@#^&, %$*!, @%#, &!*$, @$#%@&!*#@#!, @*!#&$%@#*!&$# and @%$*.

July 5, 2007 11:13 AM

"I find it kind of funny to be hassled for using [them] when my intention is to free us from hassling people for using them." Thirty five years later, George Carlin's seven dirty words still aren't forgotten by his arresting officer. "I couldn't believe my ears," Elmer Lenz remembers. "I couldn't see why nobody was doing anything about it."
posted by miss lynnster (37 comments total)

Why is it that America has so many problems with really basic stuff? I mean, nobody gives a shit about this kind of thing in Britain, or Europe. Seriously.

If Metafilter was a British website, and this posting had appeared, there would be a hundred comments beneath along the lines of, "And?", or "What's your point?"

America should just get over it already.
posted by humblepigeon at 11:20 AM on July 5, 2007

Um, well I don't think you read the article... where it talks about how the case was basically laughed out of court and furthered George Carlin's career.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:22 AM on July 5, 2007

Elmer Lentz is shit eating, piss drinking, cocksucking motherfucking cunt. With tits.
posted by 2sheets at 11:23 AM on July 5, 2007

Has a problem with using the words in public? Or with arresting someone who does?
posted by JHarris at 11:23 AM on July 5, 2007

America should just get over it already.

No, you should RTFA before you drop a labored, overlong, irrelevant attempt at snark in the thread.

Nice article, thanks for the motherfucking cocksucking post!
posted by languagehat at 11:27 AM on July 5, 2007

the case was basically laughed out of court and furthered George Carlin's career.

Would this still happen today?
posted by KokuRyu at 11:28 AM on July 5, 2007

If Metafilter was a British website, and this posting had appeared, there would be a hundred comments beneath along the lines of, "And?", or "What's your point?"

Huh? Why would you respond to this post with "What's your point?" Miss Lynster's not making some kind of argument with the post. It's an interesting and, to me, amusing read that I hadn't any prior knowledge on. What a weird comment.
posted by the other side at 11:32 AM on July 5, 2007

"There are lots of words in English, and just a few that upset people. You just have to learn to express yourself without using them. It's like how there are certain colors that an artist can't use to paint a picture. Or combinations of notes that a composer mustn't put together or people will be terribly offended."
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:36 AM on July 5, 2007

Would this still happen today?

I doubt it, we've become so accustomed to all sorts of language in all the media, he never would have been arrested to begin with.

That said, everyday performers and those that are looking for media attention find more outrageous ways to get noticed.....we soak it up and ask for more!

Now...if it had been Princess Diana that used those words! THEN I would be interested.... but those brits, they would probably just ignore it...they're tough M.F'ers over there!
posted by HuronBob at 11:37 AM on July 5, 2007

Yes, it would still be laughed out of court today. In the late eighties and early nineties Luther Campbell (2 Live Crew) and NWA (racial slurs with attitudes) were saying things that would straighten Carlin's pubic hair.

2 Live Crew got sued and they won. Raunchy does not begin to describe their lyrics. Granted, the case was not laughed out of court, but people have pretty much given up on having uproars over foul language.

If, however, you show a boob at the super bowl, all bets are off.
posted by eisbaer at 11:40 AM on July 5, 2007

As a side note, despite the location of the incident (Milwaukee's own Summerfest), let me assure you that people from Wisconsin are generally very cool about this kind of stuff.

At least, my Wisconsinite family and friends all are.
posted by Zephyrial at 11:55 AM on July 5, 2007

If, however, you show a boob at the super bowl, all bets are off.

I had no idea...

I have the worst fuckin' bookie.
posted by ODiV at 11:58 AM on July 5, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

Yeah? I bet on the wrong tit. I should have known it was gamed.
posted by Mach3avelli at 12:08 PM on July 5, 2007

Personally, i'm deeply offended that people find these words offending.
posted by TechnoLustLuddite at 12:15 PM on July 5, 2007

Well, fuck you then.
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:31 PM on July 5, 2007

Carlin's AM/FM was the first motherfucking album I ever bought. Thanks for the pass to memory lane.
posted by qldaddy at 12:32 PM on July 5, 2007

America should just get over it already.

Bugger off, bellhead.
posted by yohko at 1:03 PM on July 5, 2007

Why is it that America has so many problems with really basic stuff?

Keep in mind this happened back in 1894, when George Carlin was still vaguely relevant as more than the guy who played Rufus in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:05 PM on July 5, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Would it happen today? Just ask the cussing canoeist.
posted by caddis at 1:30 PM on July 5, 2007

"Elmer"?

Can you really say that on the internet?
posted by telstar at 1:42 PM on July 5, 2007

Love this skit. Reminds me of 2003 when Bono dropped the f-bomb during the Golden Globes and the FCC went back and forth on indecency rulings. Gene Weingarten wrote a funny piece about it where he referenced Carlin's skit while jabbing at the author of H. R. 3687.
posted by hoppytoad at 1:46 PM on July 5, 2007

This post needs more tags.
@#^&, %$*!, @%#, &!*$, @$#%@&!*#@#!, @*!#&$%@#*!&$# and @%$*.
posted by Sailormom at 1:47 PM on July 5, 2007

Belgium, man! Zarking Belgium!
posted by buriednexttoyou at 2:00 PM on July 5, 2007

NWA (racial slurs with attitudes)
"racial slurs"? I find this deliciously ironic in a thread about taboo words.
posted by forrest at 2:06 PM on July 5, 2007

humblepigeon:

This event was in 1972. Four years later, when, I presume, the UK was that much more enlightened about rude words, the whole country turned upside down over the Sex Pistols saying "dirty fucker" and "fucking rotter" on the Bill Grundy Show — right down to denouncements in Parliament. So...relax already.
posted by argybarg at 2:24 PM on July 5, 2007

Though, technically speaking, the Sex Pistols were actually saying one of the words you can't say on TV, on TV; whereas Carlin was at a comedy festival.
posted by Auz at 2:57 PM on July 5, 2007

"There are lots of words in English, and just a few that upset people. You just have to learn to express yourself without using them. It's like how there are certain colors that an artist can't use to paint a picture. Or combinations of notes that a composer mustn't put together or people will be terribly offended."

