Profanity, those taboo words banned from the broadcast airwaves, is a feature of many people's daily lives. It's much less so in the establishment media world. TV and radio broadcasts are legally prohibited from using it, most newspapers have traditionally refrained from its usage.
That's not the case with the Web, where bloggers and readers face no such restrictions. That likely comes as no surprise; what may be surprising, however, is to what degree profanity seems to be a feature more common on one side of the political blogosphere than the other.
Which side is that? For answers, I turned to the search engine Google to see how common swearing is in the right and left blog universes by looking up the late stand-up comic George Carlin's "seven dirty words" in the most popular blog communities.
The results showed that online liberals tend to use profanity a lot more than online conservatives.
(Before I get further into the results, let me say that I am deliberately making a distinction between blogs that do not usually allow readers to make comments and those that do. This means that some sites, such as the popular Instapundit or Newsmax, were not included.)
Searching for Carlin's seven words and some popular variants at the top 10 conservative Web communities yields about 70,000 results. That is dwarfed in comparison to the 1.9 million instances of profanity on liberal sites.
Things aren't quite that clear-cut, however, since some Web sites have more pages than others. According to Google, the top 10 conservative sites have about 6 million pages, while the top 10 liberal sites have about 13 million.
Dividing the number of instances of profanity by the number of pages of the sites on which they appear, then multiplying the result by 100 yields what might be called a "profanity quotient."
The top 10 liberal sites (Daily Kos, Huffington Post, Democratic Underground, Talking Points Memo, Crooks and Liars, Think Progress, Atrios, Glenn Greenwald, MyDD and Firedoglake) have a profanity quotient of 14.6.
The top 10 conservative sites (Free Republic, Hot Air, Little Green Footballs, Townhall, NewsBusters, Lucianne.com, Wizbang, Ace of Spades, Red State and Volokh Conspiracy) have a quotient of 1.17.
That's quite a disparity. Liberals are more than 12 times likely to use profanity than conservatives on the web (see complete data here).
One thing that is interesting to note is that the profanity ratio of a particular site seems somewhat related to the writing style of the bloggers who run it.
For instance, the Ace of Spades blog has the highest profanity quotient on the right. This is likely due to the fact that "Ace," the anonymous proprietor of the site, regularly uses profanity in his own writings and therefore is much less inclined to want to crack down on readers who respond using it.
Notable also in these stats are the liberal blogs Eschaton, Crooks and Liars, and Firedoglake, where profanity is so common you basically cannot take part in the discussion without running into it.
On the flip side, the popular conservative community Lucianne.com, run by literary agent Lucianne Goldberg, seems to have no profanity at all.
Why such a disparity between the right and left online?
Some on the right may take this as a sign of their superior intelligence. Others may theorize that it's simply because liberals are angry at President Bush.
More than likely, it is a reflection of how things are offline. Conservatives, especially those who are more religious, are less likely to use profanity in their daily conversation.
Don't ask me why the h*ll that is.
(Modified from my Washington Times column this morning.)
Update 18:46. Ace responds.
The left is much concerned about "authenticity," which itself is evidenced by an outpouring of emotion (both real and feigned, to indicate how "authentic" the author's make-pretend outrage is), and the left has decided there's really no better way to demonstrate their often-feigned authentic emotion than by dropping the f-bomb around here and there.
I really wish I weren't so compromised on this issue, because it seems like the sort of thing I'd really like to rip the f*cking left about. Alas.
A lot of truth in that I suspect. Sadly I don't think I'd be allowed to say that last part in the Times :-)
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator and editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
not to disparage your work, but to make fun...
August 7, 2008 - 15:20 ET by UndercoverConservative..is anyone surprised? This is like those government university grants to measure cow f@rts and to determine why pizza cheese burns the roof of your mouth.
What's next? "People hate taxes"? "Lazy people like Welfare"? or the mindbooglingly unexpected results of "There are Criminal Elements among Illegal Aliens"?
Note: any ranting is meant as a tease. A "bottom story of the day" or "news you can use" sort of thing. But maybe you can get grants for your research.
