I teach in a public high school so I hear cuss words pretty regularly. I also happen to cuss a fair amount myself, though hopefully not often in earshot of others who might be offended. When I come across the f word in a book, it doesn’t faze me much. It is usually used in an appropriate context and I treat it like any other word.

Recently while reading Bill Belichick’s book On Winning, he redacted the f word in a sentence. I was a bit aghast. As a football coach, I’m 100% sure he cusses regularly and probably does it more than a typical person at work, given his job as a coach of professional (and now college) football players. Honestly, I thought it was pretty lame. Who does he think is reading his book? Who is he trying not to offend? Indeed, to me it was self censorship on behalf of the type of guy who is into football but gets offended by ‘bad words.’ The feelings of such a snowflake should not take priority. Overall, though this is an inconsequential take, it is a lame move in my book. It treats the reader like a child. Just say what you mean, Bill. When the word is redacted but has the ‘f’ in front, the word still appears in the mind of the reader, after all. The redaction doesn’t really work.

Now, Diane Ravitch on the other hand, isn’t afraid to include a four letter word like the f word in her memoir. She is actually quoting the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, but the fact that she treats her readers like grown ups is appreciated. Also, considering the context, the word’s use is appropriate. Fuck nazis, right?