LETTERS: An unnecessary use of vulgarity

To the Editor: The guilty paragraph read: "My friend who viewed the tape with me was appalled and frustrated. 'No one gives a flying duck about learning,' she cried. Couldn't have said it better myself." The difference between my version and the actual quote is that the latter maintained the f alliteration begun with "flying" for one more word. Giulian seems to have mistakenly doubted her own abilities. She could have said it better herself. One need not be the articulate English major or regular contributor to the DP that Sarah Giulian is to envision dozens of different ways of making the same point. She could have changed the quote to, "No one cares about learning." If that is not dramatic enough, she could have expressed the same idea in an entirely different way without quoting her friend. At the very least, the blow could have been softened with "flying f--." It is understandable that the Giulian wanted to make a point. Is her imagination so limited, or society so thick-headed that the only way to do so is to use the f word? We are intelligent people. Please don't insult us by using obscene language. Besides being unnecessary and insulting, the use of the f word, or any other word that has prompted mothers to feed their children soap, reflects poorly upon the author and the publisher. Simply stated, it is unprofessional. We should strive to communicate in a respectable and decent way. Using vulgar street language does not bring us closer to this goal? Lastly, Giulian's flippant f is a sad comment on our society. Language that would raise a commotion in earlier generations is so commonplace today that it is hardly noticed. It wasn't so long ago the word "sex" was not used on TV? So it's not that I'm a little goody two-shoes, or that my fragile soul can't handle Giulian's flying duck, I'm just trying to keep society decent. Besides, what's a flying f-- anyway? Elan Penn College '99