Now to get back to my "If I eat my lunch, I'm not as hungry" study:)
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
Better survey than what TV shows the candidates and spouses wat
August 7, 2008 - 15:31 ET by PawpawNBetter survey than what TV shows the candidates and spouses watch and who controls the remote. And, if MB watches the HGTV all the time, does that mean they really plan to get that other property next door that what's the name of the financeer who sold them their property and now is under investigation-I don't recall name becuase it is never in the NEWS! Seems all these liberals and their college professors only articulate in profanity! And I can't believe that the DIMS are still making this election about GWB. Geez, they have no smarts, Bush is out, McCain has very few Bush attributes, but does have the WOT & TAX lines correctly. Other than standing tall and reading the prompter elegantly, what has BHO stated. My 5 year old grandson has much more substance and can talk without a tele-prompter!
Undercover, Keep in mind
August 7, 2008 - 19:17 ET by hydrodynDMUndercover,
Keep in mind that very often, when it comes to research, the purpose behind a particular project might be to develop a new methodology that leads to a known conclusion.
I know that in my work, if I'm trying to come up with some sort of new modeling technique, I'll first test it by working on a system with known properties. That way, it will be obvious if something is wrong.
So even if the conclusion of the study is no big surprise, the methods used to get to that conclusion might introduce new techniques that can be used in other areas.
To me, the interesting thing about Mr. Sheffield's study wasn't the conclusion (though the disparity was a bit alarming) so much as the way he quantified the results via his "profanity quotient".
I know your post was meant somewhat in jest, but I figured I'd use it as an excuse to point out that there is usually more to those "obvious" government funded studies than most might think.
!#$@!$
August 7, 2008 - 15:27 ET by ElyasAre you saying we should all start cursing so we can catch up to the liberal blogging sites?
Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
- Ronald Reagan
Why the fascination over
August 7, 2008 - 15:30 ET by balboaWhy the fascination over coarse language?
Agreed. People swear,
August 7, 2008 - 15:54 ET by RDDAgreed.
People swear, some more then others... get over it.
This is like trying to compare people's accents or hair color from different websites/TV channels and trying to draw some kind of conclusion from it.
Fact is, the only time a "swear" means something to someone is when they're too uptight.
People swear
August 7, 2008 - 16:05 ET by brezley67People swear only because they're not intelligent enough to use the correct language.....
That's an absurd conclusion
August 7, 2008 - 16:11 ET by balboaThat's an absurd conclusion to come to.
No it's not
August 7, 2008 - 16:13 ET by Dee BunkNo it's not
I don't think swearing is a
August 7, 2008 - 16:53 ET by Kenny BunkportI don't think swearing is a measure of your intelligence per se. I think it's a measure of your civility and consideration of other people. Conservatives tend to understand the concept of "the appropriateness for the situation" better than liberals.
I know many conservatives who swear like sailors around their friends but never let out a profanity in public. Hypocritical? Perhaps. But at least it shows a consideration for others and a sense of public decorum.
Liberals tend to flaunt public conventions and tend to invoke their right to does as they please. If you are offended, that's your problem.
I just think conservatives are more tactful than liberals.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
KB... You hit the nail on
August 7, 2008 - 17:11 ET by bigtimerKB...
You hit the nail on the head.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I agree Kenny got it exactly right
August 7, 2008 - 22:26 ET by Dee BunkIt's emotional intelligence. And this article is talking about a public blog forum, not everyday conversations. When you type something it's much more conscience and intentional. Everyone lets out swear words here and there including Bush, Cheny, McCain, Clinton, Obama, you me and just about everyone. The difference is in the frequency and regularity. It's another thing liberals just can't comprehend.
bal just doesn't understand
August 8, 2008 - 11:56 ET by TruthMongerbal just doesn't understand concerns about morals, ethics, scruples, decorum - i blame his public school "education:("
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
No, TM, I just don't
August 8, 2008 - 12:05 ET by balboaNo, TM, I just don't believe the statement about swearing as it relates to intelligence. Follow? I don't remember saying anything about it being appropriate to swear anytime, anywhere.
And you don't know anything about my education.
so you take back your original statement?
