The 7 designated BAD Words

Discussion in 'Referee' started by gkeck, Jan 29, 2004.

  1. gkeck

    gkeck Member

    Apr 5, 2002
    Southern California
    The media has mentioned some congressional action against use of 7 specific BAD words. My guess, they will be typical amatuer game vocabulary. Anybody seen the exact words...wonder what impact this action might have on Sunday afternoon games....
     
  2. ProfZodiac

    ProfZodiac Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Boston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My best guess is it would be the George Carlin list we're all aware of.

    PM me if you aren't aware of the content of this list.
     
  3. saabrian

    saabrian Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    Upstate NY
    Club:
    Leicester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    WHere specific have you seen/heard this?

    Jeez and they say the left is "politically correct."
     
  4. Jeff from Michigan

    Jeff from Michigan New Member

    Dec 22, 1999
    Livonia, Michigan
    Well...there is a difference between the "political correctness" of the left, and the "anal correctness" of the right. But it involves the topic...not the mindset, which seems to be an urge to tell other people what to think and how to behave.

    Unfortunately...many of the rest of us tend to be cowed by people with strong opinions, no matter how silly they happen to be. I suspect we'd all be better off simply laughing at them, and not taking any of what they say seriously. Besides, it would drive them all crazy...and might actually embolden the rest of us to stand up for common sense, once in a while.
     
  5. gkeck

    gkeck Member

    Apr 5, 2002
    Southern California
    Re: Re: The 7 designated BAD Words

    I heard it being discussed on a ABC channel earlier this week.
     
  6. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    I think this might have something to do with Bono's appearance at an awards show earlier this year where he let an F bomb loose on live national TV. The FCC responded with some nonsense ruling about it not being used in a sexual manner so it was okay. Meanwhile, local and national radio DJ's have been fined for much, much less. So, to clarify the situation I think they are going to make the 7 words (regardless of subject manner or intent) against the regs.
     
  7. saabrian

    saabrian Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    Upstate NY
    Club:
    Leicester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh that's right. I remember hearing about this. It wouldn't result in Congressional legislation (for everyone) but Federal Communications Commission directives (for broadcasters). So you can feel free to swear at your Sunday league matches... except in our league where it's an automatic caution (and fine).
     
  8. jc508

    jc508 New Member

    Jan 3, 2000
    Columbus, Ohio area
    I would be interested in the guidance your league has given regarding what qualifies as an automatic caution. Do they use the 7 deadly words? Or do they leave it more open ended similar to the USSF guidance on foul and abusive language? How does the league try to help the refs be consistent on calling this offense?

    I am not only curious about how it is done, but I think it reflects the problems of saying what is bad today. When Clark Gable in "Gone With the Wind" said the word "damn" it caused an uproar. Today we have hip hop lyrics and Janet Jackson's over exposure. Standards change.
     
  9. dj43

    dj43 New Member

    Aug 9, 2002
    Nor Cal
    Standards only change when people allow the standards to be lowered. The allowance of profanity is just another example.

    While the Janet Jackson deal is the one that has gotten the most press, the "lyrics" of the P Diddy/Nelly "song" were equally offensive and should be similarly controlled. Talk of drugs and guns in the context that the performer condones their use in everyday life is wrong.

    Just because some people use certain words, doesn't make it OK to subject the rest of the population to their use.

    Frankly, as a youth/teen soccer coach for the past 16 years, we MUST do a better job of setting standards if we want our kids to become decent adults. Some refs will card these words while others just ignore them. When those that allow them are asked, they will just say, "it is now common language." That is wrong.
     
  10. comme

    comme Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 21, 2003
    There is nothing that makes any word wrong in itself, it is only the reaction of people to certain word that gives them their significance. With increasing use words lose their impact and so with it lose the negative connotations. If people no longer find certain words shocking or offensive then that does not signify a decline in any standards, it shows that people's accetance of that word has increased.
     
