May 04 2008
Swearing on Blogs
A lot has been said about swearing lately. Swearing on blogs. Swearing on TV.
Case in point – Gordon Ramsay. I can’t believe the fuss that has been made about his language. I happen to love the show. My (in their 70s) parents love it. My 15 year old daughter loves it.
My six year old siddled up to me one night and said
“Whatcha watching”?
“Kitchen Nightmares” I say.
“Can I watch it with you”? She asks.
“Well, there’s a lot of swearing in it….”
“Mum, if I can handle fake people dying, I’m sure I’ll cope with swearing”.
I didn’t let her watch it.
If you find something offensive, turn the sucker off. It’s simple. Don’t sit there moaning “oh, my ears! I’ll never be the same again”. The viewer has the power, you know.
Senate inquiry. Have those people got nothing better to do? I mean seriously.
Change the channel FFS.
I watched the 60 minutes interview with Gordon the other day. It was interesting to note that he doesn’t swear (much) at home. It’s funny how we develop different styles in different situations. You know, you probably wouldn’t talk in the same manner with your mum, as you would with your mates. Or you might pop a proverbial plum in your mouth in a formal situation.
Blogs are no different really. It’s about finding a voice, a style that suits you. I know a blogger who swears like a trooper on their blog, but rarely in daily life. Maybe it’s a style thing, maybe the blogger is “acting out” on their blog? But if you don’t like the style no one is forcing you to read it. Don’t whinge about it. Unsubscribe. Don’t visit. Change the “channel”. Don’t expect someone to adapt their style to suit you.
Other bloggers swear in daily life, but not on their blog. Not that I swear *that* much, but I’ve been known to drop my share of expletives. I don’t do it here. Well, rarely, and moderately if I do. Why? Well it’s just not part of the style that feels right on this blog. Maybe in emails to choice friends, but not here.
Anyway, kind of a long winded intro to this fun little application (discovered at So Anyway…). It lets you check your blog on the cuss-o-meter (how American is that?). Here’s how I faired:
Created by OnePlusYou
Let me know how you did.
27 Responses to “Swearing on Blogs”
Raaah! 0% – I’m just an angel. I know there are swear words in my comments though – but I’m betting they’re all Kelley’s :p
Kin’s last blog post..Goals for 2008 Update
I got a low 5.9%. But I’m betting that when I do swear on my blog that it’s not as moderate as yours so I’m not thinking that this is a great meter of cussing on blogs lmao!!
Bettina’s last blog post..Simple Pleasures Sunday
I make a deliberate effort not to swear when blogging which is somewhat different from when I am work which brings out the urge to swear quite badly. So my blogs generally rate a 0.00% although one managed to get a 26.1% because i dropped a F bomb today in a post
Greg’s last blog post..Deserted
I’m actually really struggling with this one. I feel like it’s becoming more and more “acceptable” to swear on blogs. I try to read the blogs of those who visit and comment on mine. But more and more of them are swearing more and more often. *sigh* And while it doesn’t bother me to see a small amount of swearing, especially in appropriate places, it seems that it’s starting to be used “just for the sake of it”.
I can’t stand it when people swear simply because they think it’s “cool” or for the sake of it.
If they were people I didn’t care about, it would be an easy case of “find another blog to read”. But it’s not always that simple.
I scored 0.2% on my blog. *shrugs*
Lightening’s last blog post..Netball Grief
I swear a lot more in my everyday life than I do on my blog. I must admit however that more swearing is starting to find its way into my writing. At this point however it is used mostly for a effect, to drive points home (see my John Rambo review and the plight of the people in Burma).
Generally I will rarely swear on someone else’s blog unless I’ve seen that they are partial to a bit of blue language. I’ve been really lucky as commentators on my site don’t tend to swear at all and if they do I used to edit them but avoid doing that now.
Lee Sargent’s last blog post..The Angry Thinker
I am a shocking swearer. I rarely, if ever, swear on my blogs – certainly NEVER in the assessments or reports I write: but it real life, around people I am comfortable with, I have to watch my language. I am a shocker.
I agree with you Meg – turn the TV off, but I also get what Lightening is saying…it is very distressing to some people. None of us walk down the street with the intention of snacking someone in the eye so why do we swear?
I don’t have the answer and I sure don’t have the halo, but….my youngest son would be eternally grateful if my vocabulary was more in line with his!!!
Megan from Imaginif’s last blog post..Sex predators groom against child protection
Bwaaaaa haaaaa haaaaaaa!
Yeah, well, I believe I know that person you are talking about…
And it is true, I hardly ever swear in real life, but I must admit ‘arsehat’ has started becoming more prevalent.
My blog is hard to categorize, it is mainly whinging about stupid people and stupid situations and that tends to lend itself to a bit of blue language. Ce la vie. Don’t like it? Go away. LOL I must admit I am a little taken aback when ‘colourful language’ is used out of context and just randomly. But that is me. If the post stirs something in me, I will keep reading.
And I don’t swear in others comments, unless the blogger does in the post and if it brings across my point.
Kelley’s last blog post..Take me drinking with you. I mean, to BlogHer.
I got .09% I don’t swear on my blog much but my husband reckons with his virtual swear jar between me and my teen he has enough to retire on now…
I haven’t watched GR but If I did I wouldn’t complain.
Babyamore’s last blog post..Weekly Winners
I was surprised to only get 4.2%. I’m not a huge swearer, except when I have to deal with dickheads. F### that sh@ts me!
Ian’s last blog post..Never let it be said I don’t deliver
Pfft! I’m a good girl in text and I swear like f&*%ing trooper in real life 😛
Doesn’t bother me if there’s swearing or not in a blog, it depends on the context in which it’s used.
