The *F* Word

I was in an elevator yesterday, going up to the 16th floor with a gaggle of other female office workers, all of us "of a certain age". One lively woman was giving her opinion of her company's recent choices in promotions, which she didn't agree with. Her words were peppered with *f*-ing this and *f*-ing that and very disparaging comments about the intelligence of the promotees. It was clear to see why she has been overlooked for advancement. I find it very inelegant when any adult swears profusely in public. For some reason I'm quicker to forgive it in teenagers or very young adults, although I still find it distasteful. What I do know is the energy in that elevator was the kind that would eat and eat away at me for the rest of the day. It's already tomorrow and I'm still thinking about it. I've been known to let fly with my own profanity and frequently. I just do it in a more private setting. Is that really any better though? Is there a time and a place for blue talk? I think Mark Twain put it best when he said, "In certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity furnishes a relief denied even to prayer".