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KCoupe's avatar

Thanks for this. I didn't even realize there was no cussing in the Reacher books. Good lesson.

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Bob Morris's avatar

Did Spencer cuss much or did he leave that to Hawk? I forget. As I do so many things...

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KCoupe's avatar

There is cussing in the Spenser books. But not too much, if I'm not mistaken. (It might be worth a scholarly examination to see if the different authors who have done the books - Parker, Atkins, and now Lupica - use cuss words to varying degrees. But I'm not going to do that study. It is too hot, and I'm too depressed by the motherfuckers in Washington to spend the time. Better to just drink.)

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Bob Morris's avatar

Good call, mon

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jim boland's avatar

re ..... 'the woodshed', kind of like cussin'. Always told my kids there were a hundred ways to express your displeasure and we have at our disposal thousands of words that can deliver the same message as the f-bomb and most times with more personal creative expression. But the expedience of the 4-letter word sometimes needs to be taken.

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Bob Morris's avatar

Yup, sometimes it’s hard to hold back. And sometimes it’s necessary.

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jim boland's avatar

But I do remember a young journalist I knew taken to the woodshed for appropriately calling the subject of a column a ‘scumbag’. Wonder whatever happened to that sharp witted writer?

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Bob Morris's avatar

He still gets taken to the woodshed on a regularly basis. And do think if we said “taken to the woodshed” to our grandkids they’d have any idea what we were talking about?

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Melody's avatar

Just want to thank you for helping me clear out my email. When I saw the title of this piece, I had to read it. There is too much cursing and I am certainly guilty of it too. However, I don't know why President Trump gets blamed for everything. It sure sounds like he is responsible for your wife's swearing and for the world swearing more. I suggest that he is certainly under more stress than anyone can imagine and I'm not going to hold all caps and swearing against him. He is just as human as the rest of us.

I am glad Jack Reacher doesn't swear, but then he's not a real person.

Bob's Diner is obviously not for me. I won't darken the door anymore.

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Bob Morris's avatar

As you wish…

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CAS's avatar

I LOVE the Reacher books. Have been a fan for years. And as for the senior enlisted yeah not to much fuckery talk there. Perhaps VSG should take note!?

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Bob Morris's avatar

Cathy, the VSG only appreciates military when they march in birthday parades.

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Shawn Vincent's avatar

I love this. I had a writing professor who told us, "A little 'fuck' goes a long way." Also, I thought I'd share this essay I wrote where cite the time Bob Gottlieb told John McPhee that "The New Yorker is not for MOTHERFUCKER." : ) Shine on! https://open.substack.com/pub/unknowabletruth/p/cognitive-ease-wiz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2oqrnv

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Bob Morris's avatar

Thanks for sharing, Shawn. Nice piece...

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Steve Schoene's avatar

I spent the first 30 years of my working life on construction sites then later in retirement binge l watching Irish TV series on NETFLIX and other platforms. Add in the orange dude and I just can't help myself........

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Bob Morris's avatar

But Steve, now that you are a public official do you have to watch yourself?

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KCoupe's avatar

Not too much?

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