August 8, 2008 - 12:19 ET by Dee Bunk"Why the fascination over course language"
Do you agree it's not a fascination and that it's just respectful common sense not to use it in public forums?
These are rhetorical questions - no answers are needed or expected.
Thanks, Dee I'll admit
August 8, 2008 - 22:34 ET by Kenny BunkportThanks, Dee
I'll admit that I can turn the air purple at times, but in a public forum it's wise to restrain youself.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
"I know many conservatives
August 7, 2008 - 17:19 ET by RDD"I know many conservatives who swear like sailors around their friends but never let out a profanity in public. Hypocritical? Perhaps. But at least it shows a consideration for others and a sense of public decorum."
That's an important aspect to keep in mind.
The beauty of the web is the ability to be informal. If you want to run a website where people are allowed to speak their mind, you're free to do so without risk of outsiders complaining about the manner in which you speak (well, minus this article.)
This doesn't mean the same people are running around and grabbing your children and screaming F-bombs in their ear.
It is the correct one. I
August 8, 2008 - 18:30 ET by liberal_bug_zapperIt is the correct one. I find that when I don't know what to say, or if I'm at a loss for words is when the cursing will sneak out. If I take the time to think about what I am going to say or write, I will never use profanity.
The disparity between left and right on this issue is most certainly frustration vs stupidity. We on the right get frustruated and curse, the left is just more stupid, so they curse out of natural tendancies.
____________________________________________________
"A society that puts equality...ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom." ~ Milton Friedman
Wow, and just when I thought
August 8, 2008 - 20:40 ET by balboaWow, and just when I thought the previous statement was stupid...
bal
August 8, 2008 - 20:53 ET by MrShy... the response to the one after that previous one is stupider.
;)
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
DING, DING, DING
August 7, 2008 - 16:16 ET by ginagwen7Absolutely correct.
So when Bush or Cheney
August 7, 2008 - 16:19 ET by balboaSo when Bush or Cheney swear, it's only because they're not smart enough to think of something else to say?
Zing
August 7, 2008 - 16:52 ET by sarcasmoI saw that one coming a mile away! :)
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Zing indeed
August 7, 2008 - 16:55 ET by blogonator:D
i think u guys are finally
August 8, 2008 - 11:58 ET by TruthMongeri think u guys are finally getting it:)
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Bal got in a good one...
August 8, 2008 - 12:23 ET by sarcasmoIt's happened before, so there's nothing like any "finally" involved.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
conservatives ain't perfect
August 8, 2008 - 12:26 ET by TruthMongerconservatives ain't perfect on the swearing
just a helluva lot better:)
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
My point remains
August 8, 2008 - 12:32 ET by sarcasmoNothing like any "finally" was involved. Bal just nailed a funny one. No biggie.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
not contesting yer point
August 8, 2008 - 12:39 ET by TruthMongernot contesting yer point whatsoever:)
confirming it
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
That's quite a stretch to
August 7, 2008 - 16:19 ET by RDDThat's quite a stretch to deduce that someone saying the F-word is less intellagent then someone who fails to do so.
By your logic, most (if not all) military personal are dimwits because I challange anybody to find someone in the line of fire who never swore.
Swears do not define one's level of intelligence.
No one is less intelligent
August 7, 2008 - 18:05 ET by AJNo one is less intelligent for swearing. What swearing implies is that a person lacks the professionalism to stop themselves from saying offensive phrases. What I find so discouraging is to see intelligent and respectable people like professors and members of the military destroy their hard-earned prestige by swearing as if there is nothing wrong with it. The "oh, I see nothing wrong with it" attitude is narcissistic and somewhat immature in nature. A person needs to think about how others perceive their words.
it's anger
August 8, 2008 - 12:00 ET by TruthMongerit's anger management
i've been through it
now i swear alot f*cking less than i used to
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Disagreed
August 7, 2008 - 16:12 ET by mbs6I'm sorry to hear your world is so profane.
I'm really not one to
August 7, 2008 - 15:31 ET by RESTLESS 1I'm really not one to comment. I have been known to drop a few bombs online and off. :)
"This liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Great article Matthew
August 7, 2008 - 15:52 ET by Dee BunkI'm glad you took the time to document it. Of course all of us here (besides the liberals) knew it already but your new readers don't and it's nice for us to have some hard figures.
