Swearing in entertainment. Wrong or right?

[Bobbity]

It's fine. This is entertainment, and not really meant to be taken seriously.
I won't use a blanket term for the people that disagree with that sentiment, but it does seem somewhat over-sensitive to me.

Well, so long as we're not talking about cartoons intended specifically for children

 

[JediMB]

I don't give a shit. They're just words.

Very much this.

Although I admittedly tone down my language in certain environments. Either to "blend in" better, or just to avoid teaching kids new and exciting words that they might repeat endlessly to annoy the fuck out of everyone else.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I don't give a shit. They're just words. Who really cares? Why are people so uptight about meaningless words?

Also, it's way more distracting when people can't say the word God or Hell or Damn on TV because of ridiculous censorship rules. Believe it or not, FCC, people in real life use these words.

The tv edits are pure gold. Seriously, just let people cuss. They are just words.

 

[Palademon]

Obligatory video response.

 

[brendonnelly]

We had an entire english lesson devoted to swearing: moral is, a text without swearing can be unrealistic, and a text with swearing can be unrealistic. It's all about context.

 

[Omechron]

My opinion:

Is it wrong? No. Much like violence, sex, and absolutely everything else, swearing in games is not wrong. It's impossible for a thing in video games to be "wrong" because games are fiction and therefor not real. I honestly don't believe that it is possible at present for a game to be "wrong".

Is it good? Not necessarily. Swearing is a tool to convey emotion. When used properly, it adds a great deal to the experience. The problem is that, much like every other tool since fire, humans use it incorrectly an awful lot. See, game developers see "swearing is a tool to make your dialog more gritty and real, and adds impact when used sparingly." and instead read it as "swaring makes any poorly written dialog instantly gritty and real, and adds impact when used like a fire hose". Of course this gripe applies to movies, rap music, and even private citizens in regular conversation.

TL;DR: Swearing can add to a game if you do it right. Most developers do not.

 

[LostTimeLady]

I think to remove swearing entirely from fiction wouldn't work. I mean, if you're going to write believeable charecters and speach you have to come to terms with the fact that people swear, but you have to then only put the swearing in at appropriate moments like times of dire distress. No one I know would swear while making a sandwich, or hanging out the washing, or talking to a teacher about their child's behaviour so to include swearing in those moments would come off as just plain wrong. (I used exagerated examples there).

Again, that being said, swearing is just a short hand for expressing emotions that could just as easily be covayed by other non-swear words. Look at the creative insults in Shakespeare, would the 'I bite my thumb at thee' speach be improved by the charecters just hurling the f-word at people? No!

So my stance, it's inebitable that people in fiction will swear but it's up to the writers to use things in moderation and not make it sound like all the charecters are a broken record of the top ten words you'd never dream of uttering in front of you grandma.

 

[Revolutionary]

It completely depends on your audience.If your audience is old enough and they know what they are getting themselves into then full steam ahead.

 

[Ganthrinor]

I swear. Sometimes a lot. Usually when I'm in physical, emotional or mental distress. It helps me maintain control and relax. That said, I am also capable of donning a cravat, top-hat and monocle and holding a "meaningful" discussion.


Swearing just to swear is childish and tiresome (see: Rogue Warrior). While adding a little creativity or imagination to the profanity it can make it entertaining and amusing (see: Bulletstorm, Duke Nukem 3D/Forever, etc.)

 

[The Gnome King]

What is your view of swearing in games/songs/movies/tv/novels? Do you think it adds to the story, or do you think it's a little unnecessary and just cranks the viewer ratings up?
I think a little bit is fine in movies and maybe games, but I don't like reading it in novels, don't know why, and it's okay in songs sometimes. But what do you think?

I think that swearing is fine used SPARINGLY and that overused, it loses its punch. I almost never swear, so when I do, people look up and take notice. They know something's up because I choose my words carefully.

When somebody swears every other word, like some comedians in our generation have seen to devolve into; it becomes boring and overused and it doesn't add anything to the act.

IMHO.

 

[StormShaun]

I try to use it as less as possible but in some situations, you just have to USE it, its also funny in the right moments in games...