Do you drop the F Bomb?

[ses5909]

I was reviewing Cedric's blog (http://www.theblogexperiment.com/blog-forum/showthread.php?p=2017) (sorry Cedric :p) and come to find out Cedric has a potty mouth :eek:. But I think it's ok on his blog. I couldn't say that on even my personal blog though because I work online and I don't want what I wrote one day to bite me in the you know what.

Now if you know me well in person, you will find out that I cuss a lot. I used to be in the Navy and well, like the saying goes, I've got a "mouth like a sailor." But I am very aware of it and I make sure even in person to censor myself. Generally the only people that hear me cuss are those that are closest to me. Online I also will censor myself though.

here are my questions:

1. Have you ever been turned off from a blog because of it's language?
2. Have you ever had a blog where you use that kind of language?
3. What is your general opinion on it?

[Megan]

Yep - I do. But only occasionally because if you do it constantly it loses its charm :D

[samwoodfin]

I've turned off from blogs not because the language, itself, offends me, but when it's over the top to the point that it seems as if the blogger is trying, constantly, to find as many opportunities as possible to use said language. Megan's right; it "loses it's charm".

I'll let a few verboten words into my own blog, but generally try to keep it relatively clean. If in doubt, I try to remember if I've heard the word on network television, and use that as my guideline.

[doorlight]

Nope. I don't cuss online and offline.

[shyflower]

Reading a blog with excessive cursing doesn't bother me. Like Sara, although I wasn't in the Navy, I can hold my own with the best of the sailors. :)

However, I wouldn't link to a blog that had excessive cursing for fear of offending my visitor with my choice of reading material, just the same as I wouldn't put a link to an adult forum in my blog or on my web site.

Especially on the Internet, first impressions are important to business.

[Cedric]

Well the reason why I am glad that people gave feedback on me is because I need to know what actually drives people away. And of course, I don't use those bad words every line and when I'm damn angry, that's when I'll use them alot!

I felt that everyone should have their style of blogging. I mean true enough if you're damn wild in your blog, sooner or later people will run away, fear of getting flamed but for me, despite the fact that I use bad words in my post, I don't really worry about offending people too much because trust me, even if you blog in a decent way, people will still dislike you for no reason.

We can't please everyone!

Actually, it's funny how some bloggers do become famous though they curse people each and every post, don't think I'm kidding but there's this girl in Singapore who is so famous and she's so brave to even list out 6 bloggers whom she thinks are disgusting and curses old people. Rude? HELL YEAH! But people still love to visit her blog. Weird eh?

[tater03]

It personally doesn't bother me. I think that it really depends on the type of blog it is and the content the words are used. But to me it is basically to each there own.

[ses5909]

I think you're safe Cedric, don't worry. But Shyflower did make a good point...a lot of people wouldn't want to link to a blog that may offend someone. But in the end I guess you just way the pros and cons and go with that!

[mccormicky]

I just did it.It was because I realized I had been using coy phrases such as eff or f instead.I thought it was namby pamby. I swear a lot in real life.But I am getting better.When I was younger almost every sentence used to start with "F***-ing," like some sort of preamble. It was a habit.I wasn't always aware of it. It was a lazy way to talk.
But blogging isn't exactly the same as real speech-there is the filter of having to type out everything you want to say,which I think is an effective barrier to just blurting out every inappropriate thought that pops into your head.
If I read a blog that is comprised of all swears and or slang I will be turned off.I find it disingenuous. Except British writers. They cuss kind of cute.

[Jewel]

I won't get turned off of a blog due to cursing, as long as every other word isn't a curse word. Other than that, it's fine with me.

I don't generally use a lot of cursing in my blogs, because I think that it will drive away a certain percentage of your potential audience.

[aussietico]

I never swear. I'm far too mature and stuff.

[Dan Schulz]

Wait a second. You started this thread because you wanted to talk about Cedric's carpet bombing campaign?

Ok, time for me to be serious again. Not in public (and that does include online). But I will not hesitate to apply them liberally (as in saturation bombng or massed orbital bombardment) in private when I'm about to blow like Krakatau or Mt. St. Helens, but fortunately those outbursts are rare - about as rare as the chances of the Yellowstone caldera blowing its lid.

[goldfries]

Actually, it's funny how some bloggers do become famous though they curse people each and every post, don't think I'm kidding but there's this girl in Singapore who is so famous and she's so brave to even list out 6 bloggers whom she thinks are disgusting and curses old people. Rude? HELL YEAH! But people still love to visit her blog. Weird eh?

er... was it XiaXue? that's a damn popular blogger, not that she's a good blogger but she's just nasty. :)

[adalante]

I don't swear and never posted anything like that on my blogs, i don't mind it on people's blog though but if it's too excessive than it does turn me off.

