Vulgar language seems now to be acceptable to a portion of the population. In the not-so-old days the use of bad language and the constant use of the word beginning f… were regarded as a sign of lack of education, low-class, know-nothing pub talk. It used to to be considered polite to guard your tongue. Now one hears a stream of expletives in many movies and plays, as if it is clever or avant-garde. It isn’t. What this actually demonstrates is a paucity of imagination, and an inadequate command of the language.
Who decides what is vulgar and in bad taste? Good question. In the days when there was an acknowledged leadership in the community there was also consensus. This may have seemed hierarchical, but it did have some advantages. Now, so many standards have been demolished as “shiboleths” that there is nothing right and nothing wrong. Moral relativism has a lot to answer for.
But aren’t Epicureans moral relativists, as there clearly isn’t any empirical evidence for the existence of objective morality? I think the excessive use of swear words is in bad taste and a sign of an uncultured civilisation, but I wouldn’t consider it immoral as such.
I would also warn against any kind of nostalgia of our once-hieracichal society. Sometimes the present-day seems decadent and degraded, but it is far better than the rigidity and conformity of yesteryear. If you don’t like a programme because of the swearing, change channel. Also, many conservative media outlets make our society seem far more vulgar than it really is. I’m tired of hearing that modern society is ‘in decay.’ Actually, the decline of abortion, teen pregnancies, crime (especially violent crime), racism, sexism and homophobia- all contribute to a society that in many ways has never been more moral.
I didn’t mean to imply immorality. I agree, morality usually has nothing to do with it. It is about taste, imagination, use of the language, politeness. Of course, tastes differ and always will. But the desire to shock or titillate is , in my opinion, merely childish, immature and shows a lack of command of our wonderful language. Intelligent people don ‘t need to be vulgar.