Dad-blamed, con-sarned, blankety-blank FCC!

Americans can only hope the taxpayer-financed churls at the Federal Communications Commission — or The Bureau of Being Totally Weak, as we sometimes risibly call it (BBTW) — saw the Times story in our top links today about how profanity is inseperable from culture. "Cursing," writes reporter Natalie Angier, "is a human universal." Which means efforts by the U.S. Senate and the BBTW to try to levy heavier fines on TV shows that involve cursing are total bullplop. Bullplop. Bloggers, as you might expect, have taken easily to this concept. (Readers are cautioned that many bloggers, in protesting the BBTW's stance on profanity, have been even more profane than usual.) For example, posters here are explicit in their reaction against the proposal. Slightly less blue is this thoughtful post at the Irregular Times, which sums up its thesis of historical swearing nicely: "In every single one of those cultures, people go on saying the naughty words in spite of the taboos. And, surprise surprise, none of those cultures fall apart as a consequence." This blogger took from the story a few medical benefits attributed to bad words: "So, I guess, feel free to swear. You’ll feel better!" Done and done. You listening, Mister Chairman?

Posted by Philip Ewing at September 21, 2005 11:03 AM

Category: On The Telly