When you were twelve years old, you were probably introduced to your first curse word.

I remember walking down the middle school halls when I overheard a boy talking about some girl he had just conversed with to his friends.

With an angry look on his face, the boy shouted, “She is such a b***h.”

His friends proceeded to nod in agreement and reiterate the forbidden b-word while eyeing the girl.

I was shocked hearing them say such a word with no shame. Although I had heard the word before, it was never in context to the point where I could actually understand what it meant as a naive preteen.

From then on, I kept my ears open, and realized cursing became was a part of the middle school norm.

Gone were my elementary ways. I was a middle schooler now. I was so mature.

I started watching more shows with graphic language and listening to the “explicit” labeled music.

Most students did the same. As we all went through adolescence, our bodies weren’t the only things changing.

Our vocabulary was too.

Boys would scream “d**n” and “b***ch” regularly. “F**k” became their new favorite word by the end of eighth grade.

Girls also started making vulgar comments. As girls became more catty, adjectives such as “wh**e” and “sl*t” were used to talk about other girls.

From middle school onward, students picked up more curse words.

In high school and even college, “f*****g” became the most common adjective and phrases such as douchebag, “p***y” and “f***er.”

But even though most people started using foul language, there are still some words that seem to be off-limits.

For example, the word “c**t” is seldom heard.

Apart from Australians, Brits, and South Africans, no one has integrated the word “c**t” as a part of their vernacular. It’s almost an unspoken rule to never say the c-word in the states.

The question is why do Americans accept certain curse words over others?

In media, there is a list of words that are still restricted despite the overuse of “normal” curse words in music, YouTube and blogs.

The “heavy seven” refers to selected group of words that are not allowed to be said on TV. Radio stations are also prohibited from saying over one hundred phrases and curse words.

What I don’t understand is why Americans allow the use of profanity but only to an “appropriate” extent.

A curse word is a curse word. It’s definition is derogatory and negative.

There is no acceptable sense of the word “sh*t,” “f***k,” or “c**t.” Yet why is it that the first two are okay to say in conversation but the third is not?

People say “it’s too raunchy.”

Technically speaking, the c-word is synonymous to the word “p***y.” But the latter is only one we can say without being judged.

I’m all for freedom of expression. I love that I’m able to write about what I want as an Opinion Editor and not be restricted from certain topics.

But what I’m confused about is why do I have to asterisk these list of curse words when I know that almost 100% of readers will know exactly what I mean?

People who control the media need to decide whether it is okay or not to allow explicit words to be said. If one obscenity is censored, then the rest should be. If the majority of obscenities are already uncensored, then why not allow all of them to be?

Until then, I’ll refrain from saying words that are “too raunchy.” But at least I can still think of saying them.