The F-Bomb

     I used to use a lot of swear words in my everyday vocabulary.  I especially enjoyed using the f-word.  It fits in so well, especially after every other word.  You can always tell someone's level of frustration or drunkenness by the number of swear words they can fit between the non-swear words.
     I used to be a bartender, and there was a group of regulars who came in quite often.  You could always tell if they had been drinking before they came to your bar, and you could always tell their level of drunkenness by the frequency of the swear words.  The volume and concentration of swear words, especially the f-word, escalated the more they drank  Low concentrations didn't bother me so much, but it always seemed to become more and more offensive as the night progressed.  It wasn't until I had children and then started a day care center that I really got my own mouth under control.  My rule became: If you wouldn't want to hear it comin' out of your two-year-old's mouth, you shouldn't say it in front of them.  My husband is in construction and he used to say that swearing is just how we talk all day.  It was hard for him to tone it down when he got home, but he is getting better.  Now when I hear someone swear it shocks me.  When it comes out of my mouth, I feel guilty almost immediately.
     I saw in an article somewhere that there is much more swearing allowed in PG-13 movies than there used to be.  Not Cool.  "If swear words are the best you can come up with, then you aren't very smart."  My best friends mom used to say something like that when people were swearing around us, and probably to me when I had a potty mouth. Reading that there are more swear words in PG-13 movies reminds of a time when my older daughter said something about an event "dumbing it down" to attract more guests.  It is too bad that with our current level of technology and the opportunities for people to be educated better than ever before, that we are "dumbing it down" in order to profit.  One would think that with all the creativity out there, someone would be innovative enough to come up with something wholesome, or at least not offensive, that is also popular and profitable. What a waste.
     I do have a positive note to end on, however.  I said I'd keep it positive.  On a recent family trip, we were sitting at a table eating lunch and there was a group of 18-25 year olds sitting at the next table.  One of the girls said something very sassy.  I didn't hear it, but my husband must have because he shot a concerned look in that direction.  We continued eating and forgot about it.  When the young group got up from their table to leave, one of the younger looking boys came up to our table and apologized to us for his friend's mouth.  We were pleasantly shocked by this boy's manners. It is too bad that we had to be shocked by someone actually displaying proper manners, but I am glad that manners are still being taught and even learned.  I don't know if his friends knew what he did, but it sure made an impression on us.  I hope that he is one of those kids who is looked up to, what a good role model he could be.