Is it ok to use "vulgar" slang in a hub about Australian slang and strine?

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   Jodahposted 9 years ago

   Is it ok to use "vulgar" slang in a hub about Australian slang and strine?
   
   I am writing a series of hubs about Australian slang, strine and colloquialisms. Many of the regularly used words/terms could be seen as vulgar by many.  I would like the opinion of others in regard to whether I should include such words and phrases or leave them out.

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   Lee Cloakposted 9 years ago

   I would say you have to put them in there John, if its a piece about every day Aussie slang its important they be included, its part of your culture, if others are offended that's their problem, looking forward to reading and enjoying these Australian slang Hubs, Lee

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Its what I was hoping to do Lee because it is part of the everyday language, however I also don't want to offend too many people. Thanks for the affirmation.

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   Siva222posted 9 years ago

   John,
   One man's food is other man's poison. It is not necessary that everyone will like it. But till you don't mean to hurt anyone intentionally its ok. its very hard, virtually impossible to make everyone happy.

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Siva, I'll take that into account

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   Tusitala Tomposted 9 years ago

   Struth, Dig! We talking 'flat out like a lizard drinking water,' slang or bawdy, 'bog the lizard-type?  (Akin to a knee-trembler)  Having more slang phrases than you can 'poke a stick at,' is one thing.  Whole thing could be like the 'Gee-gees' and 'run like a hairy goat.' But don't give 'em any bull dust.
   
   Which reminds me of the eight-year old girl from 'Back of Bourke' who became hysterical when she felt rain for the first time...Had to throw a bucket of dust over her to calm her down.
   
   Let's see watch got, mate.  Most of the good slang terms have long gone.

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Fair crack of the whip mate! I guess I'll just have to get off my date and give it a dinky-di burl. I need to stop dragging the chain and deadset give it a fair go or people will call me a drongo or galah.

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   alancaster149posted 9 years ago

   This is the Media, John. We have editors. Put it in and see what comes out.
   If they understand it's not meant to be offensive you'll have pulled it off, otherwise you're going to have to 'strain' the 'Strine'.
   (If you pull it off I can go ahead with a piece on 'Tyke' dialect that could be read as sailing close to the wind).

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Ok Alan, maybe you're right and I should risk it. What's the worst that can happen?

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      Kylyssaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The worst that could happen is that the ads would be removed from the hub by HP. Even then, you can ask for human review and may get the ads back, either with or without some compromises made.

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   Kylyssaposted 9 years ago

   I think it's important you include them. If you leave them out, it would feel like a cheat. Then again, I have a very deep and abiding affection for words. I also find the swear words of different cultures fascinating.
   
   What people consider vulgar says interesting things about their history and culture, even sometimes their politics.
   
   As long as they are "diluted" with plenty of other words on the page, I don't see why there would be a problem. I left a bit of profanity in the novel I'm serializing on HubPages (took out the sex scenes and a bit of violence) because horrified and terrified grown men don't say "golly" and I'm trying for suspension of disbelief, after all.
   
   I really look forward to the hubs because my sister-by-choice and roommate is a huge Aussie-phile. She'll love them, especially if they are detailed.

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      These are the type of responses I was hoping for Kylyssa. I agree with the points you raise, and I too feel it would be cheating to leave them out. I'll include them and see what happens.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 9 years ago

   X@V#Z$M###! John, LKJGHI put them in!  And let the ((^&&!!! chips fall where they ZX#&$$!! may!!!  And to those who are offended?  F@*XX 'em!  Good F%X@!! Luck!

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      F%*#ing thanks Kathleen. I'll take your advice.

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      Kylyssaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I f%*#ing love this answer!

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      Twilight Lawnsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      ATTAGIRL, Kathleen.  Say it the way it is.  A girl after my own heart!

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   chef-de-jourposted 9 years ago

   Please include all and every &^%$£"!thing, if you don't mind. And please pardon my French.

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Chef.....we'll see what happens.

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   Faith Reaperposted 9 years ago

   What the Faith, John!  Kidding ... LOL
   
   Although I am not a fan of profanity, if you are doing a hub on Australian slang, coupled with the fact it is your hub, you do whatever you feel necessary is my thinking.
   
   Plus, I might just have to borrow some and use here in the US, being they would not realize what I am saying ... Tee hee.  That would be sneaky of me.
   
   I am looking forwarding to reading more in your interesting series, as I love reading about other cultures, plus Australia has always fascinated me in so many ways.
   
   As long as HP doesn't flag you, as they do have it on profanity, but you may get away with it, being it is hard to discern that it is profanity.  US profanity is widely known.
   
   Blessings always

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      Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your support Faith. I will probably include a few such words. I am not a fan of gross profanity either. The hub won't be laced with them so hopefully it should be ok.

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    DNSiclariposted 9 years ago

    You can (I believe) mark your blog as having adult content or not for younger viewers. I would Write an introductory paragraph so that the vulgarity is not the first words that are seen.
    
    As for using the vulgar language, the question is WHY? Those that use the language already know what the words mean, and those that do not know the vulgarity surely cannot be enhanced by learning such words. Where I can see a point, somewhat, in you wanting to expound upon the definitions of such words, does it really serve a purpose?
    
    If you are going to show the vulgarity and the slang words I would ensure that you do so in a tasteful manner. If you approach it from an academic point of view rather than just a "Hey, here are some new Slang and Vulgar words that you can add to your vocabulary, I think that you will do well.
    
    Perhaps, if you are going to have the vulgar and slang words you can also put in your blogs a way to say something similar word without using that word. An example would be "Instead of saying that a person is flaming gay (which would be offensive to some) you could say that a person was very effeminate in nature. Something like that.

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for your in-depth comment.

