h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm intrigued that the beeb bleeps out the f word in post watershed quiz shows, yet allows it in drama (as well as sex & violence). Since the shows are recorded, why not just give a warning, as they do for drama, so people can choose whether or not to watch?

Err Teaswill, it may have something to do with the fact that drama is an artistic medium with a long tradition in Britain - you've heard of Shakespeare - yes? So to be intrigued why words are not bleeped in the context of drama but are in rather silly superficial pastimes like quiz shows strikes me as a little bizarre.

For crying out loud how could you not understand that drama reflects life, and quiz shows reflect 'coffee breaks'.

Teaswill I may have been a bit hastily sarcastic to you, sorry, I didn't mean to be. I just read a load of stuff on the 'Profanity filter thread' about what's being done to people on h2g2 by the BBC, and completely lost my rag.

Actually those warnings they put out annoy me as much as the bleeping. I think after the watershed, language should be left to itself in quiz shows or drama. Parents can then explain to kids when and where bad language is appropriate, such as they might explain when and where it is safe to go out alone or speak to strangers

That's OK, I think I've heard that argument about drama before. But of course these silly quiz shows are just as much real life these days.

I'm happy to have warnings, or at least some idea of the programme's content. I'm sympathetic if people don't want to watch programmes with 'strong language'/sex/violence/whatever & wish to be alerted to it. Then they should have no cause to complain!

Evidently as things are considered here, any word that sounds a bit like a word that is rude.

Better not have that conversation about Rugby containing the words Ruckiong and Punt.

Teeswill, I thought more about what you said about the way the BBC bleeps out swearwords in quiz shows but not drama. Maybe that's why they've introduced the filter here. They view h2g2 as little more than quiz show, not a brilliant international creative meeting of minds annd interesting discussion forum, and guide.

They really don't understand how to contextualise h2g2 in the slightest.

The silly thing is that bleeping draws attention to the words on TV.

Of course h2g2 is open all hours, there's no watershed. I can understand why a filter may have been thought necessary, but it doesn't appear to have been tailored very well. Hopefully, people are now calming down a bit and there'll be some sensible progress made.

This reminds me of a well known case before the U.S. Supreme Court. During the Vietnam War era, a man was arrested in a court building for wearing a jacket embroidered with the words "**** the Draft". He was convicted of disturbing the peace via offensive conduct, and the conviction upheld by a Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court reversed the conviction, reportedly stating that "One man's obscenity is another man's lyric." Details here:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=403&invol=15

I attended a lecture on this case where it was mentioned that the Supreme Court judges had directed that, since everyone knew the facts of the case, only the legalities needed to be mentioned before the Court. In particular, the "****" word was unnecessary. So the appealing lawyer starts out by saying, "OK, this is about the '**** the Draft' case ..."

Wow, took me three tries to get that post past the H2G2 filter, had to go to **** ... even the letter F at the beginning is unacceptable.

Belgium that!

RF

Pucking Hell!

>> Teeswill, I thought more about what you said about the way the BBC bleeps out swearwords in quiz shows but not drama. Maybe that's why they've introduced the filter here. They view h2g2 as little more than quiz show, not a brilliant international creative meeting of minds annd interesting discussion forum, and guide.

Now that is the most interesting thing I've read all day, (beating the fact that two of my younger colleagues are apparently boffing each other by a short nose).

I need to think about it a lot more, Fanny, but I do think you are right, and have put your finger on something disturbing, odd and subtle.

Ben

I have no xucking idea what makes a xunting word profane.