tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post1646393837354144489..comments2024-03-28T19:02:37.054+00:00Comments on More than Writers: 'Lazy' is a four letter word, by Veronica Zundelauntyamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213728883228063200noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-6453630615825416752016-09-28T23:46:19.493+01:002016-09-28T23:46:19.493+01:00Readers often don't realize that farming commu...Readers often don't realize that farming communities throughout history have different perception of "profanity". People who work all day in a barnyard are not as offended by the sight, smell or mention of excrement.Dwight in the USAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-77331938619039449932016-08-06T12:05:36.171+01:002016-08-06T12:05:36.171+01:00I agree so much. I have written characters who spe...I agree so much. I have written characters who speak more crudely than I do, because they would. In literature and life generally I find casual blasphemy much more offensive than obscenity.Penelope Wallacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-64682437579493880632016-06-21T19:17:18.915+01:002016-06-21T19:17:18.915+01:00Thanks Veronica - and you made the point which I m...Thanks Veronica - and you made the point which I made in the discussion - and was overlooked - that 'swearing' in the Biblical context does not mean using 4-letter words of a basic nature but a quite different, legal, situation is referred to! (People so often don't listen, do they?) (Sometimes my 'good' characters have been known to use a 'naughty word' ... my publisher doesn't object ...)Mari Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05606125048044373268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-72555212233783471932016-06-20T22:45:26.355+01:002016-06-20T22:45:26.355+01:00On the Polish Baltic coast, there is a village cal...On the Polish Baltic coast, there is a village called Fuck which is situated on the Hel Peninsular. This is listed on the signboards on the trams in Gdansk. When my husband and I saw this, we almost died laughing.Rosemary Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05797123703252258773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-81518509954989086472016-06-20T12:36:27.894+01:002016-06-20T12:36:27.894+01:00I am with you on this one, Veronica. I write for y...I am with you on this one, Veronica. I write for young adults and I have been taken to task for allowing those characters who are cruel and offensive to speak (within inverted commas) as they normally would. We are meant not to like them and to identify with the heroes who have to confront them - as our young people have to do in real life.<br />I have also been criticized for having young people communicate as they do: "He went, 'I seen you before?' What kind of, like, chat up line is that? As if!" According to some I'm supposed to encourage proper English use: "He said to me, 'Have I seen you before?' What sort of romantic advance is that supposed to be? As if I would be interested."<br />If our characters are to come across as authentic, then I believe they have to talk in character and use the words they would. Similarly, if I personally went around using 'swear' words, it would be inappropriate and out of character, and everyone, including the kids, would be shocked. Just as they would think I was a doubtful old bloke if I used 'like' in every sentence.Trevor Stubbshttp://www.trevorstubbs.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-67960881734178067292016-06-19T17:29:55.731+01:002016-06-19T17:29:55.731+01:00I agree with much of what you say, Veronica. I'...I agree with much of what you say, Veronica. I'm not one who believes certain words are bad or sinful in themselves - context is all. But I also believe that there are, if our audience/publisher/conscience puts constraints on the amount of swearing, other alternatives for portraying the use of swearwords and characterising someone as a sweary type. If it pains us to do so, we can try another audience or publisher. We could try changing our conscience, too, but I've had a go at that one plenty of times without success, believe me. Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-86833935557963759442016-06-19T13:38:28.203+01:002016-06-19T13:38:28.203+01:00Thank you for the point that 'What we call ...Thank you for the point that 'What we call 'strong' language is weak language when used as punctuation'. I have thought the same for some time; even that four letter words are unimaginative (lazy, too, for many). My characters are set in a different time and place and can use more imaginative ways to insult each other or reveal their character, but as I don't use swearwords myself I know I would find it strange going down that route. That said, there are many who challenge our narrow understanding of what swearing and loving really look like, and the imperative we have to shock at times - http://www.pastrix.com/ may be an eye-opener to some.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com