Are you tired of bad language in novels?

I don't read them as soon as I am aware that there is offensive language in them. But I agree that some sort of warning would be useful so that you don't have to waste your money on unreadable trash.

I'm not offended by bad language in general, so I'm not offended by it in books either. And I feel books are granted more liberties because they're an art form on which our entire civilisation is based. The written word is the foundation of civilisation. That's the line between prehistory and history. There is nothing more important to who we are as human beings than the written word. Therefore, everything that makes us, good and bad, belong in Literature.

If you're offended so easily, then you should know that there is the possibility of bad language in any book you pick up. Therefore you ought to do research before you pick one up or close them when you don't like what you're reading and get over it. That's the only practical way to go about it.

A rating system for books, just like for movies, might seem like a good idea, but it will in fact be the first step of censorship. It will only be used as justification to ban books from school libraries and Literature teaching.

I think that the use of crude/ offensive language can sometimes help to push a point home far better than more neutral language. For example, in dialogue, it would be unrealistic for certain characters to never use swear words. In a very tense scene, the use of swear words by the characters in that scene can help make it clear to the reader what the overall feel of the scene is. In addition, when the narrative is in first person point of view, the use of colloquialisms, including swears, helps to reader to get a better feel of the main character. Certainly, there are times when such language does not further the story in any way, but we, as readers, assume that risk every time we pick up a new book, just as we assume the risk that it will be full of Mary Sues, cliches, boring prose, or confusing plot points.

Sometimes the books have advisery too, or at least their original editions. It sometimes doesn't come with the translation, though.

However, I'm not bothered by it. Most of the teen novels have that (basically everything that's in the Young Adult section) and it should be expected - not some really really bad language, but a few swear words here and there is completely normal.

And if you're reading adults' books, then I don't know why do you complain about. Nobody's going to warn that there are a few bad words in the whole book, especially if it's for adults.

Not really, no. I hit the occasional science fiction novel which is a bit gratuitous, but hey, pretty sure marines are going to swear even if they're space marines.

Though Tanya Huff's use of the F word except spelt with two Ks instead of CK is just...bizarre.

I'm sure there are lists online of profanity-free books if you Google it. In fact, try this:

http://libraryofcleanreads.blogspot.co.uk/

Not my cup of tea, but it might be yours.

It doesn't really bother me, unless it is just continual all throughout the book.

No I don't.

Matter of fact I find such language evidence of someone who is trying to write about the world as it is, rather than the world as they'd like it to be. I completely disagree with the idea that reality should be sanitized. Why pretend that everyone speaks as if they had small children in the next room? For that matter why pretend that merely reading a word somehow harms you in any way shape or form?

I'm also more than a little offended that you want to be warned of such things, as if your particular narrow mind needs to be catered to, what next "please warn me if you're going to be mentioning being gay or if there is violence or political thought in the work?"

I despise the very idea of official ratings boards for any form of media. I don't need public censors. If you want private busybodies telling you what to read and not read, it's perfectly easy to seek them out. They regularly appoint themselves keepers of the public morals and will do so.

It's free speech.

Why fetter it?

You have the right to ignore anything you want, you don't have the right to tell me I can't speak the truth as I see it.

Nope. I am not someone who is easily offended or too sensitive for my own good. I don't care for excessive swearing (ie every other word) but overall a few words here and there don't bother me. I swear frequently (mostly at home) and have enough friends who do as well.

I don't think there should be warning labels on books. What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that? To an extent I can understand why it's done for television and movies but to do it for books makes no real sense.

Also, the authors have every right to use what you deem "bad language" in their novels just as you have every right to not buy the book or borrow it from the library. It's called a free market. Learn it. No one is going to cater to the easily offended who cannot handle the occasional swear word.

ETA:

"Learn to be civilised instead of attacking people for their views."

Wow. Hypocrite much? You tell me to be civilized yet it's okay for you to call me an idiot? Not cool. You wanted an opinion, I gave one. It is in no way attacking you so you might want to get off your high horse and chill out.

The written word is given more freedoms than other forms of entertainment and media, and rightly so. If you are so offended by it, then you need to take more precautions personally, like doing research or simply coming to Yahoo Answers to ask if there is bad language in a book.

The problem with "potentially offensive content" is that there is someone who will be offended by SOMETHING. Who on earth would be able to come up with that standard? Rating systems are flawed by design, because each person has different opinions.

at times I get tired of it but the authors I really like--Stephen King, George R.R. Martin--use bad language from time to time and I have to accept that.