Yesterday I dropped an “F-bomb” in my email.
I guess an “S-bomb”, too.
Apparently, some folks had a real problem with that and, in one case, even questioned my Christian faith.
Yowza!
I have to wonder if that person has read the Old Testament?
In some cases, the words, metaphors and figures of speech are more vulgar than anything on my blog or in my emails. But those passages are usually illustrating a point by “saying” (via figures of speech) far more than the mere literal words convey.
It’s the ultimate form of copywriting.
In fact, the Bible is one of the places I learned the craft from.
But that’s a subject for another time.
Today, I want to answer the profanity police’s gripes:
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1. I was repeating what someone else said, not just doing it for the sake of it or to be “cool” or whatever.
2. There’s no other way to do the point I wanted to make justice than by repeating it verbatim.
3. If a couple of old Anglo-Saxon words for fornicate and defecate are THAT offensive to someone (especially in the context they were used) then well, mayhaps they have bigger problems than me?
Like covering their ears, eyes and mouths 24/7.
Because I’d bet if you were to put a secret camera in their homes, you would see them watching movies laced with profanity and using words that are not exactly “clean” when they miss the nail with the hammer or when the car slips off the jack when changing the tire.
Anyway, I’ll end with this:
I’m not a big fan of profanity in emails.
I hardly ever do it (can’t even remember the last time I did, if ever). And it’s not something I recommend at all. But if someone’s wound up that tight about it, then they should probably not be reading anything online at all.
They should also stay away from movies, too.
And, I would suggest not turning the TV on, either.
Otherwise, chill.
Sticks and stones may break your bones.
But I’m pretty sure these emails will NOT hurt you.
Ben Settle
P.S. Speaking of the Bible, there are some truly powerful marketing and copywriting principles inside. Such as the ones talked about on pages 28 and 86 in “The Copywriting Grab Bag”:
