# Motherfuckering FCC **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 18, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513 "2004-11-18T19:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/21 "2004-11-18T20:41:44Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I have to stand by **Homey** on this one, **gobear**. Your first post was kind of ambiguous, and until I actually went back to make sure of the screen name, I wasn’t quite sure which side was getting shot. 🙂 Nope, seemed pretty clear to me, even before I looked at who wrote it. > [@gobear](#): > > How odd it is that the advocates of government repression and the erosion of the first Amendment are the ones who yelp the loudest about “freedom.” > > Freedom is slavery, indeed. Well, ya see, we have to curtail freedom in order to expand it; to make people more free by guiding them in the right direction. :rolleyes: What’s really frightening about this is that it’s a bipartisan issue. > [@Binarydrone](#): > > …(having not seen the skit, I have no intelligent opinion on it)… [Link](http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2656474). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/22 "2004-11-18T20:43:23Z")
Much like when a plane lands safely it is not news, poeple don’t “complain” to the FCC when their sensibilities have not been offended. What we need to do is do a counter-offensive (pun intended) and email and write the FCC that we were not offended and that we cannot have the lowest offended denominator determining what will and won’t appear on my TV screen. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/23 "2004-11-18T20:52:36Z")
**Gangster Octopus** has a point. In fact it seems it only took about [three people complaining](http://www.buzzmachine.com/archives/2004_11_15.html#008481) to earn a record $1.2 million against Fox for its “sexually suggestive” _Married by America_. > [@](#): > > I just received the FCC’s reply with a copy of all the complaints – and a letter explaining that, well, there weren’t 159 after all. William H. Davenport, chief of the FCC’s Investigations and Hearings Divison, admits in his letter that because the complaints were sent to multiple individuals at the FCC, it turns out there actually were only 90 complaints. It gets better: The FCC confesses that they come from only 23 individuals. > > It is shocking enough that what tens of millions of us are permitted to see by our government can be determined by 159 … or 90 … or 23. > > But it gets even better: I examined the complaints and found that all but two of them were virtually identical. In other words, one person took the time to write a letter and 20 other people then photocopied or merely emailed it to the FCC many times. They all came from an automated complaint factory like the one I write about here. Only two letters were not the form letter. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/24 "2004-11-18T20:55:22Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > I thought that it was obvious that I’m referring to the GOP and their allies as the hypocrites who talk about freedom but prefer authoritarianism in practice. I wasn’t sure at first. I thought you might have meant the previous posters in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/25 "2004-11-18T21:06:50Z")
Interesting thought, Homebrew. Does anyone else think we should push for letter-writing campaigns stating how we _ **didn’t** _ find whatever TV event offensive? Sounds like a good idea. Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/26 "2004-11-18T21:10:24Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Interesting thought, Homebrew. Does anyone else think we should push for letter-writing campaigns stating how we _ **didn’t** _ find whatever TV event offensive? Sounds like a good idea. > > Sam Put me down. ---
**Author:** ![NaSultainne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NaSultainne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NaSultainne)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/27 "2004-11-18T21:11:48Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > [http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65734,00.html?tw=wn\_tophead\_1](http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65734,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1) > > What the fuck is this country turning into? You don’t like something don’t watch / listen to it. DO NOT SCREW WITH MY ABILITY TO ENJOY IT. > > Assholes. I _am_ offended by such stupid commercials. I _am_ offended that they show such junk during so-called ‘family hour’. I lump this one in with that other outrageously crude Viagra commercial; the one with the ‘horns’ appearing behind the guy’s head as he gives his wife (though these days, like as not, _not_ his wife) that male intended-to-be-come-hither-but-ends-up-looking-doofy-anyway smirk as they disappear into a lingerie shop. I absolutely _hate_ every stinking one of the male-enhancement commercials, bar none. And here’s the kicker: scream and curse all you want, **World Eater** , but the commercial is on before you can dive for the remote or channel button. _That_ means I _don’t_ have control to avoid the crud beforehand, and that, my dear poster, is why I get so angry. Based on the reactions the FCC is hearing, I’m not the only one with a gripe. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/28 "2004-11-18T21:13:46Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Put me down. You’re short, your bellybutton sticks out too far, and you’re a terrible burden on your poor mother. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/29 "2004-11-18T21:14:22Z")
Actually, I applaud the decision to bleep _Saving Private Ryan_. Had they bleeped the entire movie and fast-forwarded to the scene where Tom Hanks dies, the whole thing would have been drastically improved. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/30 "2004-11-18T21:16:10Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > You’re short, your bellybutton sticks out too far, and you’re a terrible burden on your poor mother. > 😃 That’s quite enough, Dr. Venkman. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/31 "2004-11-18T21:20:35Z")
> [@NaSultainne](#): > > I _am_ offended by such stupid commercials. I _am_ offended that they show such junk during so-called ‘family hour’. If it was truly family hour, you wouldn’t have your ass planted on the couch in front of the TV watching some of the most vacuous TV programming on the planet. > [@](#): > > Based on the reactions the FCC is hearing, I’m not the only one with a gripe. Yes, all 3 people who wrote unlike letters/E-mails/complaints. :rolleyes: Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/32 "2004-11-18T21:24:14Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > You’re short, your bellybutton sticks out too far, and you’re a terrible burden on your poor mother. > 😃 Why you little… ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/33 "2004-11-18T21:30:22Z")