If it’s swearing just for the sake of being a potty mouth or trying to use them to intimidate readers, the big red X gets a work out.
But if the swearing is being used in humour, etc (like Kelley) then it’s all good and I keep reading 😛
Jayne’s last blog post..Don’t Forget !
I try not to swear. I try to play nice. But how could I post about Gordon Ramsey without dropping a butt load of F bombs?
swollenpickles’s last blog post..Iron Man movie review
Gordon Ramsay, is great, both my partner and I watch the show religiously.
As for the politicians, well they can’t be Australian.
Pyrmont’s last blog post..Pyrmont Village and Clover’s Vision
I so agree with that, if you think something is not suitable, switch off the set already. No point in whining and complaining about it. LOL> “oh, my ears! I’ll never be the same again”
Nicole Price’s last blog post..Shoes, Shoes, and Then Some More Shoes
Le grande cuss-o-meter challenge…
I’ve taken up the Blogpond cuss-o-meter challenge, and the result are in… drum roll… no really… I’m not going to reveal the results until I get my drum roll dammit!…
ok… be like that… whatever…
It s…
I came in at .1%. It’s likely that most of the swearing on my blog is in book quotes I cite.
I generally keep my language clean IRL. It’s not that I really object to swearing; it’s just that it often seems like a cop out. Swearing in unedited conversations is one thing (and it’s almost mandatory during video games). In a blog post it’s different.
I can to back and edit (not that you could tell from my typos) and try to find alternate ways to express what I’m trying to say. English may be a pain with its irregular rules, non-sensical spellings, and overly complex grammar, but it does have rich vocabulary.
Part of the reason I blog is to make a point about something, but the other part is to simply write, explore, and use the language.
Swearing in text lacks nuance. It lacks the precision of a carefully crafted word or phrase. Often swearing is more like using a sledgehammer to drive a screw. It works, but can be sloppy.
Of course, sledgehammers do have their uses…
cromely’s last blog post..New Play Cole Audio Commentary
The pollies who want the senate enquiry into the Ramsay show are the far right extremist christian c_cksuckers who have nothing better to do than to tell the rest of us what to say when to say it what to watch and so on.
It’s not really their fault though, they were born fu_kwits and will never change. The people I blame for these di_kheads having a voice in parliment are the dumb ass piss brained morons who voted for them.
HAVE YOU NO COMMON F__CKING SENSE PEOPLE??????????????????
Any form of extremism is dangerous. Be it religious, military, terrorist or whatever. Extremists of any kind should not be supported in any way shape or form. Period.
PS does this post alter your swear score?
PPS Ramsay Rules!
I hate swearing. I usually delete the swearing comments posted in my blog. I rarely have time to visit other fellow bloggers who visit me because I am planning a business of my own.
My husband is not a swearing type of person but, every time he changes his job, his swearing stops or it changes to another pattern. I think people around an individual must have a great impact on him or her to change their swearing pattern.
I like to ** out letters within swear words. It’s just one of those f***ing things I like to do.
swollenpickles’s last blog post..PayPerPost offering $20 as an incentive for new bloggers
[…] Via Dipping into the blog pond […]
I scored what I regard a low 7.2%. This surprised me as I though I was quite salty.
Ed’s last blog post..It’s Gordon’s fault
OMG. I got 22.9% on the cuss-o-meter. That’s bullsh#t!
Craig Harper’s last blog post..Exploring Intelligence, Creativity and Learning
I work on radio…..when you’re in the studio swearing is a big no no…in fact you’d be mad to utter any swear words in the studio..the mic will always be on when you lest expect it…..but after a four hour shift with no swearing you have a rather large back log…. which is my excuse for being such a potty mouth after a shift.
Kel Harper’s last blog post..Stress Soloution #1 – Fulfillment & Purpose
I was medium. I only swear in context and am not into gratuitous blog swearing and don’t swear too much in real life. I was medium on the Cuss Thingy. I really like to read some of the swear bloggers from time to time. There is just something extra for the right post. Sort of like mustard.
Colin Campbell’s last blog post..Tree Climbing
I’m with you. No one is forcing anyone to read or watch something. If they don’t like the content change the channel, don’t read the blog (take it off their favourites list) and don’t go back there again. It surprises me all the time when people complain about the number of times someone swears in a show or in something written in a blog. Gee, they really must have studied it harder than I do to be able to count it all. Get a life people if you don’t like something, turn it off, don’t read it, none of us are forcing you to do so. Very Well written, bloody beautiful in fact!!!
Katrina’s last blog post..4 Things I love
4.1%? Holy crap, seems like I’m the bad seed around here. I suspect it’s as a result of quoting musicians, however… being a music blog and all. Those damn rockers! 😛
Burgo’s last blog post..Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off & Good Arms vs. Bad Arms
My blog is close to zero I think.
I don’t mind people swearing. They are just words. It’s when people use the words offensively. If someone says “oh shit” when they drop something then it’s hardly offensive is it.
I also hate people swearing for the sake of it. When people in films swear every other word just for the “not-so” dramatic effect then it just pisses me off.
People shouldn’t change the way they talk just to include swear words. If it’s part of their personality then so be it.
John Walters’s last blog post..See how fast you can type
well people kinda want their tv to raise their kids but at the same time when they are skirting responsibility with tv they expect it to wholesome and clean. weird. I swear a lot when Im at work but usually under my breath. we dont mind watching people killed tv everyday but if they swear its obscene. I think that was the point the south park movie was making.