Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not in front of the children

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  • Russell Brown,

    Well to be really picky:

    Heh. "Pendant" is an in-joke around these parts ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Petra,

    And the ass o' nonce is still Paul Henry.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    Why are we expected to spend breakfast looking at presenters?

    You're not, you're fully entitled to turn off it and converse with the famille, do the crossword, or listen to the bird song outside the fenestra. You are expected to eat something.

    Unfortunately, on camera, he is sometimes a mean-spirited bully.

    He's a self-important attention whore.

    Those being, the Herald's writer's ignorance of how statutory Broadcasting Standards work, and related panic attack about "banned" words that aren't actually banned.

    The main issue, and this goes a long way in the argument as to why New Zealand just isn't ready to be a republic, or call itself its own culture with any significant cultural autonomy, is that there are these huge discrepancies between the cultural norms/ customs and trends and those that the authorities are attempting to impose. And those that Tiffany Normal is trying to impose via the authorities, and an ensuing conflict.

    And hence we find ourselves amidst a situation in which people have so much time that they can afford to sit down and watch something they potentially may find offensive, be offended, write a letter of complaint about the degree of offence they have taken, and gripe about the unfavourable findings of the relevant authority. A culture in which many are doing their damnedest on any given day, to change other's mindsets via the headmaster. This ain't living. So many radio dials, remote controls, channel buttons screaming out for attention.

    And dare I say it, a culture in which once the next new taboo has been legislated, people will stand idly by and watch males push female's faces into their genitals and then shout we must protect this man, for that is the law.

    When we all just stand by and let people do that. I don't think the word 'retarded' or 'retard' stacks up much in the offence stakes.

    Sure, we need our internet, we can't have it wantonly disconnected for perceived copyright violations, but if some girl gets a bit of dick in face, we'd rather protect the dickholder and debate offensive words, than put together a few harmless words resulting in offence to one person and one person only in the name of natural justice.
    retarded.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3130782/Celeb-sex-victim-angry-at-name-suppression

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Did he elaborate what he meant by marginal?

    I don't think it took any elaboration to figure out it was a polite euphemism for "their brains and mouths are not always on the best of terms", if not "they'd get beaten up in bars a lot if they weren't on radio".

    Say what you like about Henry, but the ease with which he gets under people’s skin is quite something.

    Unlike Laws, say, who works really hard at it.

    Um, no... I've had more direct contact with both men than I care to admit to, and they're both calculatingly malicious. Sorry, I don't believe for an instant that that "retarded" crack hadn't been floating around in what I'll charitably call his mind for a while.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Nope, sorry. You're thinking of consonance vs. assonance. Alliteration includes both.

    Sir, both my former teachers and my Google dictionary search say you are mistaken.

    Mostly ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I don't think it took any elaboration to figure out it was a polite euphemism for "their brains and mouths are not always on the best of terms", if not "they'd get beaten up in bars a lot if they weren't on radio".

    That second one is rather good.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Sir, both my former teachers and my Google dictionary search say you are mistaken.

    Mostly ...

    They're slippery concepts, but I believe what I put up above is the standard explanation to English students. Sometimes you'll hear that alliteration is the repetition of the initial sound of words, regardless of whether it's consonants of vowels. In either case the opposite of assonance is consonance.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Sure, we need our internet, we can't have it wantonly disconnected for perceived copyright violations, but if some girl gets a bit of dick in face, we'd rather protect the dickholder and debate offensive words, than put together a few harmless words resulting in offence to one person and one person only in the name of natural justice.
    retarded.

    How does "the two are utterly unrelated" strike you?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    You'd be hard pressed to argue that some words are less banned than others in the context of the two examples, the reference to section 92a is simply an observation of priorities, for those willing to take up a cause. Dick in face or reliable internet?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    banned words

    But the words in one case aren't banned, and the others are a name.

    The story you linked to is interesting in a couple of ways, but it just doesn't have anything to do with this issue.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    weren't you just discussing the use of the word cunt, and isn't that a banned word?

    but it just doesn't have anything to do with this issue.

    Everything has something to do with everything else. the acceptability of language useage is on the agenda today, wasn't it?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    it just doesn't have anything to do with this issue.

