# I \*bleeping\* Pit the \*bleeping\* \*bleep\* **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856 "2007-01-21T17:50:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/1 "2007-01-21T17:50:12Z")
I’m not much of a TV watcher (I prefer to rot my brain online) but the other people in my house are. While the WryGuy tends to watch stuff like the History Channel and Discovery and such, both my daughter and my brother watch a fair bit of reality TV - more stuff like Miami Ink and the Dog the Bounty Hunter show than Wifeswap or the like, but it’s still reality TV. And it is driving me OUT OF MY _BLEEPING_ MIND, because there’s apparently a huge amount of profanity in these shows… and it’s not the profanity per se that bothers me, but the near-constant _bleeping_ of the profanity! There seems to be whole entire paragraphs of bleeped-out profanity in these shows. How the _bleep_ can anyone even follow a conversation that sounds like this: “I’m all like _bleep_ you, you _bleep_ _bleep_! Where the _bleep_ _bleep_ does he _bleep_ his _bleep_? I don’t know, I _bleep_ told _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ and then _bleep_” Holy _bleep_! If there’s so much profanity that this amount of bleeping is required to broadcast the show, has it ever occured to anyone that maybe there’s just too much profanity for it to air?? (I am amused, though, by this odd bleeping phenomenon: “You are an ass_bleep_. _bleep_damn you.” How come “hole” and “god” get bleeped when “ass” and “damn” don’t???) ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/2 "2007-01-21T17:54:10Z")
I agree about the excess bleeping. Does the show air on any other channels, maybe, where the profanity is permitted? That would explain why they keep it in the show but bleep it out. But yeah, when every second word is bleeped, it’s really hard to follow the show. Besides that, can someone explain to me how a show about a tattoo shop gets a spot on the _learning_ channel? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/3 "2007-01-21T18:02:18Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] How come “hole” and “god” get bleeped when “ass” and “damn” don’t??? [/QUOTE] 'Cause it’s the whole expression that gives the FCC the flying shits. “Ass” and “damn” are standard fare now. “Hole” is more descriptive of the body part that they don’t want you to know you have, and thus it’s deleted. Using “god” pejoratively in any way will light up the switchboards, so it’s bleeped out. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/4 "2007-01-21T18:06:27Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] 'Cause it’s the whole expression that gives the FCC the flying shits. “Ass” and “damn” are standard fare now. “Hole” is more descriptive of the body part that they don’t want you to know you have, and thus it’s deleted. Using “god” pejoratively in any way will light up the switchboards, so it’s bleeped out. [/QUOTE] So I guess the worst thing you could call someone on TV would be a godhole? Sweet assdamn, that’s funny! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/5 "2007-01-21T18:09:59Z")
[QUOTE=Antigen] So I guess the worst thing you could call someone on TV would be a godhole? Sweet assdamn, that’s funny! [/QUOTE] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/6 "2007-01-21T18:13:32Z")
[QUOTE=Antigen] I agree about the excess bleeping. Does the show air on any other channels, maybe, where the profanity is permitted? That would explain why they keep it in the show but bleep it out. But yeah, when every second word is bleeped, it’s really hard to follow the show. [/QUOTE] I think it’s more of a case where the idea is this is “reality tv” and real tattoo artists and bounty hunters and head chefs (I’m thinking of Hell’s Kitchen which was on a broadcast network–like Fox a few years back) swear, so allowing them to interact naturally and profanely and then bleeping it makes sense. Except that reality tv is so contrived and edited for the camera, that one does sometimes think–hey, why don’t you just have them run through that conversation again, minus the profanity. I don’t watch a lot of that kind of stuff, but I’ll admit, little as I like actual profane language, sometimes bleeping is worse. And sometimes, just cutting the sound entirely is even worse yet. (I watched something, in my usual laidback motel room tv on for company, but I’m reading a book or packing or something, where everytime it got quiet because someone swore I’d look up at the screen. I found it very annoying.) ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/7 "2007-01-21T18:22:12Z")
