Swearing on TV

[dave50]

Why do they always want to 'push the boundaries' on television by having more and more crude and foul language? What is the reasoning behind it? All they are doing is alienating those of us who might be offended by it. When I was growing up in the sixties and seventies all the family could sit down and watch TV without feeling uncomfortable by being bombarded with foul language. It didnt detract whatsoever in the entertainment value of the programs with no swearing. Its all done they tell us so it is realistic. I see enough 'realism' in day to day life. I dont doubt they are pushing for the dreaded 'c' word to be commonly heard on TV next.

[emmie]

I couldn't agree more, and the c word has cropped up in any number of programmes i have watched. Maybe after the watershedm for the sake of realism, not sure that really holds true. Not everyone swears, and sometimes i think that they do it because they can get away with it now.

[tinkerbell23]

I must admit- after the watershed id like an eastenders or corrie that could be a bit more realistic ...quite possibly "sweary" ... I think hollyoaks used ti but i dont watch that! I do get embarrased at tv sometimes around family but im
Not offended by swearing x

[Andyvon]

I quite agree. I occasionally buy a DVD I like the look of - but if there are four-letter words it goes straight in the bin! One example is a film called 'Goodfellas' which I bought recently. The first few lines were "What the f--k". "What the f--k was that?" "What's that f--kin' noise?" etc. That went in the bin within a minute!

With regards to swearing being 'realistic'. I know plenty of people who refer to blacks, homosexuals etc by various terms we all know. That's what happens in the real world so it's realistic, yet TV wouldn't transmit those words now - as they would say they are offensive! It's very curious how swearing isn't considered offensive, yet words we used openly a generation ago now are.

Secondly, being 'realistic' isn't necessary anyway. Films aren't documentaries. It's only today's trashy rubbish and trashy actors and actresses who need to swear. The best films, despite their subject, have no swearing in them (Bonnie and Clyde, Dillinger etc). I never heard John Wayne swear - he was too good.

[askyourgran]

I'm watching the Bailiff on TV at the moment, he is obnoxious, racist, swearing, I don't think many people could do his job, he is a hard man.

[SpikeyBush]

The terrestrial broadcasters are quick enough to not repeat the 'Germans' episode of Fawlty Towers (which actually poked more fun at Fawlty and the Major than it did at the Germans, Indians and West Indians) so how do they excuse the other obscenities that they broadcast which, in my opinion, are far more likely to cause offence than the Major reminiscing about watching cricket at the Oval.

[Andyvon]

I've got the box sets of 'Open All Hours', 'Rising Damp', 'Are You Being Served' etc. There are many episodes that I've thought wouldn't be transmitted now and the poker-faced PC bigots would be up in arms about. Yet they were innocuous and funny when they were transmitted - and they still are!

Something is very wrong now.

[askyourgran]

I agree andyvon, it was all innocent and harmless until the narrowminded bigots started meddling.

[SpikeyBush]

And what about Corporal Jones going on about the 'Fuzzy-Wuzzies' in the Sudan not liking it up 'em?

I can imagine the PC brigade having a canary over that now!

[trt]

Alf Garnet used to swear and use racist remarks all the time and that was years ago!!

[Poppetchops]

Television is now aimed at the feckless, stupid and illiterate masses, whose vocabulary and mangled English is dominated by foul and offensive words. The redistribution of wealth and insidious liberalism have a lot to answer for.

[boxtops]

Some these days just use the F word instead of any other more suitable adjective. I put it down to lack of vocabulary.