As I was growing up, there was one article of faith that had to be observed by my mother and by myself. It had to do with the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The Post Dispatch was an afternoon paper, of which there are very few left. When one of the older children appeared after work at our home in Richmond Heights, Missouri, my mother would ask, “Did you bring the paper with you?”
The St. Louis Post Dispatch, edited by Joseph Pulitzer, was an independent newspaper. It was often called The New York Times of the Midwest. I studied that newspaper from stem to stern. It was a liberal newspaper but it spoke the truth. For example, mine owners in southern Illinois had an atrocious record for safety. The Post Dispatch regularly campaigned against them and eventually had the laws changed.
I do not have a formal education, rather an informal one. The shaping of my language and my outlook on life from an early date have been influenced by such publications as the St. Louis Post Dispatch. This was the article of faith to which I referred earlier.
Generally speaking, the newspaper was called The Post. It was rarely ever called The Post Dispatch but was simply called The Post. Because it took its cue from The New York Times, there was very little frivolity in its pages. But one thing is quite certain: it did not permit even small obscenities like “damn” or “hell” to appear in its printed copy. After all, it took its cue from the New York Times which printed only “The news that is fit to print.” Because I was raised to think that proper newspapers refrained from such things as cursing, I have been astounded by the trends in the young people in their speaking and in their writing.
The subject today is two very mild expressions of off-color speech. They are “bullshit” and “being pissed off.” These are widely used expressions. “Bullshit” is an expression of disbelief in whatever is being said. “Being pissed off” has to do with being mildly angered at the turn of events. In the St. Louis Post Dispatch, for example, and in The New York Times those two expressions will never see the light of day. I will venture to say that at this writing on July 27, 2013, the New York Times would contain no expressions such as “bullshit” or “being pissed off.”
Now as for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, it has been converted by its new owners, who reside in Iowa, into a local newspaper with national news being covered by newswire services. The Post Dispatch does not have a Washington bureau, for example. I suspect that the Post Dispatch does not even maintain a bureau in Chicago, which is only 300 miles distant from St. Louis. It is, as I say, a local newspaper. I very much dislike seeing a former august publication such as The Post Dispatch being converted into a localized paper.
These days, it is fair to say that “bullshit” and “being pissed off” would raise no eyebrows even when used in polite company. I am capable of much more salty language than “bullshit” and “being pissed off.” When I read books that appear in audio form, I am amazed at the number of times that the “f” word appears. I am accustomed to male speech. In the American Army during World War II, there were liberal uses of obscenities. I never overworked the “f” word as I have seen in recent readings. I take no offense at writings in which the “f” word appears. I gather that it is a sort of thing that younger people use regularly. So I am willing to let it go as a custom of younger people.
But one phrase has me buffaloed. It is the term “cluster fuck.” I retired from the American Army before there were cluster bombs. I must assume that the obscenity in question refers to a projectile that, when dropped from an aircraft or fired through the air, releases explosive fragments over a wide area. Those bombs hold clusters that are dropped in situations where repeated explosions are desired. All that I can really gather from the word in question is that “cluster fuck” means multiple f… ups. It replaces the older term used by my generation meaning “f’ed up beyond all recognition” or FUBAR. I am not now an expert on this subject as you can see. Perhaps during my military career I would have been able to give a better definition. But that career ended in 1945.
In summary I will say that the speech of young people and the speech that I find in publications, specifically books, make liberal use of the “f” word. As I say, I am no pussy in using the “f” word but I insist that it must be used judiciously and in the proper context.
No matter how you cut it, the “f” word or any other obscenities find no place in the former St. Louis Post Dispatch or in the New York Times. As I said, I am not a pussy but the use of profane language and perversions such as repeated references to the “f” word leave me a bit stunned. But I am an old man and life must go on. If young people misuse this language, I will have no choice but to listen to them.
In the final analysis, I always hold out the hope that the New York Times will remain as the paragon of proper journalism. So far, it has done exactly that. I would be surprised if I picked up The New York Times and found the expression “bullshit” or “being pissed off.” But I do not use The Times to further my education. That is all done now. I do wish to express your indulgence in my informal education.
The New York Times and the St. Louis Post Dispatch certainly shaped my outlook on life during my formative years. For that, I am eternally grateful. I will continue, perhaps, to use mild expressions such as “bullshit” and “being pissed off” as I go further down the road. But referring to that word having to do with clusters is a bit more than I can stand. So I will leave it alone, hoping it will die a natural death.
E. E. CARR
July 27, 2013
Essay 759
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Kevin’s commentary: I hope I didn’t inadvertently prompt this essay when I used the phrase in question to describe the multiple issues surrounding any encounter between the media and Levi Johnston, who is an idiot. Perhaps my language should be somewhat cleaner for publications such as these.
I am confused though — it seems like the Times cannot help but further Pop’s education, as it contains knowledge which he did not have previously. Perhaps he means something different with that phrase.