    What do you think this is? an internet thread or something?
    Now, to get back on topic. I must go to Bunnings and buy a new spatula for my hotplate.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    ok, back to the topic. retarded means slow, isn't it?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    weren't you just discussing the use of the word cunt, and isn't that a banned word?

    No, it isn't. As I said in the post, I used it on TV myself this year. The BSA doesn't "ban words".

    Everything has something to do with everything else. the acceptability of language useage is on the agenda today, wasn't it?

    Issues around it, yes. But there was a long post and an even longer discussion about the Prominent Entertainer case and name suppression. Implying that there's something wrong with people if they don't want to discuss it in an unrelated thread is silly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    No, it isn't. As I said in the post, I used it on TV myself this year. The BSA doesn't "ban words".

    But some organization out there is banning words and combinations thereof.

    s. But there was a long post and an even longer discussion about the Prominent Entertainer case and name suppression. Implying that there's something wrong with people if they don't want to discuss it in an unrelated thread is silly.

    The implication was not made, I see vital connections here in terms of attitudes to FOS and language and offensiveness of language. Isn't that thread closed?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • izogi,

    NatRad was still going on about the Adagio fiasco on Midday Report. There were gasps, apparently, from members of the audience, when the offending words were spoken and the offending orgasm faked.

    I was at least impressed they didn't just go to McCoskrie for an easy quote about how awful the entire thing was. (I'm assuming they still haven't done so.) Still, the lack of an attempt to present any information to justify the tone of the report seemed unusual.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    No, it isn't. As I said in the post, I used it on TV myself this year. The BSA doesn't "ban words".

    Indeed -- and sorry for not picking up on the point of the post. Guess I've gotten "desensitised" to the editorial board of the New Zealand Herald having a somewhat woozy grasp on basic, and easily checkable, matters of fact. A shame, because as you said it undermined a potentially useful conversation starter.

    Still, the lack of an attempt to present any information to justify the tone of the report seemed unusual.

    I guess the silly season has kicked off early this year...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I don't think it took any elaboration to figure out it was a polite euphemism for "their brains and mouths are not always on the best of terms", if not "they'd get beaten up in bars a lot if they weren't on radio".

    I was wondering if he had some slightly less catastrophic way of discovering 'marginal personalities', short of unleashing them in a bar or on national TV.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    Implying that there's something wrong with people

    I believe the word I used was retarded.

    re·tard·ed (rĭ-tär'dĭd)
    adj.

    1.

    Often Offensive Affected with mental retardation.
    2.

    Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed.

    The point I was making was entirely related to;

    shifts in community standards.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    I was wondering if he had some slightly less catastrophic way of discovering 'marginal personalities', short of unleashing them in a bar or on national TV.

    May I humbly suggest staff Christmas parties? If anything can reveal the "real person", it's half a litre of spiked eggnog and an unattended photocopier.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    I'm not sure what my opinion would be if they faked orgasms,

    Really not sure I want to see Oliver Driver fake an orgasm and absolutely certain I don't want to see PH try ... shudder

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Leigh Kennaway,

    I'm having a hard time keeping up with when I should be shocked and outraged, and when I should be decrying the PC nanny state. Could someone help me out?

    Oh that's a simple one; if it impinges in any way whatsoever on white middle-class heterosexual married folk it is Nanny Stateism Gone Wild. If it's anyone else moaning they shouldn't be so bloody thin-skinned. Build a bridge and get over it!!

    sunny Pt Chevalier • Since Mar 2008 • 40 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Really not sure I want to see Oliver Driver fake an orgasm

    I have seen Oliver Driver fake an orgasm -- it's the thought of anyone having a real one all over the hallowed boards of the Downstage that creeps me out. Just remember the wise advice of Mrs. Valerie Denton at the end of this clip...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But some organization out there is banning words and combinations thereof.

    News and other shows will often not use certain words. You probably haven't heard many swear words on the 6pm news, and if they're reporting on someone who said it they'll normally bleep it out.

    Even these trends change however. When the 'bugger' ad came out the debate about that was on the news (can't remember if the newsreader said it or not). You wouldn't have had that on the news 20 years earlier (or on the ad).

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Build a bridge and get over it!!

    I believe the correct expression is "build a motorway overpass" and get over it.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

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