Swearing? In YA?!?
Tiny warning before we start; this is a blog meant primarily for teens and up (not saying you have to be a teen to read this, all ages are most certainly welcome, but sometimes I will address more PG13 issues). This post is addressing a more teenage issue, and although I tried to keep it perfectly clean, I would not recommend reading it if you are younger than twelve without first checking with a parent, since I don't want anyone mad at me and I don't want to put any of y'all sweet people at risk. Thank you!
I had already written today's post, but I changed my mind. I was going to write about how swearing was bad, and that it can be avoided completely, when I realized something, not everyone is like me, and I'm not like everyone. I mean, I knew that, but today I was just re-reminded, call it a God thing if you wish.
I had already written today's post, but I changed my mind. I was going to write about how swearing was bad, and that it can be avoided completely, when I realized something, not everyone is like me, and I'm not like everyone. I mean, I knew that, but today I was just re-reminded, call it a God thing if you wish.
What made me realize this was something one of my good friends said today. You see, she said the word “crap”, and then she said, “oops, I just said a bad word.” and looked rather embarrassed.
And to me that was funny. Crap? A bad word? Most people I know use that word all the time, I had and still have a few Sunday school, Awana, and Youth leaders say it. But then I realized a number of things; one, my friend isn't like me.
She doesn't go to my church.
She doesn't know all of my friends.
She doesn't live in my home.
She hasn't experienced some of the things I have.
In other words, she doesn't walk in my shoes and I don't walk in hers.
So it very well could be a bad word for her. I mean, I know people who think “stupid” and “hate” are bad words, and growing up, my siblings and I were told that they were bad words in order to keep us from calling people stupid or telling people that we hated them. Which makes a lot of sense, and I'm glad my parents taught me that, and showed me that we should always endeavor to watch what we call people and what we say, because once words are out we can't take them back.
That being said I know people my age who consider stupid the equivalent to dropping the f-bomb.
In truth, everyone is different in ways they are convicted. I'm sure actually I'm more than sure that I have been talking to people and accidentally said a word they consider bad. Like maybe one time I was talking to someone about something and I said something along the lines of, “Man, I really hate when that happens!” or, “I was being stupid.” or “I feel crud.” And that person I was talking to inwardly gasped.
And is that my fault? No.
And is that their fault? No.
It's not anyone's fault, it's simple because we are two different people living two different lives with two different convictions.
I don't use the word “suck” or “sucked” all that much. Actually, I really try not to, even though it's hard because everyone else says it all the time. Why do I try not to? Well, because when I was growing up it was bad, and considered vulgar, and when you look at the phrase that word came from, it is rather vulgar. But then suddenly everyone and their grandma is saying it like it's a normal word, inculding a bunch of Christian people I really look up too, and I'm just here like, “Wait...what? Since when was this word no longer offensive or gross?!?!” Honestly, I still don't get why people say it, I mean, it doesn't offend me or anything, but y'all do know that “suck” or “sucked” came from the phrase (I'm making this more PG, just so y'all know, it's actually more vulgar than this): “Suck me” or “Suck my penis”, right? Okay, good. Just checking.
I don't know, I can't really say it without cringing…maybe I'm just more sheltered than those people…
I don't know, I can't really say it without cringing…maybe I'm just more sheltered than those people…
Anyways, what I am saying is that I don't think I'm in any position to tell what words are okay to use and what words are too far. After all, we all have different views on that, as some of you have discussed with me. And I am so glad you do tell me what you think, because I think what you believe matters, and it's really interesting and enlightening to read what some of y'all think, so don't ever be hesitant to disagree with me or ask me questions about what I believe!
I do want clean books. I do think it would be really nice to not worry about recommending a book to a family member, a friend, or even one of my siblings without worrying about bad words. And yes, I dowant that.
As a Christian writer, I feel called to write clean books, with clean words, and clean scenes. But my books and stories do have the words “stupid” and “hate” in them, and I know tons of people who probably wouldn't read them if I told them that, and that's okay. We are all different. And it's a good thing.
But one thing I do, and I would advise you to do when you're writing a book, think of a little kid you know. Maybe one of your siblings, a child who looks up to you, a cousin, anyone little who you care about. Now think of them your age, picking up your book, would you be ashamed if they read it? If so, maybe you should re-consider.
Please understand that I am not, in anyway saying I'm better than you or that I know more, most likely I don't. You are probably smarter and more wise than me (it's not that hard to be smarter or wiser than me though, lol), but that's just my personal view. It's just some food for the thought.
My next post shall be either about drugs in books or sex in books, so please use the poll over to the right to vote on that!
The Rebellion has Started
Here are my previous posts if you haven't read them yet, they'll explain what's going on:
This started it: Dear Writers, (Warning: This is a Rant).
And this continued it: #RebelliousWriting
And here is my last Rebellion: Good Books: A Win-Win
The amazing, super awesome, and bravely rebellious Rebel Army is still on the move, I'm sorry if you did a post and I forgot to link it, if so contact me or comment down below and I will fix that!
Lilly: #RebelliousWriting
Other news:
Guys, Anna has recently contacted me about Rebellious Writing, and she has a brilliant idea. I can't tell you much because we don't want you to be disappointed if it doesn't work, but I can tell you that it will be big. So do keep your eyes pealed, because I will keep y'all updated on this surprise!!!
What do you think about swearing in YA?
Isn't this rebellion exciting?!
And isn't it nice to have the "let's talk!" again?!?! I think so anyway.... :)
Happy Writing,
P.S.
Don't forget to vote on my next post on Thursday (Poll located on the top right, over the subscribe gadget). >>>
Comments
Post a Comment