Not cool to cuss

A 10-year old boy once asked me:

Boy: Can you use the f-word?

Me: Umm, no. Why would I?

Boy: I don't know. Since you're older and all, I thought you're allowed to use it.

Me: Well, no. I don't.

Basically, our conversation ended there because somebody interrupted us and I had to leave him. I felt guilty to have left the discussion sort of hanging in the mid air with no final say or word of advice for him. It must have been his means of justifying stuff his friends normally do and he was trying to find out if it is right or wrong. I guess I could understand where and how such question could have popped up in his mind, given the environment he is in.

I pretty much do not (or try not to) use vulgar words as a regular vocabulary in my daily life. It is my personal choice because I am not comfortable expressing my frustrations in such manner. I also cannot comprehend how it would give me a sense of satisfaction. I am no saint but I highly label the act as inappropriate and thus, I avoid doing so myself.

If you decided to, I'm still cool (I am using this lightly because I do mind but it is really your choice and I have no say in that) with it as long as you're not a kid (not a teenager yet). I'm sure most of my friends are well aware of this fact about myself. I often cringed and glared every time someone cuss in front of me. Therefore, I noticed an apology would usually follow before or after their choice of bad words (which I gladly appreciate for acknowledging my uncomfortableness).

However, if you're spewing profanities at the rate of a word per second, you can be sure that I would be out the next minute. There is only so much bad words that I can handle at one time.

If you were me, what would have been your answer to the kid?