"Bad Language" in books

[zippy_do46]

I usually keep about 4 or 5 books going at a time. One of these books I carry with me in my purse and I read it when I am stuck out somewhere. So I read it off and on over weeks. I took the book out of purse and decided I needed to finish it.

Ok, here is the problem. I came accross a section where one of the characters uses our Father's name in vain. This was at the very end. (I hope). I do not think it was used in other parts of the book, but the way I read the book I can not say for sure.

What do you do when this happens to you? The character was worldly.

This really bothers me. I so love talking about books with my customers. This author is a well liked author. This book was recomended by a customer as a good book. I did like the book until this part.

:) Makes me want to do what my "sweet little grandmother" did and take a black marker and go through all the bad words . :))))) I know, I know this is censorship ,but I so wish this language was not there.

[rameumptom]

If I own the book, the words end up being marked out by me. It is not censorship. I am not forcing others to adapt to me. It is me raising the bar in my own life and circumstance. It is like changing the tv channel when something bad comes on. That isn't censorship either. It is my controlling my own life.

Now, if I check it out of the library, or borrow it from someone else, it isn't my book. At that point, I must decide whether there is enough good value in the book to justify reading it with all the bad language, etc., in it. If there is not, then I return the book. If it is a close thing, then I will probably turn it in, as the benefit does not easily outweigh the negative.

[Elphaba]

I would never cross anything out of a book as it's the author who should decide what goes in, or does not go in, his/her book--not the reader.

However, if you do choose to cross out parts that you object to, that is not censorship, and it is perfectly within your rights to do so.

If you were to insist the author edit the book as you would, that would be censorship. But with your own personal copy of the book, you can do whatever you want with it, and you've done nothing wrong.

Elphaba

[Blackmarch]

I usually keep about 4 or 5 books going at a time. One of these books I carry with me in my purse and I read it when I am stuck out somewhere. So I read it off and on over weeks. I took the book out of purse and decided I needed to finish it.

Ok, here is the problem. I came accross a section where one of the characters uses our Father's name in vain. This was at the very end. (I hope). I do not think it was used in other parts of the book, but the way I read the book I can not say for sure.

What do you do when this happens to you? The character was worldly.

This really bothers me. I so love talking about books with my customers. This author is a well liked author. This book was recomended by a customer as a good book. I did like the book until this part.

:) Makes me want to do what my "sweet little grandmother" did and take a black marker and go through all the bad words . :))))) I know, I know this is censorship ,but I so wish this language was not there.

I generally dont unless its really bad.. mainly because if i want to sell the book again marks like that reduce the value. but there shouldnt be anything wrong with doing something like that to something you've purchased.

IF it's really really bad the book goes to the garbage bin.

[KCGrant]

My feeling is this...if you purchase an item, you have the right to do with it what you may. Whether it's blacking out words in a book so you don't have to see them every time you read it or using devices that edit out offensive content in movies so you can focus on the storyline. Does it change the author's original vision? Sure. But the author's editor and/or publisher probably already did that at some point and so labeling this 'censorship' is a bit dramatic. Most popular movies and books of today are commercially-minded and are designed to give the public "what they want." If you don't want something they're offering, you have the right to not buy it or to manipulate it to where it's something you do what.

[Dr T]

I write in my books all the time. I interact with the material in the margin. It helps it be dynamic not unilateral for me.

[rayhale]

If you bought the book, then you can ‘censor’ the book any way you want, if, however, you checkout a book from the library, then, no you don’t have ANY right to write in, black out, or do anything to ‘censor’ the book.

[zippy_do46]

:) I work at a used bookstore. The owner lets me read anything I want. I love talking to the customers about the books. I often sale the very books I read. We had 6 copies of one book that I had just read. I sold all six and had customers coming back looking for that author. lol We sold everyone one of the books we had of his. :) It is a small shop and often my customers asked me what I am reading. Sigh, a good job, I know. :0) Now, if I could figure out how to get the books on the shelves by themselves it would be the perfect job.

[Backroads]

I have mixed feelings.

First you must understand that I have levels of bad language. There are some words I don't mind, when used in moderation, and in books I think I will accept most bad words as long as they are used rarely and effectively.

If that's not the case... I usually wind up getting rid of the book. I've never marked out any words, but I have thought "this swears just too darn much for me to keep" and I donate it.