OMG! The F Word!

By Mark Kaufman
Last week I picked up a copy of the Seattle Weekly, one of the local alt weeklies (disclosure; I have worked for the Weekly in the past), and I immediately recognized the cover illustrator as Mark Todd. I also noticed that the character on the cover was wearing a t-shirt that read “FUCK SCHOOL”.  I smirked my little smirk and thought to myself “that should generate a few letters”. And then I went on my merry way, not giving it a second thought. Then on Friday I was channel surfing and I came across a local TV reporter standing next to a Seattle Weekly newspaper box, and I instantly knew what the story was about. The HORROR. Kids can see it! Parents are upset, citizens are not amused! Hell, I was throwing F bombs back in the schoolyard in 1967, which means I knew about the word and was happy to use it at 7 years old. That was 40 fucking years ago. I am sure that today’s 7 year olds have also heard the word. People are also under the impression, wrongly so, that printing the word is illegal. Letters of complaint have been written to the TV station and to the newspaper in question. Proving only that it doesn’t take much these days to stir up controversy. All that aside, I love Mark Todd’s work and the new Seattle Weekly team are doing a great job. Congratulations you fucking bastards.