Dirty word fragments

Grant Barrett gbarrett at WORLDNEWYORK.ORG
Mon Jun 7 03:27:23 UTC 2004


I was pleased to see that when PBS broadcast the documentary on the
Weathermen, they left all the cursing intact. It made a difference to
the tone, I think.

But it stands in curious contrast to the FCC reversal on the Bono
f-word usage at an awards ceremony: first they said there would be no
penalty, then they said there would be. Not a peep, as far as I ever
found, came out of the PBS Weathermen broadcast.

Which leads me to Eric Idle's FCC song, which can be found here, among
other places. If you're in a public space, wear headphones. It is
definitely not safe for work.

http://www.pythonline.com/plugs/idle/FCCSong.mp3

Grant

On Jun 6, 2004, at 22:25, Duane Campbell wrote:

> In the past, broadcast channels and radio have bleeped out offensive
> words. I notice more recently, though, that such words are only
> clipped.
> For example, an NPR show today had an interviewee repeatedly used the
> word "assho[bleep]". I found it interesting that the "ass" part was
> acceptable, even "assho", but there seemed to be something offensive
> about the final consonant.
>
> Offensive words are increasingly allowed to play themselves out to the
> extent that they are perfectly recognizable with only a small piece
> clipped off.  Why can we bear assho[bleep] but would assumedly be
> greatly
> offended by asshole? Does this fool children who may be listening? Are
> our broadcasters following primitive taboo customs?
>
> Higher budget operations don't bleep, they dub. I watch Die Hard With a
> Vengeance on broadcast channels just for the joy of hearing Samuel L.
> Jackson call Bruce Willis a "dirty melon farmer."
>
> D
>
> I am Duane Campbell and I approve this message
>
>



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