THE response to Bacup landlord Stuart Scholefield's ban on bad language in the pub he's taken over was that he had better get used to it as everyone in the town cussed anyway.

In some ways, this bewilderment over what the 58-year-old licensee was on about it is understandable -- given that verbal filth is commonplace nowadays in books and newspapers, on TV and radio and on the street. Sadly, it's 'normal.' But that does not make it right. Anyone who thinks it does is, surely, someone with little self-respect and with no regard for others -- above all, youngsters whose standards are corrupted when they are exposed to gutter talk.

Courageous Mr Scholefield is right to refuse to accept this notion that foul language is acceptable because it is now the so-called 'norm.' For I don't think it is -- and believe that the majority of people are, in fact, offended by it, but dare not protest lest it be thought to be old-fashioned and out of step. Mr Scholefield is not afraid of such perceptions and has the pluck to put his principles first. Wouldn't it be expletive-deleted marvellous if others -- not just in pubs, but also in the workplace and everyday situations -- insisted on such values without being afraid of being scoffed at?