Good Friday #297: What the $@#&%?! (Friday, September 7)

"Intelligent people have a choice of  words, so use your options..."

- Anna Post, great-great-grandaughter of etiquette expert, Emily Post

It's often been said that consistent usage of profanity is usually an indication of limited vocabulary and low reasoning skills. Although that might not true in every situation, it may explain why some people choose to curse in normal everyday conversation.

A couple months ago, I was suprised when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, referred to Senator Paul Sarlo as an "arrogant S.O.B." I waited for the backlash, but none came. In fact, Christie's now known for that sort of thing. I'm not sure if it's that our society is just more comfortable with cursing as a part of everyday life, or it's just that there's so much namecalling in politics nowadays that it escaped the general public attention.

Either way, I think unwarranted profanity--especially in your professional life--is the wrong way to go. So what determines whether profanity is "warranted", you ask? It's entirely subjective, but a few common sense examples:

• Environment: Foul-mouthed expression when you're out with your friends at a bar may be ok; in the confines of an office/professional setting? Not so much.
• Familiarity: Is that the first impression you want to leave with a stranger or someone you don't know very well? 
• Culture

And if you don't want to take my word for it, check out this article which says 1/2 of managers are less likely to promote someone who curses on the job. But to be fair, there's also another perspective.