Honestly, I don't think its
August 7, 2008 - 16:07 ET by mrbucketHonestly, I don't think its a big deal, the thing about blogs is that in most cases they are simply a private editorial - most lack the fit and finish of a final product which makes money selling t-shirts advertised on young girls.
Thank goodness for ad blockers, else I wouldn't be able to read your page from the office - nothing like a pair of bare legs on the screen to incite the wrath of a Liberal office busybody.
Personally, I think that maybe if Conservatives started cursing a bit more - the Libs would go hide under the bed where they belong. All this 'intellectualism' reaks of the thin air commonly found on high moral planes.
Simple
August 7, 2008 - 17:27 ET by guefyMorals
Profanity on the Blogs
August 7, 2008 - 17:31 ET by nandrelliNice closing statement, Matthew. I guess you're just a wise-a$$ son-of-a-b***h.
Now I've been one to curse
August 7, 2008 - 17:32 ET by taterNow I've been one to curse before...but much like a bad habit I've tried to stop it. I have plenty of ammo to back this up.
or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is
fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk,
which is out of place” (Ephesians 5:3–4).
to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because
of these the wrath of God is coming [upon the disobedient]. … [Y]ou
must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene
language out of your mouths” (Colossians 3:5–8).
foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good
for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear”
(Ephesians 4:20).
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Cussin
August 7, 2008 - 17:55 ET by kilrodSomewhere in the Bible it says what comes out of your mouth is what's in your heart. Cursing is a form of rebellion and disrespect for moral authority and God. It is rooted in selfishness, lewedness, and disrespect for others. In acting and talking in a vulgar fashion it is demonstrating you don't give a dam what others think so to hell with em. People who have humbled themselves before God and are in submission to his moral authority tend to curse less and are more respectfull in their conversations out of respect for that moral authority.
Now, i have accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour yet i still curse sometimes, and sometimes i can curse a "blue streak" if i loose my temper, so that makes me a hipocrit and a sinner, all sin is hypocracy so i am a hipocrit many times over. Yet i curse less, i rebell less and i have more respect and consideration for others than before my submission to Gods Moral Authority. Yet i think sometimes it is appropriate to use selected curse words to emphasize a point and to let the object of your disrespect know that you are dead serious, and i will call what i beleive to be a sob, a sob, in a heartbeat.
kilrod
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
Matthew 15:17-20 "Do you
August 7, 2008 - 18:02 ET by taterMatthew 15:17-20
"Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
tater
August 7, 2008 - 18:12 ET by kilrodThank-You tater, and the Lord Bless Ya.!!
kilrod
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
Coarse Language
August 7, 2008 - 23:14 ET by DoktorFrankenI post at Lucianne and enjoy the complete absence of vulgarity. I believe it's a matter of respect - for other posters and for the host. In a discourse of ideas it's not really necessary. Of course, at times there's only one way to describe some of the folks, or their actions, on the extreme Left and using the proper swear word seems to fill that need.
Just MHO, you understand.
Swearing
August 8, 2008 - 11:24 ET by cvgbuckeyeOhio State Buckeye football coach, Jim Tressell has an insert in his latest book, "The Winners Manual" For the Game of Life that deals with swearing. They make it a part of their instruction to their players:
TEN REASONS WHY I SWEAR
1. It pleases my mother so much.
2. It is a fine mark of manliness.
3. It proves I have self-control.
4. It indicates how clearly my mind operates.
5. It makes my conversation so pleasing to everybody.
6. It leaves no doubt in anyone's mind as to my good breeding.
7. It impresses people that I have more than an ordinary education.
8. It is an unmistakeable sign of culture and refinement.
9. It makes me a very desireable personality among women, children, and respectable society.
10. It is my way of honoring God, who said, "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God."
Coach Tressell and I had the same high school coach (Coach Tom Madzy) and I am pleased that he spread his character issues around; more to coach Tressell's taking than mine. I hope that Coach Tressell doesn't mind that we use one of his teaching tools. I admire him to a great degree and what he imparts to his young men AND the rest of the world.
