Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum of cuss


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion >> Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum of cuss Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum of ... - 6/12/2012 4:34:20 AM   
jlf1961


Posts: 14840
Joined: 6/10/2008
From: Somewhere Texas
Status: offline 		This ought to be interesting.

quote:

Residents in a town outside Boston have voted in favour of fining people who swear in public.

At a town meeting on Monday night, residents voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 (£12) penalty on public profanity.

Officials insisted the proposal was not intended to censor casual or private conversations, but instead to crack down on loud, profanity-laden language used by teenagers and other young people in the city centre area and public parks.


source

I dont see how casual conversation cannot be censored, since profanity has fast become part of the American culture. I have noticed that I have tendency to swear in normal conversation, many of the phrases I use were common during my days in the army. I am not offering an excuse, just stating fact.

Since the birth of my nephew, I have been making a conscious effort to tone down my colorful language and admittedly it is a bit hard. It is far easier to emphasize something by swearing than it is to come up with an equally descriptive or way to emphasize something without cussing. And I am college educated.

_____________________________

Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

You cannot control who comes into your life, but you can control which airlock you throw them out of.

Paranoid Paramilitary Gun Loving Conspiracy Theorist AND EQUAL OPPORTUNI
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 6:00:37 AM   
Musicmystery


Posts: 30259
Joined: 3/14/2005
Status: offline 		I can't see law enforcement rank and file or judges taking this seriously. They have better things to do.

Either that or they're drumming up funding.



< Message edited by Musicmystery -- 6/12/2012 6:01:46 AM >

(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 6:18:19 AM   
DesideriScuri


Posts: 12225
Joined: 1/18/2012
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961
This ought to be interesting.
quote:

Residents in a town outside Boston have voted in favour of fining people who swear in public.
At a town meeting on Monday night, residents voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 (£12) penalty on public profanity.
Officials insisted the proposal was not intended to censor casual or private conversations, but instead to crack down on loud, profanity-laden language used by teenagers and other young people in the city centre area and public parks.

source
I dont see how casual conversation cannot be censored, since profanity has fast become part of the American culture. I have noticed that I have tendency to swear in normal conversation, many of the phrases I use were common during my days in the army. I am not offering an excuse, just stating fact.
Since the birth of my nephew, I have been making a conscious effort to tone down my colorful language and admittedly it is a bit hard. It is far easier to emphasize something by swearing than it is to come up with an equally descriptive or way to emphasize something without cussing. And I am college educated.


I can't see this standing very long. Regardless of what the officials "intended," it is, in fact censoring casual or private conversations. Next thing you know, you'll be guilty for not reporting people who cuss.

Now, there is something that I have always wondered. What makes a word "bad?" Why isn't the word "bad," a "bad word?" If not for societal mores, would anyone really be offended by the word "fuck," simply because the word itself is offensive? What makes it "bad" and not the words, "buck, puck, duck, luck, etc.?" To be honest, I'm a huge fan of fuck. The action is quite enjoyable, but the word itself is amazingly flexible (Warning: Voice-over of George Carlin classic).

_____________________________

What I support:

  • A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  • Personal Responsibility
  • Help for the truly needy
  • Limited Government
  • Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)

(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 7:01:48 AM   
kalikshama


Posts: 14805
Joined: 8/8/2010
Status: offline 		Middleborough?!? Lol, I associate Middleborough with cheap hotel rooms and partying my ass off in the 90s. After one memorable weekend, which included BDSM but not psychedelics, I was like, "ooo, the colors."

(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 10:18:32 AM   
subrob1967


Posts: 4591
Joined: 9/13/2004
Status: offline 		I wonder if they'll send a fine to 50 cent every time a cop overhears some kid blasting his radio while cruising.

_____________________________

http://www.extra-life.org/

(in reply to kalikshama)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 10:32:51 AM   
littlewonder


Posts: 15659
Status: offline 		While someone wasn't fined in public for cursing, when I worked in the court system, I knew two judges who would either fine you or put you in contempt if you swore in their court. It was seen as disrespectful of the authority.

