I can't remember when I first heard any, maybe around the same time as you. I never used them, though, until I was much older. The first time I had ever swore -- I used the word "bastard" -- you can bet my mom wasn't pleased. I only started using them when I was in high school, and even then, I rarely used swear words in public. To this day, my family still reprimands me when I curse.

My dad's still a bit of a stickler if he thinks we're being loud or unnecessary, but mom could care less.

One thing I do recall, though, is messing around on our old laptop when I was maybe twelve and finding a letter my mom had written to the principal of my new school in back in grade three, stating that I'd come home asking her what "chink" and "lesbian" meant, and when she asked me why I was asking, I'd replied that kids at school were calling me them.

I hadn't remembered the original incident at all, but it didn't really surprise me. Not my favourite school, that one.