Ach! You're quite right that I disagree with the negative perceptions of cussing. This is where it's good having someone like you read my stuff because it makes me realize that what I wrote isn't sufficiently precise. In this case, all of this needed to be preceded by "Some people perceive cussing as crude, vulgar, etc." To me, the overarching point is: even tho cussing may be seen as crude, it can serve a very functional purpose. By the way, your phrase 'teakettle release' is a great phrase, and perfectly sums up the functional purpose of cussing!

So as I'm thinking a bit more about this, I tried to fit this in with my tendency to not want to cuss in front of kids or thinking it's not good for kids to cuss. Why do I think it's quite ok for me to cuss as teakettle release but not them? Why do I feel a bit...irritated with adults who cuss freely in front of kids? Maybe...we think they should first develop a full vocabulary and plenty of imaginative wordings before learning how to appropriately use cussing? Maybe they haven't yet learned discretion as to when to cuss and when not? Like...we want to make sure they can cuss responsibly? Maybe...cussing should be seen as 'advanced' communication and we want them to learn the appropriate, socially-acceptable basics first?

Agh...your comment turned on my 'thinking' switch, Dan--which I so enjoy, so thank you:)