Are Buckeye football
August 8, 2008 - 11:40 ET by balboaAre Buckeye football players smart enough to get the sarcasm? :-)
Strange
August 8, 2008 - 14:29 ET by cvgbuckeyeSeems that Balboa was offended because someone made a broad assumption about his limited education (or intellect which probably wasn't far off) and he follows it up with a broad stroke of paint covering over 100 pretty fine young men. Pretty typical of his Royal Highness of Perfection (he thinks).
SOOOO, Balboa, allow me to educate you. Over the last 5 years, the average accum. of these fine young men (of whom you are not fit to carry their jock straps although I suspect you'd be thrilled to) is over 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
You might do well to shut your computer off for a few minutes a day and read Coach Tressell's book, "The Winners Manual". I believe that after you finish it (which I'm sure that you never would) you might be a little less judgemental and a little less of a cheap shot artist towards a pretty good group of young men, none of whom you've ever met (nor will you ever).
I was kidding, cvg, thus
August 8, 2008 - 14:31 ET by balboaI was kidding, cvg, thus the smiley face. I'm well aware of the academic excellence of student athletes. Just not an Ohio State fan, although I think Tressel is top-notch.
wow bal
August 8, 2008 - 14:48 ET by candanceClearly you're the one with the lesser intellect in this conversation! (I leave it open to interpretation as to whether that's a joke or a serious observation. Intelligent people who are familiar with my character will make the right deduction.)
:-)
August 8, 2008 - 15:00 ET by balboa:-)
Sometimes, profanity is the ONLY thing
August 8, 2008 - 14:51 ET by sarcasmoThat will properly make a point which very-much needs to be made.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
sarc, I have to agree that
August 9, 2008 - 13:15 ET by Kenny Bunkportsarc, I have to agree that sometimes there's nothing like a nasty four-letter adjective to drive a point home..
e.g. I think most people understand that being called an idiot is one thing, but being called a f***ing idiot puts the discourse on a whole different level.
Unfortunately, the young generation doesn't seem to grasp that calling someone an effer, is tantamount to calling for fisticuffs. If you notice, there's a lot of apologizing in the more liberal forums. How often have you seen, "I'm sorry you were offended that I called you a stupid f***. :-)"?
With this amount of disagreement on the significance of some words, for civility's sake, it's more mature just to avoid them.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
In my expreience...
August 8, 2008 - 16:07 ET by Army BratChildren often use obsceniteis in an atempt to sound, "more adult".
I mean...I did it it when I was a kid. I don't think this is the case here.
Children are, in general, far more passionate about things than adults. We all get burnt out on the little things through time. This process continues throughout life til it takes more than a new SpongeBob episode to get one excited. (I like SB.)
Perhaps, to some extent, it is that passion that makes the young feel it necessary to use, "colorful language", to better express their passion on a particular subject.
And face it, the vast majority of Liberals are under 30. I was a late bloomer and did not make the transition to conservative til I was in my late 30's. It kinda snuck up on me.
To me, bein' pissed at someone for bein' Liberal is like, (Man! Am I gonna catch flack for this one.) a Butterfly bein' pissed at a Caterpillar for being what it is. Please...I am refering only to the changes life puts us through.
Any man under 30 who is not a liberal, has no heart. Any man over 30 who is not a conservative, has no brains. Winston Churchill...
Happy Trails...
Liberalism IS profane,
August 8, 2008 - 18:25 ET by mattmLiberalism IS profane, so....
You don't have to Swear to be Insulting......
August 8, 2008 - 22:54 ET by JayTeeParis Hilton's Energy Plan includes Drilling, and Paris has been Drilled so many Times she should know a LOT about the Subject.
Obama owns the AIR for OIL energy Plan with American Voters.
John Edwards is a Metro Sexual.
See, one just has to use the right words, to get your insulting point across.
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
It's funny you should
August 8, 2008 - 22:59 ET by BlazerIt's funny you should mention that Jay, because as president my Energy Plan would certainly include drilling Paris Hilton.
I'll make John Edwards proud yet.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."