Comments on: NSFW?

NSFW?

MrMoonPie — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:10:52 -0800

The (new) 7 (8, really) words you can't say on television. Carlin must be proud.

By: jon_kill

jon_kill — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:17:23 -0800

These are the same ones.

By: jmccorm

jmccorm — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:17:35 -0800

Dick still legal in America. Film at eleven.

By: jon_kill

jon_kill — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:19:12 -0800

Tits isn't there anymore! My bad! Awesome!

By: Ignatius J. Reilly

Ignatius J. Reilly — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:29:50 -0800

Piss is going to be a hard sell.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:31:50 -0800

Yeah, and NYPD Blue is all over "asshole" already.

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:33:34 -0800

On the news a couple nights ago, they said both "little faggot" and "bullshit."

By: mojohand

mojohand — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:39:13 -0800

Why were they covering Robert Fisk? [sorry, lacked the character to resist.]

By: rorycberger

rorycberger — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:47:18 -0800

i can't believe I could call someone a "twatface," "dickhead," "pussyfart," "slutbag," or "cockmaster" on tv and they wouldn't be allowed to say that that "pisses them off" or retort with a simple "asshole." also, am i the only one who finds the ban on "mother fucker" to be redundant, seeing as they already banned "fuck"?

By: psmealey

psmealey — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:49:44 -0800

This is too funny. Specific words to legislate against? If they were really serious about it, they would open it up to include equally vulgar synonyms of these terms. What's to stop them from saying "snatch", "cock" or "fisting" on the next episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond"?

By: fizgig

fizgig — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:00:56 -0800

What's to stop them from saying "snatch", "cock" or "fisting" on the next episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond"? Hey, then I might actually watch!

By: terrapin

terrapin — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:05:20 -0800

Too bad they didn't ban "bush" and "dick" too. Would make it much easier to stomach the news ;)

By: elvissinatra

elvissinatra — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:15:42 -0800

Why is there both "asshole" and "ass hole"? I don't get that. Laws are weird.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:25:00 -0800

Surely this is a hoax? Right?

By: kozad

kozad — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:26:38 -0800

I wish elvissinatra hadn't pointed that one out to me. My brain is now generating cognitive dissonance with an unpleasant smell. *tries to get back to work*

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:37:37 -0800

Suck banned, still no cure for cancer

By: PigAlien

PigAlien — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:39:43 -0800

Hooray for free speech!

By: John Shaft

John Shaft — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:43:36 -0800

The FCC dismissed complaints about Bono using "fucking" in a live tv broadcast earlier this year, since he wasn't using the term in a, erm, biological sense. So presumably there's some leeway with these rules.

By: beth

beth — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:46:43 -0800

Will someone explain to me why they bleep (or mute) the "God" out of "Goddamn" in movies on regular tv and cable? That always pisses me off. There's no law against it, right? I remember as a kid they didn't used to bleep that stuff.

By: vito90

vito90 — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:50:29 -0800

The only good thing about banning these words is when they show an edited version of a movie and they have to find some combinations of words that match lip movements and scene situations without using the words. Nothing funnier than seeing Samuel Jackson angrily call somebody a "mellow farmer."

By: birdherder

birdherder — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:54:04 -0800

John Shaft -- actually Bono's fucking speech is what has caused this legislation. This legislation is closing the fucking loophole. This law, if passed, will not stop the words from being used. It will just mean more bleeping and editing. The truly silly part of it is anyone over the age of 4 knows what word they are saying. For shows on after the kids should be in bed, using language adult language on TV should be better. I agree wth the FCC's application of the old rule in Bono's case [or if John Kerry's 'fuck it up' line were broadcast -- or Bush/Cheney's 'asshole' line]. Don't want to hear bad words? Turn on your V-chip and let the rest of us assholes hear the words.

By: kaemaril

kaemaril — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:55:42 -0800

Wow. Too weird. In the land of the First Amendment they can make specific words illegal? Nevermind, if you can't say m*therf*cker you can always try "mammy fecker" in a nice irish accent. Works a treat :)

By: spilon

spilon — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:16:26 -0800

...they have to find some combinations of words that match lip movements and scene situations without using the words. It was preciely that sort of editing done to a broadcast of "Goodfellas" that introduced my household to our alltime favorite pseudo-expletive: Micky Ficky.

By: PigAlien

PigAlien — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:17:36 -0800

I loved how in the Lord of the Rings, they had everyone say 'Minas Tirith' instead of 'Mother Fucker'.

By: rorycberger

rorycberger — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:36:21 -0800

Will someone explain to me why they bleep (or mute) the "God" out of "Goddamn" in movies on regular tv and cable? That always pisses me off. There's no law against it, right? Though I hate to admit to watching it, MTV does even worse things to rap videos. Even the vaguest references to guns or drugs are edited, including words like "blunt," "smoke," and "nine," none of which are profane at all. The only good thing about banning these words is when they show an edited version of a movie and they have to find some combinations of words that match lip movements and scene situations without using the words. For one of the greatest examples of this, watch for the FX version of Mallrats, which Kevin Smith himself pointed out as being funnier than the original.

By: punishinglemur

punishinglemur — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:48:01 -0800

Wow. Too weird. In the land of the First Amendment they can make specific words illegal? Of course, because those broadcasts are transmitted to everyone whether they like it or not, and as we all know it's impossible to tune them out. ...yeah.

By: 4easypayments

4easypayments — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:57:20 -0800

I presume "ass hole" and "asshole" are included are because neither "ass" nor "hole" are prohibited as discrete words. Scripts could simply include lines like "You are such an ass... *sigh...* hole." I would have loved to have seen that delelopment, alas, they have closed the loophole.

By: beagle

beagle — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:58:24 -0800

Surely this is a hoax? Right? Unfortunately not. Putting this in some context: The Salt Lake Tribune explains how HR 3687 came about.

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:01:29 -0800

So, "asshole" is banned, but how about a proper British "Arsehole"? It sounds much more offensive, anyway.

By: Stynxno

Stynxno — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:02:59 -0800

so when comedy central replays the south park episode where the word "shit" is used 142 times, there's going to have to bleep out every time it's use? who's going to be able to understand that?

By: planetkyoto

planetkyoto — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:06:19 -0800

What The (This section deleted under amended section 1464 of title 18 of United States Code) Matt!

By: Eekacat

Eekacat — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:13:08 -0800

Anyone ever watch "Blazing Saddles" on TV, and they even silence the farts in the fart scene. What's up with that. It's not even a word on the list, and yet the SOUND is edited? SHHEEEEEEEEESH. I feel sooooooo much safer knowing I am protected from these words and sounds.....

By: yesster

yesster — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:21:09 -0800

By: angry modem

angry modem — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:42:12 -0800

You all do realize this is a bill and not a law, right?

By: John Shaft

John Shaft — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:04:44 -0800

For those of us outside the US, the difference is... ?

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:13:27 -0800

JS, it means that it hasn't been passed yet, though i'd guess it will pass. dunno. it's stupid.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:18:13 -0800

and here's the current law that this bill will amend. it's an asinine law in the first place, b/c the old farts get to decide what's so motherfucking obscene.

By: milovoo

milovoo — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:21:14 -0800

Even when I watch the DVD version of the Blues Brothers - I still can't get the TV version that I taped as a kid out of my head. "I guess you're really up [pause] the [pause] Creek." Doesn't read as funny, but man does it sound weird.

By: birdherder

birdherder — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:24:05 -0800

I seriously doubt this bill will have too much opposition considering I don't think any elected official wants the American Family Assoc or Christian Coalition to tell its members that Senator so-and-so voted against keeping dirty words off TV. Conan O'Brien the other night had Billy Bob Thorton and a few words were bleeped. Conan said the difference between saying "ass" and "ass-bleep" is you can talk about putting something on one's ass, but you couldn't putting something in one's ass. He complained it made him sound stupid when talking about suppositories. Since everyone knows you don't put it on your ass. Regarding MTV's editing and other's editing of Goddamn. These are decisions made at the network level so as not to put off advertisers who might not want to advertise when there is language about violence or 'using the Lord's name in vain'.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 16:06:50 -0800

so when comedy central replays the south park episode where the word "shit" is used 142 times, there's going to have to bleep out every time it's use? who's going to be able to understand that? I don't think Comedy Central has anything to worry about (besides its advertisers, and its own Standards and Practices office) -- FCC content restrictions affect broadcast TV and radio.

By: fatbobsmith

fatbobsmith — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 16:28:56 -0800

I always wondered what word f(beep)k was. Now, my innocence has been destroyed. Thank you Mefi.

By: moonbiter

moonbiter — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 16:44:28 -0800

This is an excellent use of the our Congressmen's time and our tax dollars. Muthafuckers.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 16:51:35 -0800

MetaFilter: Shit piss fuck cunt, asshole: Cock sucker, mother! Fucker ass hole?

By: shepd

shepd — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:15:41 -0800

I suppose that makes this show illegal then, huh? (Apologies to non-USians).

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:36:36 -0800

Thats weird, shepd - why do they block us from that?

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:19:09 -0800

why they bleep (or mute) the "God" out of "Goddamn"

They do not want to offend us atheists.

By: CrayDrygu

CrayDrygu — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:26:33 -0800

Yippie kay ay, Mr Falcon.

By: namespan

namespan — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:29:30 -0800

Here's a novel idea - and so ridiculously liberal sounding - how bout we let the MARKET DECIDE! That's right, different stations/networks can experiment with different levels of censorship, and consumers can choose which kind of network they prefer. You know, competition. Market forces. Consumer choice. Standard conservative values. Because the scheme you're talking about does not, in fact, reflect conservative values. Those would be libertarian. Libertarians, unfortunately, also believe in letting people do whatever they want short of infringing on others property rights (and to some extent, personal safety), which is definitely not in the conservative gameplan. And, some would say, neither is a real level economic playing field. Also, because markets, like most other tools, can't actually be used to solve every problem.

By: yellowcandy

yellowcandy — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 19:29:27 -0800

One word: watershed. Here's an article that talks about both naughty words and the watershed (the latter is 4 paragraphs from the bottom).

By: sklero

sklero — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 00:06:18 -0800

"This is what happens, Larry! This is what happens when you FIND a STRANGER in the ALPS!!"

By: shepd

shepd — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 00:43:52 -0800

dash-slot, it was covered here, commented on by me (of course!). :-) It's just an anti-piracy measure really, nothing to worry about.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 03:32:03 -0800

Kiss my knee muddy funster

By: wdpeck

wdpeck — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 03:40:54 -0800

yesster spake: Here's a novel idea - and so ridiculously liberal sounding - how bout we let the MARKET DECIDE! That's right, different stations/networks can experiment with different levels of censorship, and consumers can choose which kind of network they prefer. You know, competition. Market forces. Consumer choice. Standard conservative values. Enough with your "logic" and "rights" argument. You must put those aside and think of the chillldrennnn. <bleep>, man.

By: rorycberger

rorycberger — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 17:53:18 -0800

from yellowcandy's link: In research, 50% or more people said the words that should never be broadcast are cunt, motherfucker, nigger, Paki and spastic. spastic??? does that mean something different accross the pond? here in the states it just means to be having spasms, or to be excited/clumsy as if one were having spasms. I guess it's not the kindest thing to say about someone, but top 5?

By: andrew cooke

andrew cooke — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 11:06:56 -0800

i think it's slang for some medical condition - cerebral palsy? actually, there used to be a spastics society, when i was a kid, so i guess it's an ancient medical term that's slipped into abuse.

By: inpHilltr8r

inpHilltr8r — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 20:09:58 -0800

It is indeed Cerebral Palsy. The world outside the uk doesn't seem to have a problem, but spastic (and spaz) became such a common playground insult that, the Spastic Society changed it's name to something so incredibly generic that I can't remember it's name. Sounds like a drug, or a power company though... Ah yes, Scope.