9/10/09
Okay, point of parliamentary procedure: why am I getting so much shit for using foul language these days? Has the zeigeist of the weltanschauung concerning my gesamtkunstwerk changed? In some way, I guess it's nice that words still have the ability to make people feel something, but in other ways, it seems like an unwelcome New Ninnyism.
So what's the deal? Am I getting emails from a subset of particularly offendable Preciouspantses, or are my tasteless outbursts of spicy language actually making people cringe? Will I be the last vulgarian left?
And why is "spicy" language considered "tasteless", anyway?
I was having a conversation with my neighbor about POTUS' message to students this past weekend. He had his laptop in hand, so I mentioned your blog. Then, as he navigated your way, I felt the overwhelming need to apologize for the spicy language. I guess that type of language does not make for a good 1st impression, and you might fail to capture new minds because of it.
I love spicy language and when not surrounded by two year olds at work or my four year old at home, it's part of my natural lexicon. I say f*ck those Mother F*ckers! This is your blog and if it singes someone's eyeballs, they can just click off.
I recall hearing Mordecai Richler's son, Daniel, describe having his Dad review a draft essay and pausing on the use of an obscenity. The great man did not tell off his son for being crude but noted that he has used the word before, deflating the intended effect. If everything deserves the application of "fucker" then nothing does.
I find your potty mouth refreshing and always laugh when you tell those deserving of it to suck your balls. Keep it coming!
To each, his own. I generally avoid obscenities, but sometimes blurting out an f bomb makes me feel better.
Oh, I am soooooo telling Mom.
I agree with SLS. This is your party. If people don't like the spice, they can leave. :)
Seriously- nothing you say here is worse than anything you hear on TV or anywhere else. I have a lifelong problem with cussing so it doesn't bother me.
What intrigues me is that our bank of cuss words doesn't get replenished. Who is in charge of creating new and improved cuss words? The old ones are worn out.
Perhaps because the sanitized, dogs and kiddies world of facebook has crept over as people check into your page?
Those who complain must not be X-ers, or they're Christian X-ers...
The amount of @$%* on this blog never even registered with me. @$%* on!
I hardly ever swear, but I didn't bat an eye reading any of your swearing. If you're angry, it does pack a good punch. If it's used every other word, it loses its meaning, so I hate hearing kids use it over and over for no reason.
I enjoy your pottymouth, actually. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
As others have said, it's your blog/party/rant venue, so bomb away. I don't tend to be offended nor chased off by profanities, but to me, the expletives make any given writer/speaker appear less intelligent; there are far better ways of getting a point across than using 'spicy' language.
It's a difficult task, but Schultz might be on to something. I think Seth MacFarlane is the only one of our generation that I can credit with inventing any new cuss words. "Cleeman"
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cleeman
It's a difficult task, but Schultz might be on to something. Perhaps, we should embrace the challenge, at xtcian.
It's a
It's a
It's a
Help I'm stuck.
No doubt these complaints are coming from all those people who are being forced to read your blog at gunpoint.
You lie!
"Preciouspantses" haha. that made me giggle.
maybe people who nitpick about curses have to bitch about something - and since they can't really take apart your larger arguments, they resort to schoolmarmish tut-tuts over the artful use of the motherf*ck*r. ?
just a guess.
bridget
The only problem I have with the language in your Bildungsroman is that it means I can't read your blog at work. xtcian gets automatically blocked by the filter on the LA County computers. Schiesse!
I was scanning through the channels the other night and landed on Headline News. They had a blurb under the person being interviewed that was quoting the 911 call regarding the story. Can't quote it now but basically it was "Blah blah F*cking F*ck Why don't you F*ucking F*uck".
Headline News ! On TV?! What the hell????
I am an abuser of the f-bomb but seriously, Headline News? I don't have kids yet but I know that we teach them to read and fill in the blanks...ya know. What the F*ck?aloha,
lisa
How about some new curse words for a new day.
I need a bad word for the lady in menswear at Nordstroms. The one who doesn't get the message, that I can only afford what I came for, unlike the old days."Facconablicker"
"Hickey Cleeman"
"Haber-dashithead"
"Just help me find the Smart-Care Khakis in 30x30, and put down $475 t-shirt that you think is my size, before I hang you with it lady, lady." OK this one is little too long for popular usage.
While I do feel the need to warn some people (usually my parents) about the language if I direct them to a particular entry I think they might enjoy, I heartily agree with Joanna and would miss the occasional ball sucking directives if you cleaned it up too much.
i hope you're not the last vulgarian left, because swearing, regardless of what some might say, IS creative. what's more, it's fun. and you know what? when the world is peppered with assholes like this (http://img25.yfrog.com/i/rw3bx.jpg/), i feel like swearing should be the least of our concerns.
i imagine the preciouspantses are sending e-mails because they figure language, even yours, is something they CAN control, unlike their government.
"Profanity is the sign of a weak mind trying to express itself by force." I remember that sign on the wall of my shop class in Jr. High.
We all enjoy the feeling of calling somebody a f*uckwit when they deserve it, but I gotta say it is a bit immature to resort to namecalling just to show others how *strongly* you feel about something. It's a coarsening of public discourse to do so on a public forum, and a bit ironic when you're ostensibly speaking for reason and decency over cruelty and unreason.
You know what I always say when people have a problem with profanity? Fuck the fucking fuckers. ;-)
But maybe it's a generational thing...from a time when you lost points for losing your cool. Makes me think of Red Harvest, when old Elihu is screaming with rage, and the Op is, like,
"And if you don't yell maybe I'll be able to hear you anyway. My deafness is a lot better since I've been eating yeast."
Sarcasm and clever word-smithing and irony are so much more fun than strings of curses. And frankly, that's what I like about Ian's blog, that he can write like a motherfucker when he's of a mind to.
Keep up the swearing. Words are just words. If they can't take it fuck 'em. They can read other blogs.
And the idea that writing is weakened by 'obscenities' has never made much sense to me. Its all part of the art and craft of writing. All words are used to convey meaning and effect.
BTW, love your blog Ian - write what you want to write!
I wouldn't use that language myself, but it is your blog and you can write what you like.
You are so smart though that I hate to see you look "common" by using profanity to excess. It also makes it easier for folks to dismiss you unfortunately.
Off topic, but I think it's a humorous take on political blogs and commenters. Make sure you look at the mouse-over message :)
I can do without the ballsucking myself. But as Neva says, yes, it's your blog -- suck away!
I am surrounded by loud, swearing, grammar deprived New Yorkers at work. I have Central American co-workers who speak better English.
Unfortunately, my tender ears are not the only tender ones there. The two grandchildren of my boss are often there and have no chance at growing up without a very full profane vocabulary. And of course the second either of them (6 and 2 years old) uses any of these words, they are chastised. So, surrounded by profanity and unable to use it. Why should a 2-yr-old have to be this confused?
I try not to swear whenever possible. The best side effect to this is that when I do, my kids sure notice.
"Put that damn pair of shoes away" works if you only pull out the good words for effect.