I like your style, but I don't trust the definition. Seems like I've seen this in one of those useless chain letters.http://w.etymonline.com/index.php?search=**&searchmode=none

...that was just plain awesome! You're my hero ^_^ !

niggers smell just like you

chicken greasegood charlotte sucks dick

you suck dick

ur a greasy nigger

I actually researched that for class in high school and discovered that that "origin" is just an urban legend, as well as the one which goes "fornication under consent of the king". however, nice work.

I'm going to post a long review, because I want to debate on this in a few paragraphs. I hope not to be offensive.

erm...at a loss of words...I don't know what to say, I admit.

Seriously, I'm 13, and I only read this cuz this is rated "T", but now I realize it should be "M". Er...original.

Pretty imaginative, innovative, awesome...in a perverted sort of sense, I mean. LOL?You're right, the F word is used a little bit more than people like, and it distracts a really good story, if it has engrossed the reader. No matter how tough you are, a person has cringed or whimpered AT LEAST ONCE when he has heard the 'F' word said aloud. Don't ask me how I know this, I have...experience. Not to say that I've said it out loud. Never.

Also, I think its sort of explicit and freaky to go into using the 'F' word as making love/sex, because I know we all have heard that, that we all know it's true. Even me, I know what it means.

However, I also have a shocking thing to say about the F word, and this may appall you all: it is necessary, I feel. Well, not saying that everyone should use it, but oh, so every time a person is feeling bored. Why?

Picture this: A world where no one says the 'F' word. There is no uncomfortableness and no one can say how they feel, if they feel angry and want to be profane. Just picture it. You may argue that this is a rhetorical scene, that I am being philosophical. No, hell no. Just shut up and picture it.

Now picture one person saying something awkward, but never a bad word. How would you feel if there was a limit, that there was no way you could express yourself out loud? Would you kill someone, or commit suicide? I would probably doing that. This is were bad words, minor and major, come into play. The 'F' word may be bad, and no one ever gives a second thought about it. But you do, StorieJunkie, and hats off to you.

But you're missing the main point. Seriously. You gave the origin and the usage of it, but do you know why we need it or hate it? I may sound perverted, and I don't know why I'm saying all this crap. Really, I don't know. I think this has sparked some debate. Dunno, really.

But, and I'm sure nearly EVERYONE will argue against me, punch me, kick me, say the 'F you' word at me, but in truth...we NEED the 'F' word. We need profanity, minor and major.

If there was no 'F' word, this essay or story that you wrote would not exist. Just a thought.

If there was no 'F' word, there'd be no person ** and lecturing on the subject, there'd be...perfection...niceness...too much goody-goody...right? Am i making sense, or writing ** here?

Whatever guys, I'd just like to say if no one used profanity, if everyone was good and perfect, I would be enraged. I would punch those nice and perfect people in the face till they bled, maybe, or I'd shoot myself out of sheer boredom and need of action and...bad stuff.

I hope my review has inspired someone, or at least someone is reading this and is thinking: 'X-Eragon-X is a total bastard. Why the hell do we NEED profanity?'

Ask yourself, my friend. I hope this review has been worthwhile your time to read, for it has been mine to write. Clockwork Orange, I just heard about that. Um, wtf, why did I just say that, I'm wandering off topic. Oh well, I'm just sleepy. Good night, guys.

Signed Review, trying to be inoffensive...: X-Eragon-X

There is another story for the origins of the f- word. Apparently, some time in the Middle Ages, brothrels had to be licensed by the king, and then they could write on the building: 'Fornicating Under Consent of the King'.

i like this :) this is thoughtful and well written, not what you might expect from something entirely dedicated to the word "**". clever.

Han.

I found this article very insightful. I believe that if you are trying to get the romantic feel of the scene using the "f" word is not what you want to use, it can be used but very sparingly. If your are doing a scene where the characters are having casual sex, and you aren't trying to make it very intimate or romantic then go ahead and use it as much as you "f"ing well feel.P.S.Thanks for reviewing my story and yes I am a guy so the story may still get even more blood thirsty yet.

I totally agree with this. I myself don't swear alot. But I have been using it in my writing alot lately. I was worried at first about what the people who read it would think, because some words, like **, aren't all that bad or bad at all, but then i realized that they would just have to deal with it and if they had a problem they could review it. But sometimes those words are needed to add to the atmosphere. Sometimes they are needed. So thanks for saying my point in a way that makes sense. And the essay explained your point brilliantly. Tzotel

is that really true? Huh. I had always wondered what it meant, too. Good essay, btw. I really liked this one. Not much to say. I'm running off very little sleep and the words are blurry before my eyes, so... I'll try to come back later... ciao

I happen to like the f-word. I find it to be a useful part of a modern-day vocabulary. This was a good essay, so ** you all...

That was pretty fascinating. But it seems cut short and the end doesn't come full circle with the beggining. It was interesting nonetheless and it was slightly humorous. (whether or not that was your intention, I haven't the slightest.) Good job.

i once heard that the f word was born when a scottish golfer in the 17 hundreds knocked his golf ball into a crowd and tried to say four and duck at the sametime.

I recently came across Monty Python's "The Usage of **" in one of my old MP3 players. Still amazingly funny and ** educational. You should download it if you get the chance. Here's a sample:

"Perhaps one of the most interesting words in the English language today is the word **. Out of all the English words that begin with letter F, ** is the only word that is referred to as the F-word. It's the one magical word. Just by its sound can describe pain, pleasure, hate and love. **, as most words in the English language is derived from German, the word 'flicken' which means 'to strike'. In English, ** falls into many grammatical categories. As a transitive verb for instance, 'John ** Shirley'. As an intransitive verb: 'Shirley **'. Its meaning is not always sexual, it can be used as an adjective such as: 'John's doing all the ** work' . . ."

By the way, I hate your ** pen-name.

--tofujunky

Actually, that's a myth. "**" is considerably older than that, and originally meant "to strike." Generally it also possessed a piercing connotation. Some bright fellow decided that it was really something more ingenious, and came up with the other thing.

Incidentally: I find that the word is versatile and useful. It's occasionally overused, but not as much as people think--using it as a common adjective, having become part of the general lexicon, is not really all that objectionable. The problem is when people start saying things like "**! The **head didn't ** ** the ** out of that ** ball!" which is really more funny than it is objectionable.