# Indecency complaints about the Olympics opening ceremony. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671 "2004-12-13T22:35:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/21 "2004-12-14T13:03:50Z")
during hte ceremopny, when the pregnant woman’s stomach lit up to represent the birth of History, all I could think of was “Danger! Danger! High Voltage!” ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/22 "2004-12-14T13:37:30Z")
Statues of naked men? In Greece? The end of civilization is near. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/23 "2004-12-14T13:39:26Z")
Oh for Fuck’s sake. Colin Powell should take his son out to the woodshed for a whipping and beat some sense into the boy. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/24 "2004-12-14T13:42:55Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > during hte ceremopny, when the pregnant woman’s stomach lit up to represent the birth of History, all I could think of was “Danger! Danger! High Voltage!” HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA [link to reference](http://www.electric6.com/media/dhv.mov) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/25 "2004-12-14T16:00:25Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Oh for Fuck’s sake. Colin Powell should take his son out to the woodshed for a whipping and beat some sense into the boy. Hey, Mikey doesn’t _initiate_ the complaints, he _investigates_ the complaints… and if someone DOES complain he can’t just crumple the complaint and blow his nose in it just because it’s obviously stupid, he has to consider it. If AFTER the consideration the FCC says anything other than, “sorry guys, representations of ancient Grecian Art get a pass”, _then_ you can conclude that the Army kept daddy away from home too long to allow him knock some sense into Mike. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/26 "2004-12-14T16:29:23Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Hey, Mikey doesn’t _initiate_ the complaints, he _investigates_ the complaints… and if someone DOES complain he can’t just crumple the complaint and blow his nose in it just because it’s obviously stupid, he has to consider it. Whoa! So if we file a complaint against the 700 Club ('cause they’re always talking about sodomy, you know), they’d have to investigate it? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/27 "2004-12-14T16:49:09Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Whoa! So if we file a complaint against the 700 Club ('cause they’re always talking about sodomy, you know), they’d have to investigate it? Yes. Yes, they would. Keep in mind that [99.8% of all FCC complaints come from one organization](http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000731656), the Parents Television Council. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/28 "2004-12-14T17:54:41Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA > > [link to reference](http://www.electric6.com/media/dhv.mov) See, now that’s just plain mean. I was expecting some kind of enlightening reference on the subject of pregnant Greek women throughout history, and instead I have the son of Falco and his mom (in bondage togs) yelling at me. In time with a really bad song. Don’t do that anymore. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/29 "2004-12-14T18:29:31Z")
You know four hundred years ago these same type of people saw people flying around on broomsticks. Fifty years ago they were being abducted by Grey Aliens, twenty odd years ago they witnessed satanic rites in every city park. Now they are seeing naughty bits everywhere. From what I understand it would be impossible for these complaints to have an validity as the US network involved went out of there way to edit and shoot the ceremonies so that none of these things were seen. There was a huge time delay from the time it was shot and teh time it was aired to prevent any scandle. It is likely the moron complaining read about the ceremony and then filled his memory with visions of lude images he “saw” on TV and now needs to burn the witch… er fine the station. One quick review of the Tape will show this is a big steaming load. ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/30 "2004-12-14T21:57:30Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > during hte ceremopny, when the pregnant woman’s stomach lit up to represent the birth of History, all I could think of was “Danger! Danger! High Voltage!” This is the damned funniest thing I’ve read in months, and I now must go listen to that song. 😃 [sub]Fire in the disco![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/31 "2004-12-14T22:16:48Z")
These folks actually need more moral fiber, cuz the doctor always says you need more fiber if you’re full of shit. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/32 "2004-12-14T22:19:31Z")
