>> I'M WRITING THIS ESSAY FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.

BECAUSE EVERYONE ALIVE TODAY ALREADY KNOWS IT'S HAPPENING.

AS OF THE YEAR 2026, PROFANITY IS BACK.

THE F WORD, THE S WORD, ALL OF THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE MAINSTREAM, AND THEY ARE PROLIFERATING.

OH, MY.

A COLLEGE ROFESSOR ONCE TOLD ME THAT EVERY LANGUAGE EVER STUDIED HAS AT LEAST A FEW TABOO WORDS.

YOU KNOW, SWEAR WORDS.

AND I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE, BUT I UNDERSTAND HIS POINT.

WHEN HUMANS HAVE HIGH IMPACT EMOTIONS THEY NEED HIGH IMPACT WORDS.

WORDS THAT PUNCH.

AND IN AMERICA IN 2026, WE ARE LIVING IN PUNCHY TIMES.

IT ONLY MAKES SENSE WE'RE ROLLING OUT THE PUNCHIEST WORDS WE HAVE.

AND, YES, LIKE MOST PEOPLE, I DO SWEAR.

BUT AS A MATTER OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE, LIMIT MYSELF TO CLOSE FRIENDS AND TRUSTED COWORKERS.

AND I'VE DECIDED, AFTER SOME DEEP REFLECTION, HAT EVEN IN THESE PERMISSIVE TIMES, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY PROFANITIES OFF-CAMERA.

NOW, THIS ISN'T BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE HIGH IMPACT EMOTIONS.

IT'S BECAUSE I'M FORCING MYSELF TO REMAIN AN OPTIMIST.

AND I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT SOMEDAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PACK THESE WORDS AWAY, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, AND SAY, WOW, THOSE WERE SALTY TIMES.

SO HERE'S ME.

LOW-IMPACT WORDS IN HIGH-IMPACT TIMES.

WILL THIS EVEN WORK?

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT WILL JUST MAKE ME IRRELEVANT.

BUT DON'T WORRY, IF T DOES, I STILL KNOW A FEW CHOICE WORDS I