In reply to:

It just goes to show the power of a word, doesn't it? Strange how a combination of curved and straight lines can have such an effect.

What intrigues me is the impact that context has on making a word acceptable or unacceptable. As much as I loathe "fuck" (see, I can type it!), I am very comfortable using the correct pronunciation of the Maori "whaka", an extremely common element in Maori places names, and which, when said properly sounds just like "fuck a". I guess it's the vulgarity, paucity of imagination, and aggression so often displayed in the use of the Anglo-Saxon version that offends me, that makes it sound so ugly.