> [@NaSultainne](#): > > I _am_ offended by such stupid commercials. I _am_ offended that they show such junk during so-called ‘family hour’. I lump this one in with that other outrageously crude Viagra commercial; the one with the ‘horns’ appearing behind the guy’s head as he gives his wife (though these days, like as not, _not_ his wife) that male intended-to-be-come-hither-but-ends-up-looking-doofy-anyway smirk as they disappear into a lingerie shop. I absolutely _hate_ every stinking one of the male-enhancement commercials, bar none. And here’s the kicker: scream and curse all you want, **World Eater** , but the commercial is on before you can dive for the remote or channel button. _That_ means I _don’t_ have control to avoid the crud beforehand, and that, my dear poster, is why I get so angry. > > Based on the reactions the FCC is hearing, I’m not the only one with a gripe. Pick up your remote. Change the channel. Better yet? Hit the off button. Read a book to your kids. You’ll be interacting with them far more than staring at a screen. Buy a TiVo. Of course, [that might be ending soon, too](http://wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65704,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2). [Peg Bundy]Thank you government, kids[/pb] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/34 "2004-11-18T21:41:12Z")
Okay, please don’t think this is another rant, but a question, as I’m confused-how do these guidelines NOT violate the First Amendment? ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/35 "2004-11-18T21:43:35Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > If it was truly family hour, you wouldn’t have your ass planted on the couch in front of the TV watching some of the most vacuous TV programming on the planet… Now _that_ is a most excellent point! ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/36 "2004-11-18T21:49:43Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > **Lib** , the Yoda of the Carolinas? :eek: That’ll be $14.95+tax for my keyboard, please. _dies_ ---
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/37 "2004-11-18T21:59:58Z")
9:00 Monday night is family hour? Who lets their kids stay up to watch MNF? On a school night? On the east coast anyway. I think that in ten years or less broadcast television and radio will be so outdated that only crap like Rush Limbaugh and The Beverly Hillbillies will be on it. On demand porn will be on every TV menu across America. Well OK the Beverly Hillbillies isn’t that crappy. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/38 "2004-11-18T22:04:42Z")
> [@NaSultainne](#): > > I _am_ offended by such stupid commercials. I _am_ offended that they show such junk during so-called ‘family hour’. I lump this one in with that other outrageously crude Viagra commercial; the one with the ‘horns’ appearing behind the guy’s head as he gives his wife (though these days, like as not, _not_ his wife) that male intended-to-be-come-hither-but-ends-up-looking-doofy-anyway smirk as they disappear into a lingerie shop. I absolutely _hate_ every stinking one of the male-enhancement commercials, bar none. And here’s the kicker: scream and curse all you want, **World Eater** , but the commercial is on before you can dive for the remote or channel button. _That_ means I _don’t_ have control to avoid the crud beforehand, and that, my dear poster, is why I get so angry. > > Based on the reactions the FCC is hearing, I’m not the only one with a gripe. Yep, you are one of 23 who bothered to actually send a letter, 20 of whom could not be bothered to write one themselves. Do you have a problem with a Viagra add (the one you describe has been pulled from the airwaves by the FDA)? Don’t use Viagra. Contact Pfizer and the station and the producers of the show, tell them you will not watch their shows nor buy their products until they stop showing the add. I accept those as valid ways of showing dissatisfaction with a product or services. HOWEVER, just because I might be offended by something, I don’t cry to the government to block it from everybody. I am not everybody’s caretaker, and neither should you be. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/39 "2004-11-18T22:10:24Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > I’m being compared to **Lib** , the Yoda of the Carolinas? : Cool–can I be the Han Solo of the Carolinas? Daniel pretty sure he can’t qualify as Bubba Fett ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513/40 "2004-11-18T22:11:30Z")
> [@NaSultainne](#): > > I _am_ offended by such stupid commercials. I _am_ offended that they show such junk during so-called ‘family hour’. I lump this one in with that other outrageously crude Viagra commercial; the one with the ‘horns’ appearing behind the guy’s head as he gives his wife (though these days, like as not, _not_ his wife) that male intended-to-be-come-hither-but-ends-up-looking-doofy-anyway smirk as they disappear into a lingerie shop. I absolutely _hate_ every stinking one of the male-enhancement commercials, bar none. And here’s the kicker: scream and curse all you want, **World Eater** , but the commercial is on before you can dive for the remote or channel button. _That_ means I _don’t_ have control to avoid the crud beforehand, and that, my dear poster, is why I get so angry. > > Based on the reactions the FCC is hearing, I’m not the only one with a gripe. Based on the ratings, however, most people _don’t_ have a problem with it. CBS got fined a half mil because Janet Jackson has tits, but the same moment that provoked the fine was also, according to Tivo, the single most rewatched moment of television since they started keeping track of that sort of thing. If most people thought like you do, then there wouldn’t be a need for the FCC, because the networks wouldn’t show the stuff you don’t like. Why? Because it wouldn’t make them any money. You don’t like what they show on CBS? Turn the channel. Don’t give CBS any of your attention. Go watch the PAX network, or C-Span, or see if you can find a test pattern to tune in to. We’ve got a free market in this country: use it. Find someone who provides the sort of content you think is “appropriate” and watch that instead, and let the rest of us watch what we want. Because the fact is, the vast majority of Americans want people like you to shut the fuck up. They like what they see on TV. They want to see Janet Jackson’s tits. They want to see Terrel Owens have pre-martial sex with a hot white chick. They want to see people getting their limbs blown off on a beach in Normandy. But they can’t, because of a miniscule pack of whiny puritans who are purposefully abusing the system to foster their own backdoor censorship on an unwilling and unwitting public. And that is what _I_ find offensive, because it violates the most important principles upon which this country was founded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherfuckering-fcc/275513.md?page=3)