What the f....

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Nightwyrm

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#12776 4-Apr-2007 18:29

There seems to be a fear of offending anyone on TV now in case they complain to the Broadcasting Standards geezers (Warning: the following program contains footage of someone blowing their nose and looking at the contents!). Tonight on One News, I think it went to new heights.

With the story of Steve Maharey saying the F-word in Parliament, they warned us that:
- there was a naughty word
- the naughty word was bleeped out
- even though the naughty word was bleeped out, people may still be able to work it out
- after all of this, people may be offended.

I'm glad they warned me because the 4-5 times they showed the footage really disturbed my delicate sensibilities!. I don't know how anyone can complain about news content - it's not the entertainment hour. What next... "the following story contains poor journalism which is highly likely to offend people's intelligence"? (Actually that one can stay)

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#66327 4-Apr-2007 19:22

PC annoys me...

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alasta

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#66334 4-Apr-2007 19:46

If you think that's bad, there is an article on Stuff at the moment which reports the most complained about advertisements of 2006, and it would seem that some people make a hobby out of whinging.

Some even complained about an ad where a baby drives a car to the beach to go surfing, while others took offense to the phrase "kids are evil; feed them" on a Hell pizza mailout. What really surprises me is that both of these ads received more complaints than the Mentos ad which happens to be the only ad that I've seen in the last year that I personally considered to be in poor taste.

Nightwyrm

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#66337 4-Apr-2007 20:02

alasta: If you think that's bad, there is an article on Stuff at the moment which reports the most complained about advertisements of 2006, and it would seem that some people make a hobby out of whinging.

I read that! I'm surprised those Franks drink ads didn't get a mention, especially the one about scoring a chick half your age. I thought that was guaranteed to get complaints. There was a similar article in the Sunday Star Times magazine a couple of weekends ago - some mother actually complained about Spongebob!

There are certainly some sad peeps out there (Society for the Promotion of Community Standards for one - check this old article out) but watching the news and expecting everything to presented all prim and proper goes beyond the pale. Unfortunately, the world isn't all sweetness and light therefore the news is going to reflect that (unless you're Fox then you can spin it however you like).

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#66355 4-Apr-2007 21:35

I was watching it on 3, whom just beeped it out. By the sounds of it, the TV1 take of it was purely ridiculous.

While I don't think profanity such as that should really be commonplace on news (oh wow, someone lost his temper and swore) or those earlier times when younger minds are watching*, swearing happens. It does happen and given the nature of the person - it is probably rightfully so in the politics news sectio as it isn't a every day event, on the otherhand - who cares...

*In regard to children, it is a fact of life that if they don't pick it off TV, you'll pick it up in school or from their parents fighting over the dole money... parents are so content to let their computer or TV do the babysitting at times and then complain about the outcome.

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Thorburn

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#66363 4-Apr-2007 22:13

I think if they left the F word in and took the PC policies out of parliament then it would be a much better country.

weblordpepe

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#66501 6-Apr-2007 18:38

'bad' words change over time.
I really find the censorship of swear words to be illogical. They're only words. You can't hurt anybody.

For some reason there seems to be a growing trend of making rules/laws which follow the notion of 'people are not strong enough to live with something harmful, so we must protect them from it'. When you apply that rule to everyone, you turn everyone into children.

I do not believe people should have the right to mute others because they dont like what they hear. Yet that is something being pushed heavily by NZ and western society. Unfortunately this results in things like laws stopping people showing paintings and scuptures of things with diddles etc.

And bleeped out words on TV, bias in journalism, and seperatism for an extreme example. Eg. 'only yucky horrible people use swear words, not like us'.

Just on a side note - is it always christians making complaints? It seems they're always in the media for trying to sensor somethingorather. Whether it be a chocolate jesus, condoms with pizzas or scientific evidence for evolution.

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lokinz

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#66528 7-Apr-2007 12:32

Just on a side note - is it always christians making complaints? It seems they're always in the media for trying to sensor somethingorather. Whether it be a chocolate jesus, condoms with pizzas or scientific evidence for evolution.

That offends me as a Christian....Yea Right!

Eveyone black or white, stright or gay, Christian or damned should have the right to say what they like when they like.

freitasm

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#66529 7-Apr-2007 13:03

But not to impose their views.

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pebbles

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#66543 7-Apr-2007 16:44

Yeah you're right MF cpeople shouldn't impose their views, but if people are going to rip into christian things more than anything else sure, there are some christians who constently have a broomstick up their rear, but not all of us, then again there are people who just spend their days trying to find fault in everything. Not sure if this post actually helped, but that's ok, I felt I'd input

cranz

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#66544 7-Apr-2007 17:21

If you don't like a tv show saying a certain word, then change the channel.. It's choice. I can sort of understand the news censoring profanity but there was no need for those warnings at all. The fact it is bleep'd should be good enough.

Any other show though, change the channel.

weblordpepe

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#66553 7-Apr-2007 19:14

I always loose track of whats offensive or not these days. (Just ask any of the moderators)

Anyone seen that good episode of family guy where the FCC starts censoring real life? Thats awesome. I agree that we have the right to ignore people imposing their values on you. But I think there's imposing your view, and expressing your view.

I see bleeping out swear words on telly as imposing a view, really. Imposing the view that saying p.. is harmful in some way. Zomg I actually have to edit my post because the word p... isnt allowed.

No I'm not talking about your P....I'm talking about the smelly P.. that everyone does, yes including girls.

That's a new low for PC I would have thought.

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Thorburn

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#66577 8-Apr-2007 11:08

To be fair, I think it is important to beep out swear words on TV for the sake of children.
Children need to be taught how to speak. This is important if they want to get any where in life.
I agree that a beep is enough. The fuss over parliament is fair enough - since they are supposed to be making laws not personal insults and the person at fault is the Minister of Education.

Where I think we have gone wrong in censorship is in our basic values.
It is OK to show children all kinds of violence but even a hint of love making is the worse possible thing!!
I think a more rational approach for children would be a more relaxed attitude to the human body and a little less exposure to violence. I am not suggesting we encourage underage or promiscuous sex or anything. I’m just saying the censorship could be more relaxed about nakedness and give clearer guidelines for parents about violent content. In other words – more reflective of real life.

Nightwyrm

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#66578 8-Apr-2007 11:09

You see that part of Borat where he's at the evangelical service with speaking in tongues and stuff? I counted a US Congressman, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and what looked to be a US Army general. If the leaders of the "free world" are like this (and we know Georgie is), that's damn scary. Welcome to the United Theocracy of America.

And yet, we're the ones not trying to offend anyone. E.g. Before ER or Grey's Anatomy, we usually get a warning about the program containing surgical scenes - like, duh! I agree with the others, if you think you're going to be offended or disturbed, change the channel. If you get upset at the site of a simulated surgery, don't watch it!

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paradoxsm

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#66579 8-Apr-2007 11:10

New Zealnd is known worldwide for it's overkill political correctness. things like the smacking bill, fart tax and continuous lack of valuing public input.

you might want to be careful about Christianity, I loathe many churches for thier insane policies, strong views and ignorance ...and their tigthe rules (10% of income etc, ugh...) But it does not mean the belief itself is bad, actually the opposite, just many of the mutant "religions" and the idiots making money from it.

Christians, like gays and other "stereotypes" generally lead very normal standard lives and stay out of peoples way, but it's always just the few that spoil it for the rest.

/rant

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#66582 8-Apr-2007 11:23

I think there are way lot less PC in New Zealand than in the U.S...

You might think the government wants to create a nanny state here, but overall people on the streets seem less worried about PC here than in other countries.

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