The language in Hamilton was a little stronger than usual yesterday as residents mulled over a Magistrate's decision that the infamous four-letter word was inherently offensive or if it was objectionable when used in a certain context.

In light of Magistrate Edward King's recent acquittal of a foul-mouthed man, The Royal Gazette asked Bermudians if they agreed with Mr. King that the ‘f-word' is only insulting when used in certain situations.

Roderick Gordon, 23, said Mr. King was right: “I'm saying it's cool if you say (the word), but it just depends on how you're saying it. If you're swearing and you want to fight somebody or your ‘f-ing' off somebody, Police should say something. I don't know about getting written up for it, but I could see a cop saying ‘watch your language,'” he said.

But he disagreed strongly with a magistrate being able to fine someone for swearing: “They're looking for money that way, anything to get more money.”

But Deborah Paterson said that she found the ‘f-word' offensive irrespective of how it's used.

“I don't agree with using the word,” she said. “I don't like to hear it.”

Terrylyn Wade, 40, also agreed with Mr. King that it was the context which made swearing offensive.

“It does (depend on the context),” he said. “If I'm walking down the road and I start f-ing everybody off, soon the cops will come and haul me off. But if I'm standing up here and getting excited talking to some girlfriends and I drop a few ‘f's, that's not a problem,” she said.

But she said that it is offensive to swear at Police or anyone she didn't know.

“If I walk down the road and go up to you and say ‘f*** off' - then that is offensive.

“But if you're my girl and been up my house for cocktails last night, I can say ‘Girl, I had a f***ing good time last night.' Is that offensive?”

But she admitted that when a child is present, swearing should cease. “I don't cuss in front of my children,” she said.

Agreeing with Ms Wade on this point was 24-year-old Fraser Robertson.

“You always have to think of the children who might hear,” he said. “Swearing is offensive in public.”

Daniela David, 28, said she sat on the fence on the swearing issue.

She said using the f-word sometimes can be offensive but so many people swear nowadays, and so often, that it is hard to single out instances where she finds it offensive.

However, Johanna Traxel, 18, took a strong stand on the issue saying that it doesn't matter how the f-word is used, she finds swearing of any kind “totally offensive”.

Celia Nzabalinda echoed that sentiment saying it was the word itself that offended her, irrespective of who is saying it or the reasons for using it.

And standing outside the French Connection United Kingdom (FCUK) store on Reid Street, Ms Nzabalinda said that she was also offended whenever businesses used near-spellings or similar sounding words in their advertising or products.

“They know that everyone knows full well what that shirt is supposed to look like,” she said with disgust, pointing toward clothes in the window of the store with FCUK emblazoned across them.

Others who spoke to The Royal Gazette suggested that, in Bermuda, the issue of swearing is more blurry because Bermudians traditionally use the offensive word more often - in effect, rendering swear words sting-less.

When an off duty Police officer was asked if Bermuda swears more than other countries, he said, laughing: “You're f***ing right.”