Coarseness intensified

George CARLIN is patently full of it (“Standing by His Words” by Erin Ailworth, March 28). Our common culture has never been more debased, and language is no small part of that. Foul words are seldom “intensifiers”; they are usually poor excuses for genuine communication. Just walk behind kids or sit with them on a bus or the subway. The F-word is used as frequently as taking a breath. They sound coarse, ignorant and utterly inarticulate. To say (as I have heard Carlin declare on NPR) that we are at great risk of a new puritanism and censorship is ludicrous.

Just open your ears for a moment anywhere you go and you’ll get enough intensifiers to last a lifetime.

Dana Alexander

Santa Barbara