Kids/Teens Book Club discussion
Questions & Debate
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Bad Language In Books...
I prefer them really. What i dislike most is when authors put in place holders for swear words, like 'holy hades' or 'fraked up' ect ect...that pisses me off, no one talks like that dan it, and if you do then i have one question-Have you never been on the internet...like, ever? xxx
Bridie-No excuses. No apologies. No Regrets wrote: "I prefer them really. What i dislike most is when authors put in place holders for swear words, like 'holy hades' or 'fraked up' ect ect...that pisses me off, no one talks like that dan it, and if ..."I find the books more interesting, and I also agree with that comment.
IDC because its a freaking young adult book like, deal with it. You should expect it... that's just me tho....
Honestly, I couldn't care less either way, but I think that since it is a young adult book, and books can still be good without too much language (harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Skulduggery Pleasant) it's avoidable to an extent.
Yes... but, it is YA and ya is older than children books. So if you are like me and go from children to ya then you expect that leap bc the books are older so it shouldn't matter bc children won't be reading them so, it won't do harm.
Courtney wrote: "It makes it more realistic because teenagers and even kids these days swear and curse. But too much profanity gets a thumbs down from me. However I see both sides"That is true, kids and teens do swear nowadays. So why try to hide that in books? Portray teens how they really act or talk. I'm not saying they are bad, I just mean a lot of them do cuss, hey, even adults do.
Thanks for your comment.
Bridie-No excuses. No apologies. No Regrets wrote: "I prefer them really. What i dislike most is when authors put in place holders for swear words, like 'holy hades' or 'fraked up' ect ect...that pisses me off, no one talks like that dan it, and if ..."The placeholders instead of cussing would get annoying...it's like when the radio edits a song...that makes me angry.
Thanks for your comment.
Katarina wrote: "IDC because its a freaking young adult book like, deal with it. You should expect it... that's just me tho...."That's true, I would expect to see some cussing, sex related issues, drugs, etc. I just don't know about overly using cuss words, like on every page.
Thanks for your comment.
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Johanna ღ♣✽Hobbit and Proud✽♣ღ wrote: "Everyone has different opinions. Mine is that swearing is totally unnecessary in any book, and will put off certain readers. Why put it in, if you don't need it?"
I agree
I agree
Johanna ღ♣✽Hobbit and Proud✽♣ღ wrote: "Everyone has different opinions. Mine is that swearing is totally unnecessary in any book, and will put off certain readers. Why put it in, if you don't need it?"Thanks for your comment, Johanna. I appreciate everyone's different opinions. It gives me lots to think about. c:
@Miss Nina Are you writing another book and need opinions on what to add to it?
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Katarina wrote: "@Miss Nina Are you writing another book and need opinions on what to add to it?"
Yes, I am currently writing another book. I know exactly what direction I am going in with this book, I just wanted to basically the majority of how people felt about bad language...I have gathered so far that it is somewhat of a touchy subject with some poeple, but that the majority doesn't mind bad language at all. So, I have decided to keep the bad language to a bare minimum. If I get to a point in my book where I need to add it, just because it goes with the moment, then I will, but I do not want to over do it, especially since there are some out there that don't like bad language in books at all. In the end, I will have to make the decision based on the moments and my characters. c:
Jasmine wrote: "It depends on the book ive read books where swearing was involved but all it seemed it seemed to do was make the author ' try hard' but look at hp great novel not much major swearing same goes for ..."Thanks Jasmine, for your comment. I like that you mentioned how it makes you think that the author is trying too hard when they use bad language in their books.
Miss Nina wrote: "Katarina wrote: "@Miss Nina Are you writing another book and need opinions on what to add to it?"
Yes, I am currently writing another book. I know exactly what direction I am going in with this b..."
I think it really depends on the characters. Some characters are meant to swear because that's how their personalities are (just like people in real life). However, having everyone swear the entire book really bothers me.
Irene wrote: "Miss Nina wrote: "Katarina wrote: "@Miss Nina Are you writing another book and need opinions on what to add to it?"
Yes, I am currently writing another book. I know exactly what direction I am go..."
Thank you for your comment, Irene. I appreciate your input. I would most likely get annoyed with that too, Irene.
