The Quiet Concert: Thoughts for Thursday (25)

Jun

2014

Thoughts for Thursday (25) - Cursing

Welcome to Thoughts for Thursday! This feature is our outlet to talk with you about whatever we currently have on our minds. It might be bookish, it might not! Now for this week's thought:

Cursing

In real life I have a bit of a potty mouth when speaking freely. But I've noticed that I have a tendency to censor myself in my reviews and on Goodreads and Twitter. If I type a bad word, I feel the need to go back and remove it, especially the f bomb. I don't know why this is exactly. I've seen plenty of other bloggers curse in their reviews/tweets/status updates. I personally don't take offense to it and obviously other people don't either. But something still stops me from using that f bomb (or another bad/crude word). I guess I worry that I WILL offend someone and I don't want to do that. So there's a limit to what I will allow myself to say on the internet.

I'm just curious to see what you all think of cursing/using bad words in your reviews/social media usage. Do you do it? Do you take offense to it? Is there a limit to what you will say? Do you think I am being less "authentic" by censoring myself? Let me know your thoughts on the subject!

And as a funny aside, I had actually dropped the f bomb in a goodreads initial reaction review and then felt so guilt-ridden and nervous about it that, like, 5 minutes later I went back and reworded what I wrote. I know, I have problems.

Comments (19)

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ashleyevans868 49p · 563 weeks ago

I curse in my posts sometimes. I don't do it often, but I do it whenever I feel like it because I don't want to censor myself. My blog is ultimately for me. As soon as I start trying to "watch what I say" or censor my words, it's not going to feel like 100% mine anymore.

I'm not worried about offending anyone because occasionally swearing is part of who I am. If people don't want to read that, they don't have to. I don't try to make my blog appeal to EVERYONE. I just post whatever I want and if some people don't like it, they don't have to read it. It just makes me feel better to know that I blog for me and don't try to restrict myself or hold back.
My recent post On the Fence by Kasie West

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

That is totally fair! I agree that we should have the freedom to write what we want and if others don't want to read it they don't have to!

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mel1704 86p · 563 weeks ago

I have the same! I don't mind using it in real life and at first I type them down, but later on I delete it. I'm just afraid someone else might find it offensive - and that they decide to no longer follow me/start to follow me on any platform. I try to let go of that feeling of pleasing everyone, but I guess I can't let go of that when it comes to cursing!

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

I don't know if my fear is that I will loose followers so much as I am afraid to loose their respect. I hate when people don't like me haha. And as you said, I know I can't please everyone, but I guess some part of me still tries to.

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inspiringinsomnia 26p · 563 weeks ago

Arrrrrgggghhh...I was about 10 minutes into typing my comment when my computer restarted. I'll come back when I'm less irritated. Commence with the ironic f-bombs.
My recent post Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

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TheMileLongBookshelf · 563 weeks ago

I'm exactly the same. Sometimes I want to swear in a review but I won't because what if someone ends up thinking less of me because of it, or if it offends someone? *sigh*
My recent post HOW TO: 5 Ways to Protect Your Blog on Blogger

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

YES, I don't want anyone to think less of me. I think that's why I try to censor myself. I have used bad words because sometimes they are necessary for expression (IMO) but there are some words I just can't bring myself to use.

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Celine · 563 weeks ago

I can curse quite a bit, and almost always delete curse words from my reviews. On Twitter is don't always feel the same need, and I can sometimes say some rather rude words. I don't have a problem with many cuss words (especially with fuck - it just means procreating, I don't find that very offensive), but have a huge pet peeve with some. When I see someone cussing with illnesses or making racist/sexist comments I would probably unfollow.
My recent post Review: Born of Deception by Teri Brown

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

oh yeah I wouldn't even consider the latter. I would take offense to that. Fortunately I haven't really seen that behavior.

I am glad I am not the only one who types curse words and then deletes them haha. Sometimes it is so natural for me to use them that it's weird when I have to reword what I am trying to say.

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Nyx @UnravelingWords · 563 weeks ago

I was totally the same. I have quite the potty mouth in rl, but the thing is I won't curse around you if I don't know you simply because I don't feel comfortable, and I guess this bled through my reviews and online interactions. Lately I've been trying to not censor myself as much online, because they are my reviews and my feels and I should be able to express them however I feel the need to.
My recent post Unraveling: Sora's Quest by T.L. Shreffler

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

Ugh I wish I had that filter in real life. I am generally ok at work, but when I play soccer with coworkers I say "shit" almost every time I screw up and then I want to say it again for letting it slip the first time haha.

But yes, I agree that you should be able to express yourself however you like in your reviews. It's not so much that I feel it isn't within my right to curse but whether or not that's how I want to represent myself.

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jamielee841 22p · 563 weeks ago

I curse like a sailor in real life but limit myself online but mostly because I'm still looking for a job and all my social media and blog stuff is on my resume bc I'm in social media/marketing so I try to refrain from f bombs and crude language. I've totally cursed in my reviews but not excessively (and not the f bomb) and on occasion on Twitter but mostly like a damn or an ass or shit. haha. I think everyone must meet me in person and be like OMG WHO IS THIS F BOMB DROPPING GIRL I THOUGHT WAS SO SWEET AND INNOCENT. haha.
My recent post Book Talk: Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

I've cursed in my reviews too - pretty much to the extent of the words you listed plus bitch. I really feel like I need curse words to properly express myself sometimes. Is that sad? Haha.

And I'm not sure you've dropped the f bomb in front of me. I feel like i haven't met the read Jamie! ;) haha

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littlebookstar 68p · 563 weeks ago

I curse out loud at times but I noticed in my reviews, I don't. I think it's because you never know who's reading your blog (i.e. publishers, KIDS, etc.). I learned not to cuss in my reviews when I was watching a book tuber cuss out loud while my little brother and I were watching. I took note that I shouldn't cuss in my reviews because my audience could be anyone even kids.
My recent post Classics, Why So Pretty? {Discuss #17}

1 reply · active 562 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 562 weeks ago

KIDS for sure. I worry about preteens reading my blog and tainting them with my bad words haha. It's not like I can give a warning before I say it! (we'll unless I disclosed in the beginning or restricted my blog I guess but I don't want to do either!)

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Pam@YA Escape · 563 weeks ago

I don't curse in my reviews either. I guess I don't feel it's professional, even though this isn't a job. Especially for reviews that I'm writing when I've been sent the ARC by the publisher, it just doesn't feel right to curse.
My recent post Stacking the Shelves (49)

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bookaddictsguide 51p · 563 weeks ago

I swear all. the. time. in my every day conversations but I make it a point not to on my blog or on social media. Why? As much as blogging is a hobby for me, it's a direct representation of me and my blog. It's still a hobby, but I'm also marketing myself and I'm promoting authors and books so I choose not to curse with very rare exceptions. I censor my language and I censor what I choose to post. I try to keep my blog semi-professional :)
My recent post The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) – Mary E. Pearson

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Kay · 563 weeks ago

You are not alone Nicole! I actually curse kind of a lot in real life except at work. But like you I don't really curse in my reviews. I usually even feel guilty when I just say bad-ass which makes me sad because when speaking of Celaena that word fits perfectly. I probably won't ever end up cursing in reviews or my blog just because you never know who is reading. If it just so happens I let one slip I probably won't fix it if it is a very passionate review, but then again I may because of the guilt. Who knows.
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