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Bad Language In Books...
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Ivan
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Jul 16, 2015 06:07PM
I don't care if there's swearing in books, it's never bothered me.
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Nina wrote: "Hello everyone!I was wanting to pose a question to all concerning bad words in young adult books...
I know there are a lot of books out there with naughty words in them, but do the majority of r..."
Hmm. I know I may be a little late to the conversation, but here goes. I try to avoid bad language in a YA/Middle-grade book if possible. I know people curse, but if it doesn't add to the story then why do it?
The dialogue needs to be real, I get that, but when people pick up a book I believe it needs to add something to their life and society. I don't think writers need to be a reflection of society, but rather a refreshment for society. That is for fiction anyway.
Perhaps if the story is a reflection of a historical or contemporary character and that person had a taste for cussing, then OK.
I don't care at all but too much bad language makes the character appear .. not very intelligent.
Cuss word aren't cool period. I don't mind the occasional bad word but if it is constant I find it annoying and see it as the author trying too hard to be "cool" when they are really coming across as crass and immature.
Personally, I don't at all mind curse words in books. Usually, the characters are meant to look realistic, and while some teens don't use curse words, most of us do. So for me, in order to keep the teens looking like, well, teens, a minor amount of cursing here and there makes it a better book.
Personally, I don't at all mind curse words in books. Usually, the characters are meant to look realistic, and while some teens don't use curse words, most of us do. So for me, in order to keep the teens looking like, well, teens, a minor amount of cursing here and there makes it a better book.
I don't mind it much. It sometimes helps me understand what the character is feeling. It can be very distracting if the author throws out the f-bomb every other sentence though.
I personally don't mind if they throw bad language in, as long as it's not over done. I'm a teenage girl, and I don't swear, but I do understand that other people can, and have the right to swear. My only problem would be if the character swears, this as an example, five times in every sentence for the whole book, I'm going to put it down. It's too much to overlook, and is quite bothersome to try and piece together a plot that every other word is an F-bomb. I've only had a handful of titles that contained too much language that it bothered me, so usually it isn't a problem. That's my personal opinion, though.
I don't think there is any need for it, I mean I don't mind the odd curse word hear and there if it is used in the right context. But if they are there just because the author can not find another word to describe a feeling or a reaction it does put me off.
I honestly don't really care all that much. But if there's cussing every other sentence that's a little over the top.
Personally I really don't care at all. In my opinion swear words are literally just words.
And well slung, impart perception and context in the most economical fashion possible. Damn straight. :}
The thing is that swear words have double meanings and, more often than not, bad intentions. They aren't pleasant words. Coming across one every once in a while is fine, I guess. As long as the use of profanities has justified reasons. Then again, anything and every word that is written into book must have a reason, or else why would the publisher allow it to be published? However, I find it much more annoying if books had characters who swore excessively. Just as long as young readers aren't out there swearing profusely, then the occasional swear word is acceptable.
It doesn't bother me personally, at least not anymore. But I do remember my friend recommending me a book many years ago (I was only 12 or 13) and there were so many cuss words that I just couldn't read it. And then I picked up a book at the library recently that had cuss words in it but someone who had checked it out before me had crossed them all out with a pen, so obviously it bothered them too.However, people do cuss in real life so it does seem more realistic to use them in dialogue, but hopefully not too much considering young teens read this stuff too.
What kind of self-righteously ignorant prude takes it upon themselves to personally censor words that "bother" them in public library books? How big a leap to stifling ideas that "bother" them?If you can't handle reality..., stay away from it.
As I am exposed to a lot of swearing in everyday life, it does not bother me if a book contains a few swear words. However, if there is a lot of it, like in Paper Towns by John Green, it simply degrades the book for me. Excessive swearing is just immature and unintelligent.
I get the argument that a lot of swearing can be excessive, but there are people who swear every other word. It feels natural and real and I like it. I actually appreciate a bit of swearing, even outside of YA, just for some humanism. At the same time, I think a lot of authors try and make swearing a character trait or a supplement for quirkiness. Which it isn't. If the only thing unique about a character is that they swear all the time, something's veeeery wrong.
E.D. wrote: "What kind of self-righteously ignorant prude takes it upon themselves to personally censor words that "bother" them in public library books? How big a leap to stifling ideas that "bother" them?If..."
Lol, yes, I agree. I imagine it was either some very young reader or an angry mother or something. The actual content aside from the language might not have been considered appropriate for younger readers either but you can't just scribble it all out just because you don't like it. Just stop reading it.