Thanks for all of the comments, everyone. It is very insightful and I love hearing from readers. c:
Miss Nina wrote: "Irene wrote: "Miss Nina wrote: "Katarina wrote: "@Miss Nina Are you writing another book and need opinions on what to add to it?"
Yes, I am currently writing another book. I know exactly what dir..."
It's one thing if the swearing is for character development but another if they are swearing just to swear.
It depends on the character's personality and the situation. Nothing is more annoying then when there's unnecessary swearing - when the characters swear just to swear - but it's also annoying when the words are replaced with things like 'freakin'' and 'holy hades' (as someone said earlier in the discussion). I agree, teenagers do swear in real life so it CAN make it more realistic, but most times teenagers aren't realistic in novels because of the authors' failed attempts at the teenagers' speech and lingo and swearing.
Alex wrote: "It depends on the character's personality and the situation. Nothing is more annoying then when there's unnecessary swearing - when the characters swear just to swear - but it's also annoying when ..."Thank you, Alex for your comment. c: I appreciate your input on the question I posed. I like that you voiced your opinion honestly. c:
Authors have to make characters realistic. It isn't realistic that the gang member is going to say "Oh my goodness". It just isn't. Characters have to be believable or else it ruins the magic.
I'd rather they'd keep it a minimum.
I'd rather they'd keep it a minimum.
Harry - The Knight Errant wrote: "Authors have to make characters realistic. It isn't realistic that the gang member is going to say "Oh my goodness". It just isn't. Characters have to be believable or else it ruins the magic.I'd ..."
Haha, that is rather true :)
Harry - The Knight Errant wrote: "Authors have to make characters realistic. It isn't realistic that the gang member is going to say "Oh my goodness". It just isn't. Characters have to be believable or else it ruins the magic.I'd ..."
Thanks for your comment, Harry - The Knight Errant. I like how you said it would ruin the magic. A book has to feel like magic when you read it c:
I have several YA books published, but only one with swearing, and the swearing is mild and not very frequent. It seemed right for that story.Otherwise, I might write that a character swore under his/her breath without actually have the character swear. No one has complained about that, but a few readers (usually adults :) ) have complained about the few swear words in that one book. Most, however, are okay with it, since it's not gratuious.
Ann wrote: "I have several YA books published, but only one with swearing, and the swearing is mild and not very frequent. It seemed right for that story.Otherwise, I might write that a character swore under..."
Thanks for your comment, Ann. I like that you mentioned how some readers felt when reading your book with the swearing in it. I am glad they didn't give you hate for putting some swearing in it. I mean, there will always be someone that is picky with things, but if it is a once in a while swear, I think it is okay especially when it goes with the characters.
I don't have a problem with it every once in a while, when it makes sense, but too much kills it.
To me it doesn't really matter as long as its not every other sentence or page and stuff like that but it's ya you have to expect a little cussing now and then that's one of the things that separates ya from childrens
I don't really mind it... if it's really bad and frequent then I'll be annoyed and probably put the book down unless it's amazing, but most of the time it doesn't matter to me. I can see how in some situations it might make the book more relatable or more realistic.
I have nothing against swearing, but unnecessary swearing gets on my nerves. This character is not in a stressful situation. They are not undergoing serious emotions. They simply threw it in there for no apparent reason. If that's the character's persona, to swear randomly, then fine. But don't have the clean-cut character suddenly, out of the blue, scream code red profanity. It needs to be realistic. People swear. Some choose not to. Some are so innocent they don't know such words exist (bless you and your purity). Get a good mix in.
I'm okay with cussing with books unless there not a good mixture of bad words and words that are approatie to say on a daily basis.Also, if somehow cusses at the story it has to be relistic or part of the character's personallity.
I've read books with 'curse words' and sure, they do make it more realistic, but I prefer books without cursing. I refuse to curse when I speak and when I write. It's a matter of my integrity, my convictions. Even if I write a character who has a nasty temper, I'll show that in their actions and snappy dialogues, not with curses. I had an English teacher who believed cursing was a must, if you were to be a good writer. I ardently disagree.
