Sir, – Inexcusable lapses in taste in the print media are nothing new and there seems to be a rush to the lowest common denominator in crudity, vulgarity and coarseness where some journalists are concerned. A pity that The Irish Times is not an exception as Gerry Thornley's article (Sports Thursday, July 4th), proves: "Ballsy call to drop O'Driscoll just doesn't sit right", with "ballsy selection" further into the article.
Yes, we all know what’s meant and indeed such language may well be part of much of everyday discourse in Ireland. But are journalists so bereft of a descriptive vocabulary that they have to resort to a vulgarity commonly associated with male genitalia?
Imagine what the reaction would be were they to use a vulgarity associated with female genitalia in an article. Recent correspondence in your paper has centred on adjectives that should be dropped. Among other terms of vulgarity, I suggest the above is one that we could gladly do without when we open our paper. This has nothing to do with political correctness as I am a constant critic of where much of that has got us. On the other hand, maybe I’m just old? – Yours, etc,
NOEL HOWARD,
Kilworth,
Co Cork.