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TV broadcasters are now free to curse and include nudity

by MoneyMagnetMagnate
17 replies
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In the post-World War II era, television became a ubiquitous element of society and the ban on obscenity was inserted into the U.S. Criminal code. Specifically, Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1464, prohibits the utterance of "any obscene, indecent or profane language by means of radio communication."

Today the U.S. Supreme Court released a ruling that significantly scales back the FCC's censorship authority. In the case Federal Communications Commission, et al. v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., et al. the highest court in the land refused to assess the constitutionality of U.S. federal law that prohibits broadcasted obscenities. (but just for the record, you can still consider FOX obscene if you want...:rolleyes

DailyTech - America, F**k Yeah! Supreme Court Axes FCC's TV Obscenity Rules

What do you think? Good? - Bad? - Or indifferent?
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I don't think that it's a good idea for "obscenities" to be broadcast - especially during peak hours when kids watch........but I applaud the restriction being cut down because it will make it harder for censorship, and all the nonsense surrounding PC speech to be maintained. If people don't like what they are watching - they let stations know either in letters or by just turning the channel. I would think the news would be more interested in going back to reporting objective news instead of worrying about if they can show a flash of booby in their newscasts.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I don't think that it's a good idea for "obscenities" to be broadcast - especially during peak hours when kids watch........but I applaud the restriction being cut down because it will make it harder for censorship, and all the nonsense surrounding PC speech to be maintained. If people don't like what they are watching - they let stations know either in letters or by just turning the channel. I would think the news would be more interested in going back to reporting objective news instead of worrying about if they can show a flash of booby in their newscasts.
      Remember...this judgement was awarded to FOX...:rolleyes:...
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I don't think that it's a good idea for "obscenities" to be broadcast - especially during peak hours when kids watch........but I applaud the restriction being cut down because it will make it harder for censorship, and all the nonsense surrounding PC speech to be maintained.
      NO IT WON'T! It NEVER has! The PC crowd WANTED this! They NEVER saw the point in public privacy, politeness, etc.... Basically, privacy and politeness were ONLY to be reserved for some they liked! Interestingly, limits like these are almost ALWAYS done by the right, for decency, and would NOT affect any information about the government, etc...

      If people don't like what they are watching - they let stations know either in letters or by just turning the channel. I would think the news would be more interested in going back to reporting objective news instead of worrying about if they can show a flash of booby in their newscasts.
      These types of things just HAPPEN. There is a rumor, and from what I saw on youtube, I think it is true, that a show, targeted to kids(Mostly teens probably), ended up with a person that was about 17 flashing HERS. She was maybe 17, and it was innocent. I don't know if THAT even got picked up on the news. Supposedly ANOTHER show on disney had the same sort of thing happen with ANOTHER actress. Interestingly, she was about 17 also. I just happened by them one day.

      The reason why people are shocked is because they are afraid of people exploiting loopholes, and where it will lead. And it isn't just for womens privacy, etc...

      Hey, western society hasn't done what eastern society has, like the "burqa". I bet the originators of that were afraid of the same, but wanted to make sure that even INNOCENT transgressions didn't happen. That is probably ALSO the reason for an escort, etc...

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Wed. night on the "Late Show": Alec Baldwin And David Letterman Drop Their Pants

    It wasn't offensive though, and also late night entertainment!

    Thinking back a few years (many, many :p), "I Dream of Jeannie" was not permitted to air Eden's navel.

    How times have changed.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      Wed. night on the "Late Show": Alec Baldwin And David Letterman Drop Their Pants

      It wasn't offensive though, and also late night entertainment!

      Thinking back a few years (many, many :p), "I Dream of Jeannie" was not permitted to air Eden's navel.

      How times have changed.
      And a few years earlier than that...Lucy and Ricky slept in separate beds! :p
      - and nobody was ever in the bathroom! they were always just going in...or just coming out...
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Yawn. Australia has had nudity and naughty words on TV since 1975.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I remember that when Archie Bunker flushed the toilet on his show it was about a first for TV. Jeez if you were to air Archie and George on tv together these days it would start a freaking race riot. LMAO.

    And a few of you geezers will probably remember the Ed Sullivan show blocking out Elvis from the waist down too.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I remember that when Archie Bunker flushed the toilet on his show it was about a first for TV. Jeez if you were to air Archie and George on tv together these days it would start a freaking race riot. LMAO.

      And a few of you geezers will probably remember the Ed Sullivan show blocking out Elvis from the waist down too.
      I'm SURE a lot of non whites LOVED All in the family. And the Jewish producer even had a disclaimer in the beginning kind of encouraging people to watch. Edith came across as kind of dumb, but not nearly as much as archie. They really milked the archie character for EVERYTHING! Even the idea of him calling his daughters boyfriend/husband "meathead" later became a JOKE when a relative of archie's revealed that ARCHIE was called meathead! As I recall, a relative of georges even called archie a meathead.

      At least they treated george jefferson ALMOST as bad. George was like a smarter and more arrogant archie, but was black.

      They walked a tightrope, but they always gave the non whites a good share. On "good times", there was michael, always ready with pro black stuff, and they even once used "the dozens" to try to make an IQ test administrator look stupid. They claimed that IQ tests were white centric, and "doing the dozens" is generally black centric. At least most of the show seemed realistic and could fit with almost any audience. Blacks AND whites probably watched, and mostly enjoyed the same parts. Even the theme song, though it had a definite valid message, was still a little upbeat and hopeful even while stating the problems of "the projects".

      Dennis,

      I am happy to hear that. Frankly, I haven't heard fox NEWS use obscenity. Fox broadcasting, on the whole, insults ALL a bit, EVEN whites, and fox ITSELF! STILL, I think they hold obscenity at bay. I would hope hat broadcasters were discouraged from perpetuating hurtful and derogatory slang.

      BTW NO message is intended here other than a reasonable assessment of what was there. I apologize if you somehow see it different from the way I do.

      Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I remember that when Archie Bunker flushed the toilet on his show it was about a first for TV. Jeez if you were to air Archie and George on tv together these days it would start a freaking race riot. LMAO.

      And a few of you geezers will probably remember the Ed Sullivan show blocking out Elvis from the waist down too.
      Ed was well known for putting the kibosh on what he determined would be "inappropriate" - besides Elvis, he tried to make musicians change the lyrics to their songs...for instance He asked Mick to censor "Let's Spend the Night Together" and he asked The Doors not to say "Higher" in "Light My Fire" (Morrison made a point to emphasize it)

      But when Russell Simmons starts producing the news...let me know
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    geezers?!?!?

    There was once a song "In olden days a glimpse of stocking was shocking but now HEAVEN KNOWS.... ANYTHING GOES...."


    And THEY may of had NO idea! Many would have SCOFFED at what I have seen and said NEVER HERE! I have to tell you that I see a bit of the future here, and some of you simply DON'T, and it does NOT look good!

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    More nudity on TV? Hi-def TV's will be more important than ever...business opportunity people!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    The applause you hear is from Janet Jackson's nipple.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      The applause you hear is from Janet Jackson's nipple.
      And TIVO...:rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    I heard the news several weeks ago.
    Ever since I've been hearing a lot of G** Damns and Son Of A Bitchs.
    I pretty much agree with Hey Sal.
    1st ammendment rights should be honored for all.
    However, it should be responsibly.
    Which is not a strong suit of American media.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    The way I heard this portrayed on the news over the radio is that broadcasters couldn't be fined for accidental nudity or profanity at live events where they don't have time to censor them. Janet Jackson's malfunction would qualify as non-fineable act. The laws still apply to intentional nudity and profanity.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      I heard it the same way, Dennis, but not on the radio, rather on an ABC network.

      Terra
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