech. It will identify the quality of your character immediately." Absolutely hilarious and it gets the point across that the word can be over used ... or properly used. I guess that depends on your point of view.

Then comes Eric Idle and his date in court. Apparently he was fined for using the F-word on a radio broadcast. His retaliation for the $5000 fine? Why it's "The FFC Song" and its 14 sometimes-cleverly placed uses of the word. This witty ditty from 2004 is a left-wing slap at some deserving right-wing targets and some not-so-deserving ones, too. This Brit ex-pat is now a Californian, so go figure. But it effectively reminds us that there are worse evils -- such as hypocrisy -- on this planet.

Still, it is a "gateway" word and its use could lead to more harsh, addictive language so best to avoid it, I'd say. Oh! Wait! It is at the top of the heap! The 'crack' of cuss words. Okay, go ahead and use it, but do so with the proper safety precautions and consideration for others.