Such a can of words here. The FCC has to be careful on this one. The Freedom of Speech concept, whether it applies to broadcasters or not, is a line to steer clear of. What amount of 'protection' must the FCC apply? The answer, as elusive as it is, varies by person. South Park, of all shows, did a great parody of the scenario the FCC faces: The Christmas program that the school was putting on became a program that had nothing to do with Christmas itself. People were upset but ready to be offended at any change in the existing program. Clearly nobody liked what the school's holiday program had become but as a group, nobody was willing to allow any changes that would reflect the time of the year celebrated.
The elusive standard of letting the community determine standards is clearly an insult to the broadcaster as it opens them up to anything. As one friend put it, when we govern ourselves based on how someone interprets a certain sentence, paragrapph, etc., then we have lost. For an example, a friend mentioned the 'person' offended by the Native American moniker for a professional football team and said she had a question for the offended: Just how does this offend and when were you first offended as the team has held this name for decades and you've been on this earth for decades.
Standards do vary by community and region. In a large city, you can do almost anything and get away with it. In a smaller town, the most minor can be incredibly insulting.
A fellow jock in a small market got to read the list of births for the week provided and sponsored by the local hospital. Usually it was perhaps five or six. One week it was about 30. After it was done, the jock said, Whew! That's quite a list. Must be something in the air...pause....legs!, hit the jingle back into music. He was nearly fired.
Obviously the number of choices on the dial allow greater freedom the greater that number becomes.
I don't care to hear 4 letter words over the air. I just consider the airwaves like talking to a group of people that might include your grandparents, parents, children, women and men. If you wouldn't say it to your six year old or your grandmother, maybe you could think about what you say, putting it in a manner that could work for the audience.
Most 'language' is more for shock value. I prefer 'unexpected response' since this applies to comedy, a basis for morning shows that so frequently garner the ire of the public over what they did on the show. Comedy is based on the unexpected response. That spurs laughter as a reaction. So, in essence, a 4 letter word can obtain laughter when utilized properly. In my opinion, the greatest writers are those with the skill to say one thing to the innocent (children) and another to the adult. Merry Melodies cartoons come to mind. Seinfeld is another example: Jerry asking Elaine if her new boyfriend was 'sponge worthy' is a prime example. In lieu of 4 letter words, the laugh came from creative writing.
I know all the offensive words and how to use them but I choose not to except in certain settings. The fleeting response is excused but not really because you should bever be that 'comfortable' to let the 4 letter words fly unabated. To me it says you lack the talent to paint a picture with words or simply prefer not to control your actions. If you spill a hot cup of coffee in your lap with the microphone on and utter an expletive, fine. It you choose the 4 letter word over another manner to get the anticipated response, are you taking the easy way out? Sam from Sales, a longtime staple on WBAP in Ft. Worth, is a primme example of creative writing, saying what is said without crossing the line. Example: a couple is having a problem in the bedroom so the wife sees the doctor and gets the remedy. That evening the couple has a romantic dinner and the wife had spiked the man's iced tea with the 'cure' for their troubles. After a few minutes, the man slings the dishes from the table, embbraces his wife and, well, they can never go back to that Steak and Ale again.
