Blogging | Forum « Using Swear Words In Blogs

Using Swear Words In Blogs (17 posts)

Topic tags: blogging strategy, grammar, swear words

Patty Painter said
11 months, 1 week ago:
I’ve rarely, if ever, come across a blog that uses swear words. Why is that? Is it simply standard practice to avoid offending market segments? Does Google frown on the use of swear words? Is there some other reason?
Any ideas?
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Judith Gotwald said
11 months, 1 week ago:
Bloggers know better words.
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said
11 months, 1 week ago:
Blogging is like having a conversation with strangers. Would you use swear words in that context? Probably not. On the other hand, if you would, I think you’re an asshole.
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Sabina said
11 months, 1 week ago:
LOL @newsbob I would say it depends on the demographic your trying to reach, HOWEVER as @judithgotwald stated there are better words to use.
As a parent of a teen and leader of over 600 youth I would block them (if possible) from reading a blog where swear words are used, I want my youth to engage themselves in using an expanded vocabulary.
Our blogs not only express our personallities but also leave behind a legacy of what we are and I (thinking outloud here) 2000 years from now would we want to be known for our colorful mediphors or for the way we express ourselves in a format freindly and able to capture multiple groups of people to see our point of view (pause for moment and think about that).
Great question @pattypainter
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Kristi Hines said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@pattypainter There are issues with some company Internet security systems that will block websites with offensive language, blog posts included. If someone is working to portray a professional image, they might avoid it just like you would if you were going to someone to sell them something.
That said, there are plenty of bloggers that do it occasionally (or more often than occasionally) and are still successful. Try:
- http://diyblogger.net/ (sometimes)
- http://dannybrown.me/blog/ (sometimes)
- http://redheadwriting.com/ (a lot)
- http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/blog/ (a good bit)
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Patty Painter said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@judithgotwald I agree. But I am also a massive fan of George Carlin (among other comedians) and he swore all the time. So I’m a bit conflicted on the question.
@newsbob Well played, sir. Well played.
@sabinaclaus Your point about the target demographic is key. The target market I have in mind is college freshmen. I used to be a TA and would use words like bulls@$t occasionally — partly to wake students up, and partly to help express my ideas. (Bulls@$t really doesn’t have a good synonym.)
@kristi-hines Thanks for the links. It would seem that for certain characters, using swear words fits the image and blogging style well. As you say, though, if you swear in a blog, that will become part of your brand. Depending on what you want to do and who you want to engage, that could be a good thing. Or not. Hmm…
Can anyone confirm for me that Google doesn’t penalize sites that use swear words?
Thanks so much for the responses. I’m loving this forum!
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Laura Christianson, Blogging Bistro said
11 months, 1 week ago:
Swearing is a sign of lazy writing.
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Patty Painter said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@laurachristianson It can be, but I think if done purposefully, it can be the best way to express an idea. Do you think there is a good synonym for the word, bulls@$t?
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Leona Martin said
11 months, 1 week ago:
Interesting topic here. I feel it would depend on what your blog site is about. For my blog there is no need to use swear words and I wouldn’t even consider doing so, but then again if you are blogging about skate boarding – maybe I could see a few swear words.
@aplusvaservices | # | Top
Mac said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@laurachristianson swearing could also be targeting your audience. if you have an audience that uses vulgar language – and you don’t – then you are not in touch with your audience and will not be well read.
Give you audience what they want.
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Patty Painter said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@richardmclaughlin @aplusvaservices I agree.
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Jason Hubbard said
11 months, 1 week ago:
Personally I wouldn’t use swear words…the blogs I write wouldn’t require their use, plus I consider it as unprofessional to use them. I was taught as a kid that the use of swear words indicates low volcabulary, as well as being lazy. Using a swear word was a lazy practice, and that I wasn’t engaging my brain to find a more suitable word to express what I wanted to convey..
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Patty Painter said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@jasonhubbard Generally, I agree, but I’m gonna repeat the question/challenge I posted earlier: Can you think of a good synonym for bulls@#t?
Cause I can’t.
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Mac said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@pattypainter - yeah, call a cat a cat.

@laurachristianson – unless you are too lazy to search for an incorrect word.
my fav0rite is to say that profanity is the literary crutch of the inarticulate {insert profanity}
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Jason Hubbard said
11 months, 1 week ago:
@patty painter. Generally when Bull s…t is used its gnenerally in a derogatory manner, using this word is sloppy and lazy, it’s an easy way to comment without putting any constructive reasoning behind why you disagree…as I said before I was taught that using swear words easy and lazy…
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Rogier Noort said
11 months, 1 week ago:
My Dad cursed a lot.., especially when things went wrong.., I kinda inherited that dubious trait.., especially when I’m angry.., it is not a nice thing.
I am always surprised when movies (or series) do not use any curse words while others use one in every sentence.
I always wonder how they can convey anger or frustration (usually negative feelings) without cursing.., but they manage.
@pattypainter A synonym for BS is pretty much: “I strongly disagree and here’s why…”
I don’t like cursing, it reminds me of an angry Dad…
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KR McGee said
11 months, 1 week ago:
I think someone who wouldn’t use swear words in an article is an asshole. : )
If you study writing in college, they teach you to use curses sparingly, especially the f-bomb, because overuse dilutes the impact of the words.
I agree kids should be taught to expand their vocabulary, but I oppose blocking them from viewing sites that use swear words. Kids already know those words.
There are situations where using these words really isn’t appropriate. And overuse can be a sign of lazy writing.
I use Francais to code swear words sometimes in my writing. For example, Nique-toi. Or merde. They sound innocent, don’t they?
I recently came up with bullsquat as an alternative to bullshit. <—- I dislike sticking * or whatever in to replace one or more letters because we all know what the word is so why hide it? Plus we’re all adults, certainly we can discuss this in an adult manner without resorting to a kind of censoring of words.
And I sympathize with someone who is reminded of an angry dad. There’s no anger here, though, so you shouldn’t feel threatened. My mother didn’t swear but she was physically abusive.
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