In a planned text, swearing is in the vast majority of cases a sign of the author’s weakness. Swearing is acceptable in direct speech, and in those rare situations that are truly — how shall we put it — neither catharsis nor a mere “oh dear, what an inconvenience.”
I think many of you — even if you dislike Katz — have seen his phrase: “Have you completely [expletively] lost your minds, friends?” Do you know why it spread so widely? Because even in four years of war, releasing videos daily, Katz has allowed himself to swear maybe ten times. And since I’ve quoted him, let me balance it with a quote from Dobrolyubov: “It is known that extremes reflect each other, and that the strongest protest is often the one that finally rises from the breast of the weakest and most patient.”
That’s exactly why, when Katz swears — it means things are truly terrifying. When Eminem or 50 cent swear, it only means they’re still alive. And it would be one thing if people swore in everyday speech — but they swear in planned texts! Meaning: a person had a three-letter word pop into their head and could not mentally upgrade it into a scientific five-letter one, or a childish four-letter one, or even a mischievously childish six-letter one.
Another analogy: fanfic authors. Do you know their favorite word for describing a beautiful heroine? You’ll never guess. “Beautiful.” Oh yes, and her eyes are inevitably “huge” or “bottomless wells in which the potions master drowned.” A strong author never has to dictate what the reader should feel about the character; he tells the story, shows the character — and lets the reader conclude: “Yeah… I probably shouldn’t describe this scene in front of children.”
Profanity — especially in a language like Russian, where it carries extraordinary force — is a jewel of the language, its adornment, and a very dangerous weapon. It is the foul of last resort, the poison capsule a spy keeps in his mouth to choose his own exit.
But if instead of a pearl necklace a woman puts on a pearl dress — she’ll look ridiculous.
If you tackle an opponent for no reason — you get a red card and leave your team with ten players. And no one takes the poison capsule every morning.
That is precisely why I cannot stand serious texts that drip with profanity.