Hey, You Kids, Get Out of My #@%& Nest!

[gnomi]

As regular readers in this space may know, I have an academic interest in the use of profanity and obscenities. So I was quite pleased to see that the US Supreme Court discussed the use of "fleeting" expletives yesterday.

The FCC tightened the restrictions on the use of spontaneous expletives following a couple of incidents in the early 2000s, and the Fox network sued, saying that the new rules were "arbitrary" and violated the First Amendment.

Of course, this just provided an opportunity for the Justices and the lawyers to find ways to avoid using any of the offensive words.

What will come of this? I cannot predict. But despite Solicitor General Gregory Garre's arguments, I cannot see this leading to Big Bird swearing on "Sesame Street."

Oscar the Grouch, however, is another story.

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

The issue of "arbitrary" is interesting.

For decades, the FCC ignored minor and incidental swearing. That was their interpretation of the rules, and it was consistent.

Suddenly, even minor issues became massive violations. And since the FCC counts each broadcast station and affiliate as a separate violation, the multipliers get pretty fast.

If I recall, the particular incident was a news broadcast from Iraq, and a fleeting expletive after a nearby unexpected explosion. If not that, then Bono referring to winning an award as (paraphrase) "effing brilliant".

I think anyone would consider swearing during a pre-recorded children's show beyond the pale. Which is why, even on cable where the FCC has no sway, it does not seem to happen.

But try and find an episode of The Shield where it doesn't.

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

the particular incident was a news broadcast from Iraq, and a fleeting expletive after a nearby unexpected explosion

This was a storyline in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, though Sorkin may have based it on a real event.

[crwilley.livejournal.com]

Bono was the first one. There was another award ceremony where two recipients used the same adjective Bono did.

The issue of arbitrariness was also questioned regarding two movies that aired on broadcast TV: when PBS ran a documentary on the blues, they didn't censor cusswords, and were fined; another network aired 'Saving Private Ryan', in which the same words were used, and was not fined.

The FCC chairperson tried to chalk the change up to a massive increase in complaints in the past few years - 99% of which can be traced back to a single astroturf operation.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

I know, I follow this stuff semi-closely.

FYI, I subscribed to the PTV astroturf mailing list, so whenever they say "send a letter", I can send one using their web pages that says "no big deal, really". :-)