Well, it's certainly possible to draw pictures of equivalent offensive value. As for musical notes, I bet I could play you one hell of an annoying tune on a penny whistle. Not that I know how to play the penny whistle. Which is part of the point.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 3:50 PM on July 5, 2007

I am about as opposed to censorship as you can get, and I can still understand perfectly why such a performance at Summerfest in 1972 would be disturbing. This is an open-air festival frequented by many children as well as adults. Even if you are not watching a particular performer, you can't help but hear what is on the various stages as you walk by them. This is not an enclosed 21-and-over club. Summerfest, especially in the earlier years, was always targeted towards a wide range of ages. I really don't think you'd hear that kind of language there even now. I'd be pretty shocked if I did, not because I'm a sheltered prude, but because it's not at all appropriate to the venue.
posted by desjardins at 5:07 PM on July 5, 2007

For the record, I don't think he should have been arrested, but I also don't think his behavior can be compared with saying the same words on late night TV or in a closed, 21+ venue. That's like saying that because we shouldn't censor porn or make drugs illegal, they should be available absolutely anywhere, to anyone of any age. No - certain places, ages, and times are appropriate for those things, and some are not.
posted by desjardins at 5:11 PM on July 5, 2007

posted by desjardins For the record, I don't think he should have been arrested, but I also don't think his behavior can be compared with saying the same words on late night TV or in a closed, 21+ venue. That's like saying that because we shouldn't censor porn or make drugs illegal, they should be available absolutely anywhere, to anyone of any age. No - certain places, ages, and times are appropriate for those things, and some are not.

Could you please explain or describe exactly why these words must not be uttered in certain places without answering, "Because it's bad manners" or "It's just not appropriate"? What harm is done? Why should broadcasting those words remain illegal?
posted by fandango_matt at 6:14 PM on July 5, 2007

No - certain places, ages, and times are appropriate for those things, and some are not.


Well, this is the interesting part. Carlin clearly disagrees with you (in the article and through his whole career, he makes it clear he has no problems saying this stuff to kids). And among those who do think there are lines, the actual locations of those lines are widely disagreed upon.

This is fairly different from drugs, which can do measurable and lasting physical harm to anyone, and thus should at the very least not be taken by those incapable of making their own reasoned decisions (young children).

The extent to which hearing "fuck" damages a child (if at all) is almost completely unmeasurable and debatable.

Also, the general feeling of whether or not a particular word or w/e is acceptable varies widely by audience and location... in SF and LA I don't see too many people worrying about saying fuck in front of a kid, I saw people far more worried about that when I lived in Texas or Georgia.
posted by wildcrdj at 6:22 PM on July 5, 2007

The harm consists of children not being taught from a young age that some things are the way they are just BECAUSE, which later will make them great obedient soldiers.
posted by JeNeSaisQuoi at 6:27 PM on July 5, 2007

People who argue that words have intrinsic offensiveness and should be prohibited are dumbfucks.

People who use the above to justify saying those words in a society that nevertheless finds them offensive are assholes.

People who say "offensive" words in the context of promoting discussion about discussion are delightfully meta, and heroes among men.
posted by Riki tiki at 7:29 PM on July 5, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

shit
fuck
piss
hell
goddamn


oh, it hurts to hit your finger with the hammer
posted by caddis at 7:55 PM on July 5, 2007

O lord, we live in such a fascist theocracy don't we?!?

I'm sure I could come up with 7 words that would get me banned from metafilter. Does that make me a hero?

(Sorry to hear about your Mom misslynnster. I went through the same thing last year with my dad, so you have my deepest sympathies.)
posted by vronsky at 9:50 PM on July 5, 2007

Thanks vronsky.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:17 AM on July 6, 2007

fandango_matt: Could you please explain or describe exactly why these words must not be uttered in certain places without answering, "Because it's bad manners" or "It's just not appropriate"? What harm is done? Why should broadcasting those words remain illegal?

I don't think they should be illegal. I said quite clearly that Carlin shouldn't have been arrested. I think the words are inappropriate for certain venues, just like, pissing in public is inappropriate almost everywhere. Or farting on a crowded bus. Or eating your boogers while dining in a fine restaurant. Only the first is illegal, but all 3 are offensive to a lot of people. I think "it's rude" is a fine justification for being offended, all by itself. No actual harm need occur.

wildcrdj: Also, the general feeling of whether or not a particular word or w/e is acceptable varies widely by audience and location... in SF and LA I don't see too many people worrying about saying fuck in front of a kid, I saw people far more worried about that when I lived in Texas or Georgia.

This is why obscenity and other laws vary from state to state, locale to locale. Chicago: BDSM stores and clubs. Milwaukee: not so much.
posted by desjardins at 12:05 PM on July 6, 2007