January 13, 2004

The seven words you can't say on television, 2004 edition. A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this month would outlaw the expression on TV and radio of seven well-known words.
posted by rocket88 20 years ago
  • Glad to see that "asshat" is still acceptable.
  • poohole.
  • I can still say "steaming pile of butt-spooge", can't I? What about "Santorum"?
  • Shame that that guy never got to argue his case about "fuck" being constitutionally protected. Hey ho. Somebody, somewhere, is currently thinking "Hey, why don't we coin a new swearword named after Doug Ose (Rep-CA)? Then we could try and get it adopted into everyday speech, whilst also googlebombing his name so that you get the new swearword definition instead of his website?"
  • oh damn you dirigbleman, damn you all the way to hell. you big ose.
  • The interesting thing about "swear" words is that children routinely use them when speaking with each other, but rarely in front of adults, and adults routinely use them when speaking with each other, but rarely in front of children.
  • link to the bill has expired, here is bill as previously discussed in mofi... does this qualify as our first double-post???? if so please express appropriate anger and/or snarky comments. thank you. 108th CONGRESS 1st Session 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).'
  • Let loose the anger and snarky comments if you will (just watch your language), but an off-topic comment in the discussion of an unrelated FPP does not a double-post make. SideDish, thanks for providing the text of the bill. I wasn't aware that the link I provided was temporary. For what it's worth, here's a permanent link.
  • No mention of arse or arsehole? Tut tut.
  • Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type really makes me puke, you vacuous, toffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert!!!
  • That's potentially two years for one "cock sucker". So in theory reading out HR3687 on air could net you 16 years - ?
  • ...the term `profane', used with respect to language, includes the words *bleep*, *bleep*, *bleep*, *bleep*, *bleep*, and the phrases *bleep bleep*, *bleep bleep*, and *bleep bleep*...
  • Feckin' crap.
  • Hee hee ... wait ... you can't say "bleep" either?
  • Well, fuck me. *dragged out screaming and kicking*
  • I wonder if calling someone a Victorian era prostitute's sperm sponge or inviting them to eat the corn out of your excrement would get you in trouble. They use no "offensive" language after all. Family values are destroying my glorious empire of filth and perversion. Hmmph. Next thing you know they'll go after rim-jobbing ass worshippers. Rjawers are people too!
  • /me hands the award to Pez.
  • Currently, I'm banned from swearing when talking to some friends vby email because of their works swear filters. Which is pretty irritating. But it is kind of fun creating new insults, although time consuming, too.
  • No no, yours was inspiration. Besides, it was stolen from Spider Jerusalem and Butt Trumpet respectively.
  • So, just so I'm clear, we are allowed to say "cock punch" on TV, correct?
  • I remembering hearing "ass" for the first time on TV when I was a teen. Total double-take time. And I remember when Wilona used to say "Negro" on Good Times when you KNEW she really meant the other word. With all the sick crap that goes on on TV, it does seem a tiny bit Victorian to worry about several specific words.
  • Wait, Sidedish, you missed a critical word in this which changes the meaning somewhat: section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by inserting `(a)' Bush before; 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).'
  • As long as you can still molest a corpse in prime-time, it's all cool with me.
  • This fall on NBC - Law & Order: Corpse Molesting Squad