Reply #22: I don't disagree...

[RoyGBiv]

...as a criticism of the show. I think the incessant use of vulgar slang does detract from most forms of entertainment. Richard Pryor is about my personal limit, and not very many people could get away with it the way he did. He knew where and how to use it, in other words. Your example, South Park, was just atrocious. It's only funny for a few seconds, after the shock value wears off. As you imply, it is distracting.

I just don't think saying that such words weren't used that much in reality is a viable criticism. We're not positive if they were or were not, but it's not a huge leap of faith to say think they were. If we can easily accept a world in which people were shot dead on the street on a daily basis, I don't see how the ample use of profanity is such a stretch. In fact, the murder rate of the so-called Old West is probably more exaggerated than the language used.

Anyway, I basically agree with the criticism. I'm not a fan of the show. But the historical accuracy of the language used has little to do with it.