I do cuss… quite a bit. However, when I blog, I don’t use profanity at all. Why? Because I’m a business owner and I’m trying to convey my point without using profanity. I’m not against cussing, but there really is a time and place for it.
Yes, there are bloggers who cuss, but it usually depends on the niche, and the moment. Cussing is usually (at least from my own experience, as I read a LOT of blogs from all over the blogosphere) typical of personal websites, rather than professional ones. A while back I stumbled on an article that had profanity in the title. It dropped what some mildly call, the “f-bomb.” This blog wasn’t a personal site, it was by someone who coached others professionally, and often taught people on their website.
Now, I admit, I was going to write this article weeks ago, but it wasn’t until I was approached by a few of that blogger’s regular readers. They asked me about what were my thoughts about cussing. They also said that because of their situation professionally, they couldn’t share the person’s article because it would be damaging to their business. The general point of the article did come across, but the profanity really wasn’t necessary.
As of 2014, there are more than 1,025,109.8 words in the English dictionary. This doesn’t include slang words, or the occasional insertion of latin, or another language, or even slang of another language (example: Spanglish.) Profanity wasn’t really intended to become anything more than a derogatory sentence enhancer, but humans tend to be creative and give several meanings to the same word, create new words, or mix some words to together to get their point across.
The thing is – there are far better and more clever ways to enhance your point.
Words can be powerful- for all the right, and even all the wrong reasons. Profanity is usually something that triggers that “bam, in your face” type of reaction. Some people are more tolerant of it, and others can’t abide by it. Some people can’t get past the profanity. It’s like that word triggered a shut off in their mind and they don’t want to have anything more to do with what you wrote.
As a blogger and as a business owner, you have to find that happy medium. You also have to make a clear decision in which you accept all the consequences that may occur if you use profanity in your blog.
Just because you cussed, doesn’t mean you’re automatically a bad person. It could mean that your reader has specific lines drawn to which is acceptable content to share. Some of them may be reading your post at work or at home while the kiddies are up. Some may be absolutely against profanity. There are just a lot of reasons.
If you decide to cuss in your blog, you need to be secure in what you say and be willing to back it up. If it means losing potentially great connections with well connected and influential people, that’s your decision.
Again, it’s your decision to use profanity. Just remember, if you’re trying to grow your blog and/or business, decide quickly on what is best for you and your brand.
Very interesting topic Nile. I come from a background that does not accept cussing that much, so to me a professional blogger cussing would be a turn off. Thank you for the share.
Nile,
I couldn’t agree more. Coming from the offline world in business, it was never thought acceptable to cuss in anything “permanent”…
So to me, social media, blog posts, videos, whatever…
It’s all like advertisement for my brand…
There are people who draw a diff. crowd, but I choose to work with local and online businesses…
The cussing is left for the more “informal” sessions…
Not the professional ones.
Great article!
I have read somewhere that people who curse are generally more honest people… I do like this quote, of course mostly because I use cursewords, but there is always a fine line between professionalism. I like the attitude that says “if I curse and you don’t like it then byebye” but I also love how you have put it that there are far better words that could be used.
Excellent Post Nile
I grew up in a Christian home and cussing was forbidden and as a Christian myself I do not swear so when I come across articles with curse words I am always taken aback. It’s a big turn off and I will not read your post.
Thanks for sharing this article
Cheers
Vivette
Hi Nile. I was raised in a more genteel time when cursing was pretty unacceptable. My mom let one fly once in a while, but it was never done in public.
The ‘F’ word was the worst cuss word in the U.S. Now it’s used so commonly that there seem to be no words that have any shock value.
I personally don’t curse much, and I sure don’t do it on my blog or social media. I think it’s unnecessary and unprofessional. I don’t share things with curse words, either, and I block Facebook friends who send them. I don’t think I’m better than someone who curses – it’s just a standard I’ve set for myself. Thanks for a thoughtful post.
All the best,
Leslie
Nile, I totally agree. Regardless of what your personal beliefs are about cussing, if you’re looking to promote a business, swearing can be a real turn off. I think it’s a turn off even in less permanent settings—like a business lunch—when someone I am networking with resorts to cursing to try to build a relationship with me.
Thanks for the thoughtful post.
I, personally do not believe that profanity (or off-color humor) should be used in a professional context. I know that some people get away with it, and it is part of their brand. I am turned off by it and I always say that one should know their audience. But for most audiences, most of the time, it is inappropriate.
This is my BIGGEST pet peeve … people who use profanity in blog posts. There is a time and a place for it. I just don’t think a blog post is that place. It also makes it hard to share, because many of my friends do not curse.
Great blog post! I especially hate it when the cussing is in the title of a book or in the domain name of a website. I have decided not to promote certain products because of this reason.
I agree wholeheartedly, Nile. If you know your audience, as you generally do in real life, then “honesty” in speech may be fine. But in a blog post, why cause unnecessary offense? I appreciate this blog post!
Hello Nile, I do agree with you my friend! I am a wondering if we both landed on the same site. I for one could not share this post not did I even want to leave a comment.
Like you stated this type of language was not necessary and in my opinion I lost a lot of respect for this person as well.
Before this post I may have done business with her, goes to show HUH?
Thanks for sharing.. Chery :))
It’s a possibility, though I’m not going to name names because I’ve seen this on other websites.
For me, it doesn’t matter what someone says, but I do get your point because I’ve heard the same from others. For me, it’s a matter of spending those words wisely with something that could be more powerful and creative.
My last blog post had a swear word in the title. The way I figure it, this is the real me, and the real way I talk. Anyone who is going to be offended by that, is eventually going to be offended by something else I say anyway. I very, very, very rarely swear in my blogging, but once in a while, I do. C’est la vie.
That’s why I say it depends on the blogger’s decision on accepting the possible consequences from using profanity.
I used to think that it was cool to do so…I wanted to blog back then just so I can rant and cuss about all the crap happening in my country.
But I got into business and blogging for that business, well, using profanity didnt seem professional at all.
IT’s definitely not for everyone but sometimes, it does get the point across, just be prepared to accept that there will always be haters.
I think when it comes down to it it is all about your niche and who you are talking to. Generally i think most people are adult enough to really care less about profanity but I think most of the time it REALLY isnt needed. Most of the time I read profanity online it seems out of place and inappropriate, also unprofessional. I think the only time i feel it is ok is if you are quoting, satirical, or a comedy based website, otherwise I can live without it!
Hi Nile,
Really interesting topic! while I personally would refrain from swearing as much as possible in a professional capacity. There are also some pretty successful people that have built up a reputation that has come to expect swearing in some capacity.
I would say it is harder to build up the trust if your curse all the time, but at the same time, if you are willing to put in the effort and build that reputation it could work out just fine.
Thanks,
Beth 🙂
I cuss and I do it in business. Doing so is a conscious choice for me based on the nature of my business and who I am as a person.
It’s true that not everyone likes it. We’re all different and we all have different beliefs and values, which is awesome. What’s also true is that the people who can’t abide by it or who are triggered by it or who don’t believe in it aren’t my clients. It’s that simple. I’m not here to appeal to everyone or please everyone. I’m here to serve the people I’m meant to serve.
I accept the “consequences” of my choice and the consequences of being who I am (and I don’t believe in being anything else). Most of them are awesome consequences. Awesome consequences like the fact that the people who are my clients and audience love it. Awesome consequences like the fact that I’m the real me in my business and I’m true to who I am. And awesome consequences of writing from my heart and soul and helping people in deep and profound ways.
The only not-as-awesome consequence is that some people won’t want to read my stuff or interact with it or do business with me. Which really isn’t so bad in one sense, because those people aren’t my audience as I mentioned. What’s sad about that is that those people won’t experience what I offer, but hopefully there are others out there who they’ll resonate better with who do offer it. In fact, I have a couple people I can refer you to if you’d rather work with someone else.
As for losing connections with well-connected and influential people being my choice . . . if those people disconnect from me, that’s THEIR choice. And I gain many more connections than I lose, as do many very successful colleagues of mine who also choose to use profanity in their writing.
One of those people is Leonie Dawson who said it very well in a post of her own and I couldn’t have said it better myself (http://leoniedawson.com/yes-i-swear-and-im-okay-with-it/). She wrote:
“I understand my writing may not please all people. I understand that. There’s no way I actually CAN please all people. It’s an impossible task. But it will be right for the right people. I also understand it’s much more important for me to speak in the way that feels right and happy to me, without holding back. I don’t want to feel like I’m hiding my swear bear nature when I write to you. I don’t want you to be surprised if you ever meet me in person and I decoratively describe something with F bombs. I actually happen to find tongue-in-cheek, perfectly placed and heartfelt swearing to be endearing and hilarimo. I dig when people are that real. I like women who swear. I also appreciate that might not be your way of seeing it, and that’s okay. If you don’t like any form of swear words, you might like to choose to not read my writing. (I don’t need to hear if you find me offensive. Or annoying. How you think of me is none of my business if you do.) WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS THIS: Turning up and creating. Writing what is in my heart and soul as honestly, vulnerably and on-soul’s-truth as possible (that may or may not include swear words, depending on what I feel called to writing). Doing my best job at helping the other souls that I am destined to help. Loving the buggery out of my self as I do it all. And changing the world through philanthropy. That’s my job. That’s all I need to focus on.”
I stand strong on who I am, how I write and how I do business. I stand strong on the results I can help people achieve. I stand strong on my decision to freely express myself the way I do. And I stand strong on helping others express their real, unique selves in their businesses.
Hi Nile,
Great topic to be discussed. For me, I don’t think there is any room for cussing in business. We never know who is reading our stuff and it might be offensive to others. I can clearly get my point across without using profanity.
Now I’m no prude and can cuss like a truck driver when I get all angry, but that’s it! It is in the privacy of my own home. I am not offended in any way when people use fowl language, but it is not good practice to use anywhere online. It can ruin your brand. My two cents!
-Donna
I am actually against cussing on blog posts, especially if it’s a professional blog. I think it gives a bad impression to the reader. I have never ever cussed on blog posts and now I am sure it’s less professional, thanks for this awesome read!