posted on June 28, 2001 03:02:41 AM new
How many of you have had enough of the increaing use of obscene language becoming more and more prevalent in everyday use?
Whether in the movies, at sporting events, the street, music genres, it is everywhere.
I'm no prude and at times can swear and cuss with the best of them, but I feel that it belittles me to punctuate every second word of my sentences with the F word or other similar obscenities.
I'm not saying that we should be language sholars or use a lot of fancy words, or even be grammatically correct in how we speak, but I am saying enough is enough!
The use of obscene language is offensive, particularly in the denigration of women, and efforts must be made to put an end to it. The pathetic excuse that we are entitled to free speech and can say what we want doesn't cut any ice with me. You can say whatever you want but find another way to say it without resorting to obscenity.
How do you feel about this issue?
posted on June 28, 2001 04:20:26 AM new
One night my husband and I were in the grocery store in the wee hours of the morning. There were 2 young ladies behind us talking up a storm. I swear, every other word was the F word. That in itself disgusted me, saying it just to say it. But what made it worse was that it was early Christmas morning. Can't you give it a rest for what is probably the biggest holiday of the year? Sheesh!
So yes Bob, I agree with you. I cuss a lot less now than I did as a youngster. Back then it was to be 'cool'. Now I just don't see the need to say it that often.
posted on June 28, 2001 07:53:15 AM new
Class or lack of it will tell. Unfortunately these cursing fools have a limited vocabulary and no desire to improve their status....turn a deaf ear on that sort of talk or it will drive you mad.
posted on June 28, 2001 08:03:12 AM new
Not only is filth accepted in everyday use in public, it also is just as disgusting on television. They might talk about toning down violence on television, but as I was channel surfing last night I paused on the Drew Carey show long enough to light a cigarette and they were discussing "masturbating" and discussing penises. Is nothing sacred anymore?
The whole world is a potty mouth.
posted on June 28, 2001 10:36:29 AM new
A few years ago, I was walking out of a Safeway store and a group of young women, ages probably 14-16, were talking up a storm and one of them was swearing profusely. As I walked past them, one of them wondered what I might have thought about their using swear words. I stopped, turned around and said, "Anybody can be Dirt."
That shut them up to realize that passersby really did have an opinion of them like that.
posted on June 28, 2001 11:13:58 AM new
I was in a line for a movie once with a friend of mine. We were probably in our forties at the time. There were three or four teenage girls behind us who must have just discovered the F word and were using it loudly and profusely. Finally my friend nudged me and whispered,"I'm sorry I have to do this..." She then turned around and,addressing them in a not so hushed voice,"Do you think you can creatively expound on that idea without saying f***?" It was the manner in which she said it - and she did say "the word" -as though she were commenting on the weather or time of day. We were probably their mothers' age. They mumbled a bit after that and were probably glad the line moved along and they were rid of us. I guess she figured her use of the word once would spare everyone having to hear it again and again.
posted on June 28, 2001 11:27:03 AM new
I'm not offended by obscene language but I do look down on some uses of it. When it is used to the point it can't be avoided in normal conversation I question the person's intelligence.
posted on June 28, 2001 03:42:03 PM new
No, it's not that "masturbating" is dirty, it's sacred. As Woody Allen said, it's having sex with someone you love. And what could be more sacred than that?
posted on June 28, 2001 03:50:05 PM new
They arent dirty words. But some things dont need to be talked about at the dinner hour. If I wanna know all the ins and outs of playing with oneself (pardon the pun), I can look it up on the net or buy a magazine.
posted on June 28, 2001 06:53:58 PM new
Yes, so true. My daughter (12) loves war movies, and being educational I like her to watch them. Realistic as it may be, the language is unsettling in my household.
She has seen Saving Private Ryan 20+ times. We never get used to the profanity though we love the movie.
posted on June 29, 2001 11:17:42 AM new...but as I was channel surfing last night I paused on the Drew Carey show long enough to light a cigarette and they were discussing "masturbating" and discussing penises. Is nothing sacred anymore?
Hepburn stated the above and when questioned went on to say-
But some things dont need to be talked about at the dinner hour. If I wanna know all the ins and outs of playing with oneself (pardon the pun),I can look it up on the net or buy a magazine.
