h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"I do tend to shock people when I swear, though I dunno why"

Because you have such a good command of the English language and because you swear so infrequently - in fact I think that's the first time I've ever seen you swear. Of course, at the age of 15 you should be au fait with all the swear words - I know I was

It doesn't usually come naturally to me, though I do swear quite a bit, mostly to sound 'cool'. I hate to admit that, but it is of course perfectly true. Problem is, when swearing I always sound so embarrassingly American.

Oh yes, I'm very aware of anything that can possibly provoke nervous giggling among the teenage set. As we tend to say all too frequently at school: 'cue adolescent laughter'.

I forgot to mention that, unlike some prudish people, I don't see swearing as a degredation of the English language or anything like that. Swearing eloquently displays as much of a command of the English language as making a great speech or something like that.

I just try not to get too hung up on it.

I think I can go either way on that one. There are people who most certainly do show a lack of erudition when they swear, but swearing eloquently can be quite impressive I'm reminded of Ralphie's dad trying to deal with the recalcitrant boiler in Christmas Story:

"In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan"

quote.

Here's a coincidentally prescient article from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/science/20curs.html?8dpc