By: Zach Geldert
There is no other word in the English language that is more versatile than the word fuck. It can be a noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, and an adverb. However, that is not even the best part of the word. Fuck derives its perfection from the fact that it is so ambiguous that it makes the perfect curse word. It has transcended its definition and has shifted into an obscure and ambiguous expression. To exemplify my statement, I would like to invite all Cadre readers to take part in the following experiment. First step is to find a friend. Second, buy a hammer. Third, get the aforementioned friend to drop the hammer on your unprotected toe. Fourth, spew as many curse words as needed to make the pain go away. Finally, assess all of the curse words and their meanings.
Once one assesses the meanings of each word said it will become evident that virtually every curse word is a curse word because it is degrading to someone, whether it is a race, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. However, there is one word that can be excluded; the word fuck. Fuck does not discriminate against anyone. Sure it is a colloquial term for sex, but in today’s sexualized society with mostly naked women selling beer and chiselled men promoting perfume, sex is not a big deal. Moreover, when one uses fuck to refer to sex it is not degrading any gender, it is simply a word that is less sterile than sex or intercourse. No one wants to say that they “engaged in intercourse last nightâ€. Moreover, to say “fuck it, I fucked up that exam†does not mean that you had sex with the exam. Rather, you are expressing your displeasure with your performance on the exam. Fuck is simply an easy ‘filler’ verb used to casually explain your displeasure instead of saying “I wish I could forget about that exam; I really did not perform wellâ€. Fuck saying that. It’s too long and too proper for the raw emotion that you wish to express.
While I am arguing for the augmented use of fuck there is a fine line that must be drawn. Fuck may be ambiguous and not hurtful in and of itself but that does not mean you should tell your professor to “fuck off†next time they assign three chapters to read for the next class nor should you tell your mother you’re “fucking hungry†the moment you walk in the door. Fuck still creates great tension every time it is uttered and is an abrasive and offensive word. Therefore, you should save fuck for when it is really needed, like when your friend drops a hammer on your toe. After all, the word is not hurting anyone nor is it continuing the subversive discrimination of sexist and racist slurs that remain far too prevalent in our society. So save those ‘fucks’ for when you are beyond formal expression of emotion so that the word continues to have the “smack you right in the fucking face†impact that has led to its notoriety as a curse word.
Hopefully this article will stir up some fucking debate about this fucking topic. Do you fucking hate the word fuck? Do you fucking love it? Â Let the Cadre know what you fucking think by emailing us at cadreeditor@gmail.com.