Too Many F-Bombs on Medium?
I’m not a prude, and I’m not the language police.
But….
I have been shocked by the number of F-bombs that I have seen littered across many pieces on Medium.
What do you think about the use of the F-bomb on Medium posts?
To be completely clear, this is a word that I use in my everyday life, and it is not shocking to me in that context. However, I have been surprised by how often I have seen it across various pieces that I have read here.
Am I Just Being Too Uptight?
If you venture onto social media for more than a minute or two, you are bound to see people throwing F-bombs (and far worse) around very casually. However, I don’t necessarily think of Medium as a social media website even though there are social aspects to it.
I think my main reasons for being so surprised to see this kind of language on Medium posts are because:
- Many posts are monetized, and it seems odd to me that writers would consider using this word on something that they are attempting to make money on.
- I tend to write for clients who have extremely high standards for the content that they produce, and they would never be okay with a piece that contained an F-bomb or anything close to it in their content.
- It’s just a word that catches your eye and makes you stop in your tracks.
- I tend to feel that there are usually better ways to express what you are attempting to express without using this word.
Is it Just a Release Valve?
Many users of this word will tell you that it is nothing more than a release valve. Indeed, that is the intent of many people who commonly use this term. They are expressing their frustration about a topic that they are attempting to cover.
However, as the Times of India explains, even when F-bombs are used to vent frustration, it can still be considered a breach of etiquette. In other words, even if you intend to express extreme frustration, you might be putting some people off by using this specific word.
Why I Shouldn’t Be So Surprised
It turns out that I should probably stop clutching my pearls and not be so surprised. A survey by Wordtips found that the F-bomb is the favorite swear word of Americans. Although the word is still taboo in many respects, it is also highly used.
Besides this, it is far less alarming to see the term on the computer screen than it is to hear it spoken out in the real world. I know that writers are merely trying to get a point across in the best way possible to capture their emotions within their words.
Why I Still Won’t Use This in My Writing
At the end of the day, despite understanding the reasoning why some have opted to use this word, I won’t. Here are my reasons for doing so:
- I know that my use of this word could be off-putting to some members and won’t encourage them to come back to read more.
- I understand that everything I write here is open to the public to read, and I don’t want to necessarily put a certain type of impression out into the world.
- I am accustomed to writing in a more formal tone, and I don’t think I can easily get away from that.
Let me know if I am just being too uptight about things.
