Well, if we’re talking rights, then yeah he does. He can say any fool thing that comes into his head.
However, this thread isn’t about what you are or aren’t allowed to do. It’s about certain “common sense” guidelines to make everyone’s life a little easier/pleasant.
Matt has taken the stance that it is more important to him to be able to swear than to care about the people around him. Ok, that’s a valid point of view, I guess. I mean, one would hope that he knows enough words that he could express himself without relying solely on the swear words, but frankly that’s his issue and not ours.
I think he was just looking for a fight, personally.
Phoning someone or to publicly threatening to kill someone can result in a “terrorist threat” charge being slapped on you.
And let’s see you say something like this to a Secret Service Agent on the President’s detachment
Racial slurs can result in hate crime charges.
I could come up with others (radio/tv/FCC/community standards issues) but the points is…
You DO NOT have the right to say any ol’ thing that comes to mind.
I can’t believe the attitude of many people in this country who somehow believe they have the unassailable right to do, say, act, or behave in ANY manner they please.
I honestly can’t say how the law works in the cases you outline, but it’s pretty clear to me that saying swear words wouldn’t be considered ILLEGAL in these or any other situations.
I also don’t think you needed me to tell you that, so stop your whining.
NO, I didn’t need you to tell me that, because you’re wrong.
Don’t MAKE me find the case citation for the man who was fined for swearing in public in Michigan, I believe. I could be wrong as to the state.
Happened a couple of years ago. A man tipped over in a canoe, swore loudly, overheard by a mom w/kids and a cop. Guy was slapped with a fine and possible jail time. He fought it and got it knocked down to a fine.
Community Standards, my friend. Dealt with in the Muni Codes of many a fair city.
NO, I didn’t need you to tell me that, because you’re wrong.
Don’t MAKE me find the case citation for the man who was fined for swearing in public in Michigan, I believe. I could be wrong as to the state.
Happened a couple of years ago. A man tipped over in a canoe, swore loudly, overheard by a mom w/kids and a cop. Guy was slapped with a fine and possible jail time. He fought it and got it knocked down to a fine.
Community Standards, my friend. Dealt with in the Muni Codes of many a fair city.
From the AP Wire:
Michigan man ticketed for cussing wants charges dismissed
10.28.98
TAWAS CITY, Mich.(AP) — If convicted, Timothy Boomer faces a 90-day jail term or a $100 fine. His crime? He’s charged with cussing with women and children nearby.
Michigan’s 101-year-old obscene-speech law prohibits cursing or using vulgar or insulting language if women and children are within earshot.
Boomer, 24, of Roseville, swore at his buddies in a good-natured manner after he fell into the water during an August canoe trip on the Rifle River in Arenac County, said Tom Schram, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Detroit.
Boomer assumed no one else was around, Schram told The Detroit News for a story today.
But Arenac County sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Socia said he heard Boomer’s foul language. In a report, he said one woman and two children were within earshot. He issued Boomer a ticket.
Let’s assume that it is. The best that you can say is that there are certain cities in which swearing might possibly, under specific circumstances, be a punishable offense.
You and I both know that this does not apply to the vast majority of places. The point is that it is incorrect to make a blanket statement that Matt or anyone else cannot say naughty words in public. For most occasions, save for specific circumstances (several of which you have pointed out… I’m sure you have plenty more, but I don’t care to hear 'em), you are allowed to swear. It’s a jerky thing to do, but that’s life.
Got any more nits to pick, or can we maybe drag this thread back on topic?
Addminium to 17) Sometimes you will find yourself stuck behind a slow driver. If you can’t get around this person, it can be frustrating, especially if they’re violating Tip 17. But riding three inches behind the other person’s back bumper is not going to make them go any faster. If anything, if the other driver is like me, he/she will slow down. It should also be noted that riding someone’s ass like stink on shit is realy annoying for anyone behind you, as they have to deal with your flashing brake lights as you try to keep from ramming the guy you’re following. Just back off a few feet until you can pass the sloth. Impatient rectal disease.
