Opinion

A f---ing sham

Using the F-word in a public place can cost you $660 or 100 hours' community service, which is cheap compared to the three months' jail until the Summary Offences Reform Bill became law in 1994. It can cost you that only if police decide to charge you, and they will charge you only if they don't like you. If they hold that the use of the word would offend a reasonable person they'll charge you if they want to, and of course they'd argue if they had to that a reasonable person is one who is offended by the F-word. Police don't have to establish that anyone was offended by your use of the F-word, by the way, and they don't try to in the many cases of offensive language that go before the courts still.

No-one complained to the ABC or to the Australian Communications and Media Authority on the day this week Communications Minister Stephen Conroy issued his "f---in' fantastic" to the National Press Club and across the national airwaves, and so far as I know no-one, not even police, has advocated that he be charged with using offensive language. We could assume that this is because he offended no-one, but, remember, the charge does not require anyone to be offended.

Of course the F-word is in such common use now that it could offend no reasonable person. It is used frequently on radio and television, and I hear it often enough on our national broadcaster, Radio National. It is in newspapers, and the --- used in most newspapers hardly disguises the word. It is used in all its senses, as a challenge, as an adjective, as an expletive, as a term for the sex act, and I'm sure there are a few other senses.

It was always blatant hypocrisy when police charged anyone for using the F-word, but those charges are now something more sinister, a sham and a victimisation that our law and our courts have tolerated for too long. Has Senator Conroy shut the closet door behind the F-word? Can anyone who finds the F-word offensive be deemed to be reasonable?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 19/12/2011 3:00:00 AM | Comments (92)

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Have you ever noticed in movies that somewhere in it will be the use of the F word just once. (The movie Australia is a good example). Me thinks that the reason for this is it gives it an M rating instead of P.G. and it will therefore appeal to a wider audience. Then on the other hand some movies with quite a good story line will use it all the time and in my book just spoils it. I reckon if you have a good enough command of the English language you shouldnt have to use it. O "F" it I think I am rambling, just home from Sydney and time for bed. Some people just can't swear without speaking!

Posted by Bush Bunny, 19/12/2011 4:34:17 AM, on The Herald

We all hear swear words fairly regularly. And most use them.

It's the inane regularity - like every second word - of the F word - that really annoys me. People who cannot make a sentence without it in, seem to be everywhere. I find that offensive. They have to say it terribly loudly - to gain attention - weird!

It's just stupid.

The fact that a Labor Minister can say it Nationally and not be charged - means that not one person can now be charged with saying it. It also shows how low the moral standards of Politicians have dropped to.

Posted by Kurri 'n Rose, 19/12/2011 4:41:47 AM, on The Herald

I remember the story last year where a police officer tipped out a young womans cocktail after showing signs of intoxication. The boyfriend told the officer to f off and was subsequently taken and charged under the offence you state. The brisbane magistrate found in favour of the defendant, saying under the circumstances the police deserved it. I thought to myself, this will open the floodgates on offensive behaviour towards police. On a lighter note ,i do love those emails with quotes down the years using the F. Mayor of Hiroshima ,what the f was that. Donald Cambell Oh f the pedals stuck.

Posted by horse, 19/12/2011 5:12:50 AM, on The Herald

Its also the international word for disappointment.

Posted by horse, 19/12/2011 5:14:05 AM, on The Herald

F--- me, Corbett's actually making f---ing sense for once. And I thought he was just a cranky c--- :)

Posted by Dave Moran, 19/12/2011 6:10:35 AM, on The Herald

how f%$#^en silly

Posted by joker, 19/12/2011 6:14:44 AM, on The Herald

I think it would be great if it was enforced more often. I get a laugh out of comedians going to town with a bit of creative swearing, but am completely over hearing the word used as every second word in a sentence by some deadbeat. It's particularly offensive when you're at the shopping centre & you hear people swearing at their kids.

We are losing the sense that we should act in a polite & civilized way in public & the freedom to swear isn't making us better. A bit of restraint might be the 1st step in stemming the tide of hooliganism

Posted by daisy_k, 19/12/2011 6:28:14 AM, on The Herald

I've noticed that the audience laughs whenever a comedian uses the F-word, as if on cue. Why do they laugh at the F-word?

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/12/2011 7:44:40 AM

It wouldn't be comfortable hearing children use this word in ordinary conversation, and I appreciate parents keeping them out of this speech habit.

The word coming from adults depends on the context, but used too frequently may show something about the life experience or current circumstances or sobriety of the user.

The involvement of police is a much wider issue, and we need to remain vigilant about the arbitrary use of laws against anyone in society.

Posted by Laurie Brewster maclaurie@hotmail.com Video Skype aussie9999red www.maclaurie.com, 19/12/2011 6:28:35 AM, on The Herald

Its called common sense and discretion. And it's all about context, a thing that a lot of journo's like to leave out of stories. If I scream when I kick my F.....ing toe then I would expect that a reasonable person would agree. If I was to see you in the street and started screaming that you are a F....ing moron when young kids and old ladies are walking past then yes you should get locked up and the cops should be straight in your face. I'm sick of the standards going down hill fast in this country.

Posted by Discretion, 19/12/2011 6:31:50 AM, on The Herald

Your offence in the street was to behave in a threatening manner.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 19/12/2011 7:46:16 AM

Would the senator have to be charged if someone rang up and complained about it because they were offended? I volunteer JC to make that phone call. Do it!!!

Posted by judgedredd, 19/12/2011 6:43:39 AM, on The Herald