The F word; over time the use of this word has been more and more common, and also has changed in meaning from generation to generation. While some take offense to it, others use it as an emphasizing word, and in no harm whatsoever. The F word has been around for years and many people young and old say it without meaning to be obscene and Elizabeth Austin’s essay “A Small Plea to Delete the Ubiquitous Expletive,” is trying to complete an impossible and unimportant task.
While some people think that using the F word is completely taboo and the last thing they would do in a public setting, others don’t even think about using it when they are. The F word has become so stuck in our vocabulary that it would be impossible to get it erased from civil discourse the way Austin wants. Many people say the F word without even realizing that they have said it. Most people who do this do not mean it in an offensive way just as an emphasis like “those shoes are f***ing awesome”. Instead of Austin’s having the F word used less, it seems that by today’s newest generation, it is being used more and more.
There are many reasons why the F word is being used more frequently by children in today’s society, but one is that it is being used more often in films viewed by our generation. Many films use the expletive to show anger or just to get some laughs. In the 2009 movie “Observe and Report,” the F word is used over 150 times throughout the course of the film. In one scene alone the F word was used 24 times in 28 seconds. Another movie that uses the F word frequently is the 2006 movie The Departed. According to Wikipedia, in this movie, the F word is used over 400 times to show emphasis on the emotions of the character. As newer movies come out, the F word is being used even more and more, making it harder for Austin to get the F word erased from civil discourse.
My mother, who has just turned 51, was appalled when I told her about Austin’s essay and what she was trying to...