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       Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       You have brought up excellent points here, as to why and what purpose does it really serve in sharing vulgar words.  As writers, I am one to be mindful our words are powerful.  In fiction, of course, a character may lend to using it but ...

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11. 67

    Max Havlickposted 9 years ago

    I also rarely use profane or street talk, but when I was a child, every time I asked a question, my mother made me look it up, so I got hooked on a life of words, books, reading, research, editing, writing, etc. which requires a large collection of dictionaries, and necessarily also slang dictionaries.  How else can one grasp Tina Fey's nuances, for instance, or read such recent books as Sherry Argov, Why Men Love Bitches: From Doormat to Dreamgirl -- A Woman's Guide to Holding Her Own in a Relationship (Adams Media, 2002); or Barbara Keesling, The Good Girls Guide to Bad Girl Sex: An Indispensable Guide to Pleasure and Seduction (Barnes and Noble!!, 2001).  Nowadays it's women shocking public sensibility, and men, if you aren't paying attention, you're no longer in the game. 
    
    As I write this, I can see 5 different slang dictionaries, but I'll mention only my favorite.  Richard A. Spears, Slang and Euphemism: A Dictionary of Oaths, Curses, Insults, Ethnic Slurs, Sexual Slang and Metaphor, Drug Talk, College Lingo, and Related Matters (Penguin Signet, 2nd rev. ed., 1991, 511 pages). Just one page (p. 265) has 24 terms from "let one go" to "licorice stick," and I dare say HP would disallow most of this page online.  The word "lewd" itself has over 50 near synonyms defined elsewhere in the book, from "after one's greens" (whatever that means) to "x-rated," but the others range from downright hilarious ("full-flavored") to truly awful by any measure of good manners.
    
    So I roundly applaud John's overall effort, and hope he will publish his unexpurgated work, but HP will necessarily require the milder version.  And for at least two good reasons: (a) respect for good language itself, first and foremost, which refuses to legitimate descent into street talk tending to repetitious inanity, and (b) respect for the vast majority of people who prefer that everyday life not be constantly peppered with such references, made more likely by increased accessibility of the words in an online dictionary.
    Of course, we already have Urban Dictionary, and others, but that's not the mission of HP, and one must draw the line of good taste somewhere. 
    
    Best wishes to you, John, and happy reading and writing to all.
    Max Havlick, Villa Park, Illinois 60181-1938, Sat. June 6, 2015.

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you for this wonderful comment Max. It offer much food for thought, and I agree just before all manner of words and slang are widely available both in written form and on the Internet it doesn't mean HP will accept it.

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    Twilight Lawnsposted 9 years ago

    Whether you mean “lacking sophistication or good taste” or “making explicit and offensive reference to sex or bodily functions; coarse and rude”, my friend, include the lot. There are too many people up their own arses about basic Anglo Saxon words and phrases, and the average Australian isn’t one of them.
    Avabash, Cobber.

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the encouragement Twilight Lawns. The hub is all done and waiting approval...though right from the start it is labelled "advertising disabled" by automatic content filter. So be it.

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    Marie Flintposted 9 years ago

    You could ask the HP team directly, John. I email them from time to time with questions. Matt is always very good about answering them.
    
    Personally, and I don't like cursing, I think you should include them because they are a part of the language; however, you might put them in a separate table nearer the end of the hub preceding by a warning, such as "Vulgar Terms Below, Reader Discretion Advised." Then, if HP says "no," you can simply delete the warning with its corresponding table.
    
    Anyway, good luck. You know how I feel about Aussie speech, but I'm more interested in the accent and variation of pitch, rather than vocabulary building per se. As I have said, I have thought about going to your continent just to pick up the twang! Love it.

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you or the helpful advice Marie. I have already published the second hub in the series and even before publishing it said ads would be disabled...that doesn't bother me. I included the suspect words in among the rest so they don't stand out.

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    Aladdins Caveposted 9 years ago

    G'day mate
    if you have a WARNING at the start, I don't see a problem.
    You could have two separate pages, one with and with only
    the vulgar words.
    Just saying, cheers from Melbourne

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the advice Aladdins. I'll definitely take it into consideration.

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    stricktlydatingposted 9 years ago

    I'm Australian and have written A Hub Common Aussie Slang Words and Australian quotes and phrases. I didn't include anything too vulgar or offensive in these Hubs. I try to avoid that in all the Hubs I write, bearing in mind my Hubs are read by all age groups and quite a lot of them aimed at a young audience.

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for that advice Strictlydating. As you have already read my two hubs you know I included a couple but I don't think I went overboard.

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    no bodyposted 9 years ago

    Each person has their tolerance level for off color words. But as society changes so does what is considered inappropriate. Some folks will be too sensitive for almost any use of terms relating to sex, sexual mechanics, bodily functions etc. That person will not allow themselves to read anything that is not about Disneyland, and flinches to certain words Harry Potter might say. Let's face it each person has to decide for themselves what is proper language to convey the subject handled and each person has to decide for himself what they will allow into their mind. I have my boundaries where I am without a doubt running away from their presentation. And I have my own gray areas where on certain days I will be able to tolerate subject matter and other days I can't. My "T & A Tuesdays" are days I know not to read or watch or take in any gray area subjects. I know I have those days and I must pay attention to my weaknesses on those days. But other days I can handle the same subject matter without it having any effect on me. I'm not sure I've heard anyone else admit to having days of weakness but I know that people do have a tolerance limit. A writer can't possibly cater to all boundaries of every reader that will come along. So you decide what rules you want to keep for an article that needs such language to understand the subject matter.
            Or just write about bright shiny balloons that dance and play in the wind...

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       Jodahposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks Bob, great answer.

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