ACLU Sues To Protect Your Right To Swear 698
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the seven-words-you-can-always-say-in-public dept.
from the seven-words-you-can-always-say-in-public dept.
The ACLU is suing the police in Pennsylvania for issuing tickets to people who swear. They argue that it is every American's constitutional right to drop an F-bomb. From the article: "'Unfortunately, many police departments in the commonwealth do not seem to be getting the message that swearing is not a crime,' said Marieke Tuthill of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. 'The courts have repeatedly found that profanity, unlike obscenity, is protected speech.'" This is a big f*cking deal.
Let it rip... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Let it rip... (Score:3, Funny)
America.. (Score:2, Funny)
Crossing the line (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Jail?! For swearing?! (Score:5, Funny)
Right then, you know the rules, into the paddy wagon.
Re:What's so bad about swearing, anyway? (Score:5, Funny)
It's fucking uncouth, you stupid fucking cunt.
Re:Fuck (Score:3, Funny)
I'm within my rights to suggest a cop "Fuck off.", but I can't advise him, "Go fuck yourself."?
As long as you include a disclaimer you should be fine in either case...
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult with your physician or health practitioner prior to beginning any exercise/diet program.
Re:Let it rip... (Score:5, Funny)
There once was a man from Nantucket
Who replied so he could type FUCK IT!
He burned all his karma, and wasted your time,
and as for the bucket, well there is none.
Re:Let it rip... (Score:2, Funny)
Please dont use that word. Calling someone stupid is rude and insulting.
OBOnion (Score:5, Funny)
What part of the fucking First Amendment don't you understand, motherfucker?
Re:What's with the asterisk, Slashdot? (Score:5, Funny)
Just print the U please, it won't hurt anyone.
Ok. This is a big *u***** deal.
Re:Jail?! For swearing?! (Score:4, Funny)
Right then, you know the rules, into the fucking paddy wagon.
fixed.
Re:Already settled? (Score:5, Funny)
I go to NY, every few years for my sister and the last time I was there I distinctly remember a cop giving directions to some Midwesterner tourist swearing every other word while the tourist sat there wide-eyed with kids.
" Yeah, you take the fucking right and go right past fucking Portland street. "
Re:Let it rip... (Score:5, Funny)
Fuckin' whoosh...
Re:Let it rip... (Score:5, Funny)
They use swearing as some sort of over compensation, trying to sound important, but only coming across as the dimwit they are.
I see what you mean.
I think Eric Cartman said it best (Score:5, Funny)
Mr. Garrison: OK, kids, let's start the day with a few new math problems. What is five times two? Come on children, don't be shy. Just give it your best shot. [Clyde raises his hand] Yes, Clyde?
Clyde: Twelve?
Mr. Garrison: OK. Now let's try to get an answer from someone who's not a complete retard. Anyone? Come on, don't be shy.
Kyle: I think I know the answer, Mr. Garrison.
Cartman: [mocking Kyle in high-pitched, gibberish voice]
Kyle: Shut up, fat boy!
Cartman: Hey, don't call me fat, ya fuckin' Jew!
Mr. Garrison: Eric! Did you just say the F-word?
Cartman: Jew?
Kyle: No, he's talking about "fuck." You can't say "fuck" in school, you fuckin' fat ass!
Mr. Garrison: Kyle!
Cartman: Why the fuck not?
Mr. Garrison: Eric!
Stan: Dude, you just said "fuck" again!
Mr. Garrison: Stanley!
Kenny: [muffled] Fuck.
Mr. Garrison: Kenny!
Cartman: What's the big deal? It doesn't hurt anybody! Fuck, fuckity-fuck-fuck-fuck!
Mr. Garrison: How would you like to go see the school counselor?
Cartman: How would you like to suck my balls?
[everyone gasps]
Mr. Garrison: [enraged] What did you say?!
Cartman: Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Actually, what I said was: [picks up a megaphone] "How would you like to suck my balls, Mr. Garrison?
[Garrison stands rooted to the spot, frozen with fury]
Stan: Holy shit, dude.
For Fuck's sake! (Score:2, Funny)
I wonder if the ACLU will show up to protect some smart mouthed punk before I ram my fist down his throat? Fuck the ACLU! The only right anyone actually has is to die. In the mean time, I do have quite a lovely collection of dental records embedded in my fists.
Re:Let it rip... (Score:3, Funny)
First they came for "fuck", and I didn't speak out because I don't say "fuck"...
