Do We Really Need Profanity?
Why do people put curse words in their articles? Are they trying to draw attention to themselves, or to their article?
I was reading a new article this morning and the author used several curse words as if he were chatting with one of pals in a locker room.
I personally do not use this type of language and I do NOT enjoy it in conversations or in books or articles that I am reading.
Profanity is useless. Other words can be used to make the same point without offending anyone. It certainly does not belong in business. It can turn customers off, and you will lose sales.
I remember that my grandfather used to say "Profanity is an uneducated man's crutch." And I believe he was correct.
As a Christian I know that the Bible says we should not use any curse words.
In the article I was reviewing this morning, the author felt very comfortable using various ugly words throughout his article. And, he apparently felt that he had license to do this because he substituted an asterisk for one letter in each of these abusive words.
I believe we at WA should have a higher standard than this author.
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Absolutely, I saw cases where the person could not complete one sentence without using that "Crutch". Not a nice habit and not necessary, as you say.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your reply.
I'm convinced that God does not want us to talk that way.
All the best,
Mike
I agree completely, especially in a place of business or a article for the general public you would want to clean up as much as possible and look as intelligent as could be. But there are educated people (and I know quite a few due to the military) who just grew up or grew accustomed to it as a way of speech. I believe that individual will learn eventually that it has an negative impact on his article soon though.
Good point, I must say!
Often it would be better to wait a few seconds longer, till the imagination comes up with a word or phrase that is more suitable....
Or even an anecdote......
The memory of the point made, would be more lasting in the mind of the reader, also!
Thank you Teresa.
I am sure God does not want us to talk ,
or write that way.
All the best,
Mike
Thank you Teresa.
I am sure God does not want us to talk ,
or write that way.
All the best,
Mike
You are so correct. I am guilty myself of having occasionally used some minor word that was more along the lines of being off color than wrong.
However, after reading this blog and considering you such a great and mighty friend, I now have set my face like a flint not to do even this anymore. Why? The Apostle Paul said that if eating meat, (though he saw nothing wrong with eating meat), caused his brother to stumble that he would not eat another piece as long as the Earth stands.
Thank you for making me better, Bro. Mike.
Your Forever Friend,
-The teddy Bear
Hi Teddy Bear,
It's nice to hear your opinion on the subject.
Unfortunately, we all sin. But, if this gives you and others the opportunity to become a better person as a result, then God has achieved his purpose.
Take care and God bless,
Mike
There is a time and place...for some people. I personally have never used profanity in my content, ever. I don't feel that this is a way I want to represent myself.
That is not to say that others cannot be successful with profanity and sometimes it will lead to people attracting the audience that they want. Guys like Gary V that swear constantly, have embraced this. They don't change for the Internet and stay true to who they are, even if that is someone that is constantly using profanity.
Good point.
In real life, probably because I was a soldier for 12 years, I tend to use profanity a lot. But I rarely use it in writing and never on my website.
There is no reason to use profanity on your website. It will alienate some people.
If you are hoping to make sales through your website, you want your visitor to know you, like you and trust you. Profanity will undermine this and probably cost you some sales.
Last week I dumped an otherwise good comment left on my site because the comment contained the "F" word. Totally inappropriate.
Gary,
Thank you.
I believe that we have both hit the nail on the head.
have a great day,
Mike
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great share, and I agree. I try not to do this and have slipped once in a great while, but did not use the full word, they get the meaning this way.
Thank you.
I'm sure we can all try harder to eliminate these types of words from our language.