Is the "F" word o.k. on network TV now?

conversation only ^ | 11/12/01 | self

[gg188]

I am watching "Private Ryan," on ABC, I think. Dumb me---I didn't think that "sh*t" was used in prime time. Or "g.d." But the F word!!???!!.................nothing follows.

[Heyworth]

Wow. There's a sweeping and entirely incorrect statement. Read Paul Fussell's WARTIME: UNDERSTANDING AND BEHAVIOR IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. Talking about the language of the war, he recounts one little soldier song about a town in England that manages to use the F word 57 times in 40 lines. By the way, Fussell is a WW2 vet, so he knows of which he speaks. (And read his earlier book, THE GREAT WAR AND MODERN MEMORY, about how WW1 infused itself into the cultural consciousness of the world).

WW2 is generally credited as the place the word really came into its own, becoming a noun, an adjective, an adverb, and everything else beyond it's original verb form.

[eastforker]

BTTT

[The Westerner]

I watched the last 2/3 of Private Ryan tonight for the first time. Glad I missed the opening. I wept many times. My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge. This is the man who inspired him. I wondered why no one brought him up on this thread yet.

From George Patton's Speech on June 4, 1944 to the 3rd(?) Army:

"We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by fighting and by showing the Germans that we've got more guts than they have; or ever will have. We're not going to just shoot the sons-of-bitches, we're going to rip out their living Goddamned guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun cock suckers by the bushel-fucking-basket." "War is a bloody, killing business. You've got to spill their blood, or they will spill yours. Rip them up the belly. Shoot them in the guts. When shells are hitting all around you and you wipe the dirt off your face and realize that instead of dirt it's the blood and guts of what once was your best friend beside you, you'll know what to do!"

Personally, this passage tells me all I need to know about the reality of what my dad saw--and never talked about. If you want to read the whole speech, click on my screen name, it's in my bookmarks. Thanks to all you Vets who've continued to keep us free.

[freeasinbeer]

What are you talking about? Because someone is comfortable with the word 'penis' has no bearing on your 'sex everywhere' theory. It is simple biology, thats it.

[Arthur McGowan]

You may have noticed that I said that COMEDIANS and SITCOMS would be throwing around the word "penis." They are not talking about biology; they are making dirty sex jokes.

I'm perfectly "comfortable" with the word "penis." I'm using it right now. Penis. Penis. Penis. See?

What I objected to and still object to, is dirty, corrupting, vulgar sex jokes on sitcoms that promote compulsive fornication.

[Gimlet]

Yes - I would say that the very best of them convey the horror of it without the need to abuse the ear. And when the words becomes routine? What is left? What are your examples of truly effective war movies?

[WOSG]

Sex and death are real too, how about XXX porno and snuff films on Saturday morning?

You better get rid of your TV now.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Cut the Cable Connection - you won't miss it.

[WOSG]

Grow up. Only children buy that "sex is natural, sex is good, so let's talk about it all the time, everywhere" crap.

Yeah (sigh) ... Grown up children with no kids can have less sense than my 6 year old sometimes.

[WOSG]

You don't get it, do you? Ever since the Impeachment Hearings, there is no longer a such thing as indecency. Sure the networks may not show something as explicit as pornography. Nevertheless, they feel content to set the boundaries. ---- I agree.

[vikingchick]

ping

[WOSG]

FWIW, I have 2 kids and there is practically nothing they can watch at all on TV. We don't have cable - it's full of garbage - and I am not interested in teaching my pre-teen children about what words mean when they are obscenities just yet. today my daughter asked what "weakest link" means. :-) So it would be nice to have some portion of the Universe of Entertainment that is non-hostile to true family entertainment. But even today most of PrimeTime is just, uggggh, ... If the cable-style adults-only-rated entertainment goes on the networks, it's GAME OVER.

If y'all are Gung Ho to watch this particular movie, I can assure you, it has been rentable For Some Time Now.

Now since you are an expert on raising kids, please help me find a movie, if any, about WWII that is suitable for a 7 year old to watch in your view. Maybe I'll rent cause i certainly dont see it on TV. Or maybe I should not tell a 7 year old that war exists???

General note on this lame theory that "Saving Pvt Ryan" is some kind of WWII Memorial, a nice Hollywood Fiction: It's good movie, I saw it some time ago, but please, it is FICTION and not a substitute for REAL history. It is a Hollywood production - someone mentioned "Das Boot", i'd recommend that as better movie, btw. I also liked "A Bridge To Far", which unlike "Saving Private Ryan" was based on ACTUAL EVENTS. And dont imagine that seeing someones guts get spilled is essential to understanding anything other gut reaction, you can get the same at a traffic accident scene; nor that obscenity in a fictional account is anymore more "real" than a lack of same in a fictional account set in an historical context. um, it's still fiction.

And if you want to know more truth about War, there is always "War and Peace" by Tolstoy. Wonder how many F*** words are in there? I urge you to count 'em all!

[WOSG]

If everyone stopped worrying about everyone else's kids and started focusing on their own, then they wouldn't have to worry about what kind of language is on TV.

Spoken like someone with no kids - I dont care what you teach your kids, I'm just trying to raise my own ... Just tell me what brilliant choice of these 3 you made with your 6-year-old and I'll see if your advice makes sense for my 6 year old ...

Parents should do one of the following: A. Use the parental lock features built into just about TV, VCR, cable box built in the last few years. B. Watch the movie with their kids, then talk to them about everything they saw. Give them your whole "Only horrible, heathen soldiers say the 'f' word" bit if that's your thing. C. Not let them watch the movie at all and hopefully keep them from experiencing this America-has-changed-forever attitude that is sweeping the nation. The only thing that has changed for me is the number of times I hear "terrorism" and "anthrax" in one day.

BTW, "A" is real lame imho, for lazy parents not wanting to pay attention. We dont have Cable and wouldn't let kids watch on their own without some supervision.

[SamAdams76]

Then why can I see it on the HBO network?

[Slapper]

Don`t forget that evil homosexual tellytubby Tinky-Winky! Jerry Falwell would be proud of you!

[Vicki]

Did I say it was a problem? All I said is that it hasn't been allowed.

[Vicki]

Never have seen the movie. Was it shown on network television?

[Texaggie79]

wha.. huh...who.....how......!

You have not seen Schindler's List? wow........... I mean WOW

Well any ways it has been shown now twice on network telivision. Un uninterrupted, besides an intermission I think (its like 3 hours) and uncut. Has language, full nudity and horrid violence.

[Hank Rearden]

Oh, come on! Swear words? Commercials?

How LONG has this movie been out and readily available for rental or purchase, anyway? Soldiers swear, networks run commercials.

If you don't like soldiers' cussing, stay away from war movies. If you don't like commercials, BUY or RENT the damn thing.

Get a grip.

[Texaggie79]

If you don't like commercials, BUY or RENT the damn thing.

I don't normally have a problem with commercials. But they spoiled us when they showed Schindler's list without 'em.

BTW I have the movie. But I like when something is on network TV. It is like you are experiencing it along with the whole nation.