[rhyswynne]

I swear occasionally at best. I find a good swear word can get your point across every now and again.

However, I do use "british" swears such as bloody, sods and bugger all the time, they're not as offensive :)

[Stavanger]

Now if you know me well in person, you will find out that I cuss a lot. I used to be in the Navy and well, like the saying goes, I've got a "mouth like a sailor."

Swears like a sailor huh? You must know exactly what the 2ndLt said even when it a string of fbomb and nothing else.

"$%#$ ^(&)*%^&$ $&$&%*&^) $%$@#$@#^%*"

[Megan]

If someone swears constantly it really diminishes the point of the post in my opinion - when I hear or read people swear constantly I think - great, another 'all bark, no bite' person.

Sometimes not swearing a lot and arguing a point intelligently when you are angry just makes you look better as a person. And I laugh at people like that in public and online (ok, more so at the shazza's in the stupid market who are yelling cos they didn't get 10 cents off their milk) :D After all, no one cares if you are a psycho with a key board, right?

But reading Cedric's blog, I would say that his intelligence shines through because of his writing style...It's quite amusing actually (in a good way) Like Foamy!

[Jeremy]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/27/serious_business.jpg

[rodaniel]

MLW gets onto me for cursing in person - and I'm trying to minimize how much I do this - but I'd never include foul language in a blog post because too many of my readers are family friends who are of parent/grandparent age and would almost certainly take offense and likely stop visiting my site.

Note that my standards aren't holding me back - I'm just too ego-bound to my webstats to sacrifice any loyal readers.

:D

[Megan]

ROFL @ that Pic.... Oh gawd.

[ses5909]

Note that my standards aren't holding me back - I'm just too ego-bound to my webstats to sacrifice any loyal readers.
:D

Niiicee!

[ses5909]

Swears like a sailor huh? You must know exactly what the 2ndLt said even when it a string of fbomb and nothing else.

"$%#$ ^(&)*%^&$ $&$&%*&^) $%$@#$@#^%*"

That would be Ensign! But 2lt in the other services! Were you that 2lt?

[LiquidReflex]

I will occasionally swear but keep it to a minimum. This is just a personal opinion, but excessive swearing tends to make a person seem less intelligent. Some people find the only way they can articulate their emotions is to swear every other word. I swear because it's an emotional response ... so if I'm arguing or very frustrated, I'll probably throw a word in here or there. Otherwise, I try to "keep it clean" for the most part. ;)

[Jeremy]

I don't swear on my site, but that is simply because it isn't appropriate for the topic. I think the most vile word I've used was "damn".

Now, as soon as I get in the car and have to deal with all of the idiots on the road I become an endless stream of obscenities.

[Golgotha]

While I do occasionally let an expletive fly - I try not to. Typically cursing is for people who don't truly know how to express what they want to say.

And I never allow comments in with curse words...

[Cedric]

Megannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!! Sure you're lovin it? Thanks and big hugs for ya!

And Goldfries, yes it's Xiaxue! Haha she's tha queen!

Err... I swear a lot but I will draw a line to avoid inflicting damages on an individual, that's why in my blog I will sometimes end with "Just kidding" or "Don't take offense". So you guys who stumbled upon my blog, don't take offense with my language. I'm still a decent kid.

And Aussietico... Are you sure with what you just said? Ha ha ha!

[t(-.-t)]

I have but I don't do it frequently. It's every other word out of my mouth in person though :D

[deronsizemore]

I've been known to drop and F bomb or two, or three...or four. :-)

I really try to censor myself but I do it without really even knowing sometimes. It's become a part of the way I communicate and I guess that is sad. I don't do it in public or anything like that though and definitely not on my blog. When I'm golfing and hit a bad shot, everyone in the group will know it. hehehe

[Megan]

Megannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!! Sure you're lovin it? Thanks and big hugs for ya!

Yes I love it - Honestly your blog amuses me just because you have your opinion and you don't really care what other people may think - it is so real. And funny.

[Cedric]

Megan: I'm tired of letting people control over me, I was a good boyish blogger until people took advantage and fed me some shits so now I'm independent and I don't give a damn how people think anymore. But of course, I gotta know how to draw a line, try talking bad about a particular religion that i dislike will cost my life so still the bad boy has his principles. Muahahahha

[kimberlybarryd]

As in a really good movie you could always say "Forget About It"

[Glen Allsopp]

No and I don't think I would. Simply because I would prefer things to remain 'professional'

[pbradish]

While I do occasionally let an expletive fly - I try not to. Typically cursing is for people who don't truly know how to express what they want to say.

And I never allow comments in with curse words...

