the **censored generation

The **censored Generation.

Some generations before, a rage of lusty words would probably have invited social wrath and stigma. Friends might have deserted you or branded you a filthy outcast. Today, thanks to the 21st century verbose revolution and excessive media splurge of uncensored material, the license to swear seems to be Én-Vogue!

The utility of F's and B's has grown over the years featuring as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, besides transcending various other figures of speech. Youngsters need not mind their language any more, though there are a few who still consider swearing a taboo. However, collegians today would admit that it’s quite normal and trendy to speak street or slang, especially among groups of their comfort zone.

Few adolescents admit to have forcefully learned the slang, so as to feel a sense of 'belongingness' to the group. It is no longer the anxiety of being cast away as outdated or orthodox that induces swearing, but the slang has just simply become a part of life. If we try to investigate into the campus talk of the yesteryears, adults claim that they never spoke foul.

Comparatively, their so called ‘bad words’, they used during their days, have evolved into meaner and juicier exclamations. Words that they used, like- Donkey, go to hell, eat shit, bloody bugger, idiot are what today’s generation would mellow down as ’cute’ or ‘cliché’.

Darwin was dead right when coined the term ‘survival of the fittest’. New cyber words are invented every day and you can’t afford to be asleep or else you might be left out. Decoding the concise phrases could be a herculean task; therefore young and old find it obligatory to keep up with Vocabulary, lest they find themselves alienated in cyber space. No one seems to be keen on missing out on the cyber revolution; speaking of which, my grand-mother has also got all techno savvy, though she sometimes calls up the wrong daughter and then blames the network companies.

Well with the media came the lazy lifestyle and the SMS culture. It has influenced youngsters so much that teachers find it annoying to make sense of the script, when texting language leaks into the answer sheets. I was recently scolded by a senior professor at the University, for beginning my formal e-mail with a ‘Hey’. Social networking sites and chat rooms have increased the necessity of ‘De-vowel-ed’ words. Greetings like ‘Good morning’ and ‘congratulations’ have stunted in size to just a ‘Gm’ or ‘Congo’. 

Television is the premier source of Information and entertainment. Being a rich reservoir of ideas and concepts, children pick up language styles and accents, thus shaping personalities for good. All broadcasts and channel networks display an obligatory disclaimer that appears at the bottom of the screen stating that the viewer shall write in to complain about any material that is found disturbing. I can’t imagine a housewife complaining about the lousy, melodramatic soaps that inject ideas of hatred and jealousy, ignite ‘saas-bahu’ fights, in turn, destroying simple loving households. I don’t see slothful couched potatoes, who devour on reality shows like ‘Big Boss’, ‘we steal your girlfriend’ and other unbelievable stupidity, complain of their addiction. I haven’t come across school kids protesting against WWE coverage or grumbling about trendy brainwashing advertisements.

I haven’t heard of any politician who has come out to oppose a steamy item number in Bollywood, yet they bark about women not deserving mobiles and strict adherence to dress codes.  Life goes on as long as it pleases the senses and censorship, well that’s subjective to the objects on screen.

The cyber world is a powerhouse of knowledge you could choose to imbibe or ignore. Parents experimenting with ‘child-lock’ for channels are merely playing ‘hide n seek’ with themselves. It is impossible or rather incorrect to withhold or jail youngsters from reality. Agree, there is always an appropriate moment for exposure to certain schools of learning, but then, when is the right time? Many parents are caught napping, as their kids have already shed off their soft innocent skin and grown into rough incorrigible personalities.

Modern day lifestyles and the call for multitasking, makes it inevitable but to reject the vowel. It is no longer something that is forced upon or impressed on a groupie. Connecting to the slang culture comes natural to some. Children in kindergarten know the swear word and there’s no fooling them and adults don’t mind jumping the broom to bridge the generation gap. We need a ceasefire on inter-generational opinions on media influence.  The blame game should end with the acceptance of the fact that change is here to stay, however, learning to respect and be sensitive to others.

On a lighter note, there is no visible threat as such to the English dictionary; but caution is key, especially in formal settings and non-liberal atmospheres. It is essential that a balance is maintained between the slang and the situation. As for the hypocrisy of censorship is concerned; authority figures should remember - the more you blur it, the more you intrigue the audience. Ignorance is not always bliss, since a curious mind is never at peace. 

(GOMANTAK TIMES -NOV 2012)