Was the show on at the dinner hour? Were there children present at dinner while you were watching the show? Did you watch it or just stay for that portion? Doesn't your TV have an on/off switch? Why would these subjects be considered dirty?
I won't even go near the part where you can learn about stuff like that on the net or in a magazine. I kind of thought you were old enough to know about that.
edited because of UBB
[ edited by mtnmama on Jun 29, 2001 11:19 AM ]
posted on June 29, 2001 12:06:35 PM new
Nope, no children were present, but it doesnt matter if there were. Its still gross (to me). Yep, there is an on and off switch. It has nothing to do with what is permissable nowadays. Like I said, is nothing sacred anymore? Having that kind of behaviour in my home is not wanted. Not anymore than someone standing in line at the market and sharing with the people in line with all about how their clitoris is shaped and how they decide to stimulate it would be appropiate or welcomed (and for example, no children are present). They dont want to hear it, so why dont they just hold their hands over their ears? No, I didnt watch it. I wasnt paying attention until my husband said "gee, just what I wanna hear" (he was preparing dinner, and yes, sometimes we eat late). The point is, what USED to be sacred is no longer that. Nothing is secret, nothing is private, nothing is deemed too outrageous to say. People call others names on TV that we cant even say here without getting the #$%$@ marks or a nudge.
posted on June 29, 2001 12:38:24 PM new
But people, people, people. Get a grip! You must realized that industry and society has (and this really toasted my posterior) termed it "ADULT LANGUAGE". It is in all the movie rating, record ratings, etc. So in order to act "Adult", we must use obscene language and use it often otherwise, according to "society's" standards we are not adults. We all want our children to act more like adults, so why can't they use "Adult Language?"
Personally, I wish they would change the rating to VULGAR LANGUAGE SPEWED FORTH BECAUSE THE WRITER LACKS TRUE CREATIVITY.
[ edited by mark090 on Jun 29, 2001 12:42 PM ]
posted on June 29, 2001 12:49:17 PM new
My husband tends to curse in regular conversation and it does bother me. His whole family does it. I was raised not to, and that's the difference.
He also likes South Park a lot. The last episode we watched (on vacation, with his family), was based around the word s*** and how many times they could say it during the half-hour episode. I try to be OK with things like that but I can't help but find them offensive and low-class.
Hubby got my dad to watch South Park when he was out for a visit. Dad was not amused.
I do admit to occasional vulgarities while driving, causing injury to myself, or engaging in a heated argument, however.
posted on June 29, 2001 02:32:52 PM new
Two shows aimed at kids and teens that I consider disgusting and dumb: Southpark and Beavis & Butthead. Also, that dangerous one, Jack something...where they show stunts. It may SEEM to be geared for adults, but who are they trying to kid? (Pardon the pun).
posted on June 29, 2001 06:30:55 PM new
My point was if you don't like it, don't watch it.
Change the channel.
There are hundreds of cable channels out there, I'm sure one would suit the dinner hour. Our dinner hour is between 6 and 7 p.m., sometimes later. If it's at 8 or 9, I wouldn't exactly call a show on that time, dinner hour entertainment, because it's not meant to be.
We used to watch the news while fixing dinner. I don't know which is worse, hearing about murder and mayhem or masturbation, while preparing dinner. Yes we did have our kids eating with us and most of our conversations centered around the family not TV.
I keep it off or on the weather channel most of the time. Sitcoms just don't provide the stimulation my mind needs.
posted on June 29, 2001 06:47:09 PM new
I, too, am an advocate of changing channels or turning off the TV if you don't like what you see.
That being said, however, not everyone can afford cable (& even if you can many of the cable stations other than Disney & Animal Planet are also becoming saturated with fould language). For folks who have nothing but broadcast channels, it can come down to the point of only watching the news or kiddie programs.
I am far from thinking that everything on network TV has to be "G" rated. But neither do they all have to be "R" or "X" rated. Foul language really *isn't* necessary. Neither are personal topics like masturbating
posted on June 29, 2001 07:41:39 PM new
I agree foul language has become the industry "standard" and it's a shame. Also the discussion of personal topics, but after all Saturday Night Live made personal topics a household phrase. Remember their original "commercials"? I do, all too well. The first time I saw a Sat. Night Live show, I couldn't believe there was actually a spoof commercial about douches! Now, there are real ones!