I'm not sure how I feel about the fining in this town. In one way I like it because to be honest, I really don't like cursing even though there are times when it is appropriate I think. But I think cursing is not something children need to hear if we wish to raise our children with good manners. Unfortunately when I'm out I usually hear more cursing than I ever want to hear to the point I cringe and will turn a different corner.

I admit there are times I curse though and after I have said it I cringe at myself because it's not good.

_____________________________

Nothing has changed
Everything has changed

(in reply to subrob1967)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 11:00:19 AM   
BitaTruble


Posts: 9779
Joined: 1/12/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961


source

Well, that's pretty fucked up.

_____________________________

"Oh, so it's just like
Rock, paper, scissors."

He laughed. "You are the wisest woman I know."


(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 12:41:18 PM   
TNDommeK


Posts: 7153
Joined: 3/13/2010
Status: offline 		I used to live in OliveBranch Mississippi, and at the city hall where you paid your utilities (yes we have electricity down here,lol) there was a sign that read: use profanity and be faced with a $100 fine.

There was always a police officer there, so I assume he would have been the one to give you the ticket.

_____________________________

Goddess of Duck Lips and Luxurious Hair
The working Fin Domme
Professional con artist, swindler, trixster, extortionist

Our snark-nado needs more cowbell


(in reply to BitaTruble)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 1:00:43 PM   
joether


Posts: 5195
Joined: 7/24/2005
Status: offline 		I saw this and thought, "Is this 1982?"

I really dont see this law being enforced much less surviving under a legal challenge. Created by people that have nothing better to do with goverment's limited resources. But than, its a town inbetween Tauton and Plymouth. Could be worst, could be Paddleborough. People in that town have no problem with cursing, but with folks doing BDSM behind closed doors....


(in reply to TNDommeK)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 2:35:44 PM   
SternSkipper


Posts: 7546
Joined: 3/7/2004
Status: offline
quote:

This ought to be interesting.

quote:

Residents in a town outside Boston have voted in favour of fining people who swear in public.


At a town meeting on Monday night, residents voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 (£12) penalty on public profanity.

Officials insisted the proposal was not intended to censor casual or private conversations, but instead to crack down on loud, profanity-laden language used by teenagers and other young people in the city centre area and public parks.


Okay... don't anybody have a constitutional panic. Here's the deal on Middleborough, they make it sound in the article almost like it's a bedroom community to Boston... It's really not. And it's even closer to Fall River and consequently my home town in RI. And they are also not mentioning the amount of weed that travels through the town (Well known to the police chief ... least previous ones... cause they had a whole method of shaking people down). So this is actually a slacking off on a long established ordinance that would have landed you in Jail and gotten you a _MUNICUIPAL_ court appearance (=ADJUDICATION) .
What it should not probably be seen as is any big constitutional issue (the Town Council may not even have anyone with legal training). It should also not be presumed that it's ANY kind of trend in Massachusetts.
It's funny that they still have that ordinance... a kid we all knew from Middletown, RI got popped there for cussing in 76 and the cops were going to keep him all weekend. Till they found out they would have to deal with the biggest football clan in RI ... I believe someone like the chief or somebody got an 'honorarium' of $500 to make it all go away... and it did.

The original law was something like Public "Cursing, Spitting, And Other Disorderly Conduct"

Either way, don't get out that bar of soap anytime soon MUTHAFUCKAHS!

< Message edited by SternSkipper -- 6/12/2012 2:43:24 PM >

_____________________________

Looking forward to The Dead Singing The National Anthem At The World Series.




Tinfoilers Swallow


(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 2:44:51 PM   
Karmastic


Posts: 1650
Joined: 4/5/2012
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline 		fr-

i agree with general sentiment, if the law was challenged, it would fail.

i think it's a horrible way to try and control what could be a legitimate issue. normally, i would have written this off as people with too much time on their hands, too controlly, or as Musicmystery said, drumming up funding (or may i add, political grandstanding).

but i think i know what the townsfolk are mad about. i once had lowlife meth head neighbors who would hang out and drink beer and talk loudly every evening. i cus and swear myself, so i'm no prude. but these guys were way over the top, being really really loud, and every other word was fuck or shit or bitch (Etc.).

i think the best solution is public nuisance laws which are already on the books. the best solution for my neighbors was another story.







