Films, TV shows and music with swearing should be taxed more

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Tolerance has led to an ever growing problem of foul behavior. The only solution is to enforce a widespread, coherent and fair regressive tax aimed at curbing swearing. Irrespective of whether the swearing is used unintentionally, maliciously or casually it shouldn't be broadcasted without penalty.

10% more sales tax should be levied on the media being sold with swearing in it. This will lead to a new era of creativity and a return to a more rich, imaginative and fulfilling use of the English language - the largest and most impressive in the world. It will not outlaw people using the language they want but will keep the potty mouthed where they belong - at the bottom of the pile.

The penalty will not actually ban the action and therefore will not restrict freedom. What it will do is make people accountable for spreading more behavior becoming of those crawling in the gutter. Those taxes on the swearing could then pay for a lowering of taxes on alcohol and restaurants.

This would improve the quality of life of everyone. More people would eat and drink out more often. Discuss.

If people actually were tolerant towards swearing, it wouldn't be considered foul behaviour.

Taxation of 'swearing' seems like an incredibly bad idea to me.

Which words would you consider as swearing?
I've noticed that some TV programmes will censor words that are correct to the term applied. Using an example: cock, dick, etc- fine. Penis? CENSORED!! ! lol

Shakespeare most of all.. There are some immensely foul (and fair?) concepts and language there. Who cares that modern audiences miss may of the connotations, it's still filthy.

Terrible idea. The bluenoses already have too much power.

The OP has little concept of the origins, antiquity and pervasiveness of the words he wishes to censor. He has little mind for the extensive use by the general public of those words, even in the last 100 years. That the media has adopted their use in the last 30 years is merely a catering to the publics base sense of amusement.

To put it simply, media adopts public mannerisms, not the other way around.

Perambulator, look up the etymology of the words you dislike.

I'll give you an example. Its a four letter scatological word beginning with S and ending with T.

Etymology:
Middle English *s**t, from Old English scite; akin to Old English -scītan to defecate
Date:
circa 1526

They are legit words, in dictionaries. You can look them all up here. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

I remember a comment from my wife while watching Apocolypto about some of the language used by the tribes (Mayan/Aztec?) which was subtitled as modern day swear words.

At the time I too thought that it "took from the movie" because how would these people know such words. It was therefore quite interesting to read an interview with director Mel Gibson where he discussed the fact that they had an expletive for defecation which they would use with vehemence to describe things they didn't like. They had a similar word for intercourse which they used in the same manner as our swear word.

I think that every culture will tend to develop words to describe local things first; parts of the body, actions, trees/grass, wind, rain etc... It also follows that they will use bad/yucky action/object words to describe bad/yucky situations.

If films and other public entertainment are to be true to the language people actually use in communication then so-called swear words must be used to be faithful to reality. To complain that using swear words indicates a lack of imagination in the use of creative language is merely an indication that people in reality are not particularly creative in their language. To present ordinary people as having the creative abilities of the finest poets is to make an entertaining fantasy that would no doubt be amusing but present a very peculiar picture of reality.

The often expression of horror that little children will be educated into foul language is to assume the kids are ignorant of these expressions. I have frequently been the object of the foulest language from well dressed middle class kids from the age of six onwards as these are the words that delight kids the most since they offer a form of power to shock simple minded adults and I sincerely doubt little children are ignorant of these terms. The best technique is to laugh at them since it disempowers the words and might frustrate the kids from using them.

Most if not all kids are regularly exposed to the most sadistic and insensitive human actions on films showing brutality and rape and murder every evening on TV and to complain about language seems to me the height of idiocy.

What the **** is this **** you're proposing? I don't give a **** what the **** government says, I'll say ****, #$%#, @*!*, @(#*!@&, %*#*@#&, and #*#(@* all I **** please!

Ah, well if this happens then eating a Big Mac and renting an R rated movie will - in Biden terms - make me more patriotic.

Life would be a lot more palatable if people did think and speak more poetically. That's all I'm saying. Doesn't look like anyone agrees with me so no worries, it's not going to happen.

They already have that. Television and radio stations DO get fined pretty heavily for using certain words.

Also the fact that there are alot of people that feel as you do ensures that there are more media products of the like you want in existence.
So if you just want more stuff you like then continue your patronage of it. Eventually someone creative will give you more stuff to enjoy.


That being said the idea of policing other persons personal choices I find completely reprehensible.

Having your own values accepted and tolerated means you should do the same for others. Even if a few of those others make it feel as if your not accepted, the fact that you can do most of what you like without being locked up is proof that you are. At least as much as anyone is.
For every pity party christian who feels rejected by the world there are atheists, pagans, muslims, etc. that feel the same sting from different sources.

Now I know this isn't necissarily about religeon its just a good example.
The solution isn't restricting tolerance, its promoting it!

So just as much as you hate hearing swear words I hate media that sacrifices aspects of itself to avoid swear words (I know its rare but it happens).
We both have our niches of things we enjoy, probably even with a decent amount of crossover, but that doesn't mean we should give the boot to what we don't like right?

I find the whole business of swear words both puzzling and fascinating. If I told somebody to have sexual relations with himself would that be considered swearing? If I told somebody he was constipated instead of full of shi t, would that be considered swearing? Is it offensive to say "ye gods!" or "may the gods deal with you!" instead of "God damn you" would that corrupt a child?
If not, then it is not the intent that is swearing so it must be the very potent and magical words themselves. But it is infantile to avow that merely sounding out words is a frightful action if there is no intent behind them. May I indicate that being frightened and repelled by empty words is overwhelmingly stupid without offending anybody?

I think anybody who does something as depraved as swearing should be put to death.