<IMHO> The only language that I would call "distasteful" is that which fails to properly convey the intended meaning. Languages with deep context (such as PERL for example) which employ multiple means to convey a single concept, often do so for two innate reasons:
1. To make it easier to learn to express yourself
2. To enable the expression of subtle nuances in meaning
Anything beyond judging language as a communication medium involves not the language itself, but politics.
My point is that I would no more be offended by the use of the word "merde" than I would the use of "goto" or "shit" or "/dev/null". It is better to judge the validity of the idea being expressed, I believe.
Oneself should strive to be judged by the merits of your ideas, rather than the brevity or sweetness of your code. (Maintainability vs. Optimization?)


Wait!... This isn't a parachute, this is a backpack! </IMHO>