In today's Wall Street Journal the world is being told that the firm Goldman Sachs has banned "naughty words." Employees are told to stop using curse words in their emails. Well? the bosses are looking ahead, concerned about -- what if, the company's emails are subpoenaed again by a Congressional committee! How would it look to America, if a firm of hard working honest fellas and gals, dedicated to looking after the pension funds of old people, and the funds of widows and orphans, employees are using blue language? Not that the bosses don't trust their workers, but a software program is to be installed that will prevent any "bad words" from appearing in the emails.
This is funny. I mean, if a Wall Street guy or gal can't cuss, how can he or she be Wall Street? Wall Street is for hunters, the toughs, the dudes and gals who fight mean everyday, to grab and to take, to make stuff theirs -- the predators.
I am not saying that regular people should curse. There is a lot that can be said for using polite language in private as well in public communications. But! If a Wall Streeter can't cuss, then what? Captain Kidd didn't curse. None of the pirates of old cursed. There is no cursing in the Mafia. Wise guys never cursed. Sure? Right? Well -- Invent a language? The F word becomes feathers and the S word becomes slips. The bosses, those old birds, at Goldman -- some smart typing finger at Sachs could email -- "are feathering their employees, putting them in slips?"
Did I write that? (Smile!)