Friday, September 15, 2006

S word out and other stuff

I didn't know that the S word couldn't be broadcast in the US. Apparently the Federal Communications Commission has banned it;

This spring, the FCC declared s-words, like f-words before them, to be a step beyond merely “indecent.” Now they are “profane.” That means that these “most offensive words in the English language” will “provoke violent resentment,” and that uttering them on the public airwaves is as good as guaranteed to be punished.

But the President uses it.

And so the FCC now censors and chills political speech—even that of the president, for most broadcast outlets did choose to bleep him for fear of fines. Mind you, the commission does recognize some constitutionally protected speech. That is why it has not ruled racial or religious epithets to be profane: because those words can be political. In the FCC’s skewed logic, then, the n-word is political speech but BS is not.

It took me a while to figure out what the N word is.

So whose community standards is the FCC upholding? The FCC says all America is provoked to “violent resentment” over bullshit. Well, bullshit. Show me the man, woman, or, yes, child in a schoolyard who has not uttered the word. Search Google, and you will find 32 million bullshits. Bullshit is part of our language, culture, and politics. The FCC is not enforcing the nation’s community standards. It is enforcing the taboos of a few religious pressure groups.

I'm pretty sure the S word is allowable here. In fact I think have used the long form of BS on radio....then again, I am more likely to use the word 'bollocks'. In relating what another person had said, I was hesitating over using the P word the other day, but the host said it for me. Here are the published guidelines for radio broadcasters;

1a Broadcasters will take into consideration current norms of decency and good taste in language and behaviour bearing in mind the context in which any language or behaviour occurs and the wider context of the broadcast eg time of day, target audience.

Which reminds me. Lindsay Perigo is standing in for John Tamihere on the Tamihere/Jackson Radio Live show. Jackson, left-wing, unionist, ex-Alliance MP described Perigo yesterday as a "right-wing, fascist."

Doubtless together they will be pushing the boundaries of decency and good taste. Generally I prefer NewstalkZB because of professionals like Justin du Fresne and Larry Williams. On Radio Live some hosts are never happier than when they are slagging each other off. Bad taste.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that the S word couldn't be broadcast in the US. Apparently the Federal Communications Commission has banned it;

"In the episode It Hits the Fan, South Park broke the swearing record by using the word 'shit' a total of 162 times, uncensored. The 22-minute episode averages one 'shit' every eight seconds, and there was a counter throughout the episode displaying the number of times it was said. A song by Mr. Garrison that consisted of, 'Hey, there, shitty shitty fag fag, shitty shitty fag fag, how do you do?' (sung to the tune of the title song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), repeated for four verses, provides an example of how 'shit' was so abundantly used. This was meant as a satire of an episode of Chicago Hope, released shortly before this episode, where one of the main characters said the phrase 'shit happens' without being censored, and the American public discussed this for weeks. "

"Executives at Comedy Central felt the profanity was justified by context and decided to allow the uncensored episode to air, which surprised even the show's developers. Despite broadcasting a record setting amount of profanity, little controversy was stirred by the airing. Co-creator Matt Stone explained the passive passage by citing changing cultural standards, "No one cares anymore...The standards are almost gone. No one gives a shit or a bullshit."

Anonymous said...

Belt doesn't seem to realize that South Park is NOT on broadcast television but cable. So Comedy Central can't air it to subscribers. But when they show it on air (which by law is all govt. property) then they are censored quite a bit. Does anyone give a shit? Only the Christian Right nutters Bush may use the word but he bows to his masters when it comes to policy.

But any discussion of absurd US censorship laws have to deal with the difference between cable and broadcast television.

Rick said...

Oh man. Somebody please record an mp3 for me!?

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Geez Rick, I told you. I don't even know how to send a text!
Actually it was very good. Very funny. Willie Jackson didn't like being outsung by Perigo, who slotted right into the Tamihere- take-the-mickey-out-of-Jackson-mercilessly role. Lots of "Mordi" bashing and Pakeha bashing. Callers couldn't get a word in.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Penn & Teller are most definetly on cable.