Unlike many swear words, the F-word is sexual. A case could be made for saying that its use constitutes sexual harassment. I witnessed an episode in a group of people. A lady was being just as bawdy as all the men, freely using the S-word. But then one of the men used the F-word and her husband came unglued. The couple had their personal limits which the rest of us were unaware of. The husband acted like the guy had propositioned his wife. The primary meaning of the F-word is sexual, so blurting it out in a lecture hall which probably contains a handful of granny-dress 18-year-old girls is not appropriate. If any of them feel uncomfortable, they could make the prof's life pretty miserable. "I really can't attend class where the professor is continually talking about sex!!"

Unlike many swear words, the F-word is sexual. A case could be made for saying that its use constitutes sexual harassment. The primary meaning of the F-word is sexual, so blurting it out in a lecture hall -- which presumably contains a handful of young women -- is not appropriate. If any of them feel uncomfortable, they could make the prof's life pretty miserable: "I really can't attend class where the professor is continually talking about sex!!"