What did you call me?

[Anonymous]

We've all seen the Drug Free Zones signs around school property. What are the vulgarity and profanity free zones around the schools? I dread dismissal time near this high-school on Capitol Hill, the students are just dreadful. They have not said anything to me personally but the way they interact with each other is outlandish. It is getting warmer and I have chosen an alternative walk home but sometimes I am in the midst of confusion. I have noticed adults who might be faculty among the children during dismissal but there's no interaction or intervention. I can't understand it, the name calling is so vulgar and insulting, I am wondering what causes such actions. Is this built up anger of some kind? What is known as our neighborhood high school is also being recognized as a nuisance school.

[Anonymous]

Although we may not like it or understand it, some children live in homes and communities where vulgar language is a way of life. Words that some find vulgar are often used in jest or even (gasp) terms of endearment. If you were cursed at as a child (we've all seen it if you ride public transportation) and everyone in your immediate commnity uses foul language, you won't find anything wrong with it. Not that any of this makes it right but some folks live by different rules.

[Anonymous]

When I think of some of the jokes I told and vocabulary I used in high school, I blush--I can't believe I was ever that vulgar. I have no idea where I picked it up (probably nerd camp!).

Adolescence is a time for trying out new identities, and identities that shock adults are particularly delightful. I share your disgust, OP, but I also don't think that this is a sign of these kids' utter depravity, and I would be surprised if they still talked this way five years from now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I think of some of the jokes I told and vocabulary I used in high school, I blush--I can't believe I was ever that vulgar. I have no idea where I picked it up (probably nerd camp!).

Adolescence is a time for trying out new identities, and identities that shock adults are particularly delightful. I share your disgust, OP, but I also don't think that this is a sign of these kids' utter depravity, and I would be surprised if they still talked this way five years from now.

Not so sure about this. I was in a relationship with a late 30s man whose language was really foul when he was upset or in certain settings (with friends outside work, etc); I found it distasteful. He apparently grew up around folks who talked that way all the time, and was really surprised that I nor any of my friends curse in everyday conversation. After I expressed my discomfort he would curtail it when we were together. No longer dating this guy, but still FB friends; he is in his 40s now and, from his posts, his language has only gotten fouler. I think he thinks its cool.

FWIW, this guy has a job in education, and never uses profanity professionally, but chooses to use it fairly often in his social life. For some folks foul language is no big deal; others of us find it, well foul .

[Anonymous]

I live right by Eastern and Elliot Hine and have yet to have a bad experience with the kids from these schools. I do not walk besdie these schools during dismissal, but I'm often getting my kids in the car when students walk by on the way to school.

I'm not a cheerleader for these schools. I doubt my kids will ever attend them, but I wanted to share another experience.

[Anonymous]

I have encountered this on the bus on Rhode Island. I had my kid with me and told them I did not appreciate their language around my kid. That said I do remember a point when I was in 5th grade where I practiced cursing to sound cool.

[Anonymous]

People, guess what? Even the elementary school-aged children curse in my NW neighborhood. Why shouldn't they when their parents and caregivers walk beside them saying, "Motherf*cker this and Motherf*cker that?"

As I walk briskly past the nonsense, I calmly explain to my own children that their language is a product of a limited vocabulary.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what the entire school population is at Eastern but the percentage I encounter is noteworthy insulting to say the least. I can go on record there are calm days but there are those days that something has riled them up and the profanity is full of gusto.

I can attest to the fact, I am a former Richard Pryor wanna be while in high-school, so my memory is keen. But I am guessing with age my tolerance level has gone bonkers.

I guess my curse free zone is what I am truly in awe about because when I am closer to the school there's a sense of respect. But the closer to the metro that I am, the worse it seems to be. Therefore, I am guessing the assumed faculty that I do see that interact with the children are probably off work and feel it is beyond their jurisdiction.

That is why my topic of 'what did you call me" is the point I want to make. That's the most overused response in the context of things. They will curse each other unmercifully then one will say "you b*tch" and the response is "what did you call me....you dumb motherf*cker.

[Anonymous]

So sad. The definite downside to living in the city.

[Anonymous]

I have seen mothers curse and scream at their toddlers (yes, on public transportation) so many times. The little children just look dazed, confused, or numb. Just a little while ago outside my house I saw a young woman walking alongside a toddler holding his hand, this was an unsteady new walker, definitely under two. She said, loudly, "boy, you so SLOW!!", and not with endearment either.

A lot of kids hear mostly profanity and barked orders in the home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have seen mothers curse and scream at their toddlers (yes, on public transportation) so many times. The little children just look dazed, confused, or numb. Just a little while ago outside my house I saw a young woman walking alongside a toddler holding his hand, this was an unsteady new walker, definitely under two. She said, loudly, "boy, you so SLOW!!", and not with endearment either.

A lot of kids hear mostly profanity and barked orders in the home.

This. The sad part is when the kids don't look shocked or confused, like they're used to being put down and called foul names. My heart aches for them and what their future holds in terms of self-esteem. Then I remember that I grew up in an abusive (both physical and verbal) household and I turned out very well. Hopefully these kids have at least one positive role model that they can cling to.

[Anonymous]

Glad you brought this up. Wilson seems like a great school, but the crowd that gathers at dismissal as a group acts insane. The police sit by as they shout the most creative profanities at the top of their lungs in front of metro, Panera, Chipotle and McDs. This as the elderly and disabled try to navigate through the throng into metro entrance. I don't get it. Can't you ticket for ridiculously vulgar language? Can't the principal come stand on the corner and let these schoolchidlren know that whatever code of conduct applies inside Wilson also applies while congregating on the neighborhood doorstep? Are these kids 'strangers' once they leave the school?
It's kind of appalling, and I am all in for teens having fun. There's nothing fun though about shouting MF in someone's face or shouting that "payback's a **" and throwing down back and forth. I quote (as these youths continuously pushed the elevator button to stop their friends (and lots of random passengers) from descending into metro "Hey, the police just sitting there and they ain't doin' nuttin". Am I missing the fun part?

[Anonymous]

Lol you guys are cracking me up! Omg, I heard a teenager use the term bitch! She should be locked up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glad you brought this up. Wilson seems like a great school, but the crowd that gathers at dismissal as a group acts insane. The police sit by as they shout the most creative profanities at the top of their lungs in front of metro, Panera, Chipotle and McDs. This as the elderly and disabled try to navigate through the throng into metro entrance. I don't get it. Can't you ticket for ridiculously vulgar language? Can't the principal come stand on the corner and let these schoolchidlren know that whatever code of conduct applies inside Wilson also applies while congregating on the neighborhood doorstep? Are these kids 'strangers' once they leave the school?
It's kind of appalling, and I am all in for teens having fun. There's nothing fun though about shouting MF in someone's face or shouting that "payback's a **" and throwing down back and forth. I quote (as these youths continuously pushed the elevator button to stop their friends (and lots of random passengers) from descending into metro "Hey, the police just sitting there and they ain't doin' nuttin". Am I missing the fun part?

No, not really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol you guys are cracking me up! Omg, I heard a teenager use the term bitch! She should be locked up!

Yuuuuup - imma lock a bitch up!