[Jack_]

Let me get this right...people are kicking up a fuss because she stuck her middle finger up?

How ****ing ridiculous. Do these people not have any other more important, pressing issues to consider and deal with rather than a spontaneous middle finger gesture which most people have done numerous times in their life? I cannot stand people that think actions like this are the worst type of crime on planet earth. Seriously...get over it.

It's a gesture...which represents a word..which has a certain meaning. Is it important? No. I'll never understand the big deal surrounding swearing. Who the **** cares?

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Let me get this right...people are kicking up a fuss because she stuck her middle finger up?

How ****ing ridiculous. Do these people not have any other more important, pressing issues to consider and deal with rather than a spontaneous middle finger gesture which most people have done numerous times in their life? I cannot stand people that think actions like this are the worst type of crime on planet earth. Seriously...get over it.

It's a gesture...which represents a word..which has a certain meaning. Is it important? No. I'll never understand the big deal surrounding swearing. Who the **** cares?

Parents of little kids who now are mimicking that gesture care. If my niece or nephew were to start doing that after seeing it I would be very annoyed too.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

Parents of little kids who now are mimicking that gesture care. If my niece or nephew were to start doing that after seeing it I would be very annoyed too.

But why? Why are we all so concerned about some gestures, and, more importantly...the words that they represent?

It's just words. That's all it is, really. Words that have been given some so-called 'bad' meaning. But is it really that bad if someone swears? Not really. Is it the end of the world? Not really. It's only words, I don't see the big problem...I can't fathom why people get so riled up about the use of words. I just...don't understand, cause that's all it is. I don't know how to convey my thoughts any better than by just saying they're just words.

It's just a concept we all seem to have bought into from an early age. That all swear words are 'bad' and we must avoid them like the plague, and it is oh so bad if someone is heard to be saying one, but when you take those connotations away, all you're left with is some letters stuck together that form words like any other. Like clock, kitchen...they could all have supposed 'bad' meanings if we wanted them to, all swear words have derived over time yet we all still seem to buy into the idea that it's such an awful practice. Yet, let's the be honest, the large majority of adults do swear, have sworn, or wouldn't bat an eyelid if they heard people swearing in the street (albeit adults that is, children are 'looked down on' if heard).

I just don't get it. It's such a strange social concept. And there are far worse things going on in the world than the use of strong language...

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by Jack_

But why? Why are we all so concerned about some gestures, and, more importantly...the words that they represent?

It's just words. That's all it is, really. Words that have been given some so-called 'bad' meaning. But is it really that bad if someone swears? Not really. Is it the end of the world? Not really. It's only words, I don't see the big problem...I can't fathom why people get so riled up about the use of words. I just...don't understand, cause that's all it is. I don't know how to convey my thoughts any better than by just saying they're just words.

It's just a concept we all seem to have bought into from an early age. That all swear words are 'bad' and we must avoid them like the plague, and it is oh so bad if someone is heard to be saying one, but when you take those connotations away, all you're left with is some letters stuck together that form words like any other. Like clock, kitchen...they could all have supposed 'bad' meanings if we wanted them to, all swear words have derived over time yet we all still seem to buy into the idea that it's such an awful practice. Yet, let's the be honest, the large majority of adults do swear, have sworn, or wouldn't bat an eyelid if they heard people swearing in the street (albeit adults that is, children are 'looked down on' if heard).

I just don't get it. It's such a strange social concept. And there are far worse things going on in the world than the use of strong language...

The difference is, this gesture has a negative and rude meaning, one that a lot of people do find offensive. You have kids and then tell me you would be happy for them to see this and start copying this gesture.

And another difference is, yes people may swear in the street etc., but you cannot control that. TV, however, is meant to be suitable for family viewing and is meant to be controlled.

