Platform : Kids and Profanity: ‘Where Does It Stop?’

STEVE PAVICH

Principal, Newport Harbor High School

From the viewpoint of an adult, the way kids use profanity may seem detrimental to society. But from the kids’ standpoint, the way they talk is their everyday language. It’s their way of expressing themselves and not in any way harmful to society. As far as whether this form of communication can somehow undermine Western society, I don’t think it will, but instead it’s the normal teen-age growing pain that causes such a pain to adults. In my years being involved with teen-agers, I’ve noticed that they can be very adept at converting to the cultural norm.

KARI COABAUGH

Senior, 18, Buena High School

If I came here from another country, I would look down on the way profanity was used by young people. But more disturbing is the fact that profanity is finding its way into the vocabulary of little kids. This, to me, seems like a dangerous trend. If these kids grow up using this language, there would probably be no way they could stop from using it. So, this behavior would carry on with them when they became adults and later, when they became parents. I blame a lot of this on music and movies. And when little kids look up to adults, and these same adults are using these words, what kind of message is that sending? I wish I could say it’s probably a fad, but I don’t think it is. And that’s sad.

FATHER JIM ANGUIANO

Dean of admissions, Queen of Angels High School Seminary, Mission Hills

I see it as a problem. However, I do believe it can be corrected if it is pointed out to them by parent or educator. But it seems more and more that the use of these words are becoming more commonplace and there is a danger of them becoming fixed into our language. If the child is made to understand that these words are not acceptable to society, then when they mature they will hopefully police themselves. However, the danger lies within society. And if the web keeps getting thicker as more of these words are accepted into our day-to-day conversations, where does it stop? How tolerant should society become when it comes to language?

PAMELA MUNRO

Professor of linguistics, UCLA

I’ve seen a dramatic change in sensitivity to profanity among UCLA students over the past few years. I taught seminars on slang in 1988 and 1992, and worked with members of each class to produce slang dictionaries. All these students were talented and enthusiastic, and all reported using many “four-letter words” in their everyday conversation. Both groups recognized the potential offensiveness of words that negatively stereotype certain types of people, such as women or minorities, but their reactions to words older people might consider vulgar or profane varied considerably.

The students in the first group were initially worried about including some entries containing such words in their dictionary, and they decided to indicate that some of these entries might be considered offensive. The students in the second group, however, expressed no such concerns about the same words. I was amazed at the degree of change in student attitudes in just four years.

VALERIE TERRANO

Age 13, La Merced Intermediate School, Bell Gardens

The people who talk like that are low-class. They are trying to be cool or accepted by their peer group so they feel they have to use language like that. And though guys use it much more than girls, I think more girls are starting to talk like that. I guess I was fortunate that my father has always been strict about how we talk. He does not tolerate the use of profanity. But with so much of it coming from TV, movies and music, it’s really hard not to talk like that. Maybe if Hollywood and rap artists started to clean up what they say, the problem wouldn’t be so bad.

FELIPE PEREZ

Junior, 17, Bell Gardens High School

I learned to cuss in my neighborhood from the big kids and I’m sure it’s the same with the little kids today as it was with me. I don’t see it (profanity) as something bad. It’s a way kids and adults communicate. It’s a form of expression. I don’t talk like that in front of my parents or teachers. But if I were to talk like I do to my parents or teachers, my friends would think I was talking down to them.

I really don’t think it’s a big deal. More than likely, kids will tend to grow out of it.

CHARLES DENNIS JR.

Parole officer, Department of the Youth Authority, Westminster

There is a real danger when kids use bad language, no matter who is around to hear it. When I grew up, I was taught that you never speak profanity in front of your elders. Today, there’s no respect by the kids, and some parents don’t seem to care.

I noticed that it started to really get out of hand in the early ‘80s. I don’t tolerate this kind of talk when I deal with kids. I let them know right away that they can’t use profanity. After awhile they stop using it in front of me because they know I’ll come down on them. So it can be corrected as far as I’m concerned. But if it’s allowed to go on, then it becomes as common as drinking a glass of water.

BRIAN PARCEL

Senior, 18, Buena High School, Buena Park

I try to refrain from using profanity. I feel very uncomfortable when people engage with me using this language. It seems that every word is a swear word. And now, with these words being used so much, I really don’t think people are aware that they’re using them.

So, when they talk like this, they are completely unaware that they might be offending someone.

It’s like secondhand smoke. The smoker is blowing his cancer-causing fumes into the air, completely unaware that he is hurting someone else. I do believe, however, that when these same people mature and enter the job market they will try to control the words they use. At least I hope they would.