F-Gate - Last week, the

F-Gate - Last week, the tempest in the blogosphere's teapot was Lileks' dropping of the F-Bomb against Salam Pax.

Spitbull comments - and begs two questions. One regards the Midwestern sensibility about swearing:

"Come to think of it, I believe they teach our kids to use the term 'Uff da!' to express strong emotion at school, but I guess James must have forgotten temporarily. But we'll forgive him. After all, he did apologize so nicely.

The other; has Mr. Bull ever met anyone from Chicago?

Now Dan, it's your turn. Chicago is technically in the Midwest after all. Let's keep the discussion civilized!"

Spit! People from Chicago - certainly every one I've ever known - swear with a brio that'd put a New York cabbie to shame. It's not the utilitarian, surgical cussing of the Minnesota farmer or mechanic - who tend to regard cursing as something akin to nudity or emotional revelation, something you only do when you really need to, and not to be indulged in otherwise.

No, every Chicagoan I've ever met has approached swearing the way a Frenchman regards wine; as something to be enjoyed, lingered over, savored.

When Lileks said "F-bomb You" to Pax, you could hear the North Dakota accent within. Had James been from Chicago, it would have been more like "F--- you, Salam, you F---ing D----ebag J--off!" delivered with the sort of pugnacious grin that you see on little boys who are about to TP a house, each syllable crafted with loving, joyful care; "F-wk Yooo, you DOOO-shbag J-g-off...."

It's one of the things I love about Chicago.

Just don't tell my mom.

Posted by Mitch at November 27, 2003 09:00 AM