$#@%*&)@#($*!!!

Over at Ragan.com there’s a debate going on about cussing. The site implemented a “no potty mouth” policy after some of the bloggers there used more profanity than some were comfortable with; they recently published a comment on the subject of bad language from years ago by Ragan’s late founder, Larry Ragan.

Those who use these words in print usually live in a simplistic world. They see their problems as clearly defined; they know what their own reactions to them are. They live in a world that is tense with emotion. They are unhesitating in their willingness to show that they can feel. Four letter words, perhaps it is so obvious that it need not be stated, are the writer’s unwitting surrender to the demands of his craft. He says, in effect, that he will not seek the precise word or phrase to express his exact meaning; instead, he will lash out with an expletive that needs no explanation.

…

Printed four letter words are also used to separate “them” from “us.” Student editors who use them in their publications are among the best-educated, most articulate, and sincerely thoughtful persons on campus. Their four letter word represents no inability to communicate; it is instead a symbol that will dramatize the differences between your fuddy-duddy values, Dad, and mine. They stick their tongues out at us and dare us to be shocked. We seldom disappoint them.

I would not argue that four letter words in print have no place. They do. Used properly (at this moment in the development of our language), they can startle, drive home an idea or an emotion or an attitude that may not be in other ways. The writer should be in control, however; he knows why he uses the words. He does not use them because of his own poverty of vocabulary.

My real objection to the use of four letter words in print is that they are too precious to be wasted in this way; they serve a function, they provide us with outlets of energy and emotion that will be dissipated should they become too widely used in everyday life. There is no point in using a four letter word when it may be heard in every drawing room. As one writer puts it, “When a man says shit in front of a lady, what can he say when his tire blows out on the Golden Gate Bridge?”

I think it’s a fascinating topic. As I read this piece, I remembered an old boss of mine who was in favor of cursing in conversation in the office (not necessarily in print): “If someone doesn’t get worked up enough to swear, I don’t think they care that much what’s going on.” On the other hand, I think Larry Ragain’s point about words losing their impact is well taken.

I’m just old enough to be surprised by what’s considered appropriate these days; a few years ago, when I was living in Washington, I found myself behind a Metrobus with an ad for a local radio station’s traffic reporting. The headline was “Traffic Sucks!” I was pretty surprised they accepted the ad.

Blogging, with its informality, tends to loosen a lot of standards. I’m horrible at proofreading my own stuff, but I don’t worry about it too much here; bloopers get by me that would horrify me in other venues. (On the blog, when I get Maureen’s inevitable “I think you forgot a word” email, I sigh and fix it.) I don’t use a lot of profanity, but that’s just me.

What do you think is appropriate on a blog? On Twitter? In other social media? When a blogger curses, does it turn you off? Do you question his taste or her writing ability? What’s appropriate here?

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