I've Had This Discussion Among Students & Faculty At A Catholic High School... Who Knew It Was A Federal Case?

Oh, F**k It!

Since the "F word" is a frequent concern of adolescents in the high school setting--for a wide variety of reasons and rationales--I have had this very type of conversation and discourse on the origin of that word and other curse words, how these words have come to be used in our societies, and alternatives to using them.

In my classroom setting I have been noted to say that the only word in the English language that begins with "F" and ends with "U-C-K" is "FIRETRUCK"... and I was promptly struck with a student saying, "Firetruck you, Mr. Downey!"

Well, who knew that my discussions on these matters would rise to the level of a federal case?

A research attorney -- or a justice -- with a little time on his hands can be a dangerous thing. Or at least a little twisted.

Thus an eye-catching footnote in a Feb. 27 unpublished ruling out of the 1st District Court of Appeal that goes to great lengths to define the word "fuck."

We quote: "A certain four-letter verb for 'copulate,' of possible Scandinavian origin (see Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (1977) p. 463, col. 2) appears frequently in the record along with its gerundive and a related noun involving the maternal parent."

Sure enough, a quick search of the text of Smith v. City and County of San Francisco, A108308, reveals 19 uses of "fuck," nine of "fucking" and three of "motherfucker." There's also one "F up" -- as in "shut the F up" -- and three instances of "asshole."

The case involved a Haight Street confrontation between James Smith and San Francisco police officers Alex Fagan Jr., who's no longer on the force, and John Broucaret. Jurors threw out an assault and battery and civil rights suit against the two, and the appeal court affirmed.

Rich material for a bored justice or his research attorney.