HAS the F-word become mainstream?
Child psychologist Brian Yeo certainly doesn't think so.
The father of two teenage sons told The New Paper over the phone yesterday: "It's certainly not acceptable in such a formal setting as there are academics, parents and children present.
"It's still a word to be used among friends or in a social setting."
While accepting Miss Trinetta Chong's explanation and apology, he said the use of the word would be more acceptable in a smaller college or one with a liberal bent.
He acknowledged that young people here are using expletives more liberally as they take after their Western counterparts.
"There, the word 'f***' is used to convey a sense of deep emotion," he explained. "It's no longer considered an insult.
"It's like the phrase 'wicked'. It used to mean something is immoral or villainous but now it means something is exciting."
Other words accepted as mainstream in the West are "bitch" and "shit", he said. But they are still not entirely acceptable here.
Dr Yeo said: "I still don't think our society is ready to accept it."
But poet and creative writing teacher Ng Yi-sheng, 30, feels that society is loosening up, which is a good thing.
He told TNP: "I have a 12-year-old niece, and you should see the things she says on Twitter.
"There are things people find acceptable now which they wouldn't have about 20 years ago.
"This is good because it means there are fewer limits to expression and thought."
On Miss Chong's speech, he said: "I'm only sorry she apologised. A valedictorian should use honest, powerful words to express herself."
Most parents The New Paper spoke to disagreed.
Dr Jim Teo, a father of two, aged two and four, said: "She should reflect on her words because using such language is unacceptable."
The 49-year-old physician felt Miss Chong's use of the word was "crude and reflects badly" on her.
No respect
He said it showed that she did not respect the people in the audience.
Dr Teo also did not buy her explanation, saying: "I'm sure she could have controlled her impulses because the speech was pre-written and in front of her.
"So she couldn't have just blurted out those words like that. Using that word when playing games is fine but not in a formal setting."
In what appears to be a generation gap, young people we spoke to seemed more tolerant about the use of the word on such an occasion.
Student Norbel Yang, 24, said: "Using such words is acceptable in this society.
"If we can't accept small things like this, we will not be able to accept the larger differences among people."
This article was first published in The New Paper.
