Is “Swearing” Authentic?
Love to see where the comments go with this one…
Do you swear in your blog posts? Why or why not? Do you swear in the real world but not online? Is that being authentic?
I had a conversation with a friend about this a little while back, especially in light of one of his posts titled “Fuck All Nigers.”
What’s your take?
I guess it depends on your audience and what you are trying to communicate. Many people would say absolutely not. It isn't wise…while others would say to be "authentic" I must. I think many people use swearing in blog posts to get people to read their stuff and I think that is lame. It doesn't create return readers but just gets the post a lot of hits for a day which strokes the bloggers ego. Most of the time this is what i have found when people swear in blog posts. Just some first glance thoughts
I do not swear in blogs or in the space I occupy in the real world. To do so would not be an "authentic" me today. I say today because before I came to Christ I swore like a sailor. Looking back now, i do not think it made look authentic then, just ignorant.
I don't swear online, but will drop some in select company offline. I steer clear of it online mostly because it's tough to grab context and tone on here. Plus, I know some people who "follow" or read the stuff I write would be turned off by it. I even had one lady try and get onto me about using "sucks" in a status update. After I got done laughing, I made a note not to push that envelope any further…yet.
Like Ancoti said, for me to swear in blogs would not be authentic because I don't normally do so in person. Every now and then there may be a time when a "swear" word is the only word that truly fits the situation. Like if someone goes beyond grumbling and complaining, then they are flat out b*tching. But even then I try to keep it to a minimum.
no. (in answer to the question of the post)
I think Christ calls us to clean up our mouths. If swearing is what it takes to show the real you, what is the real you?
Shit, I just realized I swear in the real world and not online.
Thanks for the reminder
I in general don't swear in real life. I grew up being told that it is not socially appropriate. I went through a rebellious early teen phase where I swore some, but it just isn't a part of who I am and I quit pretty quickly.
Now I have some friends that are pastors that swear all the time. It is a part of who they are. They grew up outside the church and don't think that swearing is a big deal. (One of their four year old daughter's said, "what the hell are you doing grandma" recently.) Now I think that was probably inappropriate. But I would never question their Christian faith.
I just read the intro of a book (http://godandbeer.com/prologue.html) right before I saw this blog. The author in the intro said that he feels that God spoke to him recently and said "fuck it". (There is context.) And in while I am not in the business of evaluating people's words from God, I don't have a problem saying that I think it is possible that God would say that to someone.
So short answer, I don't think swearing makes you more authentic. I don't swear in general. And most of the time I don't think swearing improves what you are trying to communicate. But having said that, there might be both an appropriate time and an appropriate person where swearing would happen. And I don't think swearing invalidates your Christianity. (Which wasn't part of the question, but I feel needs to be said.)
By the way, I think the "Fuck the Nigers" post was appropriate. It was a good post.
I would only swear in a blog post if I deemed it necessary. I haven’t yet, this I haven’t swore.
You automatically lose some of your moral authority when you take advantage and "swear" just because you can. If you are a leader, then don't take your influence for granted. I think we have elevated authenticity above common sense.
As a Christian I don't think you should; you sacrifice the moral high ground as FaithEngineer said. But I guess it could be authentic – just not something I would want to read or hear, and definitely not something I would expect to be the norm on a Christian site or blog.
i swear in real life, and online… not all the time… and i try not to around my students though.. but sometimes i do
It's absurd to suggest that just using certain words is fundamentally bad… it's all in your intent with the words. Certainly there are cases where swearing with choice words is appropriate and will generate the precisely desired effect. Sometimes it's a good way to demonstrate the gravity of a situation in just a few words.
It is "authentically" showing a lack of vocabulary. That's what I think. What we say shouldn't be what is offensive… God's words should be. His word should offend and convict… we shouldn't have to use vulgar language to be authentic/offensive, unless we rely on our own words.
Cursing in writing is unprofessional. We do not write how we talk. If everyone wrote how they talked it would be mass chaos . No one would be understood. Next, I would like to add that cursing in writing takes away from what the author is trying to say. The focus then becomes on the words used and not the meaning behind what was written. However, this could change if you were to use a direct quote from someone, to get a point across, writing a novel, etc.
Words are just words when spoken. They mean what they mean. If I were to call someone a retard and mean it in the same zeal I would use to call someone an "ass hole" then yes that is slanderous talk and should not be spoken of. In the same manner everyone should be careful and respect to their neighbors. It offends me when I hear someone say, "that's Jewish." In knowing that it offends me, if one were to say it in a manner to disrespect me, then it becomes an issue.
Writing and speaking are not the same. This coming from someone who writes often for various things. Just because I use certain words and phrases in my speech, does not mean they were be in my writing. It's simply a manner of professionalism. You know I am the same person, based on my values system and the heart of the message I am trying to convey.
This is an interesting take on how we should speak.
from Mark Driscoll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed3NVsq18Gk
No, it's not truly who I am as a person. I don't look down on people who do though. As started above several times it's just stupid to curse. Curse words in my opinion make you sound stupid and ignorant.
if you're accustomed to cursing in real life, then by all means, go for it. i won't subscribe, because that's who i am. but i realized a long time ago in ministry, if i'm not hearing the f-bomb dropped daily, i need to get out of my Christian bubble and get around people far from Christ.
I appreciate the spirit of your comment.
peace|dewde
swearing is like smoking – u can do it (if u really want to) but it is in the face of everyone else whether they like it or not.
I think it is inconsiderate but is could be a authentic out flowing of emotion that should rather be expressed in a more considerate manner.
a lot of people swear and do so without realising it, especially those that have sworn all their lives. i try to not swear much but do allow swearing on my blog, it adds a bit of attention to sentences. As long as its not f this f that in every other sentence its ok
i had some issues with swearing a few years after I was saved.My pastor told me that it wasn't the swearing he was concerned about it was my heart. I prayed for a long time to stop, which I did)
A direct answer…NOPE.
I used to swear a lot, and now I don't do it online or offline.
If ignorance and lack of respect of others is authentic then, yes.
If you are a child of God, then you are a Temple of God. http://english.sdaglobal.org/question/temple.htm Therefore you should be careful of what not only goes in that Temple, but what also comes out of that Temple. You are supposed to be an example.
Good point,
even if you feel that swearing is an authentic expression of what you are feeling or experiencing – it is not righteous.
there are better ways
I don't swear online. As someone on a church staff who's blog is linked to the church's site and vice versa, I try not to. I believe we're talking words here and not 'taking the Lord's name in vain.' Words are words (someone has said this above I think the dewde) it's how you use them. Foul language is usually inappropriate because it's lazy and crude. I don't have a habit of cussing in public and not something I work into my speech but it happens.
Words in and of themselves are amoral.
Firearms in and of themselves are amoral.
A nude painting in and of itself is amoral.
It takes a living, breathing person using these things in a specific context, with specific intentions, or with carelessness/disregard to qualify as "moral" or "immoral".
peace|dewde