Comments on: A Tasteful Examination of Using Salty Language

By: Megan Willome

Megan Willome — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:49:15 +0000

You are one bold dude. But I agree wirh you.

P.S. There goes my breast cancer book.

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:23:59 +0000

Thanks for your perspective, Larry. It’s funny that after having written this, I have far less “need” to express myself with those kinds of colorful words. I am personally not offended, when used in a proper setting, but your points are well-taken. Only, I think the biblical references to cursing and dirty language are just that – dirty language and cursing (which I am distinguishing from salty language), and there is a whole string of words and contexts that make their way down that path before it arrives to that station. But like you said, it’s a slippery slope.

By: Larry Ambrose

Larry Ambrose — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:25:13 +0000

Guess I’m late to the party. Found this researching “salty language” for a message – sermon. (That’s right, I’m a Pastor/Preacher … hope that’s o.k. to chime in on this. I’ll promise to be gentle ; )

To be honest, I understand the legalism vs. freedom angle. The comment comparing what I’ll term “mild cursing” to wine and R-rated movies bears merit, as well.

However, I struggle with – for lack of a better word – the slippery slope nature of it. What words, how far, in what context, is it o.k. to “curse?” By the way, though I understand the linguistics of comparing cursing to profanity – and it’s true that many can be profane without cursing – I think there are some simple points that can be made.

They begin with the idea that, if these are “bad words” – and I believe even society has recognized them as such, even though they’re so very liberal in their use – why is it ever justifiable to use them?

Though a Pastor, I’m no prude, per se. But as an example, a sports coach/player is caught by TV cameras using “foul language” on the field/sideline. The argument is that he’s “in the battle/trenches” and that’s how they talk there (like maybe one’s workplace). But, if he says the same thing in the interview afterwards it’s not acceptable; it’s inappropriate to the point he could be fined, disciplined, etc.

If it can be controlled in one setting, why not the other? Look, I understand things happen, and people – even Pastors – make mistakes. But why does it have to be the accepted norm at work, or otherwise.

Two more points. If we allow it because it’s more acceptable to society as a whole, do we – as people of the Christian faith – also “allow” sex outside of marriage (and yes, I realize it’s rampant even among Christians), or homosexuality?

If the only difference between these two is what the Bible says about it, what about these verses? “But now is the time to get rid of .. dirty language.” Colossians 3:8, NLT; or ‎”Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:10; or
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)?

I love intelligent discourse. Any appropriate reply would be welcomed.

By: john brown

john brown — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:30:44 +0000

YES MY NAME IS JOHN—I HAVE BEEN A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN SINCE AGE 20—JUST TODAY I WAS TALKING WITH MY PASTOR OVER IN OUR CHURCH–AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IVE KNOWN HIM I WAS TELLING A STORY ABOUT WHEN I USED TO WORK, AND HOW THE GUYS USED TO TALK—-ALL OF A SUDDEN I BLURTED OUT THE WORD—–”CRAP” I THEN APPOLOGIZED OF COURSE. HE SAID I WAS OK SOMTIMES THAT JUST HAPPENS—-I FELT TERRIBLE— BUT I GUESS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE WORD—I ASKED GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND ASKED HIM TO HELP ME WATCH MY MOUTH—WELL THANKS hustler.onlyone@yahoo.com

By: Dena Dyer

Dena Dyer — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:10:49 +0000

Brad, I love reading Anne Lamott and other skillful writers who use curse words. Their facile use of language, not just salty!, pushes me to want to deepen my craft. But if I ever try to use profanity, it comes off forced and false. Maybe because I can’t say any of those words with authority–as a Southern-raised gal, I never learned how.

It’s funny, though, I just don’t have an interest in many R-rated (or even a lot of PG) movies. The “bomb” word makes me kinda queasy. And I do think we have to be careful of going too far in our quest to be “real.” Some preachers and Christians I’ve come across are too free (IMHO) with profanity, just to prove they’re under grace and not the law.

Interesting post, and thoughtful conversation…with respectful disagreements. Gotta love THC!

By: Cheryl Smith

Cheryl Smith — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:43:15 +0000

Just catching up now and so glad to have read this. In my estimation, profanity is far more than letters strung together in syllables and words. I suspect profanity is born from the heart, rather than the vocabulary.

I also think we should consider Paul’s advice to honor those who have arrived at different conclusions than we.

Fun post. Great conversation.

By: Sam Van Eman

Sam Van Eman — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:23:32 +0000

How did I miss this one, Brad? I probably saw you cussing and turned away. Kidding. Lots of good points in the post and in the comments. What to do? I like Marcus’ point about discretion. I, personally, am fairly consistent in my language use (I change more in tone and style from one context to the next), though I hesitated to publish my recent post on “buttload.” Not a big deal, of course, but also not a professional term. So I wrote as an authoritarian with refined language. It helped me be playful and respectful simultaneously.

Anyway, I cringe at potty mouth for shock value and when Christians use it to say, “Hey, I live on the edge my pew.” I love it when the timing and setting necessitates it.

Magnolia, regardless of how you put it, was a tough one to get through. Was it 200 uses of the f-word in that movie?

By: David@Red Letter Believers

David@Red Letter Believers — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:17:22 +0000

I haven’t changed my position now over the last two years.
I still think salty langauge indicates a profound and profane lack of depth. It uses shock instead of intelligence to make an argument.

We are better than that.

By: Kelly Sauer

Kelly Sauer — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:10:35 +0000

I like this post, Brad. I’m not always sure what to do with the language myself, though I do think that I should take care that the words that I say carry grace – but Jesus was SO MUCH about the heart, that getting legalistic about what words are okay or not okay completely misdirects the whole issue. Glad you shared at THC.

By: Susan DiMickele

Susan DiMickele — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:53:07 +0000

I’m with ya for the most part. I can really relate to the distaste for over-sanitized Christian blah. It’s not very inspiring. This really is a interesting topic for me — my work environment tends to be the place where I just can’t help myself. And when I swear, it’s not always an innocuous hell or damn. Sometimes, blurting out something more profane is quite exhilarating.

When I decided to get serious about writing a few years also, my first proposals were laced with some mild profanity. I was bound and determined to submit to a secular publishing house. Of course they all rejected me. I remember when my agent edited the profanity before we went to the CBA. At first I was offended and didn’t like being censored. Then, my current publisher went on to edit the heck out of my story — taking out many of the off-color moments. Again, I was offended.

Then, once we went to print, I was so thankful that someone had the sense to make it PG. Yep, my mother read it! And a host of other people who really didn’t need to know about my full indiscretions. So I continue to swing back and forth on this issue.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who read my post, and she said that she regretted dropping the f-bomb at work last week. She was feeling pretty bad about it, but then one of her co-workers came up to her and said, “You made my day, now I know you are human.”

So my friend concluded that God probably used the f-word for his good.

(Mind you, when it comes to my kids, I’m still Fundamentalist Mommy in this area.)