# What the Hell? Middleborough MA proposes $20 fine for swearing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805 "2012-06-11T12:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/41 "2012-06-17T21:12:38Z")
Let’s see what other nanny states we can get MacTech to stay away from: Michigan, where a state legislator was silenced for using the word “vagina”; Alabama, where you can’t buy a penis-shaped dildo; Utah, where the liquor laws are really bizarre; Nebraska, where they don’t allow prostitution; Arkansas, where you aren’t allowed to own your own nuclear device… ---
**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:** [June 17, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/42 "2012-06-17T23:49:08Z")
> [@gunnergoz](#): > > As if the current generation of young people invented youthful rebellion. It is tiresome to endure, no matter which generation is going through that phase. There are a lot of things that are “tiresome to endure”, but I’d say hearing profanity is pretty low on the scale. There’s no such right to be free of such a thing. On the contrary, there IS a right to free speech. I don’t like hearing racist comments, but I don’t want to ban them. I don’t like Justin Bieber, but I don’t want to ban him either. Children aren’t going to fall apart from hearing a few four-letter words. You can’t ban everything you find offensive, or “tiresome”. Life would be pretty boring if we did, quite frankly. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/43 "2012-06-17T23:54:19Z")
Today’s Boston Globe had an editorial cartoon that suggests that New York City can curse for Middleborough people, and Midleborough folks can drink 32 ounce soft drinks on bahalf of New Yorkers. It’s a Cultural Exchange. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/44 "2012-06-18T01:52:14Z")
I don’t necessarily support a law, but it’s not really too much to keep your voice down when telling your buds how well this chick you picked up last night can suck dick…when there is a family with young kids at the table next to you. It’s sad that laws have to be passed because some people can’t be polite. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/45 "2012-06-18T23:30:09Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I don’t necessarily support a law, but it’s not really too much to keep your voice down when telling your buds how well this chick you picked up last night can suck dick…when there is a family with young kids at the table next to you. > > It’s sad that laws have to be passed because some people can’t be polite. It doesn’t HAVE to be passed at all. People are allowed to be rude, so long as they’re not assaulting you. ---
**Author:** ![Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/46 "2012-06-18T23:32:46Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > The law seems really silly at first, but I get extremely tired of teenagers dropping f-bombs and swearing loudly or being lewd when I’m at the grocery store or whatever. It’s like, dude, there are kids here. I agree, it’s really disgusting. And sadly, it’s not just teens. ---
**Author:** ![Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/47 "2012-06-18T23:38:30Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Alabama, where you can’t buy a penis-shaped dildo; You can absolutely buy penis-shaped dildos in Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/48 "2012-06-19T00:27:26Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I don’t necessarily support a law, but it’s not really too much to keep your voice down when telling your buds how well this chick you picked up last night can suck dick…when there is a family with young kids at the table next to you. > > It’s sad that laws have to be passed because some people can’t be polite. People can and will be impolite whether or not they use swear words. You can’t regulate etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/49 "2012-06-19T20:19:58Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > _Allegedly_ it’s illegal to swear in Virginia, but if so, it’s _very_ selectively enforced. [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-388](http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-388) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/50 "2012-06-21T20:16:16Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Arkansas, where you aren’t allowed to own your own nuclear device… Have you a cite on that? Need answer fast! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/51 "2012-06-21T20:33:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Have you a cite on that? > > Need answer fast! One of the smartest prodigies in the U.S. if not the world is a nuclear energy genius from Arkansas. He started experimenting with nuclear materials in his garage in Texarkana and become the youngest person ever to achieve nuclear fusion. He is really a fascinating young man. I recommend the article below if you want to feel dumb: > **[How a 14-year-old kid became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion](https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-02/boy-who-played-fusion/)** > > At age 10, Taylor Wilson set up a nuclear laboratory in his family's home. Here is the story of how he became the youngest person to experiment with fusion and build a reactor. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805/52 "2012-06-25T20:40:49Z")
> [@](#): > > **Protesters rally against Middleborough fine for swearing in public** > Nearly 100 people gathered in the pouring rain on the Middleborough town lawn today to protest a town ordinance that would make swearing in public punishable by a $20 fine. > > The organizer of the rally, Adam Kokesh, 30, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, said the ordinance is an example of “pathological bullying behavior” by the government. He was joined by residents and protesters from other states. [http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/06/25/protesters-rally-against-middleborough-fine-for-swearing-public/uTruGvaYXc77J8lVE55ZsI/story.html?p1=Well\_Local\_Links](http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/06/25/protesters-rally-against-middleborough-fine-for-swearing-public/uTruGvaYXc77J8lVE55ZsI/story.html?p1=Well_Local_Links) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-middleborough-ma-proposes-20-fine-for-swearing/624805.md?page=2)