Utterly Pointless Legislation

[NebariNookiee]

***WARNING*** IF EASILY OFFENDED -- DO NOT READ!!!!
Okay -- if you've been keeping an eye on recent news then you might have heard about the "Bono" incident. Basically what happened is that during a live broadcast of a particular awards show, U2's frontman Bono had uttered a dirty word that was missed by the censors. Now – as expected – blowhard Republican Rep. Doug Ose wants to push legislation through the house to stop it from ever happening again. I want to warn you though – I’ve not censored this – this is exactly how the bill is worded.
__________________________
H. R. 3687
To amend section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for the punishment of certain profane broadcasts, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 8, 2003
Mr. OSE (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL
To amend section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for the punishment of certain profane broadcasts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting `(a)' before `Whoever'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(b) As used in this section, the term `profane', used with respect to language, includes the words `shit', `piss', `fuck', `cunt', `asshole', and the phrases `cock sucker', `mother fucker', and `ass hole', compound use (including hyphenated compounds) of such words and phrases with each other or with other words or phrases, and other grammatical forms of such words and phrases (including verb, adjective, gerund, participle, and infinitive forms).'.
_____________________________________
Uhmmm... correct me if I'm wrong -- but aren't these words banned already? This is utterly pointless. Someone got a little laxed at the button and the worlds on the verge of collapse! Now they have to waste OUR tax money to push through unnecessary legislation all so some old woman doesn’t have a heart attack from the utterance of dirty language or so some 10 year old isn’t corrupted and turned into a heathen criminal because he heard someone say “F**k” on TV.

Just remember – the term “Freedom from speech” is just censorship wrapped in Political Correctness.

[stellar]

I thought you could say "piss". As in the phrase "you pissed me off you motherfu**ing sh*t c***s****** SOB."

Go figure.

[BlackThorn]

Guess Skiffy (or any channel that shows Farscape in the future) will have to start editing out the part of "The Locket" when Crichton says, "I'm too old for this sh*t." Although, I was surprised that Skiffy didn't edit that out in the first place. One of the few things I respect them for -- that and showing Farscape at all.

[fermicat]

Well, South Park is in trouble.....

[NYPinTA]

Considering all the swear words on cable shows, I don't think they are banned really, but the FCC I think does try to keep a pretty strong leash on network shows, but even that has been relaxing lately. On NYPD Blue a couple of weeks ago the younger cop, John, said "bullshit" and Andy calls people "assholes" all the time.

[NebariNookiee]

I remember vividly an episode of NYPD Blue where the words "dickhead" were used. Oh course that's not on the list, but I'm sure someone took offence to it.

[fermicat]

Originally posted by NYPinTA
Considering all the swear words on cable shows, I don't think they are banned really, but the FCC I think does try to keep a pretty strong leash on network shows, but even that has been relaxing lately. On NYPD Blue a couple of weeks ago the younger cop, John, said "bullshit" and Andy calls people "assholes" all the time.

It has been a long time now, but isn't this the show that gave us a glimpse of David Caruso's butt? Or am I remembering it wrong?

[Darth Buddha]

Don't think the thought police will stop there.

[NebariNookiee]

Thank the gods Henson was smart enough to create their own swear words for Farscape. I couldn't take all the "bleeping" -- it so funny too -- it's how the word is used in context that makes it a "dirty" word, yet the context for Farscape's made up words are crystal-frelling-clear. Go figure.

[BlackThorn]

Disclaimer: This in no way is intended to offend anyone, but I need to say it to get the point across.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Why is it that people can get away with saying God Damn It on television and other such religious or racial based profanities, but they can't say works that merely apply to bodily functions and such? For most people, the whole profanity thing goes back to using the Lord's name in vain. So what we have, is everything in reverse. People can break that "rule" on television but they can't say things that have nothing to do with that. You'd think it'd be the other way around.

As the guy on Alien 3 said, "Shit ain't against God."

[stellar]

Originally posted by NebariNookiee
I remember vividly an episode of NYPD Blue where the words "dickhead" were used. Oh course that's not on the list, but I'm sure someone took offence to it.

"Dickhead" is okay? Ah, the simple pleasures.

Anyone remember the SNL "penis" skit when the censors started allowing the word "penis".

[talyn3]

I'm betting that the problem there is that it went out live. People get all upity about live TV and profanity. I hope this thing will fail, because if it does pass, who knows how far they will try to take it. The last thing I won't is to lose the ability to tell my computer my mind when problems occur.

This reminds of something I read a few days ago-
"You never really learn to cuss, Until you learn to drive."

[NebariNookiee]

But the phrase 'God damn" isn't against God. It is simply a request for God to damn a particular object, person or situation.

See, I was a good boy – I capitalized “God”.
:aok:

[stellar]

That's right... capitolize "God", but not "grinner". Capitolize "I" but not eye.

