Do you want your mouth washed out with soap?

Thankfully, I never heard this question when I was growing up. I knew better than to curse, let alone curse in front of my parents. In fact, I cannot remember ever cursing before I was grown. And when I say cursing, I mean using profanity. It seems of minor importance to make the distinction between cursing and profanity, but I wanted to, in case anyone thinks I am talking about voodoo, witchcraft or the like. Shamefully, since being grown, I have used profanity which may not make every sailor blush, but could possibly turn a few of their complexions a few shades paler or increase the blood flow to their weathered faces. Even worse, I have cursed someone, and at the time, I meant every word of that curse. Put your eyebrows back down, I wasn't practicing any dark magic, and I didn't curse them to hell. I simply cursed them to a lifetime of thinking of me! Maybe not the most pleasant thing in the world, but certainly not a death sentence.

I was reading a few of my favorite bloggers last night, and I noticed that a few of my favorites turn up the word heat fairly frequently. Their use of the profane or more "colorful" language never causes my eyebrows to raise. In fact, I can't seem to bring myself to restrain myself from voicing profanity when I'm mad, or when I stub my toe. Which brings me to what slightly self intrigues me. While I can't seem to restrain my use of verbal profanity, I find it practically impossible to allow my fingers to type a dirty word here or anywhere else in writing. And, I have to say I am somewhat perplexed by my self censure. Because, I have two opinions about using profanity. The first opinion is one which my surrounding society has invoked into my thought process -- said opinion being that profanity is lazy on the intellect and its use is in bad taste. Which of course isn't so, it's just someone's way of getting others not to cuss. My other opinion which is self grown, tells my intellect that words are only innocent letters made into words which are in turn innocent as they stand, and that it is only the intent behind the word which has any weight to it. If I say damn or hell or any other word which is considered profane in my culture, yet I say it without malice, I consider doing so a small offense (or no offense at all if the company does not mind it). However, if I or someone else uses more everyday and non culpable words to maliciously malign someone, then I deem the offense as hateful or unjust. My latter opinion usually overrules my former. So, I'm uncertain why I self govern my use of profanity in the written word. Just know that if I ever do, then I must be really mad or someone has hacked my space!


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