What's the obsession with the F word?

[Schmoopie]

This topic really applies to books and movies, but since there isn't a book section, I'll just post it here. Sorry if I caught you guys off guard with the subject heading!

I don't get why in most movies today the filmmakers feel that they have to include the "F" word at least once. I'm in the middle of watching the movie "The Holiday" staring Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law and Kate Winslet. I wasn't that interested in seeing it before since I'm not a fan of Cameron Diaz or Jack Black, but I was amazed at how good this movie is. I was even more amazed at the lack of swear words... until Jack Black said the dreaded "F" word.

Even books. I read a lot of contemporary romances and it's getting VERY hard to find a book that isn't laced in F words or includes it at least once. I have this dream of being a writer and there is no way that I could include that word in a book. It's just not necessary. The book I'm reading now includes it at least ten times so far.

I'm not a goody-two shoes. Believe me, I've said the word many times, I'm ashamed to say. And I hate to sound like a hypocrite but I've even laughed when I've heard it in movies. I know that's terrible, isn't it?

My dad took me to see "Flashdance" and I asked him why it was rated "R". He told me because it had the "F" word in it. I remember cringing, waiting for the word to come. Other than that, I love that movie!

The sad thing is that I never, ever uttered that word until I saw "The Breakfast Club". That movie is filled with that word. It's a classic movie and I still find it funny, but mostly annoying.

When I watch the classic John Hughes movies now, I am amazed at how many swear words they contained. Has anyone noticed this? I'm sure everyone remembers the classic "Sixteen Candles" line Molly Ringwald says... "They _____ forgot my birthday." For some reason back when I was in high school, that word didn't bother me, or else I never noticed it. The line is pretty funny but I've also seen that movie countless times on cable where they edit out the swearing and it's just as funny. Go figure.

If I'm reading a book or watching a movie, as soon as I hear or read that word, it kind of ruins it for me a little.

It's very irritating. Maybe I am a goody two shoes, but there are many scenes in books and movies that would be just as funny or more "effective" with a milder word.

Even in "A Christmas Story" they don't actually say the "F dash, dash dash word" because everyone knows what they are referring to. That's what makes that line so classic! "Ohhhhhh fuuuuuudddddggge!"

[ponytail]

I hate that word. I guess the film makers think everyone says it and it's part of our everyday language. Instead I say 'freakin'.

[Chocoholic]

I don't like that word either, or profanity in general. What really saddens me is when I hear children use those words in school. If I ever spoke like that, my mother would have slapped me so hard...

I won't even watch movies anymore. I love reading chick-lit and I agree it's hard to find authors who refrain from using profanity, unless you look in the Christian fiction section.

If I had to choose though, I'd pick the F-word over violence. That's something else we have way too much of in entertainment media. I don't find violence and murder entertainment at all and I refuse to watch it, listen to it, or read it.

[70s show watcher]

maybe it isint so much the word itself maybe its the fact that in alot of movies the word and others like it just seem tossed off and put into the scripts for no good reason

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I don't like that word either, or profanity in general. What really saddens me is when I hear children use those words in school. If I ever spoke like that, my mother would have slapped me so hard...

I won't even watch movies anymore. I love reading chick-lit and I agree it's hard to find authors who refrain from using profanity, unless you look in the Christian fiction section.

If I had to choose though, I'd pick the F-word over violence. That's something else we have way too much of in entertainment media. I don't find violence and murder entertainment at all and I refuse to watch it, listen to it, or read it.

I wish Christian lit had been a bigger market when I was in middle/high school. I read too much Danielle Steel and the like. I'm almost 30 and I still don't think I'm old enough to read/watch some of that stuff.

[MickeyMac]

I can appreciate that people dont like the F word. I got into a thing on another forum when I said that word, and everyone came at me with both barrels. I couldnt believe how shocked they were. They acted as though they never heard anyone say the F word before. Now I am not some major foul mouth person, but I aint no prude either. I get the impression those people have never seen an R Rated movie before.

[beautifuldreamer]

Hmmm... I don't really know what the obsession is with that... but you're right, it certainly is everywhere though. I actually take no offense to it... it doesn't affect me at all. I have used the word a few times, but it just sounds weird to people. They actually tell me I don't look like the type of person to swear.

