The 'Fuck' debate continues...

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...fcc_obscenity_4

 

Bono's Use of Expletive Gets Second Look

 

By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer

 

WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) Chairman Michael Powell (news) has asked his fellow commissioners to overturn a much-criticized decision that an expletive uttered by the musician Bono on a network program was not obscene.

 

During last year's NBC broadcast of the Golden Globes Awards, the lead singer of the Irish rock group U2 said "this is really, really, f------ brilliant."

 

The FCC (news - web sites)'s enforcement bureau ruled in October that the comment was not indecent or obscene because Bono used the word as an adjective, not to describe a sexual act. "The performer used the word ... as an adjective or expletive to emphasize an exclamation," the bureau said.

 

Powell circulated a proposed ruling to the four other commissioners on Tuesday. He needs the votes of two of the four to overturn the decision.

 

The enforcement bureau had rejected complaints from the Parents Television Council and more than 200 people, most of them associated with the conservative advocacy group, who accused dozens of television stations of violating restrictions on obscene broadcasts by airing portions of the awards program last January.

 

Under FCC rules, broadcasters cannot air obscene material at any time and cannot air indecent material between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

 

In a letter to the Parents Television Council last November, Powell said the FCC needed to balance its rules against indecency and obscenity with the First Amendment right to free speech. Even so, he said, "I find the use of the 'F-word' on programming accessible to children reprehensible."

 

Some lawmakers have criticized the FCC decision.

 

Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., introduced a resolution that called it the "latest salvo in a string of decisions by the Federal Communications Commission that establishes a precedent regarding the use of universally recognized vulgar expletives on our nation's public airwaves."

 

And Reps. Doug Ose, R-Calif., and Lamar Smith, R-Texas, proposed legislation that would ban five words and three phrases from the airwaves.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Ok... I can kinda guess the five words.

 

But only 3 phrases? Kinda weak there, which means, I'm wondering which three...

[Mole 0]

Fuck the PTC.

[Guest Ghettoman]

Nicole Richie said "fucking cow shit" on some awards show and it wasn't bleeped, wonder if the FCC is on Fox's ass.

[Guest Fook]

What's the big fucking deal?

 

 

Fuck fuckitty fuck fuck fuck

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I miss the good old days when we just pondered the definition of "is..."

[Guest ToddRoyal]

I'm almost certain one of the 3 phrases is "God Damn". Damn is perfectly acceptable, but "God Damn" is always bleeped.

[starvenger 0]

Don't the British use "fucking brilliant" as a sarcastic phrase?

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I don't see what the big deal is. We've already become immune to words like "hell", "asshole", "jackass", "damn" and "shit" so let the F word come on the airwaves already.

[Guest Skironox]

Man, American TV sucks.

 

The french have a cartoon with a flying penis as the main character.

 

All other nations can run softcore porn at daytime hours.

 

But America? Can't even cuss on air.

 

And to think that critics attack our television for making us a violent gangbanger nation.

[Guest Fook]

The french have a cartoon with a flying penis as the main character.

 

I've gotta see this.

[razazteca 0]

All other nations can run softcore porn at daytime hours.

 

But America? Can't even cuss on air.

Maury Povich & Jerry Springer are softcore porn and are shown at 9:00-11:00 AM.

[Yuna_Firerose 0]

Oh, for fuck sake! Aren't there like, ya know, more important issues to focus on?

[Guest Krazy Karter]

Under FCC rules, broadcasters cannot air indecent material between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

[razazteca 0]

^no its all about tabloid news now......smartmarks has devolved into the Talksoup of (Sports) Entertainment.

[Guest JMA]

Fuck the PTC.

I second that.

[iamsherm 0]

I always considered myself to be a big supporter of freedom of speech and anti-censorship, but the thought of the F-bomb ever being perfectly acceptable for TV makes me a little uneasy. I suppose that's because of how I was raised in a home where my parents RARELY ever used the word and that's how I always planned to run my household later in life. It's unsettling enough to sit through the current crop of expletive-laced TV shows with the family ... a line needs to be drawn at this point.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Man I remember when saying "damn" and "hell" on TV was a big deal...

[Tawren 0]

I always considered myself to be a big supporter of freedom of speech and anti-censorship, but the thought of the F-bomb ever being perfectly acceptable for TV makes me a little uneasy. I suppose that's because of how I was raised in a home where my parents RARELY ever used the word and that's how I always planned to run my household later in life. It's unsettling enough to sit through the current crop of expletive-laced TV shows with the family ... a line needs to be drawn at this point.

I 100% agree. Heck, I hate watching wrestling with my parents in the room, because right when they sit down is when that bra and panties shit starts :/ I hated going to Anger Management with my kid brother because of the lesbian stuff. It's PG-13! That means there shouldn't be F-bombs, porn stars, lesbians, threesomes in the movie! I can't imagine watching the TV with my parents and hearing some guy go "Hey fuck you you fucking fucker go fuck yourself!"

 

It just feels weird and wrong.

[Guest wildpegasus]

No need to have the F word on TV. If people want to hear it so bad they can find it easily enough.

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

Don't the British use "fucking brilliant" as a sarcastic phrase?

Fucking brilliant, fucking great, fucking perfect, anything you want...

 

Swearing is much easier in Britain. You can often say fuck on TV so long as its after 9pm.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Man, American TV sucks.

 

The french have a cartoon with a flying penis as the main character.

 

All other nations can run softcore porn at daytime hours.

 

But America? Can't even cuss on air.

 

And to think that critics attack our television for making us a violent gangbanger nation.

Uh..yeah, this is the United States, one big huge hypocite, and I must admit I'm one myself to some extent. Frankly, though, WHY NOT JUST BLEEP IT? Even live broadcasts are somewhat delayed, I believe, to allow for things like this to be bleeped. Then no big deal, right? I could go on and on about the problems with this country, but I don't feel like incurring any more conservative wrath than I already have, so I'll leave it here.

[Guest MissMattitude]

I always considered myself to be a big supporter of freedom of speech and anti-censorship, but the thought of the F-bomb ever being perfectly acceptable for TV makes me a little uneasy.  I suppose that's because of how I was raised in a home where my parents RARELY ever used the word and that's how I always planned to run my household later in life.  It's unsettling enough to sit through the current crop of expletive-laced TV shows with the family ... a line needs to be drawn at this point.

I 100% agree. Heck, I hate watching wrestling with my parents in the room, because right when they sit down is when that bra and panties shit starts :/ I hated going to Anger Management with my kid brother because of the lesbian stuff. It's PG-13! That means there shouldn't be F-bombs, porn stars, lesbians, threesomes in the movie! I can't imagine watching the TV with my parents and hearing some guy go "Hey fuck you you fucking fucker go fuck yourself!"

 

It just feels weird and wrong.

I suppose I am a minority in the fact that I can sit and watch anything with my mum or dad and feel completely comfortable about it.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I hope they keep it off.

 

My enjoyment of programs isn't dependant on characters dropping F bombs during the show. Allowing it is just going to further encourage lazy writing for shows. Why bother with wit when you can just go low brow?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I hope one day that cussing is so prolific on television, that everyone's children start to curse like sailors, thus eliminating everyone's ability to complain about how often I say Fuck.