I’ve always had a complicated relationship with “fuck.” The word, that is. Well, maybe the act too. But mainly the word.
I’m 81 and living in a world where this word, which used to be a verb that described a pleasurable act, is now the Swiss Army Knife of words. As a word nerd who values the precise use of the English language, I believe the correct word to describe the usage of this word in today’s culture is ubiquitous.
Frankly, I still react like an 81-year-old man at the ubiquitous use of this word in our daily conversation. I’m shocked at the ubiquity of this word in everyday conversation. (Get ready for an old-man rant)
When I was a kid (about 70 years ago) I never would have used that word in public and certainly not around my parents. And, never around girls. That word was reserved for the guys, and it was used in a grammatically correct way. It described what we had done, or wish we had done, or wanted others to think we had done.
It was the most vulgar, obscene word imaginable. Now, it’s everywhere.
I wouldn’t object so much if it was still a verb. We all like to f*%#k even if we can’t do it right. (I still can’t use the word freely.)
But, it’s not a verb anymore. It’s a noun, adjective, preposition, adverb, conjunction, or verb, (oh, it’s still a verb . . . thank goodness.)
There was actually a book on the NY Times Best Seller list written for parents with little kids entitled, “Go the Fuck to Sleep.” Now, WTF does that mean? I understand “Go to sleep.” How do you “Go the fuck to sleep?” Try to figure that one out with the classical use of the English language.
Then there’s, “That’s really fucked up.” What does that mean? Top or bottom? How the fuck should I know?
I had a good friend who told me, “You’re fucking 80 years old!” Does that mean I’m fucking 80 years or 80 years is fucking me?
There are people who tell me that they get emotional satisfaction out of using that word. If it makes you feel good, go ahead and fucking do it.
But the original practice of the word usually made you feel good. Why did we have to dilute it to make it mean everything . . . and nothing?
That’s just fucked up.
Oh, fuck, Pat. While the f word is a word I only use outside of work and in the right fucking company, it is a fucking versatile word. While I was growing up, my dad always told me only ignorant, uneducated people used profanity, so I have, for most of my life, been conservative and careful with the use of profanity. Today's culture has changed considerably since we were young, polite, and careful around ladies, children, and genteel company. But, fuck...it's a universal word. Kind of like "chingao" in Spanish. It can mean a lot of different things. It's a fucking cool word when you fucking think about it. I fucking could give two fucks about its use unless some miserable fuck fucking directs it at me in a mean way.
A Fucking Limerick:
Fuck is a versatile word
Use it and you'll fucking be heard
It's fuckin ridiculous
But it's fuckin ubiquitous
And may even be fuckin absurd
Fucking keep at it, you old fuck. You're fuckin fabulous!