Comments on Diary of a Mad Editor: Bad words (or, Nuh-uh!)

I think the dashes are fine. Yes, many children a...

2009-04-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Since my kids can swear like sailors I am not sure...

2009-04-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

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

So I've been called a prude, but I don't like to s...

2009-04-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

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:)

Well, I must admit that my kids often read the "ad...

2009-04-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

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.

I agree, not a copout. A lot of words really do lo...

2009-04-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

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.

I agree that it's not a copout to use dashes or a ...

2009-04-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Based on my own vocabulary, my opinion probably sh...

2009-04-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

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 don't think it is a wimp out.
If the kid is r...

2009-04-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

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.