Rude SMS dictionary sparks outrage

Parents have reacted angrily to a planned publicity stunt that will give free copies of a "dictionary of filth" to secondary school pupils.

Publishers of the CD-based Rude Text Book are to hand out copies to children aged 12 to 16 outside schools next month.

The dictionary lists 100 of the most offensive swearwords in the English language, along with the abbreviated equivalent for text messaging.

Some 600 copies of the disk will be distributed outside 20 schools nationwide, without permission from head teachers or parents.

But parents' groups have slammed the move. A spokesman for Family Focus told regional newspaper the Western Daily Press: "It is degenerate, it is corruptive and it is sad. The use of swearwords and obscenity is already endemic."

It accuses the publishers of doing nothing to further young people's education and ambition.

But Justin Hopkins, of publishers The Eighth Day, rejected the criticism. He told the newspaper that teenagers should have access to this sort of thing as the words are already used every day.

"I suspect some parents will not like it, but it is up to individual people to decide whether they want copies or not," he said.

See also:

School SMS bullies face expulsion

Government gets tough on playground threats  13 Aug 2002

Careers decided by text message

Teens' SMS style 'the key to their future'  29 Jul 2002

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