> [@Jervoise](#): > > Here’s a slightly longer story: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Olympics-indecency-probe/2004/12/12/1102786931195.html?oneclick=true](http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Olympics-indecency-probe/2004/12/12/1102786931195.html?oneclick=true) asy chance of getting a link that _doesn’t_ require registration? some of us would rather not register with every newspaper in the known universe just to read a link. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/33 "2004-12-14T23:47:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Hey, Mikey doesn’t _initiate_ the complaints, he _investigates_ the complaints… and if someone DOES complain he can’t just crumple the complaint and blow his nose in it just because it’s obviously stupid, he has to consider it. And, BTW, he just recommended to the Commission that it _NOT_ take any action against any of the stations that aired _Saving Private Ryan_ uncut recently (because, yes, people complained!). But the full Commission has to vote on his recommendation, again he can’t just clear or condemn by fiat. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/34 "2004-12-15T00:06:06Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Whoa! So if we file a complaint against the 700 Club ('cause they’re always talking about sodomy, you know), they’d have to investigate it? As **Derleth** said, yes. But be aware that the preliminary “investigation” basically consists on having some FCC employee sit thru the tapes of the complained incident (you DO have to report a _specific_ instance of indecency/obscenity, you can’t complain generically) to see if anything unusual or unexpected did happen, and it in no way, shape or form hinders the broadcaster’s ability to carry on. Commercial broadcasters tend to feel a “chilling” effect just because they are typical corporate cowards living in dread fear of doing anything that will cost the stockholders money. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/35 "2004-12-15T03:59:00Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Could have been a lot worse. At least America did not have to look at a nipple during the stadium festivities. Actually, there _were_ some bare female nipples on display–specifically, a pair belonging to the woman dressed as the [Minoan Snake Goddess](http://www.athens2004.com/en/ceremonyImgallery/redirect?date=8b2734e54c85ef00VgnVCM10000028130c0aRCRD&channel=ceremonyImgallery&cpage=1&lang=en). She was evoking the image of this particular artwork: [http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~bruceh/cc307/minoan/images/co.jpg](http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~bruceh/cc307/minoan/images/co.jpg) She did appear in NBC’s coverage of the ceremony, but only in shots from the back–they didn’t dare to show any of the shots of her front. Personally, what I found offensive about NBC’s coverage wasn’t the ceremony itself (which I found very beautiful and, as an art historian, great fun to watch)–what offended me was Katie Couric and Bob Costas’s godawful commentary. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/36 "2004-12-15T06:26:00Z")
Hmm… so you aren’t allowed to have abortions, but you can’t be pregnant either? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/37 "2004-12-15T07:17:16Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Ew, creepy! Little girl bodies! My brain needs a good bleaching now. Maybe you haven’t watched the Olympics in recent years. They sure as hell aren’t little girls. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/38 "2004-12-15T07:21:43Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Actually, there _were_ some bare female nipples on display–specifically, a pair belonging to the woman dressed as the [Minoan Snake Goddess](http://www.athens2004.com/en/ceremonyImgallery/redirect?date=8b2734e54c85ef00VgnVCM10000028130c0aRCRD&channel=ceremonyImgallery&cpage=1&lang=en). Maybe it’s the dim pale lighting on her skin, but that is the least erotic pair of nipples I’ll cast my eyes on this week. Even the statue’s headlights were more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/39 "2004-12-15T13:51:33Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Maybe you haven’t watched the Olympics in recent years. They sure as hell aren’t little girls. I think a couple of Olympics ago there was a retreat from the “younger” and younger" thing they were getting into. There’s been a lot of well-deserved acrimony directed toward gymnastics organizations for putting very young kids under the pressure of international athletic competition. They seemed to be heading in the direction of injecting babies with steroids. I’m glad they’ve gone with older competitors. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671/40 "2004-12-15T13:52:46Z")
Hell, TNT aired a swimsuit special a couple of years ago that featured a bunch of supermodels wearing nothing but body paint. There wasn’t an FCC investigation over _that._ Remind me…if I ever conquer the planet, to have all the networks broadcast _Caligula_ and _Kill Bill_ back to back, uncut, for about a month. That should get everyone desensitized enough not to complain about a glance of a painted-over nipple in the future. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indecency-complaints-about-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/279671.md?page=3)