# 911 hanging up on caller for swearing -- can they DO that? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308 "2009-05-04T17:22:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/61 "2009-05-05T03:43:49Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And yet, **Starving Artist** , as I said, you can bet my grandmother was swearing back in the day. Now again, shut up. You seem to come from the same mindset as the cop. > > They’re WORDS. Words. Hell, I had a nun in fourth grade who told us when we giggled at hearing the word “penis,” “Why? It’s just a word.” > > Take your nostalgia and stick it up your ass. Uh, **Guin** , Sweetie-pie Punkin’ Pants, whyfore political correctness? I could rattle off lots of ‘words’ that would have your ilk screaming for ostrasization and the instantaneous loss of careers decades in the building. So don’t give me that “they’re only words” bullshit. And, uh, if you want me to shut up, telling me to do so isn’t very likely to accomplish that end. The more likely result is that I’ll call you demeaning ‘words’. 😉 Capisce? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/62 "2009-05-05T03:45:18Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Exactly! She was every bit as determined to use the word ‘fucking’ as the dispatcher was to refuse to let her get away with it, and IMO she played a key role in his not taking the call more seriously. He very likely felt that if the emergency was real, she would shut the hell up and do whatever was necessary to get help on the way. It was her “Do you want to fucking lose your job?” that made my sympathy evaporate. Stupid girl, get your priorities straight, and she does _not_ sound frantic or panicked to me, especially when she threatens to sue the cop. Nice to know she’s thinking litigation while Dad is dying on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/63 "2009-05-05T03:56:37Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > You sure put a lot of thought and blah-ditty-blah into me making a joke about your stupid “exactamundo!” Keee-rist. Just trying to make sure you know the realities of things, dear. (And I was saying ‘exactamundo’ long before Fonzie came along, you know. I thought you were merely falling in line with certain other ‘lefties’ around here who think I believe the fifties were like Leave It To Beaver and were chiding me accordingly. If you were merely playing off my ‘exactamundo’ remark, as much as I’ll hate to have to do it, I’ll apologize. > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Also, do you see “lefties” everywhere you look? Nope, but I mostly do around here. (Note I said ‘mostly’. There are a few right thinkers, but we’re in the minority.) > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I’m hardly a leftie, no matter how much you believe Rush Limbaugh that they’re taking over the world! [Sigh]I DO NOT LISTEN TO RUSH LIMBAUGH![/Sigh] > [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > See, here’s the thing. HE was at work supposedly doing his JOB. She was not. He has a responsibility to put the PUBLIC need above his need for AUTHORITY. Also, you can clearly see that he knew he was wrong when he said that he didn’t get a chance to find out what she wanted. He was trying to minimize his own culpability in the situation. He didn’t get a chance because he hung up on her like some offended schoolmarm. > > When I deal with patients some of them are in terrible pain and very abusive verbally. I do my job and take care of them. I don’t cry like a little baby that I don’t have to listen to their foul language and refuse to do my job. I think police work may be something he’s not fit for anymore. I would guess that’s why he was taking 911 calls instead of out doing other police work. Perhaps you missed the part where I said he was wrong. That, however, doesn’t remove the onus of partial responsibility from the airhead who can’t talk without saying fuck. No matter how much pain I may be in, I’m not gonna curse and call you names (unless maybe if you make it worse). And you know why? I grew up in an era where people just did not do that, that’s why. In other words, I was trained that that was not the way to behave. Nowadays, people are ‘trained’ to act pretty much any damn way they want with no regard as to how it affects others, and this is the kind of stuff that results. My advice, if you’re an undisciplined airhead and you need something from somebody, is not to yell ‘fuck’ at them. But then again, that’s just me. Unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/64 "2009-05-05T03:57:49Z")
Back when you were a teen, SA, did people who were then of your current age think that young people of that time were uncouth? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/65 "2009-05-05T03:58:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It was her “Do you want to fucking lose your job?” that made my sympathy evaporate. Stupid girl, get your priorities straight, and she does _not_ sound frantic or panicked to me, especially when she threatens to sue the cop. Nice to know she’s thinking litigation while Dad is dying on the floor. She may have thought the threat of litigation was the only thing which would get the dispatcher to cooperate… ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/66 "2009-05-05T03:59:44Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It was her “Do you want to fucking lose your job?” that made my sympathy evaporate. Stupid girl, get your priorities straight, and she does _not_ sound frantic or panicked to me, especially when she threatens to sue the cop. Nice to know she’s thinking litigation while Dad is dying on the floor. I couldn’t agree more. I haven’t read the transcript, but if I had and read that I’d have been even less charitable toward her than I have been up to now. What a dolt! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/67 "2009-05-05T04:00:01Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > She may have thought the threat of litigation was the only thing which would get the dispatcher to cooperate… If so, then she’s even dumber than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/68 "2009-05-05T04:08:44Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As is usually the case, my comments were merely in response to mischaracterizations of comments I’ve made in the past. (For example, see **Dissonance’s** post which first brought me into the fray here.) My first post was meant tongue-in-cheek as to your likely reaction, as was the beatnik post, but in all seriousness: In what way have I mischaracterized you? You actually _do_ think incivility by those dirty hippies undermined society and is responsible for endless ills today, and you have gone on ad nauseaum about it. You _do_ think that back in the days of the Beave that this wouldn’t have occurred. > [@](#): > > No, societal mores back then were such that the kind of behavior described by the girl in the OP simply wasn’t tolerated. So where’s the mischaracterization? