How do you react to un-professional language in articles or ads?

1. 81

   Tom Voglerposted 13 years ago

   How do you react to un-professional language in articles or ads?
   
   I subscribe to a magazine that is promoting  something called 10 ESSENTIALS FOR
   WRITING A KICK-*** NOVEL.  That caught my attention and caused me to send them an e-mail.
   
   I said I am upset that they use such un-professional language as that to market one of their products.  There must be better ways of getting people's attention than resorting to using such language.  If a product needs such a name in order to sell, it must not be that good of a product.
   
   I do not use such language in my writing, nor do I associate with or do business with those who do. I am considering unsubscribing.

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2. 96

   peeplesposted 13 years ago

   The wonderful thing about our world is the differences among people. For several years I worked in the Real Estate Market full time. Some of the most succesful, weathy clients I had used foul words. Honestly I don't think I have ever met a person who didn't from time to time. Granted there are some times when it seems wrong such as in business but you have to look at target groups they do business with. I would be a little more bothered if they used the F work or such just because I don't see the word ass as a big deal. If you are uncomfortable with it then unsubscribe but don't think it will make a difference to the magazine. Understand that you can not expect a magazine to write every article the way you want. I don't use that type of writing here too often but I wouldn't be bothered unless someone made use of foul language throughout a hub. I see your point but I think you may need to look at it from a view other than your own to understand why it isn't that big of a deal.

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3. 70

   lburmasterposted 13 years ago

   I think about how they could have been better. Then I make sure not to buy from those company's mainly. Are they doing the best they could? Is it decent?
   It's just like the gay guy who bashed the bible at the high school journalism thing. He was entirely unprofessional and had little speech training. So I just ignore his message.

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4. 60

   Guy Foxeposted 13 years ago

   I don't think the word "kick-ass" is all that bad.  I've seen plenty of marketing types use it from everything from work-out tapes to cake recipes.  It all depends on context, of course.  If a book were called "10 Kick-Ass Steps to save your marriage," I would probably not be very interested in it.
   On the other hand, writers write to their audiences. Young men tend to like "kick-ass" ways of doing things--on the other hand, I don't think a book called "10 Essentials for Writing a Kick-ass Novel" sounds very good.  Unless, you are going to write Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels, exclusively.

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5. 60

   Agnes Pennposted 13 years ago

   The human anatomy is used as a metaphor many times over;  "Handy tool to work with", "Hairy situation", "Elbowed him into consciousness".  If kick ass describes best and no animosity is intended or projected to the reader, then by all means kick ass in your writing.  The constant repetition of a word is more annoying than a sparingly used expletive: Like, I know he knows but likes the like of his kind. 
   But, overall bad words should be avoided.  Behind every word there should be a purpose, not a lack of education; so, address the magazine's purpose not their ineptitude in one article - if indeed that's what it was.
   Then again, life's too short to accentuate the little things.

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