Language Causes Some to Cry Foul

Re: “It’s a Curse” (May 11), it’s ironic that the Southern California Living section printed an article about crude language and then failed to censure the use of a scatological word used in a cartoon (“Non Sequitur” by Wiley). This appeared on the comic page which, of course, would be read by children. In society, as a matter of courtesy, a smoker is expected to ask, “Do you mind if I smoke?” I would also expect a considerate person to ask, “Do you mind if I use profane and obscene language?”

--GEORGE WOOD

Malibu

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The biggest negative, to me, about the growing use of foul language by everyone is that if I wish to say something really insulting and shocking, I can’t! All the nasty words have become so denatured by overuse that they just are not as nasty as they were in the good ol’ days. Those great four-letter words have become pallid, cliched eunuchs of their former livid, lusty selves.

--WALT HOPMANS

Santa Barbara