Swearing in business. Not this old chestnut again. Yes, I know, but I don’t feel I’ve fully exorcised this demon. As Father Merrin stands by my bedside shouting, “the blood of Christ compels you!” I vomit this: I too, am getting tired of talking about it.

Swearing follows me wherever I go. Like a demonic possession, I can’t shake off.

Censorship in business content.

I was booted off LinkedIn because of it, “it goes against our policy agreement, Sarah.”

As does nuance and irony.

While incels spout their lady hate, racists become emboldened by our political climate, It’s odd that I’m gaining a reputation as a controversial figure. All because of swearing. But not just swearing, swearing in business.

Naughty words are part of my vernacular, sure, but I do use other words. And no, I don’t think about how it might offend people because I honestly don’t give swearing that much thought. It’s other folks who spend time telling me about my swearing.

Swearing doesn’t define me.

It has no bearing on how good I am at my job.

Sure, I throw a few swears in my blog, that’s me but when my integrity is questioned by a condescending Karen who hates bad language, I start to question what fucking decade we’re living in.

Just stop swearing in business.

I bloody will not!

And please don’t tell me it displays a limited vocabulary, a phrase much used by people with a limited vocabulary. Sadly social platforms like Linkedin are cracking down on profanity.

Our so-called progressive society is becoming increasingly prudish and puritanical. Our very civil liberties are at stake!

Yeah, I dunno if they are. I have a thing for the dramatic.

LinkedIn is confusing hate speech and online abuse with being British.

These huge corporations that rule our online world—actually, our lives all seem to be headed by a group of Sunday school teachers.

They are also American, who even now, still don’t allow swearing on late-night TV.

The Brits show love for one another by trading insults. But often the way we are is lost on everyone else and these social media giants haven’t built that into their algorithm.

Swearing is unprofessional.

Is it? According to whom?

This archaic view of business parlance is bollocks. If you believe something to be unacceptable does that mean everyone else should think the same?

As for social media, they’re manipulating our brains to sell more shit, so I’d hardly take moral guidance from those bastards.

You decide.

I think, as adults, we’re capable of choosing what content we like to engage with.

It’s the same when we choose what food to eat or who we decide who to work with. If you don’t like swearing, especially from a woman, then I’d rather you know now before we hop on a Zoom call. I like to filter out the conservative misogynists before I embark on any kind of relationship.

Let’s move on.

Can we? Because I’d really like that.

How nice would it be to banish this notion of not being professional because some of us get a little sweary from time to time? Can we also stop asking if tattoos are acceptable in the office? We are not living in the 1900s. Gone are the days when only convicts and sailors were inked up.

When you choose to part with your cash and work with me, or some other person, ask yourself these questions:

• Are they any good at their job?
• Do I like them?
• Will we have, a bit of a laugh?

You might be thinking about other things too, like integrity and trust, but for me, that’s all part of the “are they any good at their job” bit. And if you really can’t handle any swearing I suggest you see someone about that.

If it’s good enough for Stephen Fry and Brian Blessed, it’s certainly good enough for me.