Bridie-No excuses. No apologies. No Regrets wrote: "I prefer them really. What i dislike most is when authors put in place holders for swear words, like 'holy hades' or 'fraked up' ect ect...that pisses me off, no one talks like that dan it, and if ..."Well sometimes it helps with the charater's personality. Have you ever read the House of Night series? There's a character, Zoey, and she doesn't cuss, she says bullpoppie, stuff like that. But Like I said, I find it adds to character if used properly.
Hmm, I don't really mind it, I mean, I don't curse and I don't write curse words when I write but I can see both sides of the coin here. For instant, yeah curse words can just be an easy way out for writing a character with a nasty temper but then, if you had a villain and he/she had just lost a battle could you really imagine them going ''Aw butterscotch!'', I don't think so (Unless it was like a Disney villain or something).
Hmm difficult sell, I have a character that says "blasted" and "damn" but that's honestly part of his character. All my other characters use swears that are indicative of the world they come from, but in real life no one would bat an eye at the words. Then again my book kind of crosses age ranges from childrens to teen.
It depends what you qualify as swearing. I'm fine with 'hell' 'blast' and 'sucks' and 'crap' if the time fits
Swear words in writing? A no from me. I would read the book anyway, but I'd prefer it if was without such language. Since I don't curse, it sure does make it difficult to stop myself from a saying such a word that's been stuck in my head from reading a book.
I don't really care for it. Mostly because most of my friends and I don't tend to use bad language. If I'm reading an adult book I can take some of it if it fits the time, place, or character. I don't like it in YA. I know a lot of kids talk like that, but not everybody does, and it doesn't help to promote it.My work had some slight language edited out along with a love scene deemed "too hot" for YA. I don't really mind taking it out. Overall, I think they were right.
H99 wrote: "If it fits the character, though..."It has to fit. That is an important point.
It seems like sometimes it is put in just to be there when it doesn't have to be. I think writers sometimes get caught up in how they perceive teenagers. Or, if they happen to be around some that talk that way and they think, "That's just how teenagers talk."
Bad language in books...hmm....I guess most of it depends on the book and the character saying it. I mean, whereas too much slang language in a book irritates me, if it's present in reasonable proportion, I have no issues reading it. If it fits the mood of the book, and ALSO if it suits the character saying it, then there's no problem with it...
I don't mind bad language but I do mind some rated description but I don't even mind if there is a "f" word in it but I think some immature kids like 12 or low should not read them BTW I am 14 and I don't mind that stuff.
I agree. Some do and some don't. I didn't and don't so I tend to write without it. I think you can create an edgy character without bad language. Also, I would like to have a young person be able to read my stuff and share it with their parents instead of feeling like they have to hide it.That's just me though.
I don't mind the swearing at all. In my opinion, it doesn't make the characters "more cool" but it does kind of say a little bit about who they are. I'm 13 and in my school it's normal for kids to swear so I don't really think much of it in books. The only time when swearing is unnecessary in books is when it's overused. If an author throws in swear words every two seconds just for the sake of swearing, that would make me really irritated. But since I haven't read a book where that has happened, I'm fine with swearing in books. However, I don't think that the middle level books (example: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson) should have swearing in them because younger children read them and if they are exposed to those words too much, they will start to say them.
Its okay to say them in YA/Teen books because teens obviously know these words aren't appropriate and they may or may not be in an environment (school) where a lot of their peers use those words.
I don't really like it, a book doesn't need curse words to be a good book. It does kind of put me off when there are a lot of curse words in books. I like the Hunger Games, Suzzane kept everything very clean language wise. I thought it was amazing! To finish up things I would rather not want any language in books, yeah maybe one or two isn't so bad but 15 or more especially in one chapter. (I've read a book like that before.)
I agree with Kaitlyn . you read my mind.but can some one tell me that the romance in YA novels is too much or just okay? and the violence too.
Rowan *call me Red* wrote: "I don't really like it, a book doesn't need curse words to be a good book. It does kind of put me off when there are a lot of curse words in books. I like the Hunger Games, Suzzane kept everything ..."I agree. I do get a little put off if too many curse words appear in a short space. I have stopped reading books if I see too many. It's a personal preference.
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 readers mind bad words? Does it make a book more interesting? Does it throw the book off for you? Does it make the characters seem cool? Can there be a "cool" young adult book without the hardcore cuss words?
What are your opinions? Cuss words, mild once in a while cuss words, or none at all for young adult books? c: