Might as well post this one, too: In the same way, Josh, the lack of cursing, swearing, taking the Lord's name in vain, so forth so on, says something. I've read a pile of John D MacDonald stories and in one of those "reviews" (notes to myself) I remarked on the lack of cursing, the bad words, whatever...in his early stories. He began publishing in the early 50s but then the lack of "swear words" in his stories might have had as much to do with the times, the publishing world...I think people (men) put on a coat and tie to go to the ball game but we're so much more progressive today where anything goes...and anyone goes...wherever and whenever they want, signs saying sailors stay off the grass be damned. I looked through some of my notes (reviews) of those stories, see if I could find what story it was where I noted that when John D did begin to use vulgar language, it wasn't so much f-bombs and kaka-poopie...it was variations on your complaint, taking the Lord's name etc. I don't believe a "bad guy" needs to curse...don't believe I heard Pennywise, once, drop the f-bomb or even go so far as say kaka-poopie.