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/69 "2009-05-05T04:13:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I thought you were merely falling in line with certain other ‘lefties’ around here who think I believe the fifties were like Leave It To Beaver and were chiding me accordingly. You’ve said pretty much exactly that before, though not in so many words. Christ, half of the posts of yours that I’ve seen in the last few months have been bemoaning the loss of civility in our society due to those damn hippies and idolizing the fifties. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/70 "2009-05-05T04:14:32Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And I see you’ve been to the _Rubystreak School of False Attribution_. 😉 I’ve never said that everything used to be perfect. Awww, stop it, or people will say you’re in love with me, bringing me up in random threads in which I haven’t even posted! Instead, please tell us what all lefties are like and how you and Richard Nixon are morally superior in every way! Pretty please! And how that makes it OK that a cop hung up on a girl because his panties were in a bunch about… the f-word! It gives Mrs. Cleaver the vapors! ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/71 "2009-05-05T04:15:58Z")
Tired as **Starving Artist** ’s handbasket-Cassandra shtick is, he never said it was OK that the cop hung up on the girl. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/72 "2009-05-05T04:17:11Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Back when you were a teen, SA, did people who were then of your current age think that young people of that time were uncouth? Prior to the late sixties, no. We were rambunctious, silly, sometimes arrogant…and some of us, myself included, could be pretty profane and vulgar when just among ourselves. But when out in public or around adults or children or girls (I can hear the cries of ‘sexism’ already) we kept that under wraps. We were mostly polite and mannerly, but not in an obsequiesce way. And, if the situation permitted, we weren’t above sly smirks or winks to let our friends know we were just playing at being ‘grownup’. And on preview, sorry, **Dissonance** , but I’ve spent too much time here today and have to go. I apologize for missing the humor you intended in your posts. Your comments were typical of many I get here in earnest and when I get going hot and heavy in a couple of threads at the same time, as I have today, nuance can escape me. Again, my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/73 "2009-05-05T04:28:56Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > You’ve said pretty much exactly that before, though not in so many words. Christ, half of the posts of yours that I’ve seen in the last few months have been bemoaning the loss of civility in our society due to those damn hippies and idolizing the fifties. Sorry, gotta go. But if there weren’t so many examples of people acting like assholes around here, I wouldn’t have to bitch so much about what caused 'em to be that way in the first place. 😃 And on preview, epic smooches to **Rubystreak**. I’m outted at last. 😉 And now I’m out. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/74 "2009-05-05T04:30:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And on preview, epic smooches to **Rubystreak**. I’m outted at last. 😉 It all makes sense now. You hate the left because you secretly crave our love. Sorry, you can’t touch this. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/75 "2009-05-05T04:41:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > If so, then she’s even dumber than I thought. You know what else is really stupid? Judging kids like they’re adults. They don’t have the life experience. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/76 "2009-05-05T04:45:17Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > It all makes sense now. You hate the left because you secretly crave our love. Sorry, you can’t touch this. 😛 I can’t touch that? Aw, man…😉 (Ba da da dum, ba da, ba dum…Didn’t write this…ba da da dum, ba da, ba dum) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/77 "2009-05-05T04:56:14Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > You know what else is really stupid? Judging kids like they’re adults. They don’t have the life experience. Yeah, you’re right. _Fuck_ the father, he raised her wrong! She’s clearly not some clueless adolescent. She wanted the cop’s name so she could “sue” him. You wanna make up some more excuses for the bimbo? If she’d _killed_ her father, she’d already have been tried as an adult. What should’ve happened, of course, is for the cop to patiently repeat “what’s the emergency?” until it got through her thick durr-uhm-like-yeah skull that it _was_ an emergency and to wise up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/78 "2009-05-05T05:02:58Z")
I just think the cop handled it wrong. She said “fuck” the first time when she was waiting for someone to pick up, and then he responded to that instead of just addressing the emergency situation which clearly riled her up. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to provoke someone who’s already freaked out. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/79 "2009-05-05T05:21:52Z")
People are defending the cop? What the fuck? Did I cross over into some bizarre world where being offended by swear words justify stupid-as-shit behavior? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/80 "2009-05-05T05:24:12Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > People are defending the cop? What the fuck? Did I cross over into some bizarre world where being offended by swear words justify stupid-as-shit behavior? Who’s defending the cop? The cop being wrong and the girl being stupid are not mutually-exclusive conditions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308.md?page=5)