[QUOTE=Eureka] I don’t watch a lot of that kind of stuff, but I’ll admit, little as I like actual profane language, sometimes bleeping is worse. And sometimes, just cutting the sound entirely is even worse yet. [/QUOTE] Yes, exactly. I’m not a nun, my own language is more-frequently-than-is-necessary punctuated by profanity, but endless streams of sentences that are nothing BUT profanity is “real-life”? OK, even if I buy that, the bleeping is FAR more annoying than the swearing would be. I’m often here in the dining room on the computer while someone else is watching TV in the next room. Generally, the volume is low enough that I can’t hear the TV except for the bleeps. I could understand if, as **Antigen** suggested, if a show was made for Showtime or HBO and was being re-broadcast on a network, but shows made FOR the Learning Channel or Fox or whatever?? ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/8 "2007-01-22T00:22:08Z")
I’ve got an idea for a product that would deal with this. A context sensitive swearword inserter. It would parse the dialog for beeps and insert an appropriate fuck, damn, hell, or shit. The real trick would be getting the gender, tone, and timbre correct. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/9 "2007-01-22T01:20:38Z")
I’ve got an even better idea: Why can’t they use the SAP (Secondary Audio Program) channel (it’s hardly ever used; most of the channels I generally watch have no SAP content) to carry the unedited version of the audio. SAP is off by default, so people who don’t want their kids learning those words (don’t get me started on how stupid _that_ is) don’t have to do anything special, but those who want the raw dialog can switch on the SAP. Failing that, I wish they’d stop using BLEEP and just blank out the objectionable words; it would be _much_ less annoying. _Bleeping_ sons of _bleeps_. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/10 "2007-01-22T14:23:44Z")
We (a bunch of friends of mine) were all watching Jerry Springer one afternoon (WHAT? It was on at the bar!) and watched as another “bleep” filled conversation was broadcast - they were “bleeping” words that weren’t even profanity - just for shock (or is it schlock?) value. Cracked us the hell up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/11 "2007-01-22T14:39:34Z")
[QUOTE=Antigen] … Besides that, can someone explain to me how a show about a tattoo shop gets a spot on the _learning_ channel? [/QUOTE] Yeah, and while they’re at it, I’d like to know why a bunch of dudes playing poker is all I ever see on the _Travel_ Channel…geez, I thought they had jumped the shark back when they started doing all those “Top 10 Destinations In Which To Engage In Shallow Materialism/Sexism/Whateverism”… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/12 "2007-01-22T16:37:06Z")
Ah, but the bleeping can be an endless source of comedy when it’s parodied. OK, maybe not endless. But South Park and Arrested Development used it to hilarious effect. _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ ! “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, buddy.” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/13 "2007-01-22T16:45:28Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Holy _bleep_! If there’s so much profanity that this amount of bleeping is required to broadcast the show, has it ever occured to anyone that maybe there’s just too much profanity for it to air?? [/QUOTE] There are stations that insist on broadcasting Scarface, which is basically one long string of curse words, so they make up the dialog instead. “Where’d you get the beauty scar, tough guy, eatin’ _pineapple_?” “How’m I gonna get a scar like that eating _pineapple_?” On second thought, maybe the bleeps are better. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/14 "2007-01-22T17:05:24Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] There are stations that insist on broadcasting Scarface, which is basically one long string of curse words, so they make up the dialog instead. [/QUOTE] Worst replacement dialog ever: “Everything was going OK until Dickless here stepped in.” “Is this true?” “It’s true. This man has no dick.” Replaced by: “Everything was going OK until Brainless here stepped in.” “Is this true?” “It’s true. This man is some kind of rodent, we’re not sure which kind.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/15 "2007-01-22T17:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Ah, but the bleeping can be an endless source of comedy when it’s parodied. OK, maybe not endless. But South Park and Arrested Development used it to hilarious effect. _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ _bleep_ ! “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, buddy.” [/QUOTE] _My Name is Earl_"Shh. You had me at “testicles.”" _The Breakfast Club_ - “Forget you!” “No, forget YOU!” We caught our first ever episode of “Hell’s Kitchen” late one Friday night, and no bleeping in sight! Holy moleys, that’s a whole lotta “fuck,” there! We caught our second episode yesterday in prime time, and it was bleeped to heck. I’m torn about the bleeping, actually. I’m not all that offended by the occasional swear word, but a whole show of nothing but swearing (or bleeping) does get old. As Will Smith said, “Easy on the swears.” ---
