interesting FCC ruling on the "F" word

[joatmon]

Apparently there were some lawsuits filed as a result of the broadcast of the Golden Globe awards in jan 2003 where Bono used the "F" word which was not bleeped out. The FCC decision (at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 3045A1.pdf )saysquote:6. To be obscene, material must meet a three-prong test: (1) the average person,applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to theprurient interest; (2) the material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexualconduct specifically defined by applicable law; and (3) the material, taken as a whole, must lackserious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Applying that test, we find that the materialbroadcast during the “Golden Globe Awards” program was not obscene. The use of specific words,including expletives or other “four letter words” does not render material obscene. Moreover, thecomplained-of material does not depict or describe sexual conduct and thus does not meet theobscenity standard under Miller v. California. Because the broadcast does not meet the obscenitystandard under Miller, we deny the complaints alleging that the broadcast was obscene. I hope this doesn't result in extensive use of it on broadcast TV.Better not see it here either.

[slbpsi63]

its a live broadcast. How many times do you here athletes cursing, Ummmmm EVERY GAME!!!! Who cares if an f bomb gets dropped. Alot of people rely too much on censoring. People make their own decisions, they alone are responsible for how they act and what they are expossed to when they watch tv. if the f bomb offends you that is one thing, but don't get upset that some else has it in THEIR vocab or one was missed by the censor geeks.

[joatmon]

I'm not offended by it, and try to not use it around kids, especially my own kids. They hear it enough, but there are times when it is inappropriate. I just don't want to be blasted by it everywhere. I actually don't think you can use it here due to the forum software. I thought it was interesting to see the FCC ruling that all uses of it don't have to be censored, and wasn't trying to be a censorship advocate.A lot of times it is amusing to take it literally.

[drunkenmaxx]

i dont give a f*ck if someone says it i dont however, want to hear it all over tv all the time, that takes away the whole fun of it being tabboo (sp?)