"You a stupid MothaF-cka! You know that?! You’s a stupid, ugly Motha f-cka!"
"So, you ain’t S—t! B-tch!"
Oh it was a great way to start my day ya’ll. I was so proud of them!
First of all I’m already pissed that there aren’t any more three day weekends until Memorial Day (though I will be taking my Easter Monday). But I just wasn’t trying to hear that sh-t first thing in the morning before I would have to deal with the Motha Fcukas in my office.
Now I will be the first to admit, I am a reformed and still recovering Cussaholic. I spoke real bad in college. There, in the hallowed halls of academia, reading the great literary works of the decades, exposing myself to big words galore-my signature phrase was F-ckin’ A! It worked to describe the taste of food, the behavior of friends and foes, and I just used it to express general exasperation. I wasn’t raised to cuss people out, I can count the number of times I’ve heard my parents cuss and still have fingers to spare. But sometimes its just easier to tell someone F-ck You! Than to say that you'd sincerely consider their point of view.
But really this isn’t a criticism towards people who cuss. Even though I is saved, sanctified and dated a minister (brushes off halo) when folks get on my nerves I ain’t praying for them! Well, not at first anyways, it’s more like wishing them on a one way journey to someplace nice and hot. Stub a toe on some furniture? Excited that your song came on the radio? Hey, sometimes those warrant a choice four letter word of exclamation! Sh------t! (c) Clay Davis, The Wire.
But my issue is with cussing in public. Doing it loudly. Doing it in front of white folks-allowing them to view it as typical Black folk’s behavior...so when articulate Black people show up on the scene they are shocked that we know how to speak well. And I fear that we are doing it because we don’t know the vocabulary. We think we’re keeping it real, fitting in, being cute or strongly getting our point across…
Rum Punch will be the first to tell you that I don't love the following song. I mean, I came to expect more from the man who brought us Superstition and Living for the City. Surely when he wrote this he was thinking of the F-word that came to my mind when I first heard this song...
But then I thought that had he kept it "real" would the words that compose these lyrics be as poignant? Wouldn't folks have been caught up in the fact that Stevie was dropping the F-word? And at his age? He should know better too! I don't know. But there are times when we ought to censor some of the things we say so people can finally hear us speak...
See You In Seven
7 comments:
I hear you. I cringe whenever I hear our folks cussin' at the top of their lungs in public. It just reeks of "stereotypical" behavior to some whitefolks I'm sure.
I can certainly cuss up a storm, but when I'm in public, I keep it to damn or dammit. Dropping the f- bomb time after time is not the business.
I never cuss around my family and just developed my vocabulary of cuss words over the course of a decade. ::Wink::
Stevie needs to cut the crap. he's too eloquent and too great a talent to resort to the f-bomb.
Love the blog. Youve been added to the Blogroll.
As for the subject matter. The reality is, Profanity has a place in adult discourse.
BUT
the more you use it, the more power it loses.
When gramma cusses, which averages about once a decade, her point is immediately made.
If you cuss every four or five minutes...*shrug*
The coarsening of our general discourse has led to the diminished effect of well placed profanity.
And it is unfortunate, cause some folk need a good cussin.
But if all you hear is cussin, it just aint the same.
See ya tomorrow.
Forget the cursing.
They said "You's"!!!!!!!
But I curse. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit but I got this valve that shuts all profanity off when I'm around them because I'm not adding to any preconceived notions they have about me. But as soon as I get in my car to leave, its *&^%$#@ on.
LOL @ inkognegro! When my granny cusses, I know she means business or something bad has happened. Although apparently she used to cuss people out with a quickness back in the day. Oh how I would have loved to see that...which leads me to my next point that you all know I love to pepper my stories with cuss words or use them for emphasis a la Clay Davis, but I do have "standards". There are certain people I just can't/won't cuss around, well maybe a few times but not every other word, sentence or thought. It shocks men when they hear me utter a curse word. And that's the way I like it. No need to know that I moonlight as a sailor. :-)
@Danielle: Life teaches us all them words! *wink* But I agree that it's something that can be controlled. What's up with these youngin's? Cussing in front of children and the aged on a Tuesday morning! I just wonder where respect went.
@Inkognegro: Thanks for the love-the 5 appreciates it greatly! I agree curse words are like fine china, you only pull it out for the most deserving-use it everyday and it ain't that special.
@Fresh: LOL! Maybe they were northern transplants or visiting a cousin...not quite from your neck but maybe Philly. But you know when and where to curse, you's a grown ass man. But the babies? Lawd, please save the babies!
@Rum Punch: LOL! Girl you pepper a lot of things! Sometimes I have to get a glass of holy water just to talk to you... But pepper is what gives you and your stories that kick! Ahoy matey!
I remember the first time I let a curse slip in front of my mother. Lets just say, I still remember the taste of the ivory soap. I've never been a person to curse or even use slang, when I do have a slip of the tongue, it's like the record scratches and my friends look at me like I'm crazy.
I've heard so many kids curse recently while dealing with my younger cousins that it repulsives me. I actually blame their parents b/c they use the same language so of course they'd think it was acceptable.
PDI (Public Displays of Ignorance) is always an embarrassment especially when it's from your own people.
"You’s a stupid, ugly Motha f-cka!"
To me, cursing is an art form. I don't so much mind PDI as long as it's creative. The above line is not creative. If you're gonna show out in public, at least be innovative. Strive to be the Outkast of profanity, not the Souljah Boy.
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