FCC to Regulate 'Profane' Speech

The Importance of writes "The FCC has been regulating 'indecent' speech on the airwaves for quite some time, but have been getting a lot more attention recently. For example, during last year's Golden Globe Awards U2's Bono said 'This is really, really f-ing brilliant.' Last October the FCC ruled that was ok. Yesterday, under political pressure, the FCC overruled that decision. However, for the first time, the FCC also ruled that the f-word is not only 'indecent' but also 'profane.' According to this new decision by the FCC, any speech that is grossly offensive, whether or not it has anything to do with sex or excretion, is 'profane.' This is a major step forward (backward?) for FCC censors. My analysis is here."

Comments

Long overdue FCC!

[ChaoticChaos]

I, for one, applaud the long overdue efforts of the FCC to crack down on this kind of thing. As a father with children, or just a human being for that matter, it's disturbing how society continues to slide towards being more disrespectful and crass toward each other.

Re:Long overdue FCC!

[Anonymous Coward]

fuck you and your childs

Re:Long overdue FCC!

[notasheep]

"And as a father who is raising our kids to understand that words are merely words, and that some are extremely offensive to others, and to have both the maturity and restraint to know WHEN such cases apply, allow me to say that the FCC can go fuck themselves. This is a MAJOR problem in the US. We keep expecting society to "protect" our children from themselves. Whatever happened to parents actually parenting? Bad things on TV? TURN THE DAMN THING OFF! Read a freakin' book! Play a game with them! Take them hiking! And instill in them a BASIC FREAKIN' MORAL COMPASS and the ability to think critically!"

So...basically you believe there should be no censorship whatsoever on what is shown over public airwaves?

If you do believe there should be limits, good for you.

And damn you for censoring my ability to see snuff films on TV. If you don't like it, just "TURN THE DAMN THING OFF".

An extreme example, but I hope you get the fucking point.

Re:Long overdue FCC!

[Anonymous Crowhead]

You know what? Most people who have children become miserable assholes. And what do they do? The try to make everyone around them as miserable as they are.

Re:Damn it!

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not the fucking republicans, it's the goddamn "holier-than-thou" christians who, unfortunately, happen to be republicans more often than not. I consider myself republican-leaning and an atheist. I don't give a flying shit what people say on the airwaves.

Re:may I be the first to say

[Anonymous Coward]

we should get them to ban the whole Bible. It's one big piece of hate literature - "You're going to Hell unless you believe in Jesus!"

Funny, I don't remember seeing that in the Bible.

As an atheist, I find this particularly offensive.

As a Christian, I find it offensive when atheists like you tell me I'm a credulous moron. But that doesn't mean I think you should be banned from saying that.

I think . . . followers of other religions would agree.

What, like Islam (you're going to hell unless you believe in Mohammed), Buddhism (you're going to hell unless you follow the teachings of Buddha), or Satanism (you're going to hell anyway, why not have fun while you're here)?

You have a right not to listen to religious people. You don't have a right to be protected from hearing them saying things you don't like to hear.

Who gives a fuck about Howard Stern

[mikehunt]

I am not American. I could not care less about Stern or other broadcasters. The real problem here is how totally fucked up American society is. I know that at least half of all Americans would agree with this statement.

Stop making the entire country look like idiots!

Re:FCC should outlaw showing illegal stuff on TV.

[glitch23]

I'd much rather my kid was exposed to a handful of swearwords and see the occasional brest, then be shown TV shows that makes them think everyone's a criminal so it must be OK.

You must turn the tv off or tell your children to leave the room once the 2nd half of Law and Order comes around where they actually prosecute those who committed the crime. Only by doing that would they get the idea that being a criminal is okay. If you are worried about other tv shows then maybe you need to *start* letting your kids watch Law and Order as that show definitely shows that it doesn't pay to be a criminal.