_____________________________

[Awaiting Approval]

If my experience level makes you feel superior, that is your problem, not mine.

(in reply to SternSkipper)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 2:53:36 PM   
DesideriScuri


Posts: 12225
Joined: 1/18/2012
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BitaTruble
Well, that's pretty fucked up.


$20 please.

_____________________________

What I support:

  • A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  • Personal Responsibility
  • Help for the truly needy
  • Limited Government
  • Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)

(in reply to BitaTruble)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 3:22:58 PM   
SternSkipper


Posts: 7546
Joined: 3/7/2004
Status: offline
quote:

But than, its a town inbetween Tauton and Plymouth. Could be worst, could be Paddleborough.


It's funny, we look at SE Mass through our own lenses from 'growing up' I guess... And I can see where if you live more toward the cape you look at it like it's Taunton (and PHYSICALLY, it's closer by a few miles than Fall River) I always approached it by cutting up through the woods and would always see it as the extension of the trip out of Fall River ... through ... hold those giggles Assonet (I always felt for any kid that went to Highschool from there).
I liked the "Paddleborough" joke ... was that a play Padelford? cause that's a town (least it USED to be it's own town) that abutted Middleborough.


_____________________________

Looking forward to The Dead Singing The National Anthem At The World Series.




Tinfoilers Swallow


(in reply to joether)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 7:50:56 PM   
TheHeretic


Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961
It is far easier to emphasize something by swearing than it is to come up with an equally descriptive or way to emphasize something without cussing. And I am college educated.



Sorry, dude, but I edit myself into the speech of polite company and civil society every day, still get my point across just fine, and my formal education is shit.


I'm a free speech kind of guy. On that level, the very thought of this gets my hackles up. I'm also a member of a society who appreciates a little civility. From that perspective, I can see the utility of a communal cuss jar.

$20? Maybe it turns down those trash and teenagers who cannot enter a public space without fouling the air. Also, since they are decriminalizing such speech in the process, I might find myself quite willing to lay a bill on the counter, to tell the stupid cunt at the DMV that she works like old people fuck.

(in reply to jlf1961)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/12/2012 8:04:15 PM   
Owner59


Posts: 17033
Joined: 3/14/2006
From: Dirty Jersey
Status: offline

_____________________________

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

President Obama

(in reply to TheHeretic)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/13/2012 12:03:38 AM   
Aim2Plea


Posts: 40
Joined: 6/11/2012
Status: offline 		Oh really... a law that directly goes against the First Amendment in the name of making money for the state?

Nawwwww... can't be.

(in reply to Owner59)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/13/2012 12:20:32 AM   
BKSir


Posts: 4037
Joined: 4/8/2008
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Status: offline 		I think I speak for everyone there when I say "Fuck that.".

_____________________________

We'll begin with a spin, traveling in a world of my creation. What we'll see will defy explanation.

I am the voices in your head.

BiggKatt Studios

(in reply to Aim2Plea)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/13/2012 12:48:20 AM   
joether


Posts: 5195
Joined: 7/24/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Aim2Plea
Oh really... a law that directly goes against the First Amendment in the name of making money for the state?

Nawwwww... can't be.


Actually, its for a town, not a state. It ranks right up there with a host of other Mass blue laws....

(in reply to Aim2Plea)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/13/2012 4:46:00 AM   
Aim2Plea


Posts: 40
Joined: 6/11/2012
Status: offline 		Should go immediately to the supreme court. American soil is American soil regardless of what region, state, county, city, town, village, hamlet, or "unincorporated area" it happens to be in. And upon that soil, the freedom of speech stands as what is supposed to be an unbreakable code.

See Cohen v California.

(in reply to joether)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum... - 6/13/2012 5:44:40 AM   
Aylee


Posts: 24103
Joined: 10/14/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Aim2Plea

Oh really... a law that directly goes against the First Amendment in the name of making money for the state?

Nawwwww... can't be.


Profanity is not protected speech. Just like 'fighting words' are not.

_____________________________

Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam

I don’t always wgah’nagl fhtagn. But when I do, I ph’nglui mglw’nafh R’lyeh.

(in reply to Aim2Plea)
Profile   Post #: 20
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion >> Massachusetts town orders $20 fines for the minimum of cuss Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.203