**Author:** ![Ammonium\_Nitrate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Ammonium\_Nitrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ammonium_Nitrate)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/16 "2007-01-22T18:24:25Z")
Hence my bewilderment when “The Sopranos” went to standard cable. From what I’ve heard about the show, the dialogue would be one long bleep, right? ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/17 "2007-01-22T19:47:47Z")
[QUOTE=Ammonium Nitrate] Hence my bewilderment when “The Sopranos” went to standard cable. From what I’ve heard about the show, the dialogue would be one long bleep, right? [/QUOTE] No _bleeping_ kidding. Every other _bleeping_ word out of their _bleeping_ mouths is a _bleeping_ swear word. If you plan on _bleeping_ out the entire _bleeping_ dialogue you are going to have a _bleeping_ dull show. Some movies should not be on regular cable or TV with the language censored because it distracts the viewer from the experience. _Full Metal Jacket_ loses something when they censor the basic training tirades. I really commend ABC for putting _Saving Private Ryan_ on with the full language and violence. Same with Comedy Central for _South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut_ even if they had to show it after midnight. Other shows go over the top with the language (most reality shows and the “confrontational” talk shows like Springer or Povitch) but you have to look at the kinds of people that participate in them. I’m no prude and I heard every swear word possible when I was in the Army, working in construction, working in warehouses and working with truckers. But I don’t think the obscenities need to be that prevalent. The VW ads where the people get into an accident ends with a passenger saying, “Holy…” and then it cuts them off. Same thing for a Comcast internet ad. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/18 "2007-01-22T20:04:44Z")
What is the penetration of [TVs with the V-chip](http://www.fcc.gov/vchip/) now? They’ve been mandatory in virtually all TVs for over six years now. Why won’t cable channels just rate their programs honestly and show uncut programming, then let the viewer control what the TV will show by blocking ratings they find offensive? Is _bleep! \* really less offensive than_ fuck!\* if you can read their lips? ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/19 "2007-01-22T20:05:16Z")
It’s not a TV show (you’d think :)), but a friend and I had a joke for a while where we envisioned Eminem playing the Superbowl, and all that we’d get would be: “Buh-bleep. Bleep. Bleep-bleep. Bleep bleep bleeeep.” ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856/20 "2007-01-22T21:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=Ammonium Nitrate] Hence my bewilderment when “The Sopranos” went to standard cable. From what I’ve heard about the show, the dialogue would be one long bleep, right? [/QUOTE] No _bleeping_ kidding. Every other _bleeping_ word out of their _bleeping_ mouths is a _bleeping_ swear word. If you plan on _bleeping_ out the entire _bleeping_ dialogue you are going to have a _bleeping_ dull show. Some movies should not be on regular cable or TV with the language censored because it distracts the viewer from the experience. _Full Metal Jacket_ loses something when they censor the basic training tirades. I really commend ABC for putting _Saving Private Ryan_ on with the full language and violence. Same with Comedy Central for _South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut_ even if they had to show it after midnight. Other shows go over the top with the language (most reality shows and the “confrontational” talk shows like Springer or Povitch) but you have to look at the kinds of people that participate in them. I’m no prude and I heard every swear word possible when I was in the Army, working in construction, working in warehouses and working with truckers. But I don’t think the obscenities need to be that prevalent. The VW ads where the people get into an accident ends with a passenger saying, “Holy…” and then it cuts them off. Same thing for a Comcast internet ad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bleeping-pit-the-bleeping-bleep/388856.md?page=2)