In the Internet Tendency issue of McSweeney’s (on the 24th), Sarah Rosenshine’s “The New York Times announces an editorial policy change”, which begins:
The New York Times has been a steadfast beacon of truthful reporting since printing began in 1851. Our slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print” applies well even to this day, though our definition of “fitness” has evolved as decades have progressed. It is with this in mind that we are making an important announcement. In a medium that not only prides itself on conciseness, but is rooted in it, it is absurd to waste entire strings of words and even sentences avoiding a particular word. We’re going to print it now. It’s “fuck.”
Ah, how long we’ve waited for this day, when the Gray Lady picks up some color!
Not yet polychromatic, though. See:
P.S. The monosyllabic vulgarity for a woman’s genitals is still completely off limits.
Well, you have to draw the line somewhere.
No word on the monosyllabic vulgarity for feces, etc.
(Hat tip to Ben Zimmer.)
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