Re: OT: Something to think about in the wake of the Don Imus Crucifiction



Nomen Nescio wrote:

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

I'm no fan of Don Imus, but I'm posting this 'cause I'm totally disgusted with
the new attitude in this country that "You are free to say what is politically correct".
Freedom of speech is not just freedom to speak the inoffensive.

(rest of lengthy diatribe snipped)

FYI, there WAS a time (in days when public speech was far more "free" than it is now) when NO public broadcaster was "free" to use offensive language (such as calling a woman a "ho" - meaning "whore"). That included such comparatively innocuous words as "damn" and "hell". Words like "prostitute" were allowed in factual news broadcasts, but neither newscasters nor commentators (there IS a difference, although the lines nowadays have been blurred past recognition) were allowed to indulge in insulting language and name-calling. It is very disquieting that foul-mouthed insults by some cretin with a minimum education in the English language are now deemed to be "humour". If you are really concerned about loss of freedom of speech in America, suppose you oppose the monopolization of our mass-media by private interests who only allow their OWN choice of the "news" to be heard on the major broadcast outlets! Thank God the Internet is still free, allowing us otherwise ignorant Americans access to British and Canadian news sources. (Also those of other countries, if we can read their languages.)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Something to think about in the wake of the Don Imus Crucifiction
    ... more "free" than it is now) when NO public broadcaster was ... recognition) were allowed to indulge in insulting language ... "news" to be heard on the major broadcast outlets! ... Great point about opposing corporate monopolies in the media. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Great area for a break-out!
    ... Another apatrid who doesn't bother learning the language of his second ... news: 1151615456.158615.62840@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... Dave Frightens Me wrote: ...
    (rec.travel.europe)
  • Re: PM granted interview to CNN on Rohingya issue.
    ... unwillingness to attempt to speak the language of the country they are ... deductions about tourists' ability to speak the language of the country ... in *English* English at least, ...
    (soc.culture.thai)
  • Re: PM granted interview to CNN on Rohingya issue.
    ... Um, you did spot that the issue was solely the willingness to talk the language of the country being visited if known, and not how 'obnoxious' a tourist is? ... deductions about tourists' ability to speak the language of the country being visited seeing as in 99.9 per cent of all cases outside Anglophone destinations tourists are incapable of saying anything other than 'Hi' in the local lingo. ... departure, 2) remember what they have learnt, 3) can pronounce it in an intelligible manner and 4) have the nerve to put it into practice once they discover that most people in tourist destinations speak some English anyway. ...
    (soc.culture.thai)
  • Re: Registry Destruction in progress...
    ... Some games would show up with some weird scripts, ... which is normal, because obviously it's written in different language, so ... the character set you install has nothing to do with code. ... any country outside of the U.S. to use ...
    (rec.games.computer.ultima.dragons)