  11. saabrian

    saabrian Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    Upstate NY
    Club:
    Leicester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "I would be interested in the guidance your league has given regarding what qualifies as an automatic caution. Do they use the 7 deadly words? Or do they leave it more open ended similar to the USSF guidance on foul and abusive language? How does the league try to help the refs be consistent on calling this offense? I am not only curious about how it is done, but I think it reflects the problems of saying what is bad today. When Clark Gable in "Gone With the Wind" said the word "damn" it caused an uproar. Today we have hip hop lyrics and Janet Jackson's over exposure. Standards change."

    I'm not a ref so I'm not sure what exact directives the referees receive in my men's league. But the general rule we're given is "don't swear" because often wives/girlfriends and children come to watch the games. Given that, it seems the volume of the swear plays a role.

    As a youth (11-13) coach, I don't put up with language. Two years ago, one of my kids came off the field and yelled in frustration, "The defense sucks" and he sat for the rest of the game. As our top scorer at the time, we could've used him late in the 3-4 game but the point about negativity was more important.

    It makes it a lot tougher when other coaches don't give a dang what their kids say. When the other kids are running their mouthes, it's hard for my kids to hold their tongues. I enforce my standards but it doesn't mean it's hard when other coaches dont' care.
     
  12. Craig the Aussie

    Craig the Aussie New Member

    May 21, 2002
    Sydney, Australia
    You'd never finish a match down here.

    The problem is that different words are considered offensive to different groups.

    (And whats with the fuss over Janet Jackson ?? - her nipple was covered. More concerning is that it was obviously a planned publicity stunt, and its worked)
     
  13. dj43

    dj43 New Member

    Aug 9, 2002
    Nor Cal
    So I guess we should just tell the referees to allow ALL 7 of those words ALL the time because the sooner people get used to hearing them the less they will be offended.

    No comme, you are wrong, wrong, wrong. People decide the levels of decency they want and the level they will not tolerate. For ANYONE to say that because a certain number of people use it in common language therefore it should be OK is tyranny.

    The people of the US have rejected that position overwhelmingly in the Janet Jackson stunt AND in their condemnation of the lyrics of P Diddy's "song" before it.

    It's about time!!!
     
  14. comme

    comme Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 21, 2003
    What is tyranny is to tell people what they can and cannot say on the grounds of moral standards.

    I could be offended by any word, but that is down to me. It is down to more than my perception of that word, it is down to the connotations which I attatch to it. No word is inherently wrong.
     
  15. Naughtius Maximus

    Jul 10, 2001
    Shropshire
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    In the UK we have the 9pm 'watershed' after which pretty much anything goes in the way of language.

    Is there something similar in the states now? I know there didn't used to be but has it changed now?
     
  16. comme

    comme Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 21, 2003
    Last night on "I'm a celebrity", Johnny Rotten described viewers as "f#####g c###s" for keeping him in. Ant and Dec had to say they were incredibly sorry. That was at 10 at night. It just shows that in Britain the C word is still unacceptable.
     
  17. UncleLTrain

    UncleLTrain Member

    May 19, 2002
    10pm - 6am ... "safe harbor"
    thats when broadcasters can have more indecent programming. Cable tv can do pretty much anything it wants because it is not free broadcast. Personally I feel its the parent's job to parent. Superbowl halftime was bad, because kids watch the superbowl. But don't complain when you're letting your kids watch tv you deem harmful to children. Just because you have a car doesn't mean you let your kids drive it. Just because you have a tv doesn't mean you should always let your kids watch it.
     
  18. SccrDon

    SccrDon Member+

    Dec 4, 2001
    Colorado Springs
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's just a copout. Since there's no sense of responsibility from content providers, I either have to tell my kids "no TV, no internet, no music except classical or the Christian stations" or I have to sit with them every second to monitor what they're doing.

    If you're going to say something, you have a responsibility to make sure it's worth hearing and that it's appropriate for the setting. That's not censorship - that's how to live in society.
     
