Those of us who blog know the impact of words. We are all using language to pursuade others, to convey our message, to change the world. It follows that we must be aware of how language is perceived by others. Recently there has been a lot of discussion on -- and about -- DailyKos and the use of the word "fuck".
It's no use pretending "fuck" is "just a word," because our language and society don't work that way. The word has impact and profound emotion attached to it. In the United States, it's commonly accepted that "fuck" is the most profane word that can be uttered. There's a heirarchy of foul language, beginning with damns and hells; these words are so acceptable that cuddly Colonel Potter could utter them with regularity in the 70s. But our 1970s sensibilities meant our love for him would have evaporated had he denounced Frank as a shithead (which he was) or Charles as a pompous son of a bitch (which he was.)
That was then. As our culture has evolved, so has our acceptance of profanity. The show "South Park" has recently been "allowed" -- whatever that truly means -- to use the word "shit" in the dialogue. But the word "fuck" remains the stuff of R rated movies and MA rated television shows that can only appear on non-network channels.
Further, the context of profanity is important. Some find the use of profanity online acceptable, but would balk at its use in public. When children are involved, we're expected to use appropriate language, and "fuck" doesn't qualify. We wouldn't think twice if we heard Chris Rock or Eddie Izzard use the word, but when a politician on either side of the fence does, it's national news. To pretend that these unspoken social rules don't exist is sticking your head in the sand. You can agree or disagree with it, but the fact remains that it's there.
Ultimately, the word "fuck" has the uncanny power to distance people from each other. When we tell someone to shut the fuck up, we say it with anger and intensity. We say it to wound. Sometimes we say it to shock, but the use of profanity is so prevalent nowadays that the shock factor has worn off. Profanity doesn't shock people into paying attention, not anymore.
None of us grew up impervious to the sting of language. Perhaps you and I chose to embrace profanity, accept it, or become desensitized to it. We need to remember others have not taken the same path we have. A segment of our society sees the word "fuck" and is repulsed, for whatever reason, and we need to accept that.
Rhetoric, prose, journalism, whatever you want to call it, it's a game and games have rules. If you want to break the long-standing rule that profanity deters from your message, fine. It's your right to do so. However, if you want to use the word "fuck" a lot, keep in mind that most newspapers and magazines won't quote you or your article because of the profanity. Unless they're quoting you to highlight the profanity, that is. It's part of the game.
We all know we're in Phase 2 of the Gandhi Imperative: attack. First the mainstream media ignored us, now they're attacking us. They're going to use whatever they can and, for many reporters, the first thing they're going to see is the language used. It's the easiest gambit in the world; simply judge a book by its cover.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't say what we want. Keep in mind the media is always going to find some miscreant who loves to email Michelle Malkin with a passionate "look, you gooey eyed twizzler, you suck so bad I'm going to hunt you down and rape your refrigerator!" and they're going to hold the entire liberal blogging community responsible for it. It doesn't matter if we all mind our manners or not. And as many have already pointed out today, it's borderline insanity to focus on how many fucks you can find online when our own president is threatening to nuke Iran.
Regardless of the smear campaign the media is embarking on, we do need to remember our audience. Are we trying to reach out to new people, enlighten and convince them we have valid points? I'd like to think so. While profanity-filled rancor may be applauded by those already converted, it will limit our influence. If you write a rant with profanity you cannot at the same time act shocked when people dismiss your message because they can't get past the fucks.