Bad Words
This column was written by CBS News Early Show Co-Anchor Harry Smith.
Swear much? Not necessarily taking the Lord's name in vain, but do you use bad words? Words like *%#! And *7@#? You're not alone. I saw a survey the other day that says more than 50 percent of women swear occasionally and more than 70 percent of men do.
I do sometimes. I don't like it, but it happens. It seems the harder I try to not be profane, the more profanity I use. So lately I've haven't been trying so hard and my language has improved. Honest. If you use a bad word -- that sounds funny doesn't it? Bad word -- like a bad dog -- anyway, if you use a bad word on TV or the radio you can get in trouble. A big rock star got in hot water last year for using a profanity on a live awards show. And some shock jocks on the radio have had to pay up for talking dirty on the radio.
That sounds funny to me too. Talking dirty. Talking dirty could be the name of a radio call in show devoted to getting tough stains out.
Anyway, you have to be extra careful these days. A local TV reporter here in New York -- a nice guy named Arthur Chi'en -- was being harassed during a live report he was doing for early morning news. When he threw to the video tape he turned around to the goofballs who were bother him and said "bleep." By accident it went on the air and Arthur got fired. He got fired for doing something most of us do all the time. He wasn't trying to soil the minds of our nation's youth. He just used a bad word and frankly I think that's *$#@!
By Harry Smith