# Michael Powell and the FCC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-and-the-fcc/279790>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 14, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-and-the-fcc/279790 "2004-12-14T15:27:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-and-the-fcc/279790/21 "2004-12-15T23:12:00Z")

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> [@mhendo](#):
>
> It doesn’t surprise me that this is what goes on, but it does surprise me that the people who make these decisions apparently think that their audience is not only prudish, but stupid. I mean, every single time they censor the “hole” part of the word “asshole,” it is completely obvious what the original word was, either from context, lip-reading, or both. It’s like when someone writes “f_ck," or even "f_\*\* you” in the ridiculous belief that we won’t know what he really means.
> 
> I don’t need swearing to be happy. Some of my favorite movies and shows have little or no profanity at all. I just resent being treated like a moron.

It’s not that _we_ treat our listeners like morons, because we know they’re not. However, the FCC, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that we can’t say certain things on the air. The penalties are fines we can’t afford and the possible loss of our broadcast license. These are penalties we would just as soon rather not risk, and thus, we have to play ball by the FCC’s rules. I’d love to see the language restrictions go away, but they’re not anytime soon; in fact, they’re tighter now than they used to be.

Robin

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