Reader Millington

Mills is addressing how Moses would have reacted to a salesman in a Ford Sierra at the Great Crossing (of the Pelican Crossing).

And Moses did see to it that he was visited with boils. And he certainly didn't fuck with Moses again.

"Fuck with"?

"Don't fuck with me."

Not sure I'm entirely happy with the ubiquity of "fuck." Certainly, much of the charm of the word comes from its being able to turn its hand to a range of grammatical roles - "Fuck! The fucking fucker's fucked!" - but, just because it's there, doesn't mean one has to use it.

Initially, one might suppose that this is because it's the best weapon in the arsenal, sothe temptation is always to reach for it. However, "cunt" outguns it, I'm sure you'll agree, but is much less used. Given my certificate, I might mess with you, shit with you, or fuck with you, but I'm opening myself up to ridicule should I attempt to cunt with you.

I know, I know - you're sitting there in your huge leather armchair, knocking your pipe on your heel and saying "But, Mil... that's because cunt can only be used as a noun. You - for variation - twat."

But I take issue with you. Another form would be picked from the air in an instant, if it suited; the obvious example to illustrate my case being "He twatted me." So, I must confess to being saddened and puzzled as to the hegemony of "fuck."