I have been meaning to make a comment.

I just want someone to let Paul know that my kids love him because of the swearing. I was watching Paul on Permaculture Voices, and when the swearing started my kids (12, 10 and eight) started paying attention. Geoff Lawton's video's (I took the PDC last year) put me to sleep (sorry but it's true, I had to watch things over and over - but Paul's style keeps not only me but my kids awake).

Thanks! (I do try to turn the volume down when Paul gets on a roll). But don't stop swearing

Tally Ho!

I think that's the first times somebody told me that my style is GOOD for kids.

It surprised me too, but really what kid doesn't like swearing?

Paul is a gifted speaker who has a passion for sharing the permaculture vision with people in all walks and seasons of their life. I of course don't know the man personally. Perhaps he is vulgar by nature and that's what naturally rolls off his tongue. I don't want to believe that. I want to believe that the vulgarity is a shtick, a gimmick to get a segment of the audience to listen; to really pay attention. My hope is that he tires of it. Because until he does, I won't encourage my grandkids to listen to him. And that would be a shame wouldn't it.

Consider how effective this John Hartford tune is in it's simplicity, yet not an f-bomb anywhere:
Goin' to work in tall buildings

What's the one thing you would want others to remember of you?

Some relevant threads:

http://www.permies.com/t/37252/md/Word

http://www.permies.com/t/12726/tnk/change

Ed Sitko wrote: Because until he does, I won't encourage my grandkids to listen to him. And that would be a shame wouldn't it.

Here is another thread about the general attitude toward naming and shaming on the boards. name and shame Although it's about metaphysical beliefs and permaculture, I think it outlines the guideline against it.

I remember the first time I heard Paul, it was the Womack brother's prepper summit, and I had never heard of permaculture or hugelculture before, I wasn't offended by the swearing at all. I am a person who when I am passionate about something the occasional swear word slips by. I don't think it's fair to judge anyone as vulgar because when emotional they let fly an f-bomb. Is anyone listening to the context or are they just waiting to pounce the split second someone says a "bad" word? People don't listen to the heart they get caught up in words. I reckon you can divide mankind into those two categories and the two will never understand each other. Sometime words get in the way of heart.

I feel sure that Paul understood my meaning in that first post, I'm not so sure that Ed did. I actually feel judged by Ed that I let my children listen to Paul, in spite of the swearing so that they don't miss out on his heart. Whereas Ed wont let his grandkids listen to Paul's heart because of the swearing. Who ends up loosing out?

As for me because I listened to Paul's heart and heard what he was saying about Permaculture and hugelkulutre I have: made my first Hugel bed (waaay two years ago), gotten the Geoff Lawton PDC certification, designed several properties (in two countries), and as of this year, am living on 5 acres and I am permaculturing the hell out of it.

Thank God for Paul! (fuck!)

I understand both sides of the argument.

Paul doesn't overuse the color so it adds emphasis when appropriate, but it is still color that not everyone wants for themselves or their kids.

As long as I pre listen or get a rating system so I can choose which kids can listen to which episodes. And which to share with my more conservative friends.

I used to want a cleaner version, but have come to realize it is better for Paul to be Paul.

Paul and Zach, thanks for sharing those links. You made me chuckle thinking back on many of the same comedic greats that I had enjoyed: Eddie Murphy, George Carlin, Robin Williams, slammin Sam Kinison ("You're starving because you live in a bleepin desert. Try living where the food is. ARF! ARF! ARF!")

I could appreciate those comedians' full use of the English language because: 1) I sought them out, 2) I wanted to be entertained and 3) my senses were prepared for it. In short there was an implied informal contract. They were (or are) entertainers and I was there to be entertained and I wanted to be entertained on their terms. Would I want an impressionable adolescent, specifically my grandkids, to be exposed to their languange? Well, no.

Words have meaning. There is an important message about permaculture that needs to be conveyed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using creative means to get the message out. However consider that some means repeal. Why actively strive to alienate? Also consider that some means result in a convert that is not truly lasting.

Am I being judgemental? In the context of my little piece of the world I am. As to what anybody else does, hey whatever blows you hair back dude.

Ed Sitko wrote:

Words have meaning. There is an important message about permaculture that needs to be conveyed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using creative means to get the message out. However consider that some means repeal. Why actively strive to alienate? Also consider that some means result in a convert that is not truly lasting.

Am I being judgemental? In the context of my little piece of the world I am. As to what anybody else does, hey whatever blows you hair back dude.

Ed I see where you are coming from to some degree but at the same time I feel that had you really read the supplied links and took them to heart you would be able to see that paul is not the marketing manager for permaculture at large , he is just simply being himself and expressing himself. If someone is only a temporary convert to permaculture that is really more on them than on Paul, it is not his job to keep people who are on the fence about permaculture engaged.

Ed - perhaps you need to make the sort of podcasts that you'd be happy for your grandchildren to hear, and share them so that others can benefit too.

The world is too big a place for one man to save it all. We all need to take on a bit of the responsiblity.

I don't like the cussing so I don't listen to Paul's podcasts.

I like the cussing because I think that it shows passion and care for what he feels. Deep anger may be something necessary to spark change (saw this article online and thought a few people at permies might enjoy this).

I would like to point out that the late great and probably soon to be sainted singer song writer Pete Seeger wrote a singalong children's song that had a particular line. Pete asked the children to shout it out and shout it loud the line is " there is $hit floating down the river!" He told the kids to look at the adults in the eye when they sang. If the adults scolded or objected Pete told the kids to ask, " what's worse, putting $hit in the river? Or using the word $hit to make a point?" I loved Pete Seeger and I love Paul.