If you accidentally bump in to me, or anyone, while walking, pushing a grocery cart, whatever, say “excuse me” and/or “I’m sorry.” Sheesh, people!
Now, most people are normal, and understand that accidental bumps occur. A simple “Whoops, excuse me!” will most likely get you a smile or a nod, and a reply something along the lines of “That’s okay.” I, for one, am a bit of a klutz, and I’m forever tripping over my feet and bumping in to people. I always apologize. It’s called common courtesy. Oh, and if you happen to spill something on someone or cause them to spill something, offer to help clean it up, or replace it yourself.
I also understand that if you are running, due to some sort of emergency, and you run in to someone and simply cannot stop, that will be excused. Most average, normal people can figure that one out and will not stop you or be angry. But an ordinary little bump, hey, you can take two seconds to apologize.
I have yet to see one behaviour stereotypically associated with the poor and not the rich be described as classy, which makes your protest seem to me to be rather disingenuous. For more analysis, please see Laura Kipnis’ Bound and Gagged: Pornography and the Politics of Pleasure in America for an excellent class-based analysis of attacks on pornographic forms of free speech versus on other forms similar content-wise but different in their class associations.
I disagree. For instance, continually calling attention to one’s own professional or educational achievements is unclassy. Wearing ostentatious clothing or jewelry on an informal occasion is unclassy, as is conspicuous consumption in general. “Keeping up with the Joneses” is unclassy. Having a dismissive attitude toward those with less money or different priorities is unclassy.
If anything, I’d say that the rich have MORE opportunities to be tacky than the poor.
i agree with #4 and try to swear only when appropriate. i put a lot of effort into this, although some days are easier than others!
so here are a couple more tips…
If you are driving, and you are sitting at a red light, waiting to make your turn, do not try and sneak through while you are waiting! Susie Soccermom in her s.u.v. nearly missed me, while i was crossing with the light and the signal! i hope i scared some sense back into her head! THE WORST PART IS THAT I HAD ON LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING SO THAT I COULD BE SEEN! if you are in that much of a hurry, you should try leaving earlier!
AND this is for the assmunching cocksuckers in my neighborhood who were lighting firecrackers a week and a half before, and 2 weeks after the Fourth of July!
this also goes out to the dipshit lighting off his m-80’s
last night, in case you have not noticed the 4th of July /Independence Day was TWO MONTHS AGO!!!
also~~~~~~I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY M-80’S, AND WHILE IT WAS NOT REALLY LATE AT NIGHT, IT WAS A NUISANCE.
I am SO with you here! I live in a neighborhood where the houses are really close together, and it’s also full of kids. There were some jerkwads who were lighting shit off two weeks before, on a Sunday night, at midnight. Hey asshole! Some people have JOBS on Monday and would like to SLEEP. And the kids are still in school!
HELLO!
This reminds me of a friend of mine. She accidently bumped into someone. It wasn’t even a bump, more like a brush. She said, “I’m sorry” (very nicely, I might add) and the lady she bumped into said, “You’d better be!” in a very snotty voice and my friend put her face verrrry close to that woman’s and yelled, “Bitch!” at the top of her lungs.
I about wet myself and you should have seen the look on that lady’s face!
If you are just meeting me and trying to ingratiate yourself, don’t touch me beyond a handshake. Unless I can rip off that arm as a backscratcher.
If you have a larger car than I do and feel that you must zoom around me so you can break the speed limit, remember… I am bigger than you and not afraid of confrontation.
If you are a zealot who desires to wake me up on a holiday morning with your proselytizing, remember, when I push you down the stairs that your head is a flotation device, and will inflate to protect you.
If I am reading a book and you ask “What’cha reading?” or “Is that a good book?”, I have the right to grab your lower lip, stretch it around your head, and kick you into the street.
