4 ms·

The trend of swearing needlessly is getting a bit old period. Regardless of personal opinions it's not particularly professional…

PakG1 15y ago
Although I never swear, I can understand when someone I respect swears. It means that they are dead serious about what they are saying. They don't swear lightly, nor frequently. When I hear them swear, I better be taking them seriously, because it means they're upset. I don't lose any respect for them over it, because again, they don't do it lightly, nor frequently. They only do it when they want to make a serious, serious point.
famousactress 15y ago
I love swearing. I also actually agree with the OP. It's getting a little old. Some of the presentations I'm seeing really feel a little patronizing linkbait. But you know what I really can't stand? The word professional, used in this context. What does that even mean? I find it such an obnoxious term when used to suggest that the privilege of working comes at the cost of subscribing to some universal etiquette.
- neilmiddleton 15y ago
  Professional = something you'd say in front of your clients / customers / potential employers etc.
  - mikeash 15y ago
    Why should that have anything to do with anything we do when not in front of them?
    - hexis 15y ago
      What gives you the impression that the things you do and say in public are not in front of them?
      - mikeash 15y ago
        If we're taking that definition, fair enough, but I don't think most of us would accept self-censorship in any public forum on the off chance that a client or customer might see it.
  - famousactress 15y ago
    I respectfully disagree that you believe that's the definition. The presenter gave this talk and put it on the internet, with what I can only presume is her actual name. So I'd submit that she said things she has no problem with her clients/customers/employers seeing or hearing. My guess is that when you use the word professional you mean things that you would say in front of your clients/customers/employers, and that's what irks me about the term.
mtoddh 15y ago
Agreed - my guess is it's getting harder and harder to grab people's attention and swearing is an effective way to 'shock' some people into noticing your headline.
TylerE 15y ago
What's worse, it _reduces the value of the swear_. When I swear, I mean it.
telent 15y ago
> not particularly professional… I am reminded of http://philip.greenspun.com/ancient-history/professionalism-for-software-engineers http://philip.greenspun.com/ancient-history/professionalism-...

PakG1 15y ago

Although I never swear, I can understand when someone I respect swears. It means that they are dead serious about what they are saying. They don't swear lightly, nor frequently. When I hear them swear, I better be taking them seriously, because it means they're upset. I don't lose any respect for them over it, because again, they don't do it lightly, nor frequently. They only do it when they want to make a serious, serious point.

famousactress 15y ago

I love swearing. I also actually agree with the OP. It's getting a little old. Some of the presentations I'm seeing really feel a little patronizing linkbait. But you know what I really can't stand? The word professional, used in this context. What does that even mean? I find it such an obnoxious term when used to suggest that the privilege of working comes at the cost of subscribing to some universal etiquette.

neilmiddleton 15y ago
Professional = something you'd say in front of your clients / customers / potential employers etc.
- mikeash 15y ago
  Why should that have anything to do with anything we do when not in front of them?
  - hexis 15y ago
    What gives you the impression that the things you do and say in public are not in front of them?
    - mikeash 15y ago
      If we're taking that definition, fair enough, but I don't think most of us would accept self-censorship in any public forum on the off chance that a client or customer might see it.
- famousactress 15y ago
  I respectfully disagree that you believe that's the definition. The presenter gave this talk and put it on the internet, with what I can only presume is her actual name. So I'd submit that she said things she has no problem with her clients/customers/employers seeing or hearing. My guess is that when you use the word professional you mean things that you would say in front of your clients/customers/employers, and that's what irks me about the term.

mtoddh 15y ago

Agreed - my guess is it's getting harder and harder to grab people's attention and swearing is an effective way to 'shock' some people into noticing your headline.

TylerE 15y ago

What's worse, it _reduces the value of the swear_. When I swear, I mean it.

telent 15y ago

> not particularly professional… I am reminded of http://philip.greenspun.com/ancient-history/professionalism-for-software-engineers http://philip.greenspun.com/ancient-history/professionalism-...