Traverse City Record-Eagle

Jodee Taylor

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March 28, 2010

Jodee Taylor: The rules of swearing

The vice president dropped the F-bomb.

Big deal.

Well, it was kind of a big deal, because his microphone was on and the place was packed and everyone heard it.

Other than that, it was totally appropriate usage.

And it's almost as if he's carrying on a vice presidential tradition. Dick Cheney used the F-bomb on the Senate floor in 2004 when he told Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) to f--- himself.

Vice President Joe Biden's occasion was last week's signing of the health care bill. Biden turned to President Barack Obama right before Obama signed the bill and Biden said, "Mr. President, this is a big f---ing deal."

Yep, it was. He summed it up just right, if you ask me.

That word with the dashes in it? It's one of my favorites. What Biden said even has its own acronym: BFD; Cheney's a simple FU.

There were shirts for sale with Biden's quote on them within hours of the bill being signed.

The key to good cursing, especially when dropping the F-bomb, is judicious use (and making sure you're not being broadcast). If you don't use swear words very often, they pack more punch when you do. People's eyes open a bit wider, their mouths drop open a little, they stop talking, they pay attention.

I knew when I had a baby I was going to have to clean up my language. I did OK, but I was far from perfect. It's hard to remember the little pitcher with big ears when you drop a log on your toe.

So I backpedaled a little and made up a new rule for my own kid: When you're 18 you can swear. By that time, you'll have a better grasp on human nature and you'll know if someone is going to be offended by your language, I told him.

The rule served two purposes. It made sure he wasn't throwing swear words out in front of Aunt Helen (who probably wouldn't have been offended but may have found it impolite), and it made sure swearing didn't become a habit.

I've been around teenagers who can't make it through a single sentence without using profanity. I find it a bit lazy, to tell the truth. "Think of a new adjective!" I tell them.

My own kid, now 17, has been overseas for almost a year and I see from his Facebook posts that he's using a few more swear words than he would be under my overbearing eye. At least I think they're swear words; he speaks a new language now.

Thankfully, he's using them judiciously -- and appropriately.

Swearing should be treated as an art. The first rule, which Biden broke, is know your audience. I can drop the F-bomb with my best friend (who matches me bomb-for-bomb) but I won't say it in front of my sister. However, I can say "damn" (and write it in the paper) in front of just about anyone, though I'll still change it to "darn" for teachers and toddlers.

The second rule, which Biden followed, is use it wisely. Yep, it was a BFD. He summed it up just right.

Jodee Taylor can be reached at jtaylor@record-eagle.com.

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