The infamous “f” word is only four letters long but is a curse that has an outsize impact. Say it in some settings and you could get kicked out. Say it in others, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
At Spencer’s, we say, fuck politeness! Do what you fuckin’ want.
But why, exactly, is the word “fuck” so special, and why does it appear on so many of our most popular t-shirts, hats, socks and even fleece blankets?
Well, for one thing, fuck is an all-purpose word. You can use it say “Fuck yeah” or “That fucking sucks.” A parting shot of “Go fuck yourself” or “Fuck you” in an argument is the perfect way to signal how you really feel. No one can resist the lure of this ultimate naughty word. Even President John F. Kennedy has used the f word. Yet it’s been taboo for a very long time, and was notably one of comedian George Carlin’s famous “seven dirty words.”
A little f-u-c-k adds just the right emphasis, in our opinion. Admit it—“F This” just doesn’t have the same ring, does it? Imagine if Trent Reznor had sung “I wanna do you like an animal” in the Nine Inch Nails song “Closer.” Doesn’t work, does it?
It’s impressive just how much power this short but mighty word holds in our society. How many words have an entire documentary devoted to them?
For those who like to make sure their point is very, very clear, there’s no better word than “fuck.” While it’s bleeped out on non-cable TV (but was used to great effect on shows like The Wire, among others), on the silver screen “fuck” reigns supreme in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, with 569 f-bombs.
Fuck also has an interesting history. Before it was a word that your mom would wash your mouth out for using, it was used to mean, well, exactly what you’d think it means. According to the Huffington Post, “The f-word is of Germanic origin, related to Dutch, German, and Swedish words for ‘to strike’ and ‘to move back and forth.’ It first appears, though, only in the 16th century, in a manuscript of the Latin orator Cicero.”
Snopes debunks the widely held idea that the word is a “for unlawful carnal knowledge” acronym (but that would’ve been a cool factoid).
And who could forget the proliferation of AF (as fuck)?
The popular phrase can be traced back to the N.W.A. song “Straight Outta Compton” and has seen new life in its shorter form.
For us here at Spencer’s, we want to make it clear that we are anything but prim and proper. We welcome your attitude, your flaunting of the rules, your bluntness. Why beat around the bush? You’re a big fucking deal, so let everyone know it. Ultimately, the versatility of “fuck” is summed up in this t-shirt that we think really fuckin’ says it all. Don’t you?
Want to see more fuckin’ cool merch? Check out our gift guide for people who love to say “fuck.”
