Back in the 70s, comedian George Carlin did a routine called "The 7 Words You Can't Say on Television". (Bet your parents remember it.) A lot has changed since then, but there is still controversy over obscene language on the public airwaves (TV or radio consumers don't pay for). Today, a federal appeals court ruled on a case that challenged the 2004 FCC (Federal Election Commission) Fleeting Expletive policy which established a fine for the use of obscenity on TV or radio. Click here to read an article about how the court ruled. Then address one or more of the following prompts:Do you agree with the appeals court's ruling? Why or why not? Be sure you understand specifically what the court's decision actually was before you respond.
Do you think obscene language should be allowed over the public airwaves (TV or radio)? Why or why not? Note: This is a DIFFERENT question than the first one.
24 comments:
Obscene language is an honest part of nearly everyones daily reality. Those of us who do use obscenities will say, " Why not its just a word, why cant I say that?" I think language that some viewers may find offensive should be kept to a minimum, but there is no need to make it obselete. So long as a show or movie warns viewers that they are watching the show AT THEIR OWN descretion then what is viewed as foul language to some is without a doubt not a problem and should not be viewed as such.
I agree with the appeal court's ruling to discard the FCC indecency policy on the grounds that it violates the first amendment, which states that congress isn't allowed to pass a law prohibiting free speech. Companies shouldn't have to worry about fines for using words the law gives them the right to say. But can I just point out that I think this article is a little bias? To be fair, it doesn't defend the FCC at all.. it doesn't give their reasoning for the policy, it just states why it's wrong.
I do believe obscene language should be allowed over public airwaves.. why shouldn't it? Television shows and movies have warnings and ratings. If people don't want to hear it, they can certainly avoid it. If they don't want their kids exposed to it, they can certainly monitor what they watch. The content in shows and movies should be determined by the creative directors and producers... it's not something that needs to be used excessively for no reason, but in some situations it ads 'flair' to a program. For example, I think the hangover would be immensely less funny if they took out all the obscenities.
The first amendment clearly states that everyone has the freedom of speech, so it makes perfect sense to stick with that. Public airwaves are for people to say exactly how they're feeling, so why keep them from their originality?
I completely agree with Kelsey. The only reason I wouldn't want obscene language on TV or radio is because of the kids listening. But, today parents can block channels on the TV they don't want their kids watching. And kids aren't usually in cars by themselves, so their parents can judge the radio. So, I do think obscene language should be allowed on public airwaves. But, if the Disney channel starts dropping the F bomb, I might reconsider.
It's hard to build a country on standards, such as the First Amendment, that clearly states you have the Freedom of Speech. And then, times change and people think they can dictate that.
I'm with McKenzie and Kelsey and think that all public airwaves should be uncensored. Parents who want to shelter thier kids is fine, DON'T LET THEM WATCH SOMETHING THAT ISN'T FOR THEM! You see it all the time; "my kid was flipping through the channels and saw so and so doing/saying so and so." Well where were you? It's up to the parents to keep their kids away from things they don't want them around.
Language is important in making points. If you are seriously upset about something and you're trying to portray the setting of the situation, you aren't going to say, "I was very very mad about that." You'll sound like you're still in Elementary school. You're honest reaction will be, "I was pissed!" and everyone will understand the severity of the situation.
It's a word. In the words of a very famous musician, "say what you need to say."
I feel in agreement with the other posts here (and the court), that it did in fact voilate the first amendment. However, we should remember to use that first amendment with taste. I agree that some movies are in fact complemented by the use of colourful language. But everything else.....isn't.
Keep the swearing off of kids channels, news (The Daily Show and Colbert Report can keep on cursing though) and commercials. Has anyone noticed that commercials are now getting a potty mouth?
It all started with AmsterDAM's cute play on words, and now I'm hearing the term "Badass" on commercials at least twice a day. Please keep advertising clean. Kids pick stuff up fast you know.....
I too agree with most posters here, that with the First Admendment, we have the right to express ourselves on a public "stage". Like Zack said, as long as the show warns viewers that they are watching AT THEIR OWN descretion, its ok. It would be a different story if the show or movie did not state this in the opening credits or commercials, and then every word in the broadcast or the movie is the "F-bomb", but if the program warns viewers of the explicit language, I see no problem in it being aired publicly via radio or TV.
Andrew Rickli
No one person can truley ban such obsenities from the media because, whether we like it or not, they are a part of our language and culture. And if such action is taken, it would violate the first Amendment. If viewers feel that sch language is offensive, then don't watch the show, or listen to that radio station. Even parents can ban certain televison stations that do allow the "F" bomb to be dropped.
I believe that we should practice the first amendment to its full abilities. Parents do have the choice to block channels that they do not want their kids to view and that is also why there are ratings on the shows to give parents a warning about what age the show is prefrenced for. I think that publically everyone should be allowed to say what they want but they should use some caution and think about what is appropiate.
Also, sometimes people can be a little uptight about the use of obscene language. If you don't like it, or do not approve then maybe you should block the channel or change the station instead of suing or making a big deal about someone's mess up or slip.
We can look at this two ways, one its an adventure into freedom of speech and a way to be much more human in television, or as an obscene and crude new strike on an already failing culture. While it is true that which is considered profane is in fact part of daily life, we can neither damn nor condone its usage. Censorship has allowed the majority of television to become family oriented.
I was relieved to see that despite the majority of television continues to censor their broadcast, with only one program in my own view leaving censorship out. I believe that the entirety of this argument is rather foolish. While we can argue profanity is ill, and I believe that it should stay censored, we should focus more so on the gulf, or this useless war, or the starvation of our own people. Looking upon censorship is hardly as important as any of the above.