  19. comme

    comme Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 21, 2003
    That may be true of television, but not of real life. Every person has a different perspective on what is and what is not offensive. All that can be said is that you should try to respect the sensibilities of others and tailor your language for each occasion. That is a simple case of respect for others. However in my opinion a referee should be like a policeman, unoffendable. If a member of the crowd complains at the language used on the pitch then action should be taken, but not otherwise. Football is a physical game in which tempers get raised and allowances should be made for that.
     
  20. Alberto

    Alberto Member+

    Feb 28, 2000
    Northern, New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is utter nonsense. Language of this sort is considered vulgar. Use of slang in common everyday speech in the work place or at school is not acceptable. It reflects badly on the user. It shows they have to rely on the use of shock words in order to gain attention or make a point. We all know that people fart and belch. Yet it is still considered socially unacceptable in western society to do so because of the smell, and loud distracting sound it makes. Cursing in the course of sporting events and in social settings is still inappropriate. I know and recognize it because I am as guilty of it as the next person. You have to take the culture, social setting and age of the people you are interacting with into consideration and tailor your speech to the user. It show a lack of respect and insensitivity towards peoples feelings. The reality is that many people are offended by vulgar speech. Recognizing this is a good thing. Learning to make the same points without reliance upon vulgar language is a measure of ones maturity and intelligence.

    To the issue that repetition of a vulgar word makes it lose it's impact. Just because you desensitze a word by constant use does not make it accepted. This is about societal acceptance. Just because you as an individual feel it's fine does not make it acceptable.
     
  21. jc508

    jc508 New Member

    Jan 3, 2000
    Columbus, Ohio area
    Perhaps we need to differentiate between the terms "accepting" and "tolerating" such language.

    While I may tolerate someone blurting out a vulgar word when they get hacked, I don't accept its usage.

    When it becomes public, personal, and/or profane, the referee should neither accept it nor tolerate it.

    Just my view.
     
  22. Alberto

    Alberto Member+

    Feb 28, 2000
    Northern, New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ergo referees should not be respected?

    I don't buy into that football is a passionate game therefore, it should be permissible to curse at the referee. There is a reason laws were created. They impose a minimum acceptable standard of behavior that allows individuals to live and work with each other for the maximum benefit of all.

    Cursing and otherwise intimidating referees is counterproductive for the control of the game and is incendiary. Therefore, the same standards of behavior that apply in the community also apply to the treatment of referees by players and coaches and moderates what they should tolerate from players. Therefore, if someone calls you a blind F-head in your office. You are perfectly within your rights to file a grievance or report the inappropriate behavior. Allowing players to chastise and berate referees undermines their authority and their ability to do their job (painfully obvious to any reasonable individual). To not have clearly defined standards and to allow cursing and provacative behavior is a slippery slope to chaos. It's seems to me you revile in anarchy. There is no place for it on the pitch.
     
  23. nsa

    nsa Member+

    New England Revolution
    United States
    Feb 22, 1999
    Notboston, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fixed your post.
     
  24. MrZedd

    MrZedd New Member

    Jul 18, 2003
    too broad a brush there

    Alberto:

    while I agree with you in general terms, I think you paint with too broad of a brush. I could think of an example where a player screaming, "you gotta be kidding me" is closer to dissent than someone muttering "f@*# me"

    As for the c word mentioned earlier for our UK friends, that is the magic word that nearly anywhere, anytime, any 'cultural' environment in the U.S. will be met with a fist to the chops, no discussion. and that could be on the pitch or in a boardroom!

    I actually enjoy discussions on languages and cultural customs. I think it leads to understandings of how we may be different, but in most ways very much alike.
     
  25. comme

    comme Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 21, 2003
    Quite a few points to address here.

    Firstly I am not making the point that people should use bad language, simply that what is characterised as bad language is the perception in sections of society that some words are offensive and others are not. For instance the word vagina is a perfectly acceptanble and non-offensive word while c**t is not. That is because society imposes the idea that one is vulgar and another is acceptable, when in fact they have the exact same meaning.

    My point is that through imposes its morals in terms of which words are and which are not acceptable, society is imposing upon individuals just as much as the people who use those words are.
     

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