When I read a blog I respect and I come across the F word, or a derivation of the F word, I wince.
It happened again yesterday when I was reading the blog of a colleague, another PR expert who I like and respect and whose work I admire. Was it my imagination, or is this particular blogger in love with the F word?
Just for the heck of it, I went to the blogger’s search box and typed in the F word to see what came up. The search delivered 19 posts, some in which the word was used in a direct quote and others in which it wasn’t.
The F word and other obscenities are popping up more and more in blogs that otherwise smart entrepreneurs write to promote their businesses and attract corporate clients.
I’ll bet many of these same bloggers would never dream of using four-letter words in the executive suite when they’re presenting a proposal or doing work for a client. Or during media interviews.
Bloggers, it seems, are creating a double standard for obscenities. It’s OK to use the F word in business blogs but not in business conversations.
Then there’s the whole blogging ethics debate.
What about bloggers like me who allow comments on their blogs but have the ability to censor or edit the comments before they appear? Is it ethical for a blogger to remove the F word from an otherwise acceptable comment if they don’t want to offend their readers?
Good writing doesn’t rely on the F word. It’s one of those lazy words that sloppy writers, speakers and punks armed with cans of spray paint fall back on when they can’t think of a better word or phrase to explain their anger or frustration.
The ubiquitous friggin’ and freakin’ aren’t much better.
Do what you want in private. But in the business world, the F word is inappropriate, unless you’re doing business with Tony Soprano.
Your F Word Soapbox
Thanks calling out the F word but of course you know by your very use of its shortened derivative here in your article you are kind of violating your own ethics.
The newest derivative of the F word has been highly popularized in the hot sci fi cable series, Battlestar Galactica. I won’t repeat it here but fans of the show know exactly what I’m talking about but let’s just say it rhymes with rack!!
Anyway there is an F word that is highly appropriate to use in just any setting except the most tightly wound of societies.
Its something the Eygptian Pharoahs discovered long ago and use it to win friends and influence people.
Your article remined me of it and is something I’ve written about at garthibson.com.
I call it the F Word Of Success.
It ryhmes with ton… as in Tons Of Fun.
Armed with it you can be a lazy sloppy writer, speaker and yes blogger and still get your point across in style.