[NebariNookiee]

Originally posted by talyn3
I'm betting that the problem there is that it went out live. People get all upity about live TV and profanity.
I'll remember that next time I want to whip my penis out on live television.

And "penis" isn't a dirty word. Neither is "vagina."

[DentArthurDent]

If you want to see what some guy named Geroge Carlin thinks of this: go to...

http://www.erenkrantz.com/Humor/SevenDirtyWords.shtml

Oh yeah, prolly a MAJOR SPEW WARNING is in order... ;)

[NebariNookiee]

Yeah -- wasn't that broadcast over TV too? Seeing as how it was more a public service announcment I think he got away with it at the time. It was after it went out that the FCC started reigning in on the heavier words.

[stellar]

Originally posted by NebariNookiee
And "penis" isn't a dirty word. Neither is "vagina."

What about "dirty"?

[BlackThorn]

From a writing point of view, the "piss" one is downright stupid. Say you have some hardened criminal on a show, and he has to relieve his bladder. Unless he's a bit odd, he's not going to say, "I have to pee." "I have to tinkle." Chances are, he's going to say, "I have to take a piss." Similar thing with "asshole." You have some characters that would just not say, "You meanie." Or even, "You jerk!" They're going to say, "You asshole!"

So with idiotic censorship like this, we'll end up with even more unrealistic characters than we already have on many shows.

[NebariNookiee]

Originally posted by stellar
What about "dirty"?

I'm not gonna touch that one.:rollin: :rollin: :rollin: :smokin:

[DentArthurDent]

mom! Stellar said, 'dirty'!

[NebariNookiee]

Originally posted by BlackThorn
From a writing point of view, the "piss" one is downright stupid. Say you have some hardened criminal on a show, and he has to relieve his bladder. Unless he's a bit odd, he's not going to say, "I have to pee." "I have to tinkle." Chances are, he's going to say, "I have to take a piss." Similar thing with "asshole." You have some characters that would just not say, "You meanie." Or even, "You jerk!" They're going to say, "You asshole!"

So with idiotic censorship like this, we'll end up with even more unrealistic characters than we already have on many shows.

Not to mention -- for all those Christian conservatives -- "piss" is in the Bible

"But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?"

2 Kings 18:27 King James Version

[Mrelia]

RAts! DentArthurDent, you beat me to it!

I was just about to type "Where's George Carlin when you need him?"

Then I got to your post. Oh well, great minds...

[fermicat]

Howard Stern has a strong opinion on this matter as well....

[NebariNookiee]

Originally posted by fermicat
Howard Stern has a strong opinion on this matter as well.... :D Yeah -- I bet he does!:smokin:

[talyn3]

Stern, no F****** way.

[Antrobus]

If this were to pass, then wouldn't the bill itself have to be censored!:rollin:

Nothing like censoring censorship!

I wonder how many shades of red they turned writing out those words and phrases!!

I want to be there when they read the bill on the floor!!

[ShawnaTums]

about "god damn".......as a little catholic girl i used to ask my daddy about that - his responce was that it was short for "God BE damned" and thus using the lord's name in vain.........

[Scarran Raptor]

at this time, I'd like to ask an expert about this...Jay?

"MAN this f**kin' sh!t p!sses me off soooo f**kin' much, this m**herf**kin' c*cks*cker trying to push his bullsh!t plan just because some f**kin' c**t gets her sh!t in a knot over some f**kin' f**k on TV saying 'f**k' t you know what @$$hole? F**k you and the F**kin' d*ck you rode in on! SNOOCH TO THE M*THERF**KIN' NOOTCH!"

[buggabboo]

Originally posted by DentArthurDent
mom! Stellar said, 'dirty'!

mom has a head ache now.

too...many...frelling *'s...ow.

erm...at least there's kind of a warning on this thread...or something.

[BlackThorn]

Yeah, I'd find it pretty funny if anyone who was easily offended read past the warning to those who are easily offended, somehow got offended, and decided to file a complaint that this thread is offensive. :D

[stellar]

Originally posted by buggabboo
mom has a head ache now.

too...many...frelling *'s...ow.

erm...at least there's kind of a warning on this thread...or something.

Shouldn't that read "The other bi*ch" under your name?

[buggabboo]

honestly, i don't get the use of *'s. to me, if you can "read" the word without it, and we have no filter software here...what's the point. substituting a word (frell for fuck) is a little better, but i personnally don't see the point of the *'s in every day conversations. but that's erin talking.

buggs says, please limit the offensive language to those times when you feel it's absolutely necessary to the communication of your point and if you do use "harsh language" and you think/know/are gunnin' for it to offend someone, put a warning somewhere. /modliness

sigh...i hates politics.

[stellar]

Originally posted by buggabboo
sigh...i hates politics.

Is that Buggs, Erin, or perhaps Popeye talking? ;)

[buggabboo]

well Buggs doesn't exist so...