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There's nothing wrong with it being used well. But a single unnecessary curse word can sour the tone for the rest of the work.

What do I mean by "unnecessary"? When it doesn't communicate any information. Example from the essay:

They’re fucking breaking the functionality of shit just because they can and you’re fine with this?

"Fucking" and "shit" don't impart any information. The following is a better version of the sentence because it communicates the same amount of information with less words:

They’re breaking functionality just because they can and you’re fine with this?

Calling something "bullshit" on the other hand, communicates information since "bullshit" is a concept we are all familiar with. There are alternatives - "bullcrap" or just "bull" - but that just invites the reader to think "They mean 'bullshit' but don't want to say 'shit.'"



An interesting side effect of the trend towards bad language (which I feel is most often the result of laziness) is that its emotional context is being degraded, at least for me. For instance, if someone calls something "bullshit," it seems casual, or I'll be suspicious of the reasoning. If somebody uses the word, "nonsense," instead, it gives me pause and I immediately think more highly of the motivation of the speaker/writer. Again, I can't defend this rationally; it's just an emotional reaction I have.


I've noticed something similar as well. For a few years now, I've favored calling something "silly." In context, it's connotations are just as bad - if not worse - than harsher alternatives, but it doesn't trigger people's curse word sensor.

On the other hand, using harsh words rarely has power. If someone you've never heard curse before calls something "bullshit," you'll take notice. This only works, though, if you swear so rarely that people take note that when you do, it has meaning.

In other words, swearing casually removes the power of swearing.


"In other words, swearing casually removes the power of swearing."

Yes. Which is why we need stronger swear words than ever now. I propose "kruftonic." Nice and consonant-y for your stronger swearing needs.


I think both sentences are ugly, but I think that's because "breaking functionality" offsets the simpler words in the idea. "They fuck up their shit just because they can", however, is smoother and faster than either of them. Swears have a certain poetry to them in writing, kind of like how oohs and aahs work in music. (This is my own opinion, mind you.) On their own they convey nothing, but placed neatly into a sentence they help the whole message flow.

So I think I'm agreeing with you here.


Except "fuck up their shit" doesn't say what they actually do. It contains less information than "break functionality."


"Break functionality" has already been conveyed. Repeating it is unnecessary and awkward.


At that point in the essay, he had quoted the license, but that sentence is the only time he states what's wrong with it. It's not repetition.


actually, the information that I'm getting from it is incredible frustration; of course he can do better than this but why bother?




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