Same here. I rarely ever swear. I think that when someone uses cuss words too often they have less shock value attached to them.

Now, when I do swear, people know that I'm really angry and they're generally speechless. That, or maybe it's the fact that I'm a 220lb. fighter who keeps a glock under his pillow. :o

edit: forgot we were talking about blogging, sorry.

[HAWK]

Nope, I don't think I ever have.

IRL I have a pretty filthy mouth, but online I keep it a bit tamer. I think I occasionally say shite, but that's about it (besides, the e softens it). I don't take offence to it in other people's blogs, but if there is swearing just for the sake of it then I can't be bothered.

[Megan]

Megan: I'm tired of letting people control over me, I was a good boyish blogger until people took advantage and fed me some shits so now I'm independent and I don't give a damn how people think anymore. But of course, I gotta know how to draw a line, try talking bad about a particular religion that i dislike will cost my life so still the bad boy has his principles. Muahahahha


Like you just discussed on your blog - Tolerance is the key when it comes to those more 'contreversial' topics. My friends get offended sometimes by the way I think and speak - I am an atheist/slight agnostic. But I have had to learn to tone it down. I started some pretty hot debates in high school.

[JohnC]

1. Have you ever been turned off from a blog because of it's language?The blogs I frequent that do, usually do it 'conversationally', rather than '%itchfesting' and simply angry expression. Personally I don't gravitate to sites that rely on using pretty much the same small selection of words constantly, which really foul words are in a way.

I DO however enjoy sites that creatively 'down' things; such as their trolls; with good flair without resorting to 'the words'.
2. Have you ever had a blog where you use that kind of language?Not really. When 'needing' to use foul language to express myself 'from the gut', I tend to use 'phrack'...really rarely 'ph_ck'. My kids check up on my sites to see if I spill the beans on gifts and stuff, as well as my blog style being conversational...just like if I was talking to someone right next to me.
3. What is your general opinion on it?
It's not a tool that can help market a blog's writing. Maybe it can accecenuate a point...at a moment...but that's rarely. Overall...eh...I'd say turn off.

I prefer my nastyness kept to cunning linguists

[Calypso]

I haven't in my blogs. One is a blog to promote my services as a professional writer, so it wouldn't be appropriate. And the other is a blog supported by advertising, and they object to the f-bomb.

However, the f-bomb doesn't offend me, and I won't avoid anyone else's blog because they happen to use it. If I link to it, I'll just add a note warning my readers that it's definitely PG-13. Or is that R?

[davemcnally]

I have not yet started my blog but upon doing so, I would make sure no curse words make their way into it. I am the complete opposite offline, if I have something to say and a curse word is needed to express that opinion, I won't hesitate in using one.

That being the case, I think blogging for me has that extra challenge as I have to write in a certain way and not as I talk. It gives me this sort of alter ego. I think a lot of my friends would be surprised if they read one of my entries on Virb only to see a lack of cursing.

It would not turn me away from a blog though, unless used just for the sake of it.

[Bloggeries]

We are on the same page. Have to be careful what you put on the record. Off the record is another story :D

I have not yet started my blog but upon doing so, I would make sure no curse words make their way into it. I am the complete opposite offline, if I have something to say and a curse word is needed to express that opinion, I won't hesitate in using one.

That being the case, I think blogging for me has that extra challenge as I have to write in a certain way and not as I talk. It gives me this sort of alter ego. I think a lot of my friends would be surprised if they read one of my entries on Virb only to see a lack of cursing.

It would not turn me away from a blog though, unless used just for the sake of it.

[fatnewt]

Like with any writing, profanity needs to be appropriate.

I have no problem with profanity, and I wouldn't leave a blog for that alone. BUT, I might leave a blog for bad writing. And superfluous use of profanity is bad writing. If you're swearing in every sentence, that's not really a style anymore - unless that in itself is the joke, which is rare.

But if you're doing too much because you think you sound cool, chances are good that you're either a bad writer or not that bright, in which case there's probably not much reason to read your blog anyways.

[Prettyfem]

I'm turned off from blogs with a lot of cursing though there is one blog that I visit where the blogger has a sailors mouth. It would never be accepted on my blog.:(

[Michael Martin]

I don't use it on my blog because I do want to remain professional. When you're looking to sell a product/service (In the future for me, not yet.), you aren't going to convince many people if you have a sailor's mouth.

And I've read all too many times about employers looking at their prospect's/employee's blogs. If I were to get turned down for a job, just because I was a bit ticked one night, I'd be furious with myself... :(

That said, it doesn't actually put me off other blogs. At least, not the swearing itself. If a blog is full of swearing in every post though, then it's rarely the type of content I want to read, and that is what will put me off. I guess that means that swearing can indirectly put me off?