[steevo]

I have to make a confession that sometimes (every once in a rare while) I do catch myself saying that particular word. I immediately feel dirty afterwards. I don't think any of us likes saying that word (or others for that matter) but I suppose when really frustrated, it may slip every now and then.

[JT]

It's a word. It's four letters strung together. Its synonyms are perfectly acceptable, and for the life of me, I'll never understand why people get so upset over it. Oh wait, yeah I remember now, because "it's just bad, that's why!!"

[Janice]

I don't mind the F word in movies where I expect it, such as mob and other violent movies. A good thing is that today, viewers are told WHY it's given a rating. For sex, violence, language, etc. I don't like to be blindsided by the word in a movie. Watching a nice romantic comedy and then someone drops the F bomb out of midair. I think they do it to get it an R rating.

As for swearing in general. I guess there's a time and a place for everything. I swear but only when I'm very angry or for occasional humor purposes. I can't stand potty mouths, and I stand clear of them. Sometimes I'll see a post where someone just strings expletives together, and I immediately lose respect for that person. It happened recently. I thought a person had class. In one disgusting post, they turned into white trash, in my eyes.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Originally Posted by JT

It's a word. It's four letters strung together. Its synonyms are perfectly acceptable, and for the life of me, I'll never understand why people get so upset over it. Oh wait, yeah I remember now, because "it's just bad, that's why!!"

lol that's how I've always felt. For the love of God, it's a word. It only has meaning because people give it meaning. I guess I'm pretty insensitive to swear words because I grew up with a father who has a mouth like a sailor. Just words to me. In fact if anything, I get angry when swear words get bleeped out on TV.

Of course, this is the only time when I considered dubbing acceptable...because it made it even more hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4t6zNZ-b0A

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Originally Posted by Janice

I don't mind the F word in movies where I expect it, such as mob and other violent movies. A good thing is that today, viewers are told WHY it's given a rating. For sex, violence, language, etc. I don't like to be blindsided by the word in a movie. Watching a nice romantic comedy and then someone drops the F bomb out of midair. I think they do it to get it an R rating.

As for swearing in general. I guess there's a time and a place for everything. I swear but only when I'm very angry or for occasional humor purposes. I can't stand potty mouths, and I stand clear of them. Sometimes I'll see a post where someone just strings expletives together, and I immediately lose respect for that person. It happened recently. I thought a person had class. In one disgusting post, they turned into white trash, in my eyes.

You caught me. I'm a heaping pile of white trash. I'm gonna go have a family bar bee cue and walk around barefoots while smokin in front of mahs chidrins now.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

You caught me. I'm a heaping pile of white trash. I'm gonna go have a family bar bee cue and walk around barefoots while smokin in front of mahs chidrins now.

I'm insulted!

[Janice]

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

You caught me. I'm a heaping pile of white trash. I'm gonna go have a family bar bee cue and walk around barefoots while smokin in front of mahs chidrins now.

LOL. Good one. I've never noticed you swearing a lot on the boards. Yes, words have meaning, all words. If you go for a job interview, would you use the F word? Would you swear like a sailor in front of teachers, your friend's parents, a boyfriend's parents, etc? Profanities have meaning, and usually pretty ugly ones. Excessive swearing is not socially acceptable, even if it is acceptable within your world. It's just a simple truth.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by Janice

I don't mind the F word in movies where I expect it, such as mob and other violent movies. A good thing is that today, viewers are told WHY it's given a rating. For sex, violence, language, etc. I don't like to be blindsided by the word in a movie. Watching a nice romantic comedy and then someone drops the F bomb out of midair. I think they do it to get it an R rating.

As for swearing in general. I guess there's a time and a place for everything. I swear but only when I'm very angry or for occasional humor purposes. I can't stand potty mouths, and I stand clear of them. Sometimes I'll see a post where someone just strings expletives together, and I immediately lose respect for that person. It happened recently. I thought a person had class. In one disgusting post, they turned into white trash, in my eyes.

That is nicely put, Janice. In some movies, you need to have swearing to make the characters more realistic. Two examples would be Tony Montana in Scarface and Tommy DiVito in Goodfellas. Their use of language was a part of who they were.