In my opinion, curse words should be allowed on television. Whether or not the Cable companies believe it, just about everyone curses. They can't use the "what if a kid watches" excuse anymore, because kids hear cursing from their parents, and other kids. The best thing they could do is have a warning before a show that there is cursing and to use viewer discretion.
On public television, no. In movies, yes. The reason being simpy because of the difference in parental control of either. I know that a lot of people hide behind the parental thing, but think about it, if the movie contains the word, it's already received at least a PG-13 rating. With Televsion though, any kid can just flip to a channel, but then the argument becomes "Oh, well the parent should have those channels blocked" but the parent would have to block every single channel, because it is not prohibited. Then the argument would be "Well just prohibit it from kids shows" Hmm, well then your being discriminate against Kids, and Kids Television programs. I mean because since everything is supposed to be offered equally, how then can you justify this?
I think that obscene language isn't a bad thing for people who use them, but it may be offensive to people who don't. I agree that there should be a message that warns them of possible foul language. These days, people can block channels and it shouldn't be this big of a deal. If someone has a problem with it they can deal with it themselves, not ruin it for everyone else. I do agree that ads on T.V. should not have obscenities in them because that is inappropriate.
Cursing on TV is overblown by protective parents who believe foul language leads to violence, sex, and so on. Studies have been done proving that viewing violence and sex on TV can have an effect on how viewers act or react in real life situations, but none have proven saying the "F Bomb" does anything whatsoever. Ratings, which every single episode, movie, or infomercial begins with already, were made for a reason. Agreeing with everyone else, I think parents have the ability to censor what they want....the networks shouldn't have to babysit everyone's kids for them.
Cursing is part of everyone's life. Everyone hears it. From either their friends and classmates, or parents and family members. It violates the first amendment of free speech to ban it from TV, and you watch certain shows at your own discretion, so if you don't want to watch a show with cursing on it, change the channel.
Do you agree with the appeals court's ruling? Why or why not? Be sure you understand specifically what the court's decision actually was before you respond
Yes, I do agree with the appeals court's ruling that the FCC policy was "constitutionally vauge". The FCC rules need to be clearly defined so broadcasters know and understand the rules. The court even said so in their ruling. The debate is not really over the F word, but over other protected speech eliminated by the vauge rules.
-Korinne Cowles
Personally, I do not agree with the use of obscene language on public television. I believe this because public television is available to all viewers no matter the age unless the channels are blocked of course. I agree totally with Andrew Truax on this topic due to the fact that it would be impossible for parents to keep this away from their kids unless they ban them from watching television. I agree that the use of this language should continue to only be used in movies. This would give parents a better sense of control when it comes to what is being put into their child's head. This comes down to an issue of morality rather than the extent of how far we consider the first amendment.
I agree with Brady. All public airways, and tv channels should be uncensored. If a parent complains and says "Well she(or he) shouldn't have seen that! Now he uses that word all the time" I have a reality flash for them: there IS such thing as PARENTAL CONTROLS! Use them! If your tv companty doesn't offer them (which most of them do), well then, Parent, it's up to you to control what your kid watches! It's the 1st Amendment, and we as Americans have the "freedom of speech".
-Andrew Rickli
Wow, it's summer 2010 and the best thing we have to complain about in this day and age is obscene language? What about the gulf oil spill, thirteen trillion plus dollars of U.S. dept, or how we need to rebuild the failing infrastructure and outdated power grid of our country? As for the article you shouldn't use obscene language on the radio, maybe on a select few TV shows. Movies now that's a different story, movies are ok because they have ratings. Obscene language ( "F Bomb" ) just isn't professional or even right for that matter. It's one of those unwritten rules like how if your a man you should hold the door for a woman and how kids always get the first opportunity to catch a foul ball at a baseball game over adults. Quite frankly cursing doesn't give or show much respect. PUBLIC radio shouldn't have cursing, but here and there on TV adds humor. On PUBLIC TV cursing should definitely not be on the news or in commercials. As for the rest of the shows it should be limited...
Well for that means strictly limited because PUBLIC TV means its approved for all audiences. Strong language should be prohibited altogether.
We should try to avoid altering the foundation that our country was built on at all costs. Freedom of Speech is exactly that, it gives each person the right to express their opinions. This question is more of a moral issue than that of freedom of speech. No matter how hard a parent tries their child will be confronted with words that are not appropriate for them to hear, unfortunately we can not put a rating or censor everyday life. Part of functioning in society is being able to relate to others. The problem with television is that sex, violence and sensationalism sells. Our society has fallen to the point that almost anything is acceptable. We must live by the standards that we were raised under and what our conscience tells us is right. I agree with McKenzie, we should all keep our eyes on the Disney channel, when it too has fallen I believe that we have gone too far.
I believe that the court ruling was correct on this occasion. Public airways shouldn't have to avoid obscene language because, even though it may not be appropriate for everyone, it is still our 1st amendment right to be able to say what we choose. Tv shows have warnings that inform viewers that the program may not be suitable for everyone. If a parent is worried about what their children are watching then they need to take responsibility and either block inappropriete shows or watch their children closer.
-Josh Fox
The first amendment does say people have freedom of speech in the U.S. I believe people should have the right to say whatever they want. Like Zack said though, the show or movie should say that words in this are bad and that your kids shouldn't listen. If people find it so offensive then all they have to do is turn it off. There should't be a problem with saying anything.
**EDIT**
Cursing is part of everyone's life. Everyone hears it, from either their friends and classmates, or parents and family members. It violates the first amendment of free speech to ban it from TV. It is up to the staff of the tv program to be responsible and not use that language on shows for kids. I also believe that showing warnings before all shows would help determine if that show is appropriate to watch or not. You watch television at your own discretion, so if you don't want to watch a show with cursing in it, you can change the channel.
Post a Comment