[In the Drunk Tank]

Originally Posted by Scott

omg

are you honestly being serious

No, I didn't even realise she did it at first and don't really care anyway now that I do know

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

The difference is, this gesture has a negative and rude meaning, one that a lot of people do find offensive. You have kids and then tell me you would be happy for them to see this and start copying this gesture.

But people shouldn't find it offensive...it doesn't make sense. It's just words. Or finger gestures. Wars, crime and financial crises are happening throughout the world and people can really sit there and be concerned about this? People's human rights are being infringed upon, innocent people being brutally murdered and yet people are really concerned about someone sticking their middle finger up, I mean really?

If and when I have kids, I'll teach them not to swear or use 'rude' finger gestures in public, to teachers or in workplaces as that's the only real thing I can do. If I had a choice, and the rest of society didn't look down upon the use of swearing in the way they do now, as they shouldn't...then I wouldn't need to do that. I wish I wouldn't have to, but I will. But as they'd grow up and mature I'd relay the same beliefs that I have...that really, it's not that important, and that they should be more concerned about the world around them and some of the problems it and they may face, rather than how 'bad' the use of a few words actually are. Which, without me even teaching them, they'll probably learn and realise that themselves as they reach a certain age.

If it were in front of me...well, I have to say I wouldn't really care. If they said they hated me, or something pretty insulting...well that's a problem. But lifting their middle finger up? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by ukturtle

And another difference is, yes people may swear in the street etc., but you cannot control that. TV, however, is meant to be suitable for family viewing and is meant to be controlled.

No, I'm sorry but I completely oppose censorship and control over TV networks.

I'm not entirely familiar with M.I.A's work (apart from that Paper Planes song), but I'm assuming she's not exactly a child friendly artist...and so as such, either the network should have made the decision not to have her perform, in the event of her perhaps doing something they don't agree with or want broadcasted, or...the parents of said children should have realised that again, perhaps the content may not have been suitable for their children, and, well...turned it off.

The responsibility to 'protect' children from content on TV lies with parents, not the broadcaster. There are plenty of ways in which to prevent your children from viewing things you don't want them to, it's pure laziness not to act on those options. Other adults shouldn't be denied the ability to watch whatever content they wish (unless it's illegal of course) at whatever time they like. That's a choice they should make, not a broadcaster, or, inadvertently, the parents who are seemingly so concerned about their children not seeing someone's middle finger.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Jack_

But why? Why are we all so concerned about some gestures, and, more importantly...the words that they represent?

It's just words. That's all it is, really. Words that have been given some so-called 'bad' meaning. But is it really that bad if someone swears? Not really. Is it the end of the world? Not really. It's only words, I don't see the big problem...I can't fathom why people get so riled up about the use of words. I just...don't understand, cause that's all it is. I don't know how to convey my thoughts any better than by just saying they're just words.

It's just a concept we all seem to have bought into from an early age. That all swear words are 'bad' and we must avoid them like the plague, and it is oh so bad if someone is heard to be saying one, but when you take those connotations away, all you're left with is some letters stuck together that form words like any other. Like clock, kitchen...they could all have supposed 'bad' meanings if we wanted them to, all swear words have derived over time yet we all still seem to buy into the idea that it's such an awful practice. Yet, let's the be honest, the large majority of adults do swear, have sworn, or wouldn't bat an eyelid if they heard people swearing in the street (albeit adults that is, children are 'looked down on' if heard).

I just don't get it. It's such a strange social concept. And there are far worse things going on in the world than the use of strong language...

You don't appear to be swearing .....

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Let me get this right...people are kicking up a fuss because she stuck her middle finger up?

How ****ing ridiculous. Do these people not have any other more important, pressing issues to consider and deal with rather than a spontaneous middle finger gesture which most people have done numerous times in their life? I cannot stand people that think actions like this are the worst type of crime on planet earth. Seriously...get over it.

It's a gesture...which represents a word..which has a certain meaning. Is it important? No. I'll never understand the big deal surrounding swearing. Who the **** cares?

Middle America .....