Drop Everything And Read discussion

Recently, teenagers have been picking up foul language; not necessarily from books, but from television and other places.

Now the debate here must be about whether profanity can be loosely included in young-adult books. Do majority of the people mind this? Does it make the books intriguing in any way?

I wouldn't mind. Some of my classmates used it in high school ten years ago, and fiction has to be relatable whether it's for teens or adults, and if a little (or a lot of) profanity helps readers relate to the book and read more, I'm all for it.

Sometimes it's more believable than all of them using good golly gosh or some cutesy equivalent that wouldn't come out of one of my peers mouths unless they were making a point (or suddenly spotted a teacher), at least that was back when I was at school..... oh god it feels so long ago :/

I'm a teenager myself, and I don't really swear a lot, but I think the rise in swearing has always been growing. It's just becoming more normalised. I don't mind books with curse words in it, but I don't think it should be every few sentences. I also don't think it should be so often in person as well, but what can ya do, Yeno?

I don't mind a little bit of swearing, but not every sentence! Too many cuss words take away from the story. I try not to swear too much in person, either. I don't hang around with people who cuss all the time. They come off like fools.

I agree you need some swearing. However, I think there is too much swearing - it does not need to be in every sentence. I do not read books that have too much sweating in it.

Swearing can be overused in some books. It's a turn off for me. I'm no prude, but I don't like seeing many cuss words in a book I'm reading.

First post in this group, so hello everyone. I find this discussion intriguing. Was raised in a Southern Baptist church attending family, but curse words were not a big deal to my parents for some reason. They were more concerned with me understanding time and place, and behaving appropriately. I was a potty mouth from a young age, so I am desensitized to vulgar language, yet at the same time, get annoyed by gratuitous use if not clever or seems like simply a default due to lack of creativity.

Hello, Truant. How are things with you? Gratuitous is the right word regarding cussing in books. Spot on!

I honestly think a book without profanity isn't realistic, I mean, who doesn't swear? It's more expressive too, but that doesn't mean i like it when an author swears in every sentence.

I personally despise any sort of profanity - light or extreme - starting from the lowest form of vulgarity, 'crap'.

Holy crap, Hallie. Are you serious? LOLXD!!

I'm not going to lie - when I was a teenager, I used profanity every once and a while, and it was also more of when I was around certain people (plus everyone looked at me as a goodytwo-shoes, so I would swear once and a while to get people to actually listen to me). Now, I work as a high school teacher, and kids swear every day. Do I think it's wrong? Yes and no. I do tell my students to watch their language, but this is something that happens everywhere and they are used to hearing it. There are certain words that I do not tolerate, and some of them aren't even considered profanity, but I make sure they don't use those words in class.

Do I think swearing should be in YA books? It really depends in my opinion. The characters in books should be believable. And many teenagers use this type of language. If a character is angry, I wouldn't expect them to say something like "dang" in certain situations (unless the character is supposed to be one of those characters who hates swearing). Swearing every once and a while in a book I think is okay, just not in every sentence. I think you could get your point across with one or a few words. But it's a common part of every day life and I guess I just accept it for the most part.

While writing, you have to consider what the reader is going to get out of that particular piece of dialogue or information you're presenting. Is it going to carry the story farther? Is it going to establish some sort of bond between characters? Is it going to foreshadow an event that will happen later in the story, etc? If your lines of dialogue include overly frequent swearing, maybe you should ask yourself if it serves any purpose or if there are other words you could use.

Obviously, that's just my opinion.

My method is simple when it comes to what I allow around the kids I nanny or homeschool: You'll hear it enough from peers and the world, I don't need to encourage it.

I'm very picky about what books I hand over to kids in my care,even the occasional teen, so unless I've read it and take in to account their maturity there's no reason to let profanity around them.

Of course that still leaves open the kind of wording and words that make a statement. Like Mein Kamph or Huckleberry Finn and their language at times, et both are important in some way.

I think the characters and setting should decide the language use. If that means young kids swearing then that's what it should be.

Hallie wrote: "I personally despise any sort of profanity - light or extreme - starting from the lowest form of vulgarity, 'crap'."

Seriously. Wow. XD

Well yes I hear enough cussing on the bus to and from school, but in YA novels I kinda like the characters that do cuss. Although I do not like over excessive cussing. My overall answer is let the cussing characters cuss. (But not too much)

I much prefer the swearing, it's what I'm used to and more realistic (but then again, I did go to public schools.....)

Sadly as a person who doesn't and is not around it. Profanity is really harsh when heard. It makes it worse. It's like getting slapped. Sadly profanity is just another way of seeing how the world has shifted away from kindness.....sad

Thanks for this topic, Hallie. The reviews are mixed.

