Covid, remote work and streaming services share a profane connection
Covid, remote work and streaming services share a profane connection, as the F-word and swearing seem to be on the rise in workplaces.
A few years ago, I remember scolding my teenage daughter when she used the “F-word.” Now? I just don’t give a $#^%&.
It seems like other people feel the same way. Everywhere I turn, I hear the F-word in songs and on TV shows. My local friends often use it to describe how hot it is (we live in Florida), and at a recent 70th birthday party, I was surprised and kind of impressed by the “Old AF” banners my friend made for her husband.
After reviewing a database of global conference call transcripts, researchers reported that transcripts from 2021 showed a soaring increase in the amount of swearing.
Why does it seem like more people are using the F-word and other expletives now? It might have something to do with the C-word (Covid-19), said Michael Adams, chair of the English department at Indiana University, a language expert and the author of the 2016 book “In Praise of Profanity.”
“We’ve all experienced more frustration during the pandemic, and profanity is the language of frustration,” Adams said. “It’s what we use when the rest of vocabulary runs dry and we can’t express what we need to express.”
Rating: 5