Fuck Fuck Fuck.
If you’re offended by these words you have a big fat problem.
Nigger Nigger Nigger.
Pissed yet?
A little?
Pussy Pussy Pussy.
You have a problem because you’re letting some screwball control your emotions in a simplistic way.
Dumbfuck Dumbfuck Dumbfuck.
You are too sensitive and you should relax.
Shit Shit Shit.
And by no means should you be reading a college paper, because in most people’s minds, college journalism echoes society more honestly and with less restrictions than any other source of information.
Bastard Bastard Bastard.
At least that’s how it used to be.
Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit.
Anyway, by now you’re probably a wee bit less offended by these words as you read, which is normal.
Fucker Fucker Fucker.
But maybe not.
Stupid Stupid Stupid.
If you are the type that does get all angry inside and your heart starts racing and you want to kill “whoever the fuck wrote that Goddamned story,” you are in way more trouble than you think.
Really Bad Words Really Bad Words Really Bad Words.
You’re probably better off reading the Santa Barbara News-Press. They won’t shock you or make you angry, I promise.
Junk Junk Junk.
Or if you think you’re intellectual and you think the Nexus is beyond your scope of mental stimulation, read the New York Times. They’re as boring as the Los Angeles Times, but more expensive, although their book review section is better.
Why Why Why?
Because they review books that have a lot of “fuck”s, “shit”s, and “gosh”es in ’em.
Blowjobs Blowjobs Blowjobs.
No, no blowjobs in the New York Times, just a lot of “fuck”s, “shit”s, and “gosh”es.
Cant Cant Cant.
Some people don’t like it when you grammar bad.
Tough shit Tough shit Tough shit.
Most “swear” words are pretty funny when you actually think about them when you read ’em.
Dork Dork Dork.
Some people are just so sensitive you could call them by their given name and they’d be upset at you, like that one guy in Stripes.
Francis Francis Francis.
I think his nickname was “Psycho”.
Bitch Bitch Bitch.
They called him Psycho because he didnt realize that names are just a bunch of letters that form a word that some guy somewhere said meant something. Spelled backward they mean something else or don’t mean anything at all.
.tnuC tnuC tnuC
Or does it?
.tihs fo eceip sselhtrow gnikcuf uoY
People play records backwards to see if the musicians are trying to say something “dirty” or wicked but this may be the first time they read a newspaper backwards.
Boring Boring Boring.
I heard a story once where a guy wrote a newspaper essay where the first letter of each paragraph when they were all put together spelled out a sentence. People will do strange things to have their message printed and other people will get mad and others will get happy. It’s just the way it is.
Boogers Boogers Boogers.
Words are only as powerful as you let them be.
Red Jello in a bowl with a scoop of whipped cream.
Sperm.
Realize that if you really hate the way I wrote this and you despise all of the “nasty” words I’ve used, I’ve taken you through a trip in and out of gutters that you probably didn’t even want to go through.
No No No.
Does that make me the shitty writer that you accuse me of being?
Yes Yes Yes.
Or does that make you one of the easiest people in the world to predict, manipulate, and control?
Maybe Maybe Maybe.
You may love me or hate me, either way I have no idea. I may be awake or asleep, dead, or in Hawaii, and I have affected you. But did I affect you or did you react a certain way to splotches of ink on the cheapest piece of paper available.
I love you.
When your mom writes that she loves you and your president writes it and I write it, it’s different to you, isn’t it? Is that our fault or yours?
Yours Yours Yours.
That goes the same for fucks, shits, farts, green juicy boogers and the cool side of your pillow – they’re all just words and mean absolutely nothing unless you pretend that they do.
Je t’aime Je t’aime Je t’aime
If you don’t believe me, try to read from King Tut’s tomb. What do you think hieroglyphics really mean?
Fuck off, I’m tryin’ to get some sleep.
They don’t mean a thing unless you think they do.
Autographs are the same way.
And love letters.
And personal checks.
And opinion columns in newspapers.
And graffiti on walls.
And French barking dogs.
Woof Woof Woof.
People are just trying to communicate and really don’t want to piss you off and probably don’t even know you, so why should they want to piss you off?
fuck fuck fuck.
does lowercase make it less harsh?
f u c k f u c k f u c k
What about spread out?
FUCKFUCKFUCK.
My God, you are strange if words affect you so. Am I really responsible for your inadequacies?
Fuck NO fuck Nofuck.
Red Rum Red Rum Red Rum.
Wait, theres one I forgot. It’ll piss everyone off.
Abortion Abortion Abortion.
Well maybe not everyone. Just the overly sensitive ones. The best part is I didnt say Pro or No Abortion and I betcha there’s already someone who I hadn’t pissed off who’s now red hot. Sorry babe.
Girls Girls Girls.
Dudes Dudes Dudes.
Sleep.
Because I’ve chosen to arrange these letters this way, have I made a reflection of myself on this paper?
huh huh huh?
Is this a “dirty” “radical” “liberal” paper because they printed this?
Juicy Christmas turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes.
Or is it just a blank sheet that they fill up with ink every day?
Love Love Love.
What if they put the wrong name up there and I’m really Chancellor Uehling?
Nah Nah Nah.
Seriously what if she paid me off just so she could say “nasty” things in public.
God I hate you peons.
What if you found out my name isn’t really Tony, but it’s Tammy and I was a girl? Am I less feminine now for arranging these letters this way?
La La La.
Am I really?
A bucket full of grape jelly.
Well, I have no clue what more to say.
Be nice and don’t be stupid when talking about our very first amendment – there are no accidents.
Peace.
originally published 4/20/89 in the world famous daily nexus + now available as bonus material in Stiff