Use Of Profanity In Autobiographies/Memoirs?

[Mitchell]

What do forum members think about use of a great deal of profanity in biographies/memoirs, etc?

I have Melissa Gilbert's book from a few years ago.. "A Prairie Tale"
The book documents her career, from her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House On The Prairie , to her work and life up until 2009, when she wrote the book. The book also discusses her personal life, and romances, with Rob Lowe, her two husbands she had by the time she had written the book, and other personal details.

I read reviews of the book from readers at Amazon.com, many of whom said they were quote "disturbed by the extreme amount of profanity, and sexual detail that Ms Gilbert details in the book." Most who read the book said it was for over 18 readers only.

As most who have read my posts are aware, I'm a big sports fan. I have many sports biographies and memoirs, and, while not all of them detail the athlete in question's sex life, many of those books have a great deal of profanity as well.

What do forum members think? Should athletes/famous people, etc, write all the "dirty details" so to say, of their personal and sex lives in books, and should they use graphic descriptions and profanity to do so?

My thoughts on the subject: In regard to Melissa Gilbert's book. I read the whole book, and thought it was well written. She wanted to discuss her life, which is her preference to do so.

Thoughts on this subject?

 

[C.A.B.]

Like the use of strong spices, profanity and expletives should be used fucking parsimoniously, depending on the context, or flavor of the dish, lest one **** everything up.

 

[Tidas]

As C.A.B stated, profanity is like a spice. It makes things interesting, and can be used to great effect to shock or jar the reader, in order to amplify interest in the material. On the subject of an autobiography, profanity can be used to enhance a sense of realism, or it may simply be the way that person speaks. Most celebrities do not write their books, they speak and someone takes down the dictation.

 

[Mitchell]

Agreed, guys.

I personally think that those who discussed the whole "use of profanity" thing were being a bit.. sensitive. I hope this is okay to say.. but.. I found the whole "Ms Gilbert's book should be for over 18 readers only". rather amusing. Er... like none of us heard about sex.. or .. used "profane" words.. beforehand? I've had many of the baseball books I have.. with very "profane" language, since my teens, long before I was "18".

 

[Amnesiac]

Profanity works by conveying emotional severity. It's a modifier that connotes that an emotional phrase or sentiment is far more intense than in typical conversation. For that reason, most Western society considers it inappropriate to use because its considered improper to be so intense, even if only verbally. Also, because profanity uses words with significant associations ("hell" "damn" etc.) the implied sacrilege is considered especially offensive.

But all in all, profanity use implies anger, usually directed towards a source, and that is--in addition to the above--considered disrespectful, which is considered exceptionally offensive and that is often the reason anti-profanity judges like those commentators react the way they do: they don't like the idea of a linguistic method that allows such intense, emotionally charged sentiments that convey disrespect or unglamorous actions/thoughts.

Profanity also works against the user through repetition. If wielded as an inflection, profanity has the same sophistication as, say "concupiscence," but if wielded as substance, it indicates that the user has nothing substantial or sophisticated to say and has to supplement his/her thoughts with profanity in order to compensate.

The people who take issue with profanity probably believe that profanity has no authentic or acceptable use in any context because of its potential for contempt and negativity, and consider it dangerous for people "under the age of 18" who haven't been conditioned to resist its corrosive sway.

Fuck those people.

Profanity is a linguistic property with the same strengths and weaknesses. The author should be allowed to use them as they see fit. The success or failure in using it depends entirely on their own talent and sophistication.

 

[tklbd]

Don't have any interest in "celebrity" (movie, television or political) type "tell alls". Besides...look at all the "nobodies" (at least they were 10 years ago)...that have flooded the networks with all their problematic, over dramatized and BS filled "reality" shows, these days!!! Enough said about that!!!
Mitch...I do have quite an interest in sports bios and novels, however. IE: "The Bronx Zoo" or "The Boys Of Summer", just to name a couple. And to the point of using explicit language, I have no problem with that!! It's part of the "game", so to speak. Having grown up (mid 70's-mid 80's) playing both basketball and baseball (and then some softball in the 90's)...I lived it!!!
Especially in baseball. I started playing when I was 5...organized ball when I was 8...but the real "language" didn't start until high school. Then college and yes, I did play professional minor league ball. Unless you've been there...people have no idea what the "locker room" life is like. Or even the banter that goes on between the lines, and even between the two teams, for that matter!! Most of it was "good fun" and like I said "part of the game". But some of the "quips" we threw around back in those days...would make PC people of today...holler "LAWSUIT!!!" But as recently as 10 years ago, when my daughter played softball, it seemed to have "progressed" to the parents!!! It's a shame, really!!! Some of them were quite brutal!!!
Anyway...I digress. As far as sports novels go...I think the language has to be there, to be more authentic. Don't care about their "off the field" antics. Just tell us about the aspects "within" the game, you know?? There are some great stories out there...especially from the "Golden Age" of baseball!!! (before the 70's and free agency)
Just my two cents on the subject...........

 

[Mitchell]

Amn, that's an interesting analysis, and I agree with what you said.

tklbd, I see your point about celeb tell alls. To be honest, I actually haven't read too many of them. I "inherited" a few from my mom when she passed away, and have read a few of the books she had. (The Melissa Gilbert book was one I bought myself), but I also have ones by actor Robert Wagner, and actress Ali MacGraw, both laden with profanity, that were my mom's.

That's very cool that you played minor league ball, and I see what you mean about sports books needing to have the language in there.

 

[WorkInProgress]

I would say: There's candor, and then there's that point beyond which it becomes distracting and annoying. Most effects work best in measured doses.

 

[Thatsecretchord]

I'm one of those people who is just really not offended at all by swears. Honestly could not care less what words people use. Growing up in a pub in London will thicken your skin to things like that trust me 🙂

 

[TicklesXXX]

They are acceptable only if they are justified or needed, to insult.