The "F" bomb. See, you don't HAVE to say it for the meaning to be understood. My relationship with the "F" bomb started very early in my life. I do not exactly know where I heard it first. I know it wasn't my parents, but growing up in a working class neighborhood it might have been someone at school that introduced me to this very powerful, vulgar slang word. I found out how powerful and offensive it was to my mom one day after school. My brother, a friend named Johnny ( I can't remember his last name but we called him "Appleseed") and I were walking home from Hough Elementary school. It was a sunny day and we were full of energy so we decided to try out every cuss word in our vocabulary. Taking turns. Out loud. I believe we had all of the classic "Carlin" seven covered as we walked down 28th Street toward our house on 29th and "H" Street. In fact I think Carlin might have been hiding in the bushes somewhere taking notes on us his routine was so similar. Anyway we made the left turn north on "H" toward our house which had a raised concrete retaining wall. Little did we know that on this bright sunny day our mom decided to sun herself in the side yard. The south facing side yard. Anticipating the return from school of her four darling children. (Steve and I had ditched our sisters, which is a whole other story.) Our trio approached the house from the south as our concert of cuss words reached an uncanny crescendo. We were big enough to crawl over the wall and into the front yard and head to the back door where we usually entered the house. But to our surprise we were met by the very dour frown of our mother. Johnny saw the developing situation and ran home. In these days the corporal punishment was usually doled out by our father, but mom brought out the pain with a spanking on both of us that rivaled his on his best day. Satisfied that she had made her point I don't recall my father learning of the situation.
In junior high I remember a friend commenting to me saying "Dave, you never cuss". Well I guess that was an awakening for me and took the time to learn how to sprinkle the colorful language around the locker room and bus stop. But I would never ever consider using it in front of an adult, writing it down on something I was handing in and certainly never said it in front of a teacher. I think I was a senior in high school when I said "Son of a bitch" in a conversation with my mom and while not approving she did not protest the use of the phrase because she knew it was appropriate.
Yet for all it's shock value and punch the current generation is rendering foul language especially the "F" bomb in all of it's useful forms impotent. It is written in songs, blogs, Facebook posts and slathered through out everyday speech. I submit to you that the English language has no other word in any form with the power and potential of this word used sparingly and in the correct context.
Sorry for being so preachy but to the current generation I beseech you: Come up with another word that has the power of the "F" bomb or cease and desist your wanton disrespect for this powerful useful word.
