ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author focuses on various occasions referred to the high-minded rationalizations which first accompanied the modernist breakthrough of puritan language taboos. They persist; but the intellectual or ideological pretenses are wearing thin. In our present-day context of journalistic practice in the mainstream English-language press the lofty excuses and hidden rationales–ranging from psychotherapy to theology. The author also talks about literature of hundreds of protagonists in the various Byronic scandals. The plainclothes police in the back made notes for a possible inquiry or investigation. The next day's newspaper reports gave space, except for a few missing vowels and consonants, to a good selection of all the expletives one could take in a cursory early-morning reading. The asterisk's long journey from punctuation to profanity has tempted many etymologists. A pop performer like Madonna talks as she pleases in private, and in playing to vast audiences feels free to put her mouth where her money is.
