Professors and four-letter words.

Is it appropriate for professors to curse while lecturing? I'm not particularly offended by it, though a lot of other people are, and I wouldn't formally complain about it (unless it was, say, part of an attack on a particular student). But I do think that it can damage the credibility of the professor in certain cases. Students who are offended will be less likely to listen to professors they don't respect, and may be less likely to go to that professor for help in the class.

For some students, it may work the other way around. Students definitely curse in daily conversation, and if a professor does in a lecture it could communicate a (small) point of common ground.

If a professor curses in class, are students allowed to curse at the professor? Here's a discussion about students cursing at professors.