OnlineBookClub.org

Does "WTF" count as profanity? For all we know, it could mean "Wednesday Thursday Friday"

edztan15 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2020, 00:44 Does "WTF" count as profanity? For all we know, it could mean "Wednesday Thursday Friday"

I really find this funny. That's definitely you speaking tongue in cheek

I have been using my mom as a guide. In other words, if I'm not sure if it's a borderline word I ask myself if I would say it (and feel comfortable) in front of my mom. As far as the non-borderline words, I think if the general public considers it profanity, then I will list it as such. This may not work for you, but I have found it helpful.

Borderline and non borderline profanity are really confusing,,,,

Thank you for this thread! I'm never clear what counts as borderline profanity. I try to imagine anything that would make someone uncomfortable, but it's a very unclear category.

unamilagra wrote: ↑01 Oct 2019, 21:56 My rule of thumb is that if I wouldn't say it while speaking to a class of kindergarteners, then it is at least borderline profanity. If I wouldn't say it while speaking to a class of high schoolers, it's probably non-borderline profanity.

Excellent summary here!

I usually think of profanity as something you shouldn’t say in front of your elderly grandmother.
If you think that you’d get a whack for saying it, then it’s probably non-borderline. If it’s something you’d be scolded for then it’s probably borderline. If it’s something you’d get a sideways glance for saying, then your old granny is probably just a bit sensitive and I wouldn’t worry about it.

Differentiating between borderline and non borderline profanity wasn't an easy task but at the end of it all I did it! And, I don't think there's a specific list of such words because there are so many.

This forum has provided me the answers I needed on this issue.

I come from a Christian family everything is non-borderline profanity

There's a big difference about this between different cultures and religions. I try to go with what I think would offend the most sensitive people, but i have missed some replacement words this way. For example, I'm not offended by the word "cheezus" (for Jesus) but my more sensitive relative is. I tend to go with the standard words that most people would define as profanity and say replacement words are borderline.

However, I have noticed that my lists of profanity and whether they are borderline or not have never been questioned in my reviews. There is a part of this decision that is your own opinion. So I think you can feel comfortable using your opinion about what is profane and what isn't.

Leen282 wrote: ↑19 Apr 2020, 10:02 I asked myself the same question when I started to review, and as mentioned above I prefer to be cautious and tick the box for borderline profanity if I think someone might be offended even if for me it's not an issue.

I certainly agree with you. Better safe than sorry.

Do you count as a profanity a word that is written with asterisk...for example f**k in a book you are reviewing?

Leen282 wrote: ↑19 Apr 2020, 10:02 I asked myself the same question when I started to review, and as mentioned above I prefer to be cautious and tick the box for borderline profanity if I think someone might be offended even if for me it's not an issue.

Yes exactly. The grade of how someone is perceiving profanity can vary. Better to choose the cautious way.

I think concept of profanity is largely dependent on the culture/ upbringing of people. For example, I would not consider "what the hell" as profanity but some people might. So I believe it's subjective.
Although I would certainly consider f**k, c**t, and other racial and sexual slurs as borderline profanity.
H*ck, I think, would be non-borderline