I, personally, would never trust a kid that *didn't* swear with hammers or sharp objects. Something developmentally wrong there. Some repression issues.Care should be taken. :}
E.D. wrote: "I, personally, would never trust a kid that *didn't* swear with hammers or sharp objects. Something developmentally wrong there. Some repression issues.Care should be taken. :}"
Haha, very true. x)
I personally don't swear. I see no reason too, when my vocabulary is filled with many other words I could use to describe my emotions or other people with. I don't really mind books swearing as long as it isn't unnecessary or over excessive. If they are dropping the f-word every 5 minutes I find that ridiculous and unnecessary. People often call others immature or even call teenagers "children" for having this opinion, which is unbelievably sad. How horrible is this world that teenagers are obligated to swear or be okay with it, and if they don't, they are "immature" and "childish".
Bad language is extremely unnecessary in books. I see no reason for it.
I prefer books with curses specially on YA because it is more realistic. I know there's no reason for it but in this new generation, you can hear bad languages on teens all the time.
Emily wrote: "I personally don't swear. I see no reason too, when my vocabulary is filled with many other words I could use to describe my emotions or other people with. I don't really mind books swearing as lon..."By not "swearing", do you believe yourself to be morally or intellectually superior to those that do? By what standard do you feel qualified to determine language unnecessary, excessive, or ridiculous? Do you feel persecuted by people who disagree with your opinion?
This is in no fashion a personal attack…, I think it pertinent to the topic. :}
E.D. wrote: "Emily wrote: "I personally don't swear. I see no reason too, when my vocabulary is filled with many other words I could use to describe my emotions or other people with. I don't really mind books s..."I never feel superior to anyone in any way, we are all equal. Whether someone swears or not in no way determines superiority in any way. You will find that a lot of people who don't swear feel the same way. I am not qualified to determine language unnecessary, excessive, or ridiculous to any but myself. It is just my own opinion on what I believe is unnecessary, excessive, or ridiculous. And no, I don't feel persecuted by people who disagree with my opinion, after all it is only an opinion. I am entitled to mine, and they are entitled to theirs. Although I do feel persecuted whenever someone generalizes teenagers who don't swear by calling them immature and childish.
Emily,That's a well written response, and I thank you for it. I would ask what influences or teaching you attribute your position to, if any? Family? Social community? Personal inclination?
Generalizations are just that…, general. There are always exceptions.
Still…., you don't keep an icepick handy…, do you? :}
In all honesty, bad words in books makes it more realistic. As someone mentioned before, no one will yell "oh fiddlesticks" in a time of crisis. There should be warnings I guess, that a book contains foul language just as a precaution for younger readers. Cuss words in books don't phase me, but just don't over do it.
Its okay to read a book that have bad words. It makes me laugh everytime they write a bad word, and i assure you, i laugh at the very bad time where people stared at me with narrow eyes. And i have to say sorry for a few times cause i can't help it. Not many books have an element of bad words in it. Well, some of them. The books that i have read and have bad words in it is John green's books. I love the writing and the telling of the story. I dont really mind the bad words cause it makes the character inside more real and more Riveting rather than just a plain old fashioned book where people dip it into the coffee and left a stained old yellow and brown pages.
Bad words can be good sometime, but please dont put too much of it. It will effect the readers reading as the book only contain a foul and cussing language rather than the original of the story.
I think there is a balance that needs to be set for the use of bad words. In some instances I can see the necessity, but in most cases the words could be abandoned and the book would still be just as good (in some cases better). In my personal life I don't use them, so in my writing I don't use them. There are definitely alternative ways of saying things that eliminate their use. Sometimes making up words works just as well.I agree with the "Oh fiddlesticks" comment. In a frightening situation that wouldn't cut it, but you could say "Holy..." and leave the follow on out. Or "What the...". I tend to use "crap" in place of a lot of them.
But the occasional use of them isn't going to deter me from reading a book when it works with the story line. When they are every other word, I typically give up on the book because the plot and meaning of the story gets lost in the overuse.
Most of the time when people swear it's because they are angry, sad, very happy, or hurt. When people have extreme emotions they don't think hard about what they're saying, meaning no time to think of something to put in place of the swear word. Usually people follow through with whatever they're saying. Putting "..." where swear words should go seems utterly pointless. Most people who read young adult books already know all or most swear words anyway. I don't particularly understand the reasoning for censorship in books unless it is for more obvious reasons such as inappropriate content. If you go to school or went to school however long ago, I'm sure by now you've heard it all. I personally believe that swearing adds emphasis to whatever a character is saying. Most teenagers swear, to have them not makes it as unrealistic as a fairy riding a unicorn.
YA I really don't care as long as they are not dropping F bombs every second
It really depends on the book. Some swearing adds shape to the characters and allows you to have greater insight into their personalities or makes them more realistic, especially with books that deal with, say, mental illness. Silver Linings Playbook, as an example, has profanity and it makes the characters more real. I was friends with a woman who worked for ten-plus years in a psych ward, and she said that the people with more manageable mental illness like Pat's used even stronger language on a more frequent basis in the wards, so it's all subjective I suppose. I do dislike when authors overuse profanity in an effort to be humorous. Some writers (and comedians) tend to think that the more foul language they emit, the funnier they'll be, and I don't know how they come to that conclusion, but sometimes I cringe when I realize I just read or heard several minutes' worth of profanity that served absolutely no artistic purpose. At that point, it's being used as a crutch because the author has no idea what else to say. I honestly do appreciate the zing of an artfully placed f-bomb, but the page doesn't need to be blown up with them.
