Spring Break
Young people can find better way to communicate
Sarah Paeth
Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: Forum
F---.
There you have it - the most repulsive and vulgar four lettered word in the history of the English language. While it was was once reserved as an exclamation of extreme fury, the f-word now acts as merely an overused and under-thought-out adjective.
Take a walk through the Oregon State University campus and you'll notice it, too - the F-bomb is dropped so often that our campus feels like the Hiroshima of language.
Indeed, on my way to class the other morning, I heard the f-word a total of 16 times. Sometimes the word was used as a verb, as in, "My professor really f---ed up my midterm score." Other occasions it was used as an adverb, as in, "I'm so f---ing tired." The word isn't used as an expletive in a statement of rage but rather as a casual description of everyday occurrences.
We're forking out 15 grand a year to attain a higher education and what do we have to show for it? As college students, we should be capable of expressing ourselves in a more accurate and creative manner and not randomly inserting the f-word into every other sentence.
I don't claim to have virgin ears, but such a derogatory and offensive declaration should only be used in a specific time and place. Walking to class is neither the time nor place to be throwing around the f-bomb.
Though its history is unclear, the ancient f-word has been linked to violence, fraud and sex for more than 500 years. According to Time magazine, the f-word may have stemmed from the Latin word "futerre," meaning "to copulate." Another hypothesis dates back to ancient England when it was illegal to have a baby without the consent of the King. If a couple was granted permission to have a child, a placard bearing the statement "Fortification Under Consent of King" would be hung above the door while the couple had sex.
Today the f-word is everywhere - in our favorite TV shows, in our music and on the Internet. Popular websites like www.FMylife.com feature lists of unfortunate occurrences - like not getting the dream job or being wedged between two fat people on a plane - followed by the expression "fml." Some of these lousy happenings got a chuckle out of me, but I think that they're more worthy of an "oh, crap," rather than a "F--- my life."
There you have it - the most repulsive and vulgar four lettered word in the history of the English language. While it was was once reserved as an exclamation of extreme fury, the f-word now acts as merely an overused and under-thought-out adjective.
Take a walk through the Oregon State University campus and you'll notice it, too - the F-bomb is dropped so often that our campus feels like the Hiroshima of language.
Indeed, on my way to class the other morning, I heard the f-word a total of 16 times. Sometimes the word was used as a verb, as in, "My professor really f---ed up my midterm score." Other occasions it was used as an adverb, as in, "I'm so f---ing tired." The word isn't used as an expletive in a statement of rage but rather as a casual description of everyday occurrences.
We're forking out 15 grand a year to attain a higher education and what do we have to show for it? As college students, we should be capable of expressing ourselves in a more accurate and creative manner and not randomly inserting the f-word into every other sentence.
I don't claim to have virgin ears, but such a derogatory and offensive declaration should only be used in a specific time and place. Walking to class is neither the time nor place to be throwing around the f-bomb.
Though its history is unclear, the ancient f-word has been linked to violence, fraud and sex for more than 500 years. According to Time magazine, the f-word may have stemmed from the Latin word "futerre," meaning "to copulate." Another hypothesis dates back to ancient England when it was illegal to have a baby without the consent of the King. If a couple was granted permission to have a child, a placard bearing the statement "Fortification Under Consent of King" would be hung above the door while the couple had sex.
Today the f-word is everywhere - in our favorite TV shows, in our music and on the Internet. Popular websites like www.FMylife.com feature lists of unfortunate occurrences - like not getting the dream job or being wedged between two fat people on a plane - followed by the expression "fml." Some of these lousy happenings got a chuckle out of me, but I think that they're more worthy of an "oh, crap," rather than a "F--- my life."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.