As a mother of a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old, I prefer no swearing in their books but I know that's not always an option. I'm also extremely concerned about sexual content in teen books. My 13-year-old son is getting into those books now, and I really have to be mindful of the books he's picking up. I establish that if he has questions, he can always come to me about them. Overall, I express to my kids that if they see something that they're offended by or turned off by, please talk to me. I think that's the other side of the coin--its not completely the author so much as the parents too. We need to be open about what our kids are reading and also take partial responsibility for the lessons they pick up. By no means do I want my kids to read a book that swears like a sailor. I know "The Martian" has many instances of the f-bomb. So while I very much enjoyed the book, I would not want my son to read it quite yet.

In summary, I prefer it to be avoided. I hope authors don't add it because they feel it "adds authenticity," because I was not a highly-swearing teen and not every teen uses swear words. I don't expect "good golly!" in the books either, but I also think it would be nice to lessen the impact our kids are exposed to. And less certainly carries more weight in a narrative versus continuously using the curse words.

I think it depends on the type of profanity being used, for instance even though all swear words were thrown around constantly in my high school when reading stories in that age range I find most to be "too adult" hypocritical? Probably lol. But I think S*%# damn a$$ etc are acceptable. And this is coming from someone who, though I hate to admit it, curses like a sailor on leave lol.

Swearing in YA books is fine because it's more realistic that way. Although I have read some books where the swearing takes away from the enjoyment of the book because it was used so much and in odd places. Overall, it's not a big deal to have curse words in YA books

Hallie wrote: "I personally despise any sort of profanity - light or extreme - starting from the lowest form of vulgarity, 'crap'."

I agree with you, Hallie, as a person who's family is not offended by it and has been exposed to it since the age of four. Yet sometimes I have to or people will be like "you are so cheerful" "can you stop being so cheerful" It drives me insane. So sometimes I just have to stand up and swear to make them shut up. The looks on peoples faces when the little shy person in the corner stands up and verbally slaps them is pretty great.

Pebbleflow wrote: "Hallie wrote: "I personally despise any sort of profanity - light or extreme - starting from the lowest form of vulgarity, 'crap'."

I agree with you, Hallie, as a person who's family is not offend..."

I've had to use it, too, but I went only as far as crap. It describes my life perfectly.

It does not make them intriguing, it might make them more realistic in some places. I prefer less rather than more. I've stopped reading books when the swearing is too frequent.

Yasmeen wrote: "I honestly think a book without profanity isn't realistic, I mean, who doesn't swear? It's more expressive too, but that doesn't mean i like it when an author swears in every sentence."

Um, me. Never said a swear word in my life. I'm just too creative.

J. wrote: "Thanks for this topic, Hallie. The reviews are mixed.

As a mother of a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old, I prefer no swearing in their books but I know that's not always an option. I'm also extremel..."

Not a parent, but love what was said. Spot on!

I think it's a good example to show young people they can express themselves without swearing.

D20 wrote: "I think it's a good example to show young people they can express themselves without swearing."

But where is the 'realness' in the daily world. Teenagers today swear a lot; some after every sentence. It's a good example to use swearing in Young Adult books.

Don't know where you live but only a small percentage of teenagers where I am swear enough to take notice. Usually not the sort to make a good protagonist.

D20 wrote: "Don't know where you live but only a small percentage of teenagers where I am swear enough to take notice. Usually not the sort to make a good protagonist."

Don't want to seem rude...but a lot of people swear from where I once was and where I am now, people swear casually. If you look at books, common swear words (shit, F@&$, and stuff like that) are used. An example would be "I am Number Four". All the protagonists, who are around 13-15, swear a lot, but it keeps people attached to the books, creating a sense of connection with the reader and building a sense of frustration that doesn't need fancy words to describe.
What would you use without swear words? 'Oh snap'? Where is the power/rashness that is in real life? Swearing brings out a character's character; sometimes painting them as shallow or sometimes showing a calm character at a breaking point.
Also, look at today's music, especially Pop and Rap. God, there are so many swear words, depending on the artist. People are becoming accustomed to swearing and to keep teens connected with the uncensored world, swear words should be allowed in Young Adult and Adult books.

Guess it depends on who you identify with. I put books down if there's a lot of swearing. I've never seen a decent one resort to "Oh snap!"

Good dialogue is an art. Perhaps not every writer can manage it and some books will add swearing for realism, especially if criminal types are involved, but I personally would have zero interest in a YA book with more than minimal swearing. I consider it lazy writing.

Oh dang? Blow?

D20 wrote: "Guess it depends on who you identify with. I put books down if there's a lot of swearing. I've never seen a decent one resort to "Oh snap!"

Good dialogue is an art. Perhaps not every writer can ma..."

Your opinion is what makes you 'you'. I'll fight my opinion to the death...

And you're entitled to it. :)

D20 wrote: "And you're entitled to it. :)"

Sorry if I sounded a bit rude... Just wanted a good argument...

Try me on Facebook. I keep my inner troll/bitch there. ;)

D20 wrote: "Try me on Facebook. I keep my inner troll/bitch there. ;)"

LOL

I don't mind profanity at all. I do get surprised when a F-bomb is dropped but it doesn't bother me

I don't think it should be in there. I wish there were ratings on books