Take That, Fuckers.

There's something intriguing about offensive language. Maybe it's the giddy thrill that goes with 'forbidden' fruits, like middle-schoolers snickering behind their hands at a "dirty" word. Maybe it's the catharsis of someone saying those words that circle in the back of your head but, for any number of reasons, never escape your lips.

There are songs in my iPod that I like more because of that edge. Radio edit version? No thanks.
There are jokes that are only as funny as they are risque.
There are speakers who are questionable at best and yet, even as I cringe, I admire them all the more.

I understand the power and appeal of the offensive.

What I don't understand is why people don't seem to understand the difference between a well-timed shock and carelessness.

In my writing class today, I found myself speaking up about questionable language that had been used in a couple of the pieces. Both times, I wasn't upset at the words they'd used or the assumptions they'd made. I was worried, though, at how readers would see them. Neither of the authors seemed to be trying to offend and I wanted to offer an alternative view, cautioning them that people with different backgrounds or experiences might read things in a way they weren't expecting.

Both times, I was immediately corrected by classmates who thought I was trying to get the authors to change their pieces. "Don't take that out." "You shouldn't care if people are offended." "It didn't bother me." So quick to jump in, I'm not sure they actually understood that I didn't have a problem with the word choice. I just thought others might.

I get it. I really do. We like offensive language and, honestly?, this world is already way too PC. But I wasn't advocating for Disney. I was asking for some consideration.

Words are such powerful things. You can inspire nations, incite riots, or soothe spirits with little more than well-chosen words. We communicate whole ideologies in songs, essays, blogs, and facebook statuses. We can, in essence, move mountains.

With that realization, it seems like asking for some thought about language isn't out of line. Shocking language comes at a cost. You will offend. And if you have something important to say (or even not so important), driving away half your audience is going to sort of spoil the show.

It's not about political correctness or worrying about offended sensibilities, though personally that's something I can't help but do. Rather, it's about intention. The true thrill of the shocking is that ability to say something powerful and edgy and make it stick. Make it mean something. If someone offends on accident, it's all well and good to blame the one who took it too seriously, but it doesn't change the fact that the message was lost.

I'm not saying I want to see prettified communication.
I'm not a fan of being PC.
What I am saying is, if someone is offended by your writing when you didn't intend for them to be, take it into consideration. Don't just brush it off. Maybe you seriously need to be more thoughtful with your word choice. It's impossible to anticipate all of the ways your words could be taken and you certainly don't need to bend to every wilting flower's whim...but it doesn't hurt to realize they're out there, either, whether that changes what you say or not.

And if you're going to offend, do it on purpose, with a merry "fuck off" to anyone who minds.

Because if you're going to piss someone off, you might as well do it with flair.

Edited for moar irony... this is the point where I wonder how many people I managed to offend. Lol.