Yesterday I dropped an “F-bomb” in my email.<\/p>\n
I guess an “S-bomb”, too.<\/p>\n
Apparently, some folks had a real problem with that and, in one case, even questioned my Christian faith.<\/p>\n
Yowza!<\/p>\n
I have to wonder if that person has read the Old Testament?<\/p>\n
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<\/em> convey.<\/p>\n It’s the ultimate form of copywriting.<\/strong><\/p>\n In fact, the Bible is one of the places I learned the craft from.<\/p>\n But that’s a subject for another time. <\/p>\n Today, I want to answer the profanity police’s gripes:<\/p>\n 2. There’s no other way to do the point I wanted to make justice than by repeating it verbatim<\/em>.<\/p>\n 3. If a couple of old Anglo-Saxon words for fornicate and defecate are THAT<\/strong> offensive to someone (especially in the context they were used) then well, mayhaps they have bigger problems than me?<\/ul>\n Like covering their ears, eyes and mouths 24\/7.<\/p>\n Because I’d bet if you were to put a secret camera in their homes, you would see them watching movies laced<\/em> 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. <\/p>\n Anyway, I’ll end with this:<\/p>\n I’m not a big fan of profanity in emails.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n They should also stay away from movies, too.<\/p>\n And, I would suggest not turning the TV on, either.<\/p>\n Otherwise, chill<\/em>.<\/p>\n Sticks and stones may break your bones.<\/p>\n But I’m pretty sure these emails will NOT hurt you.<\/p>\n Ben Settle<\/p>\n P.S.<\/strong> 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”:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n1. I was repeating what someone else said, not just doing it for the sake of it or to be “cool” or whatever.<\/p>\n