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[Jim Ticehurst Contribution Level: 4]

Hi all, just lately I have seen a real increase in offense lamguage online...now don't get me wrong I swear myself (and quite a lot as well) plus I also drink (and quite a lot of that as well) but when I come online I appreciate that not everyone agrees with my point of view.
Some people seem to just have the gift of writing like that, Jim Yaghi is one of them. When I read his stuff every now and again he wil say something and it just kinda flows. It's almost as if we were standing in the pub together having a pint and he is just talking. It is so natural, it makes me smile, and it just kinda fits in so naturally with the conversation.
On the other hand I did get an email from one of the top people on this site the other day and before I even had a chance to open the email the title of it was "I'm a f***ing genius' and that just really seemed in bad taste (and I am pretty sure that a lot of the people on this site would have got it as well) I did think that that was rather unpleasant (especially coming from somebody who is rather an eloquent speaker) ..what do you think?
I am going to create a new blog and I must admit that I do like Jim Yaghi's very loose and friendly style but at the same time I appreciate that not everyone can get away with it ...any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated, regards Jim T.

[Chris Tryon Contribution Level: 4]

I agree Jim. I don't normally use curse words unless I am really mad about something. I do find it in bad taste when it is used by professionals. They say you write the way you speak. If that is the case, I think these individuals are just being lazy. Not everyone appreciates or uses profanity to get their point across.

Jay Leno got his job on the tonight show, after he cleaned up his language. It was the best advice that he received from Johnny Carson. Jay is tremendously talented and he doesn't need to use bad language to prove that he is funny. It's just not professional.

[Tom Bradley Company: Herbalife International of America, Inc. Contribution Level: 3]

Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself forcibly.

[Laura McCallum Company: Immunotec Inc Contribution Level: 3]

I don't use it, and I am not attracted to it. But there will always be those who use it, and like attracts like, so everyone gets what they want.

Interestingly, I also find that most will respect you and not use foul speech when you interact with them if they know how you feel about it. People pick up cues from your behavior and speech. So in this way, even unlikely business partners can interact in a good way if one mirrors the other to a certain extent.

When it comes down to it, we are all humans with strong feelings at times on things, and we all have our way of expressing and dealing with these feelings. Deep inside, we are all expressing similar thoughts and emotions, we just choose different vehicles for delivery.

[Lyn Silvers Company: Cieaura Contribution Level: 1]

This is a business & friendship network, questionable language is not correct business and I certainly don't need it in a friendship.

[Paul Murphy Company: Vitamark International Contribution Level: 7]

I don't use profanity in my headlines or articles and rarely on the street. Something Jim Rohn taught in one of his stories stuck with me, how profanity lowers an individual in the eyes of others. Words have tremendous power as we see in political arena for example. People of high authority are expected to show professionalism and restraint when using language to get their point across.

[Jim Yaghi Contribution Level: 4]

Jim T.,

We share a name. We don't have the same last name, but still it's a reason for bonding. right?

I'm really glad you brought up this topic because I also don't like the swearing.

I grew up in a household where a word like "sucker" would get me spanked. I still don't think i have ever used the 4-letter eff word in front of my parents or sisters. And though my language is colourful at times, i calculate carefully where to censor myself and where not to.

An email is not the best place for swearing.

Yes, it gets an email clicked perhaps. But it also gets it spammed. Even if you use *** to censor, it still gets spammed too often to be worth it.

Plus, i don't think anyone should be getting profanity delivered by force to their email.

Other people's websites and audience, i'm careful with too.

On the other hand, my personal website and social profiles are places that are "my home" on the internet. If i can not "kick off my shoes and lay on the couch" at home, i would hate being online. i don't want to follow any else's rules there and i write how i feel.

i'm also aware that it will turn off certain people. but i think my results redeem me in their eyes. and i'm ok with losing the people who are more offended than impressed.

with that said, the worst thing, i think, is when people say,

"i'm going to be using some VERY, VERY strong language, i hope that's ok"....

WHAT!? lol no it's not ok.

You're PLANNING out your use profanity? That defies the whole purpose.

Swearing and cussing is supposed to show your HUMAN side. Your "normalness". Being loose with your cuss words allows others to see you as a regular, non-manufactured person. But not when you go to the effort of apologising for it before-hand.

no body does that naturally.

I guess, what i'm saying is, don't swear to swear. Don't censor yourself EVERYWHERE unless you're that kind of a person in real life.

so for your blog, jim, it sounds like that's your personality---to be a "bloke's" bloke---and ya know what? just about every true blue man will see a little of them in you. and be attracted to it. So speak how you feel comfortable...and then censor yourself appropriately where it would be really bad manners!

and try to be respectful of the ladies too---we like them too. but they can deal with a swear word from time to time.

thanks again for this AWESOME thread.

jim yaghi

[Delton Contribution Level: 2]

There are some words I wouldn't use in public or at home, I know, some words we, the older generation, were taught to be wrong, to use, has been added to the dictionary with a different meaning than when I was growing up.

Even though the dictionary gives meanings that will cause the younger generation to think it is all right to use those words it still makes the hair on my bald head stand up when I hear them used.

I just figure an educated person should be able to express themselves without those words, if not don't talk or write to me. If I received an e-mail using foul language in the subject line on in the body I would scroll down to find the unsubscribe link.

[Alan Turner Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Jim,

Funnily enough this is a topic I was having a discussion with some people about just two days ago. We were discussing the merits or demerits of swearing in a conversation and where it belongs or does not belong.

On an aside, I also received the email you are referring to and I was a bit taken aback by it as well, but I still opened it, while I may not have thought at the time it was appropriate, I still have a lot of respect for the person that wrote it as he is responsible for making me change my thinking and setting me on the path I am now on.

I digress, bad language has its place, but I think we can all agree as jim has so eloquently said, we censor ourselves depending upon the situation we find ourselves in, most times in a professional environment with customers and clients you would never swear or use profanity and I must admit I am trying to completely cut out the use of bad language in my vocabulary, there is nothing I cannot say without swearing. I understand sometimes that it may be warranted but I also feel that it is absolutely controllable and I feel that sometimes as has been stated that things that were not acceptable suddenly become so, which in my view sometimes means a reduction in our society and it's standards.

I think that sometimes at home and amongst friends when situations warrant, there may be the need or the desire to swear and it can more than likely be an appropriate situation, but in my opinion, it will never be appropriate in a professional environment, no matter what you have to say.

All the best

Alan
Aspire to Climb as High as You Can Dream...

[Kathie Thomas Company: SendOutCards Contribution Level: 2]

Personally I believe it demonstrates a certain laziness on behalf of the person using those words. I mean, c'mon, there are other better adjectives to use to describe a situation or whatever. And do I swear when I'm not online? Not usually. It's a rare occasion and I don't feel comfortable using words that are not an everyday part of my vocabulary.

Besides, I think it demonstrates a lack of professionalism, especially when used in places where professionalism should be on show.