The F-Bomb Is a Freedom Weapon: Why Strategic Profanity Might Just Save Your Sanity, Your Strength, and Your Country
This Isn’t About Civility—It’s About Survival
The F-Bomb Is a Freedom Weapon: Why Strategic Profanity Might Just Save Your Sanity, Your Strength, and Your Country
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #417
Let’s cut through the bullshit.
You’re here because you know we’re in the middle of a not-so-slow-rolling authoritarian power grab—and it’s starting to really pick up speed. You feel the heat. You feel the fear. You see it.
And every now and then…in the middle of all that chaos…a four-letter word slips out of your mouth like a hot coal.
Maybe you tell yourself to stop. Clean it up. Be more "civilized."
Don’t.
Because what if I told you that word…that fiery little syllable you just spit out…isn't just a stress relief valve. It’s a psychological tool…a confidence amplifier…and a truth-teller’s sword.
What if I told you strategic profanity isn’t just OK in times like this—it might be essential.
Welcome to the case for the f-bomb. Not as vulgarity. Not as rebellion. But as defense.
1. Swearing Makes You Stronger
Yes…literally.
Studies out of Keele University found that cursing during physical exertion…like lifting weights or enduring pain…increased strength and endurance by 4-8%.
That’s not a motivational poster. That’s biological advantage.
When you drop a well-timed curse…your body kicks into high gear. Fight-or-flight gets activated. Adrenaline flows. You gain edge…focus…and grit.
Now ask yourself:
If it helps weightlifters push through a set of deadlifts… what might it do when you’re facing down a wave of fascist propaganda?
You’re not just venting. You’re powering up.
Swearing, in a moment of political or emotional resistance…acts like a self-triggered shot of courage. It's your verbal war paint.
So stop apologizing for it. Use it. (by the way, this works…even if you are just cursing inside your head.)
2. It Increases Pain Tolerance (And Right Now, Pain is Inevitable)
What does a country in crisis feel like?
Economic stress
Legal whiplash
Social isolation
Existential dread
All of that is pain. Deep…chronic…spiritual pain.
In lab settings, people who swore during ice-water submersion tests endured the pain longer than those who didn’t.
And isn’t that what we need right now?
To outlast the pain.
Profanity doesn’t just numb the edge—it makes you more resilient. It signals to your brain that you are responding to the pain…not submitting to it.
When you're watching civil liberties erode…or democracy bent to the will of bad-faith actors…shouting "This is f*ed up!"** isn't giving in. It’s activating your survival response.
It’s refusing to go numb.
3. Swearing Makes You Bolder and More Decisive
In multiple studies, subjects who used profanity during stressful tasks became more willing to take risks…more confident in their decisions…and less afraid to speak up.
Sound familiar?
Those are the exact qualities we need in this moment. Not pearl-clutching etiquette. Not polite resignation. We need fire. Steel. Backbone.
The strategic use of profanity flips a switch in your brain:
From "Should I say this?" To "This must be said. Now."
When the moment demands truth…and that moment is now…you need every mental tool that gets you to speak it. Loudly. Without apology.
A well-timed curse isn’t just a sentence enhancer. It’s a fuse. And in the right hands, it's the spark that lights a fire in everyone who hears it.
4. It Makes People Pay Attention
Profanity isn’t background noise.
It’s a verbal needle scratch. It tells the room: "This matters. Wake the hell up."
Why do you think political ads…campaign speeches…and corporate messages sound so damn lifeless? Because they’re all desperately avoiding offense—and in doing so…they avoid connection.
But you? You’re not here to please. You’re here to be heard.
Swear with intention…and you don’t just make noise. You cut through it.
You become the one voice people remember. The one voice that didn’t flinch.
The one voice that said:
This is fucked. And I’m not pretending it isn’t.
5. It Builds Trust (Seriously)
Sounds crazy? It’s not.
Studies show people who occasionally use profanity are perceived as more honest and more authentic than those who don’t.
Why? Because it signals emotional transparency. You’re not hiding behind rehearsed lines or corporate speak. You’re telling it straight.
In a political climate drowning in disinformation…strategic profanity can be the clearest sign of truth left standing.
