R.I.P. George Carlin
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Seven Dirty Words
When I was growing up in Baton Rouge I don't recall being chastised by my parents for using dirty words. I can even recall overhearing my mother say "shit!" once in the kitchen when something boiled over on the stove and she forgot that I was within earshot. They didn't have to wash my mouth out with soap to teach me not to use common obscenities in Sunday school. However, both of my parents came down on me like a ton of bricks the first time at around age seven I used the "N word" which was in common usage in Louisiana 60 years ago. They made a very clear distinction between slang or "dirty words" not to be used in polite company and racial epithets not to be used EVER, PERIOD. [Both of my parents were "damn Yankees" who didn't want me to pick up bad habits from my play mates.]
Susan Ager's column on Carlin, linked below, covers the subject much better than I could.
NYT 7-13-08 "When to Quote Those Potty Mouths by Clark Hoyt
- "When to Quote Those Potty Mouths"
For the curious about Jesse's exact words--"I want to cut his nuts off" the Post's Web site provided a link. The NYT didn't. The NY Post put the single word on its front page as a huge headline..Is the NYT edited by a prudish kindergarten teacher?
Susan Ager on George Carlin in the Detroit Free Press
- Susan Ager on George Carlin in the Detroit Free Press
Ager: "Propriety is the curse of our language."
Google Search Data an Indication of Community Standards? Matt Richtel in the NYTimes 6-24-09
- Is Google search data a valid measure of community standards?
Judges and jurors who must decide whether sexually explicit material is obscene are asked to decide whether the material violates community standards. A Florida defendant is using Google search data to show that interest in sex exceeds other topics.
George Carlin's 7 Dirty Words
George Carlin Wikibio
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Comments
Well, I disagree. You miss Carlin's and my point. The words are slang terms frowned on in polite company, no more. Most kids have heard the words by the time they are in the fifth grade. HubPages is not prime time network TV. Anyone who doesn't want to hear Carlin's riff needn't click on the video. Carlin's riff is a piece of history which Hubpagers and others are entitled to experience. You are of course entitled to your opinion. Thanks for your comment.
Think you missed my point. I have no problem with the clip and in fact enjoyed it and your Hub BUT... Most folks know who Carlin is and what he is about and the point is, there are rules on HubPages and I feel like this has exceeded those limits. Kids are going to click on this out of curiosity. I think it is a bad example. I love Carlin and I missed no point. C.S.
I think you missed my point. A peek at Carlin's video won't be harmful to kids. That's a normal part of growing up. HubPages should not be watered down to a third grade level or censored beyond prohibiting pornography. The majority of Hubbers are adults, not children. Your same point can be made about children's access to R or even X-rated cable television shows and even some network shows. If parents are worried about their children hearing slang for anatomy and bodily functions they should pay attention to what they are watching.
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C.S.Alexis says:
3 months ago
This is probably not appropriate for family viewing, and maybe in poor taste to HubPages. I love George Carlin but was this really necessary?