Johnny-on-the-Spot …by John Foster …

Profanity is expanding.

It used to be something limited to locker rooms and and certain job site but you see and hear it more often.

Profanity can also be called cursing, cussing or swearing.

At one time, swearing was considered to be socially offensive, taboo or irreverent language and was used to express strong emotions, emphasis or break social norms.

Profanity comes from Latin “profanus” which means “outside the temple”.

The terms was often deemed as powerful, colorful and effective in expressing emotion.

But today, it’s heard and used so often that I think it’s use is diluted.

Broadcasters used to “bleep” or delete words that were profane.

Potentially offensive signs or posters would have profane words blacked out.

Often times, there are so many bleeps that the statements or opinions get lost in the shuffle.

There were times in some interviews with sports figures, for example, I would count the number of times the interviewee would say “You know” or “Like”.

If the use of profanity is meant to draw attention to a situation or issue, it’s being over-used.

The “shock” factor has been diluted..

There was a time swearing seemed to be okay if you were in the military, construction or “hanging with the guys”.

Now it’s everywhere to the point that it’s lost its effectiveness if that’s the proper description.

Some have argued that “swearers” have a lower IQ or a limited vocabulary but recent studies suggest the opposite.

Noted “boat rocker” George Carlin gained comedic mileage in 1972 with his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” routine.

I find it somewhat amusing that movies and TV series will rate shows based on the amount of swearing.

That will be referred to as “Mature” or “Adult” language.

Some might argue that excessive cussing is neither.

By the way, apparently in the 1800’s in America “cuss” emerged due to a mispronunciation of the word “curse” and it stuck.

Here’s one we can add to our “We’re Number One!” chant.

The United States ranks as the country that swears the most, followed by the United Kingdom and Australia.

It’s also interesting to note that with the use of profanity on the rise, you can wind up being charged with disorderly conduct or breach of peace by law enforcement personnel if what your say is “threatening or likely to provoke or incite immediate violence”.

This coincides with the tendency to just be louder than everyone else and if you can “spice” up your speech with a few “spicy expletives”, you’ll be more effective and possibly arrested.

When I was younger, we used to refer to this matter as “four letter words”.

That is a euphemism for words that are often considered profane or offensive.

My research indicates there are about 90 words considered inappropriate to be spoken in public.

Frankly, that’s more than I thought there’d be.

Now here’s my theory.

If everyone is swearing to be heard, eventually no one gets heard because it’s all the same.

Some somebody will find a new way to express opinions and thoughts without the use of vulgarity or swearing and it will catch on.

By the way, since we have “profanity” should we give equal time to “amateur-anity”?

Profanity will fade away just a bit but not for ever.

We’ll still have “expletives deleted”.

We”ll still be swearing elected officials into office despite the fact that their actions often lead to profanity.

Oh, by the way, do you find it strange that our government officials can shot things down and still get paid?

There’s something not quite right with that process.

But since we can’t get Congress to agree on much that matters, how can we ever hope they’d vote to lose their paychecks the next time they shutdown the government?

It would never work because it makes too much sense.

At least it does to me.

So hang in there with me.

While I think the United States will still rank among the leaders in the world for profanity, I’m hopeful we’ll find more effective, less profane ways to express our thoughts and opinions.

I swear it!