True, many folks can't afford cable, but since we have no choice in my neck of the woods (so to speak) we have to pay for satellite TV. We can't even get the cheaper cable where I live. Without satellite, we would have no TV at all.
There's really nothing wrong with radio if TV offends. Some radio also offends, but at least there's a choice of which is less offensive.
I just don't understand why people will sit and watch this drivel and then complain about it. Sure, surfing, stopping to light a cigarette - then change it. I personally don't watch Drew Carey, he's not my type of comedian. Give me good old Sinbad any day!
posted on June 29, 2001 08:00:57 PM new
How true about the evening news being just as bad. Husband and I were commenting on it tonight...all these awful things going on and not nearly enough human interest stories of GOOD things. Shame, isnt it?
posted on June 29, 2001 08:06:16 PM new
Hi skye. Yes, they have been gone for awhile, or so I hear. I never watched that one either, but the sons did when they were still here at home.
posted on June 29, 2001 08:10:51 PM newI just don't understand why people will sit and watch this drivel and then complain about it. Sure, surfing, stopping to light a cigarette - then change it.
I dont sit and watch it and then complain about it afterwards. Unfortunately, it doesnt really matter where I surf nowadays...Im going to run into something disgusting 99% of the time, even stopping long enough to lit my cig or even take a potty break. Thats todays television.
posted on June 29, 2001 08:26:07 PM new
Thats the name of it! Couldnt think of it...but the name sure fits that show, doesnt it? I saw it once, for a few seconds, then harumphed and switched channels. Mostly, I read about it in the papers when some "jackass" does what the show details. Talk about a bunch of maroons.
posted on June 29, 2001 09:31:24 PM new
Way back when there was a more gentle society (we are talking 40 years ago) my mother said, I wouldn't put garbage on the table and ask you to eat it, I don't want you involved with nasty talk to fill your head with garbage either.
It isn't a matter of turning off the TV or changing channels, why do we have to be exposed to VERBAL & VISUAL GARBAGE when we are innocently looking for entertainment or information? I don't choose to see movies that are gross, I try not to be with people who speak lewdly, and I don't read garbage posted on unmoderated chat boards.
Just because it is every where I don't feel the need to wallow in it. Yes there is an off switch, but not fast enough to filter out the smut before I am so vividly made aware of it and I do resent it!
posted on June 29, 2001 09:46:37 PM new
Mark, I feel the same way about "adult" magazines and "adult stores" and "adult web sites". Why can't they call them "obscene magazines", "obscene stores", "obscene web sites"....and how about "obscene auctions".
The word "adult" has been totally modified in the dictionary over the years. Original Webster definition:
"Having arrived at maturity, or to full size and strength; matured; as, an adult person or plant; an adult ape; an adult age."
It is now:
1 : fully developed and mature
2 : of, relating to, intended for, or befitting adults
3 : dealing in or with explicitly sexual material
When I use the word (such as in an email to an educational e-list), I constantly feel the need to use a "disclaimer". For example I might write: "Here is an adult (not the obscene kind) reading list."
I hate that. Obscene is not "befitting me" or most others that I encounter.
T
Zilvy, how about those nasty looking giant "Gentlemen's Club" billboards all over the highway? You can't turn those off...or switch the channel...or block it for the kids.
[ edited by jt on Jun 29, 2001 09:50 PM ]
posted on June 29, 2001 09:59:06 PM new
Hepburn, I saw an article about Southpark and they claim it is for the 20-30 year old crowd and NOT for kids at all.
We generally only watch Nic, ETV, old movies, tapes, other educational shows. Hubby included. I have to battle with kids over the modern cartoons. They often depict HORRIBLE smart mouth little brats! Where are well behaved little smurfs and polite Raggedy Ann and Andy?
I don't watch tv at all. Haven't for more then a few minutes in maybe 12 years. Hubby will not let me throw it out. I sincerely want to!
T
posted on June 29, 2001 10:08:10 PM new
Terri, I thought about it too, but my husband wouldnt hear of it either, lol. He has to watch his Jeopardy. Also, I do like watching National Geographic and other nature shows. Too bad there arent more of them.
Southpark may have been geared for that age you mentioned but the producers think we are all maroons anyway. KIDS watch that show because the PARENTS dont pay attention to what their kids are looking at.
Hippy wannabe 
~^~
[ edited by mark090 on Jun 29, 2001 12:42 PM ]
