During my usual channel surfing while on the elliptical at the Y, I happened across a segment on The View today. Whoopi Goldberg was talking about a passenger who was kicked off a flight for cursing. Apparently a Brooklyn man was complaining to a fellow passenger about the 45 minute delay the Delta airline carrier flight was experiencing. What he said, “What the F….is going on?” resulted in his dismissal from the flight. According to the ousted passenger, he  used the F word twice while speaking to other passengers.

Airlines do have the right to remove passengers “when the passenger’s conduct is disorderly, abusive or violent” or if he or she “appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs” or “attempts to interfere with any member of the flight crew in pursuit of his or her duties.” The man reported that he was hung over but not drunk and felt he was treated unfairly. Maybe he was and deserved a warning first, but that wasn’t what bothered me.

What bothered me was the attitude of most of the women on The Vew. Most times, I feel like they live in another reality.

Whoopi was outraged! According to her, everyone would throw the F word around if delayed. This was the only possible response and a justifiable one at that!

When she made this point, I yelled at the TV–“Not everyone throws the F bomb when frustrated. I’m frustrated with you right now and not cursing!” I have been frustrated, angry and annoyed with airline delays, but do not resort to cursing to make my point. The assumption that all people curse, and that cursing is an appropriate way to respond, drew a few applause. Elizabeth looked dumbfounded.

What has happened to civil discourse? Why do people have to curse to make a point? And why do a few television celebrities assume that ALL people act just like they do?

I’m not perfect and not above acting rude at times, but I am not entitled to treat other people poorly because I do not like something. I try to apologize when I offend and don’t feel good about it. And I do not ascribe to the notion that being potty-mouthed is the norm of public discourse. So Whoopi, (who by the way, has a profanity clause in her contract) if you want to throw the F word around in public, that is your right. But be ready for a few consequences now and then because not everyone, including the airlines, believes that people have the right to be rude.