I realize that my age has something to do with the way I feel about many issues.  I suspect it is about maturity and tolerance or intolerance.  One such issue is the proliferation of profanity in the youth of our culture.  It is an affront to civil society and a bane to those of us who like to have peaceful spaces in our lives. And it has become almost as “normal” as its ubiquitous presence.  

So why do they do it?  I have thought about this for a long time.  Once reserved for tough guys and those thought to be crude and uncivilized, children did not speak in this manner. And then, it became a cool thing for adolescents to do for its shock value.  Now, it has become a way of speaking and thinking.

Why isn’t this seen as a lack of vocabulary?  Why is it okay to say nasty things loudly and in public?  I have far more questions than answers.  Vulgarity is not attractive, as much as there may be evidence to the fact that young people may think so.  I very much doubt that it will get them a great relationship or a decent job.

Something that really gets to me, is that there are many young people whom I observe that think it’s okay to say these words because “they don’t mean anything.”  This is not entirely true. Even if these words may not mean anything to a particular circle of “friends,” they do in the world at large.  And people are listening.  People that can make or break your future will make associations between your language and your abilities.  Profanity is not a  smart way to behave.

I am constantly exposed to young people who act in this manner, and it makes me very sad.  I see so much potential being wasted by the constant, negative, extraneous babble.  These “bad” words and blase attitude can crowd out natural curiosity and the desire to gain knowledge.

If one looks at the origins of these words and the negative meanings each of them have, then maybe it would cause some serious thinking.  The words that have expressed insult and degradation to people, are now being used to do those very same things to the ones using them upon themselves.

There needs to be a dialogue with those who think that this behavior doesn’t matter.  The conversation needs to happen, and soon.