I'm sitting here listening to NPR's latest focus on words we are not supposed to focus on -- you know the list. The F-word, the B-word, the N-word. In truth, I'm not listening anymore. I've exercised the R-word, which would be my Right, I suppose, to change the station, and this jazz is infinitely more suited to the bookstore environment anyway.
For some reason, the topic always makes me think of Cameron - probably in first or second grade at the time - having just learned that the word fart described that particular event that has kept humanity in stitches since the days of the Caveman Comic, that Neanderthal nucklehead who slipped a hairy hand into his armpit and started flapping his arm. Humans have been laughing ever since.
I'm not really sure why.
Cameron, of course, realizing that it was one of those words, immediately began running around the living room in circles, saying it. It wasn't in context, or the punchline to a joke. Just the word. He sensed the power of the fart and immediately put it to good use.
NPR works along those same lines. On an almost daily basis, we are treated to clips of movies, tv programs, and music recordings, in which the majority of the presentation has to be censored by the busy man at the BLEEP button. Terry Gross (her real name) and her interview program FRESH AIR might be the chief purveyors, but the tendancy to air these Juicy Bits is rampant in the media, and I suppose to be fair, the reviewers and interviewers are only presenting what is appearing UNbleeped elsewhere.
Terry Gross (excited voice): Let's hear a clip from the show.
Clip: You BLEEP son of a BLEEP! Can't you BLEEP see that I'm trying to BLEEP here? Are you BLEEP nuts? BLEEP you! I'll BLEEP say whatever I BLEEP want, you dumb BLEEP!
Terry Gross (impressed): Wow. I could really sense the emotion there.
Radio Censor: Yeah. BLEEP great, wasn't it? My best BLEEP ever. And the actor wasn't bad either.
Just like children acquiring and trying the vocabulary of the world, there is a human need to push the envelope, cross the line in the sand, pass in the no-passing zone. We've got to speed, man. I'll park there if I want. Who says I can't say it? Nyah, nyah, nyah. There. I said it. Now what are you gonna do?
They are, after all, just words. (George Carlin pointed that out years ago.) What is the fascination with some examples over others? How come preachers can say fornicate but not BLEEP? (Wow. I could really sense the emotion there.) Why only certain bodily functions? I mean, ear wax is pretty gross, too. You wouldn't want a little pill of it there on the plate next to your french fries. Don't tell me you waxing would, you waxing liar. Wax you!
The E-word is Enough. Couldn't our time be better spent on some other topic? No?
I didn't waxing think so.
2 comments:
I encounter this at work too......Well we talked about it before how the "Youth of America" has no manners at all anymore. Even 10 years ago you couldn't go around cussing loudly and farting. I still have a governor on my language and I try not to pass gas in public, I guess I just care too much. Soon we will be desensitized to profanity much like we've become desensitized to violence. Then we'll all be able to wax each other over and over until we fart without remorse! Yay! The FCC is hilarious!
I am reminded of the George Carlin "album" when it first came out when I was in high school (or at least the first time I heard it)and my best friend Melanie had it and we just couldn't believe that he could say all those things that he was saying before a live audience and put it on a record for everyone else to hear! We laughed so hard! But at the time, even though some of it seemed crude, we thought it was a real "break-through" in expression. In this day and time I think the freedom of expression has gotten a little out of hand - how many times do you have to repeat a BLEEP word to get your point across? And Dustin, I think it is awesome that you care "too much". Somebody must have raised you right! Love you guys! Linda
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