...Berzerker!
Re:What's with the asterisk, Slashdot? (Score:2, Funny)
Gadz**ks, thy verbal effl*ence doth offend!
Re:Already settled? (Score:2, Funny)
[citation needed]
Could not resist! (Score:2, Funny)
Spock: Your use of language has altered since our arrival. It is currently laced with, shall we say, more colorful metaphors, "double dumb-ass on you" and so forth.
Kirk: Oh, you mean the profanity?
Spock: Yes.
Kirk: Well that's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you unless you swear every other word.
--------
[Spock is still learning how to use profanity correctly]
Spock: They like you very much, but they are not the hell "your" whales.
Dr. Gillian Taylor: I suppose they told you that.
Spock: The hell they did.
--------
Kirk: Spock, where the hell's the power you promised?
Spock: One damn minute, Admiral.
--------
Disgruntled guy in car: Hey, why don't ya watch where you're going, ya dumb ass!
Kirk: Well, a double dumb ass on you!
--------
Spock: Are you sure it isn't time for a colorful metaphor?
I just have to say (Score:4, Funny)
Fsck censorship!
Re:What's with the asterisk, Slashdot? (Score:4, Funny)
Ok. This is a big *u***** deal.
What's a "quieted deal"?
Re:Let it rip... (Score:4, Funny)
To try to come up with a serious answer to your post...
I've found that the amount of swearing and choice of curse words is strongly linked to socioeconomic background. I know plenty of people from typical working class backgrounds who despite having college educations, high IQs, large vocabularies and all the necessary tools for swear-free communication will still curse a lot more than other friends who come from the middle or upper classes of society, they also tend to use simpler swear words with more direct "force" behind them.
Someone from the upper class is more likely to avoid swearing in general and will most likely often try to vary him-/herself when swearing while someone with a working class background is more likely to just blurt out "fuck", "fuck you", "fuck it", "ah fuck", "fuck this shit" and so on.
Also, since language in general is very context-dependent it is likely that using "fuck", "shit", "cunt" or another swear word in a sentence will not distort the message enough for it to be unintelligible.
Of course, this whole fucking post is based on a big pile of anecdotal shit.
Re:Hmmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Normally I’d just send you to www.lmgtfy.com [lmgtfy.com]... but I’ve been waiting a long time for a good excuse to send someone to www.justfuckinggoogleit.com [justfuckinggoogleit.com].
Re:Hmmmm (Score:3, Funny)
Fuck the fucking fucker for fucking not fucking writing fucking 'fuck' un-fucking-self-fucking-censored.
Fuck!
Tim Minchin [onegoodmove.org], is that you?
Re:Hmmmm (Score:4, Funny)
oh, well in that case... .... grow up.
Re:Hmmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Seriously, self-censorship is a good thing, often under-practiced.
I agree.
And as to the ACLU fighting to say profanity is everyone's right, well, it's everyone's right to be a fool too, but that doesn't mean it's the best thing to be.... Is the ACLU going to go to court and support the Constitutional right be a fool too? It makes about as much sense.
I find it amazing that people will say a Christian doesn't have the right to spread/proselytize their religion, or the symbols of Christianity offend them, and want all symbols of Christianity wiped out, while they will fight for the right to offend someone else with their profanity. It's nothing but pure hypocrisy.
Shut the fuck up.
Re:Let it rip... (Score:5, Funny)
Thou mangled clay-brained strumpet!
In thine exhaustive listing of profane, uncouth vocabulary, thouest did misseth "asshat".
But without, you speak an infinite deal of nothing.
The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
Re:Hmmmm (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hmmmm (Score:2, Funny)
"Do you have to use so many cuss words?
What the fuck are you talking about?"
Re:Crossing the line (Score:5, Funny)
You don't want to incite a public orgy, do you!? There might be children in the room!
Re:Hmmmm (Score:3, Funny)
I have no problem with that at all. My right to punch you, figuratively speaking, stops where your nose begins.
You have every right to disagree with me, just as I have every right to disagree with you. I think you fail to understand though that your rights were first spelled out in the source from whence came my Bible, the Talmud, the Old Testament. That's where they were first expressed.
Hate my religion if you will, but recognize that it was the Protestant idea of the individual's ownership of his life and his property that made the American revolution happen, and are embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. You are indebted to those who think like me for your freedoms. You don't have to like that fact, but you should respect it.