People trust you more when you curse a little. It tells them you’re human. That you’re not here to bullshit them. And trust is how we build movements.
6. It Helps You Cope Without Collapsing
Cussing is catharsis.
It lets you yell into the void without falling in.
It gets the frustration out of you instead of letting it eat you alive.
In cultures around the world, profanity has long been a way to process fear, grief, anger, and despair. It’s not just linguistic spice—it’s a coping mechanism.
And if you’re feeling like you’re losing grip… if the weight of it all has your shoulders sagging… try this:
Stand up. Look in the mirror. And say, "F*ck this. I’m not quitting."
You might feel ridiculous. But you’ll also feel lighter. Stronger. Ready.
The Strategic Sweet Spot: Don’t Be Lazy. Be Sharp.
Let’s be clear: I’m not talking about being crass…cruel…or vulgar for the sake of it.
This isn’t about shock value. It’s about clarity. Precision. Timing.
Here’s the strategic playbook:
Use profanity sparingly to maintain its power.
Match the moment: Save it for truth bombs…not small talk.
Be authentic: If it feels fake or forced, it is.
Read the room: Swearing with allies? Bonding. Swearing in front of cameras? Calculated impact.
Done right, swearing isn’t a vice. It’s a signal:
“This moment matters. This isn’t business as usual.”
And we need a hell of a lot more of that.
If you are someone who watches my podcast episodes…you may have noticed that I don’t curse very often during most of them. Why?
Because I want the focus to be on my guest.
I don’t want to divert any more attention to myself than necessary. I know the power of profanity to rapidly divert attention to what I’m saying. If I’ve invited you on as a podcast guest…I want people to hear what you have to say.
Final Thought: We Need a Language That Matches the Moment
We are not in normal times.
This is not a drill.
The democratic framework is cracking. Rights are being rolled back. Authoritarianism isn’t creeping anymore—it’s stomping.
And in the face of that, a polite whisper isn’t just ineffective.
It’s complicit.
Profanity…when used with purpose…can be our counterpunch. Our signal to each other that we see the danger. That we’re still in this fight. That we haven’t gone numb.
Because here’s the truth:
They want you silent. They want you civil. They want you soft.
Don’t give it to them.
Give them defiance. Give them clarity. Give them the kind of language that makes the room stop cold.
The truth is this: We are being f**ed with. Our rights, our minds, our future. And I’m not here to be nice about it. I’m here to fight like hell. And I’m damn sure not alone.*
P.S. You might not hear anyone else say this out loud—especially in public. But you’re not "too emotional." You’re not "too angry."
You’re awake.
And if that awareness comes wrapped in a curse word?
So be it.
Because if they’re offended by your language, wait until they hear your truth.
Now let’s go turn some tables over.
Paid subscribers will get an upcoming article: How to use language to win arguments, cut through disinfo, and own the narrative without apology.
I should add this; I would agree that most arguments are a waste of time and energy. I think we can all agree to that to some degree.
Yet, I also know there is always that person who gets under our skin…so much…that we’re willing to waste a little time and energy to put them in their place, and it’s only hours or days later that we can think about the things we wish we’d have said.
For those times…it’s nice to have a blueprint. It boosts your confidence to know you can reduce some jerk to ridiculousness with 2-3 precision comments.
You don’t even have to do it. Just knowing you could…if you wanted to…let’s you walk a little taller and a little more securely.
Join us. $15 a month…that’s $3.75 a week. One hell of a megaphone.
You in?
As always…I’ll be back with even more…soon.
Committed to the end,
-Jack
Sources and Citations:
Keele University: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/researchnews/2022/march/research-swearing/increased-confidence-strength.php
The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/why-swearing-makes-you-stronger
Upland Software: https://uplandsoftware.com/postup/resources/blog/email-newsletter-statistics/
The Sun (Health): https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/28375739/swearing-feel-happier-health/
MedicalXpress: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-power-elicit-emotional-responses.html
Journal of Hand Therapy: https://www.jhrehab.org/2024/04/12/can-swearing-be-professional-and-patient-centered/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoalgesic_effect_of_swearing