Also, language is what we make it. Like Laura said, if you want to take the power away from the words, then lose the emotional responses to said words. However, like Frank said, those words exist for a reason: they convey a specific meaning or attitude that cannot be better expressed through the usage of other words. So they do serve a purpose. If they don’t serve your purposes, then you don’t have to use them. But I hardly see the point in limiting their usage for others.

As for protecting the children…sure, some parents are going to screw that up. Honestly, though, there are worse things that parents can, and do, screw up on. We swear around our kids, and I’ve told them that they’re grown up words they can use when they become adults. In the meantime, it is inappropriate for them to use those words, and guess what? They don’t use them. It’s my job to instill those values in my children if I so choose, and no one else’s.

And personally, I get freaking pissed when I, as a consumer, buy music, say for ringtones or my ipod, and it comes pre-censored. I often don’t even get the option of having it uncensored. As an adult, I don’t need these decisions made for me. It’s fucking stupid.