What Can I Say?

Coming out of a meeting today, I overheard someone complaining about the use of profanity by one person in attendance. I have come to accept this person's style, knowing that if he feels passionately about anything, the description will be laced with 4-letter words.

I view his invectives as a way to liven up a dull meeting. The same guy has a collection of PEZ dispensers, which he often passes around at meetings. He never swears at anyone's expense but he definitely swears a lot.

The complainer was saying things like, "In my house, we just don't tolerate that sort of language. It's so unnecessary." I was thinking to myself, "It's a good thing she has never visited MY house where we do tolerate just about anything in its uncensored form."

For many years I have realized that there are several words that simply make me feel good to say. I suppose they make me feel powerful and just a little bit bad. But there is definitely a therapeutic effect of a good F___ or S___. It's as though they trigger some magical endorphin.

As we walked down the hall, I didn't openly defend the offender, but I did file away a caution against my freest speech whenever this person was around. I suppose she is right that a formal meeting is hardly the place for pool-room venting, but I still have mixed feelings about it.

Any opinions?