[NYer]

Ping!

[albie]

I remember “NYPD Blue” playing a major role in increased profanity. They advertised it and were f’n proud to do it!

[Keith in Iowa]

Profanity is the feeble-mindeds’ way of expressing themselves forcefully.

*When I use profanity, It’s called “knowing the audience, and speaking to them at their level”. :)

[paulycy]

The word “cr@p” seems to have entered the mainstream. I think I even heard it on a commercial the other day. Glenn Beck uses it a lot.

It just doesn’t seem to be a “swear” word anymore.

[DustyMoment]

Another reason that TV is losing ratings and viewers. I don’t watch TV to hear street language, I can walk outside for that.

I want to be educated, entertained and/or amused.

As someone once said, TV is the great wasteland.

[ropin71]

Hmmmmm between 68 and 70... coincidental? :p

[jmcenanly]

It is even being worked into the titles of programs, so that you can’ even talk about them without profanity, such as the current William Shatner vehicle “S417 My Dad says”

[pnh102]

Shrug. TV programs all have ratings now. If people do not wish to watch shows with profanity they can easily choose to do so.

[pnh102]

Oh heck just go for the jugular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KANukZsWD9Q

[Responsibility2nd]

 

What the French Toast?

[Frantzie]

The public are idiots for watching TV. What do you expect in between the “dumb white man” commercial. Eff TV.

[worst-case scenario]

If I don’t like the language, I just change the channel. Usually it’s not the language that’s offensive, it’s the awful dreariness and crassness of the programming.

[Bon mots]

Why is anyone surprised?

Television has merely taken the place of the Colloseum of Roman days... entertainment for the masses slunk to the lowest level human society would allow.

During Roman days there was live murder and bloodshed to keep the masses happy. Our modern society is little better with television. You can flip through the channels and see killing after violent killing. The profanity is just the icing on the cake. Murder is far more profane and is common and uncensored.

[don-o]

I'm guessing the increase in profanity on Free Republic is not far off that track

Profanity: How small minds try to speak with strength?

[kosciusko51]

Of course, there is the made-up swear word used in the new Battlestar Galactica, which is also the term used for extracting oil from shale. In a waste of a recent episode of "CSI", there was a funny line:

"Do you know what 'fracking' is?"
"It sounds like a science fiction swear word."

It would have been more funny if the new cop played by Katee Sackhoff had said it.

[mad_as_he$$]

1. I do not see the definition of “profanity” in the posted part of the article and I am not giving them clicks.

2. It is just words. As far as I know everyone still has an off button for their TV set.

3. Groping my man part just to get on an airplane is WAYYYYYY more offensive than 5,000 F words.

[dead]

FX has really pushed the envelope for basic cable with Sons of Anarchy and Always Sunny and The Shield. But those shows are on after 10pm and are all excellent.

It's really hard to convey the dirtbaggieness of your character when he's saying things like "golly" and "heck".

[RobRoy]

This would matter if people were still watching it like they used to. Well, it would matter MORE anyway.

[Yaelle]

"No [bleeping] way."

[Oztrich Boy]

Note to Thaddeus: Intentionally scripted is a tautology.