On political blogs, the invective flies. Posters respond to the latest celebrity gossip with mockery or worse. Sports fans set up Web sites with names that begin with "fire," hoping coaches, athletic directors and sportscasters lose their jobs.
And though there are any number of bloggers and commenters who attempt to keep their postings and responses on a civil level, all too often interactive Web sites descend into ad hominem attacks, insults and plain old name-calling. Indeed, there are even whole sites devoted to venting, such as justrage.com (one screed there was titled, "I don't give a flying f***, so f*** you") and mybiggestcomplaint.com.
My own blogging style, which is still evolving, is one in which I use much less profanity than I do in everyday life. I think the reason for this is twofold; first because I feel the written word carries more weight than the spoken, and second because this is an open forum and I want to be sensitive to the feelings of the readers, some of whom might be turned off by profanity.
What about you? Do you write on blogs exactly the way you speak in face to face conversation? Are you offended by frequent use of profanity? Does using strong language sometimes make it more difficult to hear the message?
Without any obvious intent my swearing has become less and less in my blog.
ReplyDeleteI also don't provide reference meterial when I argue in person.
And actually the only reason why I never blog under my real name (tho I answered to "Weer'd Beard" in real life years before I ever signed an electronic post with the moniker) is because of the "Anonomous Anger"
There are some bloggers, posters, and trolls that really scare me, and I don't want to give them any more tools than they have to do damage.
i type exactly as i talk, not very eloquently and often erratically i give you that. As i say the F word only in situations where it is appropriate (like banging your thumb with a hammer etc) i dont use it much on my blog.
ReplyDeleteRanting is good for the soul! I do it a lot!
I am pseudo anonymous, not out of any real concern but out of necessity. My real name is so common that many people use a variation of it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for my family, I write much like I talk. As far as language goes I've made two efforts over the years. First to be more positive; avoiding the mean jokes, cut downs, put downs etc. Second, to clean up my foul language. After getting out of the Air Force and working in a manufacturing environment, I was really free with the curse words.
I use curse words for dramatic emphasis and like M, when appropriate.
I try to keep my comments cordial, I've seen the anger mentioned and try to avoid that, mostly. I'll admit to occasionally posting a rant a some sites but is very rare.
One of the reasons I like your blog Mike is the level of discourse. The words used don't bother me, it's the tone and efforts to keep the conversation focused on the issue, not the people. It's appreciated sir, keep up the good work.
i seem to swear less as i get older. it doesn't offend me --- never has --- but i think (i like to think, anyway) that i've graduated to more intellectual methods of cutting people down; attacking their ideas, points and arguments instead of just calling them misbegotten shitheads who failed to abort.
ReplyDeletenot that there aren't a lot of folks out there who are just that, but merely saying they are no longer satisfies me as much as demonstrating precisely how they are that.
i seem to swear less as i get older. it doesn't offend me --- never has --- but i think (i like to think, anyway) that i've graduated to more intellectual methods of cutting people down; attacking their ideas, points and arguments instead of just calling them misbegotten shitheads who failed to abort.
ReplyDeletenot that there aren't a lot of folks out there who are just that, but merely saying they are no longer satisfies me as much as demonstrating precisely how they are that.
...see that double posting? that happens because blogger SUCKS!
ReplyDeleteMerrill Brokers May Leave After BofA Bonus Dispute
ReplyDeleteReuters | 03 Nov 2008 | 08:27 AM ET
A large number of Merrill Lynch employees may leave the company as they are unhappy with new owner Bank of America's retention bonuses, the New York Post said, citing some Merrill brokers and Wall Street observers.
About 20 percent to 30 percent of Merrill's brokerage force may decide to leave the company, the paper said.
Good, then let them get real jobs like garbage collectors or coal miners.
that really is a great question.
ReplyDeleteI think i honestly tone DOWN my speech alittle on the web, over my frequent f-bomb tirades in person.
p.s. i finally did your meme....! :)
In everyday conversation, my level of profanity depends completely on who my audience is. But, I've often felt hypocritical adjusting my way of speaking like that, at times no profanity at other times lots. Yet, it's common courtesy not to swear in front of my in-laws if it seems likely they'd be offended, isn't it? With my male friends and colleagues I sometimes sound like Tony Soprano.
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI would ask how do you view profanity and then how does that affect your decision to use it in front of some people but not others.
I think some words stand for ideas or implications that I don't like therefore try really hard not to use them. Such as Damn, the concept of condemning someone to hell is growing more repugnant to me, so I try to be very careful
Some words have become what a friend describes as sentence enhancers...the S word for example. Sometimes that is an adapt description of the situation.
What I have came to realize is that I view the words in the same way regardless of who I'm talking to but like you choose not to use some in front of certain people.
So, are some words sentence enhancers or all of them profane?
I hope that makes sense