Okay, the upcoming issue is pulling together pretty quickly now, and I'm finding myself taking necessary brain breaks by posting here about every darling little thing I run into along the way. It helps clear my head. It helps me feel like I'm in touch with the big outside world.
Most of all, it helps me fight against what may be some weird virtual rumor going around that Secular Homeschooling Magazine is going down the drain.
NUH-UH!
I haven't heard anything like this myself; but our advertising guru had someone on the phone who was initially interested in placing an ad with us, but then decided against doing so, claiming that we were said to be going out of business rapidly. She'd heard this on the Internet, she said. Some blogs had some pretty dire things to say about our future, apparently.
Okay, clearly I have to lay off all the rhymes-with-itching I do about my job. Because the only blog I can think of that doom-and-glooms about the magazine is, well, this one.
But the thing is, the more I complain, the more I'm doing, you know? It's just blowing off steam. Worry when I'm not kvetching.
So: SHM is alive and well. Tell your friends.
But that's not what I came here to fret about.
I came to ask your opinion.
Our local homeschooling support group was recently joined by a really lovely family -- a mother and her breathtakingly brilliant eight-year-old son. IQ off the charts -- you know the type. Adorable. He's the sort who really likes talking to grownups, and he seems to have taken a shine to me; so we've talked a lot lately. He mentioned excitedly that he's been reading SHM. Turns out they take classes at the same music school we do, and I leave reading copies of SHM in the waiting room (marked up with twenty pounds of ink and stickers to the effect that these are the property of the school and for reading on location only, which doesn't stop them from being snitched now and then).
"So, what have you been reading in it?" I asked, hoping for some feedback on the serial children's story I've been running for a couple of issues.
He looked at me solemnly. "'Talking to Our Children About Death,'" he intoned.
Oh.
"Did you like it?" I said, and immediately gave myself a special award for Stupidest Question Ever. With a pretty Nice Choice Of Words, Moron ribbon to go with it.
He did like it, actually. But the conversation made me realize that, wow, the kids are reading my magazine.
Which leads me to a silly question, but I'd love your feedback on it.
I got a homeschool horror story for the column of the same name, and it involves a little boy saying an Official Naughty Word.
Having just had that conversation with another little boy, I decided to wimp out and use the first two letters and a dash in lieu of the complete naughtiness.
Am I a dork?
Is this really going to help anybody, since any kid who already knows the word, well, already knows the word; and the ones who don't will demand that their parents tell them what it is, undoubtedly netting me much love and affection from the homeschooling community?
I have to admit that it's partly me, because it's one of those naughty words I don't like just because I've never liked the sound of it. Or the imagery it brings with it. It's not the mother of all swear words; I just don't like it. I'll substitute another word for it in my own speech (often in the same sentence as the mother of all baddies, which nets me some strange looks from listeners).
But the homeschool horror story is fantastic. I really want it.
Are my readers going to read the column, see the abbreviation, and lose all respect for me -- the woman they thought was a big tough editor, who turned out to be a wee little pansy instead?
Saturday, April 11, 2009
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8 comments:
I don't think it is a wimp out.
If the kid is reading the article your right he probably does know what the word is, but there is just something almost vulgar to see some words in print. Do you know what I mean.
As for the ones who don't know the word, I doubt they go ask a grown up what the word is because then they would be admitting that maybe they aren't as grown up as they made out by reading the article in the first place.
Call me old fashioned, but that is the way I see it.
Based on my own vocabulary, my opinion probably shouldn't be trusted. But I do think well placed dashes are reasonable. As long as it's obvious to me what the word is. :-)
All words have value when they're in proper context!
I agree that it's not a copout to use dashes or a well-placed #$%@, depending on the context, of course.
At the same time -- and on a slightly different subject -- I don't think you need to alter your magazine because you have some 8-year-old readers.
I agree, not a copout. A lot of words really do look worse in print, as Chrystal says! Honestly, as long as you have actual kid's reading material in there (unless it can be pulled out and given to them) I think it's appropriate to assume they are scanning the whole thing. I wouldn't hand my daughter a book or magazine and expect her to stick to the "kid's part"! I think you did the right thing.
Well, I must admit that my kids often read the "adult" parts of the magazine rather than the kid pull-out but if I had a problem with a word in it I feel it would be *my* job as parent to do the censoring, not you, the editor.
With that said I have to admit that I always use dashes or stars in place of the middle letters of swear words when writing (my blog contains a lot of d*mns and h*lls lol). I know my kids, and many other kids, can figure out the words but I feel that the stars remind them that they are not words for polite company (ie. grandma would not want to hear them lol).
As a reader I am fine with either way you choose. Helpful, huh?
Gina
PS I love your blog kvetching. Just today it helped my kids with their time management issues. We are borrowing your son's scheduling idea from a previous post. I think they figure if it is from the "George the Dead Fish" author's family than it must be a good idea lol.
So I've been called a prude, but I don't like to see bad words in print. I'm still shell-shocked when I'm enjoying a good book and the author decides to throw in a little nasty word. I'd prefer a more artful and ingenious approach to writing than shock and awe. Thanks for your discretion.
Madame Prudie:)
Since my kids can swear like sailors I am not sure I should post, but over all.. I think the dashes are a nice touch... or perhaps... "Rhymes with duck" would do the trick ;-)
Maddie
www.homeschool-confidential.blogspot.com
I think the dashes are fine. Yes, many children are going to understand what word fills in the blank, but they youngest of the readers might not.
I am glad to hear that that magazine has no plans of leaving. I love your magazine! I love it so much I tell everyone I know about it, lol! I am planning on offering a gift subscription on my blog as a prize soon.
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