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I recently got a comment on one of my videos at you tube asking me why I had stopped cursing and complaining that it made me less entertaining to watch. I thought it raised a few interesting points.
The first point is obvious. Name a single sport or e-sport event where a commentator is seen cursing. I doubt any of the korean commentators curse or use crude analogies? Hopefully some of our members who understand the korean commentary can enlighten us on this subject. Either way you look at it, if you want pro-gaming and starcraft to be taken seriously as a "sport" then you can't really curse. You have to adhere to accepted "industry" standards of commentating.
The second point is thus. I actually think that cursing in commentaries is cheap. The truth is that it's easy to make a crude remark for cheap laughs. Like my "savior, use some lube," comment in his game vs iloveoov. To be 200% honest, I knew exactly what I was doing. I was "injecting humour," but it felt fake, I knew it might make people laugh but at the same time I felt it was something completely unoriginal and vulgar to say.
I personally feel that one should not have to curse or use crude analogies to make a commentary entertaining. It's like American Pie 3. I'm sure plenty of people find stuff like that funny, but I just find it distasteful. (The first one was funny) because it was original, but after that it's just vulgarity for the sake of vulgarity.
I also feel that commentary should not have to contain something crude to be entertaining. To me that is a gimmick, and if you have to rely on it then it cheapens you as a caster. The odd piece of innuendo slipped in here or there is okay.
A sport should be entertaining to watch by itself. Good commentary should add to that entertainment value, but an articulate translation of the action should be and is enough in most games.
As the saying goes.... vulgarity is a crutch for the inarticulate
I'd love to hear what everyone on teamliquid thinks about it? Is cussing that important to you in commentary?
  
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Definitely no cussing. Calling Chojja a wanker already disgusted me and was really rude, but since you keep it to a minimum it's alright. I guess a little bit here and there is fine, but not the entire time. ^^
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no, i dont want to hear profanity sputtered out and making me listen to something that's probably not directly related to what should be commentated on in a starcraft match
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try to be more professional i guess.
but if you're just doing it to have fun, it shouldn't matter
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great decision.
looking forward to more commentaries.
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Austin10831 Posts
Don't sensor yourself or shy away from vulgarity if it feels artificial. For many, swearing is a crutch. But, sometimes nothing but "FUCK" really sums it up.
Oscar Wilde; "When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear."
You have the benefit of speaking to a very specific community, where the notion of self-censorship is almost entirely unnecessary unless you feel is for the betterment of the product's overall quality.
If you want to stop, do. But don't do it for some contrived notion of professionalism. All my favorite writers curse.
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United States24497 Posts
If you are creating a private commentary like when nony makes fpvod's then you can do whatever you want and not have to feel bad about it.
I generally agree with you about general commentating, and I think it applies to everything pretty similarly. I very rarely curse (except in a joking manner occasionally) but instead I am very indirect, dry, and often deadpan (obviously the last one only really applies in real life). Many people don't get my humor, but the really smart people always do. This is especially true on bnet when I insult a (smart) 20 year old and he gets a laugh then I insult an (immature) 14 year old and he doesn't even realize I insulted him. Not to say I go around insulting people, but you know what I mean. When I feel the need to curse, I have failed.
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Personally, I find you quite entertaining with or without the swearing. I don't really recall you actually swearing though, then again "wanker" doesn't really have the effect of swearing on most Americans. I do however greatly enjoy your terminology and accent along with comments such as, " I love Python, I want to have its babies.. or I want actually more want Python to have my babies" (paraphrasing of course). If you don't want to cuss or think it's tacky then don't. And in the case that you do feel the need to swear then remember, "It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness".
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Kennigit
Canada19447 Posts
It's all about finding that happy medium between what comes natural and what appeases the general viewing audience. No one's going to crucify you if you make some blunder, but if it is intentional just for "humours" sake, then like you said, it feels very cheap and prescripted.
Keep up the good work
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When I first saw your first commentaries, the first statement I made to a friend of mine was "He seems really professional, and really tasteful". Later on you started using stronger language and being more insulting to the players which I felt was a little disrespectful, but then you stopped, and cleaned it up. For me, keeping it tasteful is very important. I think it conveys a certain level of professionalism that is important when you're trying to support SC as an E-sport.
I love your commentaries. Keep them coming, and keep them fun but tasteful. (In my opinion.  )
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i think consistency is key ; )
everyone has his own style with his own special audience
imo, cursing is unnecessary, but if there's a niche that welcomes it, go ahead ;D
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
You know my opinion already : )
Fortunately one can still add humor and style without having to resort to vulgarities!
Keep them up. I really enjoy them.
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On June 21 2007 07:30 Senix wrote:
damn wrong thread -_-
Ahahahahahaa.
This one made my day. Everyone's having a serious discussion about the use of profanity in professionalism, then all of a sudden, this comment pops up.
I just find that kind of stuff funny...am I a loser? 
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EPT