I think in YA, swearing in moderate amounts isn't bad. It makes the characters more realistic, because it's a fact of life that most teenagers swear, and teenagers are the characters in these books. When I was younger, I used to wince, but after middle school, I got over it, and really don't care as long as the author doesn't put in a ton of profanity just to make it seem teenage.About that, sometimes YA authors think for some reason the characters will be more real if they cuss like sailors slash gangsters. That's when it gets annoying, especially when they start dropping F bombs at every minor stupid thing that happens three times a page. Or when the author thinks they can make a book more "mature" by adding in lots of cussing and sexual content. Cough cough Marked.
I always feel like a person seem just bad and annoying when they use bad words. Like there the bad boys in books and there cool but there don't go around cursing. I hate books with cursing, I mean I can handle it if it's a word or two but more no I just can't counting every on with the book.
I don't mind swearing in books. I mean, a lot of "classics" have cursing in them, i.e. The Color Purple, TKAM, etc.
I have to politely disagree with you Mariam. I don't believe that when a character swears it means that that character is bad or annoying. Sometimes it makes me understand a situation better because it may provide a wider look at their anger or happiness.
I will not argue with your opinions, but I personally believe that to be an amazing character you have to use bad language. For example being evil makes you a bad person but to all evil people use bad words. No!
I will not argue with your opinions, but I personally believe that to be an amazing character you have to use bad language. For example being evil makes you a bad person but to all evil people use bad words. No!
Kelly wrote: "I'm not sure what you mean..."i mean that most people think that saying bad words expresses how one feels but its usually their actions that expresses ones emotions. why should authors use bad words when there not necessary, it just gets the reader annoyed.
Because that's how quite a lot of people in real life express emotion. People swear, even with little words like "damn" or "hell". Saying: "Why the heck would you do that?!?" Reads differently than saying: "Why the hell would you do that?!?"
It's almost as if you are censoring yourself, meaning that your anger or whatever emotion can be contained. Which one portrays the scene better?
Sorry to ask, but is English not your native language?
Because that's how quite a lot of people in real life express emotion. People swear, even with little words like "damn" or "hell". Saying: "Why the heck would you do that?!?" Reads differently than saying: "Why the hell would you do that?!?"
It's almost as if you are censoring yourself, meaning that your anger or whatever emotion can be contained. Which one portrays the scene better?
Sorry to ask, but is English not your native language?
I think a lot of youth are pretty worldly and are not unacustom to hearing bad launguage. That being said, just as in books meant for my generation, I don't want to find more than a couple of instances of it in an entire book. You have to really need those words to make use of them.
Teens I know have filthy mouths. As for being in YA books, I think a few here and there are fine. Depends on the book and character really. I don't mind cussing as long as it fits in the story. By the same token, I can't stand excessive cussing, just for the sake of cussing (you get this a lot in movies, HBO series Deadwood).
Honestly, I'm in the minority on this one. I would prefer to never read a swear word. I recently read The Darkest Minds trilogy, and one character swore a lot. I'm talking fbomb practically every time she spoke, which was a lot. I understand it was her character. I get that authors want to make their characters realistic, so i read the books. I grew up in a very conservative community, and very few teenagers swore at school. Maybe they did outside of school, but my friends and I sure didn't. (I graduated high school in 2002). But as a school teacher, teens swear a lot. So I get authors trying to make realistic characters. But I know plenty of high school students of mine who wish books didn't swear so much, and who don't swear themselves.I think it's cool not to swear, and it is realistic to be a teen and not swear. However, that just sadly isn't the norm, so yes, I read books that swear....I just really wish they didn't. If you want to make characters realistic, then I guess throw in a well placed cuss word here and there, but I think the f bomb should never ever ever appear in a YA book. Even thoufh teens do say it, there are plenty who don't and don't want to read it.
I understand. One of the things I like about young adult books is that they don't have the obscenity in too many books written for adults.
I agree with the fbomb in YA books, I don't think it should be there either. There are a few cuss words that should never appear in YA and a couple that shouldn't appear at all cause they are just vile.
I feel like swears are needed in certain cases. Most characters in young adult novels are teenagers and most teenagers swear. It makes the characters seem more realistic but too much swearing doesn't help the story and can bog down the plot line. But in a lot of situations that the protagonist is in, swearing would happen naturally and they're just words.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Tomorrow, When the War Began (other topics)Illuminae (other topics)
Marked (other topics)
Tiger's Curse (other topics)
Marked (other topics)
