Pet peeve

[chaps1870]

On the note of swearing and writing in SGA fiction. I know that some writers and readers have issues with swearing. I get that. What I don't get is how some writers can totally ignore the characters speech patterns and personality so that it doesn't offend their sensibilities.  Personally, I cannot see John or Rodney saying something like 'oh gosh, that freaking hurts.'   

John is military and Rodney has been exposed to the military long enough that they swear.  I'm pretty sure, if memory serves, that we have even heard some in various episodes. Mild for the most part but still swearing. 

If a writer cannot make themselves write a swear word that fits the scene then find a better way to express it rather than hiding it behind something less offensive and so ooc.  You can swear in a story, I won't think any less of you. I will think less of you if your writing does not stay true to the characters you are writing.  

We now return to your regular scheduled reading.

Comments

[sp23.livejournal.com]

While I find it kind of jarring to see John using 'fuck' around Elizabeth or even Teyla in a story, both men use mild cursing on the show. Hell, Rodney even called Ford 'that little bastard' in The Lost Boys and John joked about Rodney's arrow wound being a 'real pain in the ass' in Sateda. So while a writer can certainly avoid the harsher expletives, the more common swear words are certainly canon.

And like you said, if the writer is uncomfortable with swears, there is a better way than having Rodney say 'gosh darn it' or something similarly OOC.

[chaps1870.livejournal.com]

Yep. I know that some writers, more so the gen writers, have issues with swearing so I can understand that they don't want that in their story. That's fine. What bothers me is the alternative when it doesn't fall withing the characters canon.

On the flip side there are times when a writer puts in a swear word that can jar me as well. In the wrong place or context it can be just as out of place.