# The 'F' word reveled in

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [November 4, 1999, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367 "1999-11-04T23:45:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 1999, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367/21 "1999-12-27T19:38:00Z")

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Yes, sorry, “futuo”

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**Author:** ![corporate\_america\_sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aca169/32.png) [@corporate\_america\_sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corporate_america_sux)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367/22 "2002-08-20T05:19:16Z")

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im not sure if this is correct, but I’ve heard that the word “fuck” was used to as a verb for preparing the fields for the seasons crops. ex: Joe Bob fucked the corn fields before sowing the seeds.

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**Author:** ![Coilean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Coilean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coilean)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367/23 "2002-08-20T12:56:12Z")

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I’ve heard that too but my impression was that it only referred to livestock.

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367/24 "2002-08-21T04:23:49Z")

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corporate\_america\_sux, where did you hear that? Doesn’t seem to make any sense. In fact, “sowing his seed” is a euphamism for screwing around, so if you reversed that expression you would use “fuck” to mean planting, not tilling.

As for why we use _fuck_ as an epithet, it goes back to the prudish christian influences that said sex is **bad** unless it’s for procreation, and even then you shouldn’t enjoy it. Therefore, it’s not something talked about in “polite” society. And since it’s rude, it becomes a useful way to express displeasure or cast insult. You want society to know you’re not happy? Make them reel by laying out a “nasty” word you shouldn’t say in public. Telling someone off? Use the impolite expressions. It’s a similar reason for using “Damn you” etc to invoke the wrath of god. Ah, the cutural baggage we drag around.

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**Author:** ![Midgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Midgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Midgard)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-f-word-reveled-in/367/25 "2002-08-22T17:13:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by GusNSpot \*  
> \*\*“Step four, don’t say ‘fuck’ anymore,  
> 'cause ‘fuck’ is the worst word that you can say,  
> ‘fuck’ is the worst word that you can say,  
> You shouldn’t say ‘fuck’,  
> No, you shouldn’t say ‘fuck’,  
> fuck, no!”
> 
> So? What are we suposed to say instead? alway with the ‘don’t’, but never a word with the ‘do’. :::::::: sheesh :::::: \*\*

The line omitted from the above lyrics is “…so just use the word m’kay!”

For the uninitiated, the song above is sung (with the kids) by the school counseler, who ends almost every sentence he speaks with “m’kay” (corruption of “OK,” I suppose)…

…m’kay?..

-Midgard

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