# Profane language question **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 11, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743 "2013-06-11T18:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/1 "2013-06-11T18:42:33Z")
Have you noticed an increase or a decrease in the use of profane language, also known as cuss words, on the SDMB since starting the forum back in 1973. When is the 40th anniversary by the way? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/2 "2013-06-11T18:45:12Z")
2039 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/3 "2013-06-11T18:50:05Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Have you noticed an increase or a decrease in the use of profane language, also known as cuss words, on the SDMB since starting the forum back in 1973. > > When is the 40th anniversary by the way? You don’t really think this internet message board (Straight Dope Message Board) started in 1973, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/4 "2013-06-11T18:52:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You don’t really think this internet message board (Straight Dope Message Board) started in 1973, do you? Maybe it was, but with very few members. ETA: That should be _fucking members_. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/5 "2013-06-11T18:54:46Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You don’t really think this internet message board (Straight Dope Message Board) started in 1973, do you? Why not? [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) is “America’s Only Humor Site Since 1958”, after all. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/6 "2013-06-11T19:02:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Why not? [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) is “America’s Only Humor Site Since 1958”, after all. 1958? Doesn’t that, like, predate electricity??? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/7 "2013-06-11T19:09:56Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > 1958? Doesn’t that, like, predate electricity??? > > 😉 I’m pretty sure that Benjamin Franklin first created electricity at the 1902 World’s Fair in Poughkeepsie, NY. I remember learning about it in school, how he used balloons to make toast. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/8 "2013-06-11T19:11:05Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You don’t really think this internet message board (Straight Dope Message Board) started in 1973, do you? No, of course not, but 1973 is on the header and it is 40 years later … why not celibrate? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/9 "2013-06-11T19:13:59Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > No, of course not, but 1973 is on the header and it is 40 years later … why not celibrate? Is that a party without sex? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/10 "2013-06-11T19:24:52Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Have you noticed an increase or a decrease in the use of profane language, also known as cuss words, **on the SDMB since starting the forum back in 1973.** > > When is the 40th anniversary by the way? > [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > No, of course not, but 1973 is on the header and it is 40 years later … why not celibrate? Why could they track the incidence of cuss words since 1973 if you knew they didn’t start in 1973, then what were you asking? I’m curious! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/11 "2013-06-11T19:25:46Z")
I haven’t noticed any kind of trend in the time I’ve been here. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/12 "2013-06-11T19:31:59Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > No, of course not, but 1973 is on the header and it is 40 years later … why not celibrate? The actual anniversary of the [first column](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/firstcolumn)was last Groundhog Day. Unfortunately it seems you missed the anniversary events. It was a blast. We threw virtual confetti. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/13 "2013-06-11T22:34:42Z")
Cuss words are like emoticons. They should be used sparingly. There are times that a colorful adjective is needed. You can only express a certain level of frustration with darn and dickens. If I’m discussing a driver that cut people off and nearly caused a wreck, then the F word gets the point across. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/14 "2013-06-12T01:23:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The actual anniversary of the [first column](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/firstcolumn)was last Groundhog Day. Unfortunately it seems you missed the anniversary events. > > It was a blast. We threw virtual confetti. How many free LPs did youse guys give away? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/15 "2013-06-12T16:07:56Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Have you noticed an increase or a decrease in the use of profane language, also known as cuss words, So that’s what those mysterious “cuss words” are that I’ve been hearing about. Thanks for fighting ignorance. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Cuss words are like emoticons. They should be used sparingly. The opposite of this. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/16 "2013-06-12T17:32:19Z")
Hmm. Let’s try it out. “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. :)” “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. Fucker.” Well, I’ll be damned. They are the same! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/17 "2013-06-13T11:40:46Z")
Well what about profound language? ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/18 "2013-06-13T14:06:51Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > No, of course not, but 1973 is on the header and it is 40 years later … why not celibrate? You want us to [celebrate celibacy](http://www.celibrate.org/)?? It’s ok, they got it wrong in the bible too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/19 "2013-06-13T14:34:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Well what about profound language? Well what about propane language? : “You called in a fake propane emergency? That’s a $50 fine after I report it.” ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profane-language-question/660743/20 "2013-06-13T16:40:59Z")
Once for 2 minutes in 1987, there was a dramatic spike in the profane but it was eventually countered by a massive insurgence of antifane. You’re lucky you missed the prophase era! Fucking mitosis bastards!