How do you like your rockstar?

Obscene or, um… what’s the opposite of obscene? Cliff Richard?

CNN: “Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has asked his fellow commissioners to overturn a much-criticized decision that an expletive uttered by the musician Bono on a network program was not obscene.”

You tell us. Obscene or Cliff?

68 thoughts on “How do you like your rockstar?

  1. What puts the really big smile on my face is that this FCC fool is making big-time salary out of my tax dollars…the idiocy of this is absolutely galling. And they tell us it’s all for THE CHILDREN. What a load! Children are targeted by marketers to sell all sorts of crap to them, from food to toys, that do nothing but work to destroy their physical and intellectual health, any kid with a disciplinary problem is drugged up on Ritalin to keep him quiet, kids are being abused and killed in their own homes, and all they say is, well, the system is overburdened, some kids naturally “fall through the cracks,” schools are riddled with drugs and violence, BUT let one guy say “fucking brilliant” on a broadcast between 6 pm and 10 pm, and THAT’S going to harm them? They hear ten times worse than that if someone cuts off their parents while driving the ol’ minivan. This is the level of public policy we’re living under. So what kind of rock star do I want THE CHILDREN exposed to? The Bono kind, the creative, intelligent, committed, dedicated kind who doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks the walk. God bless Cliff, but he fits in everywhere…like a damp sponge.

  2. What puts the really big smile on my face is that this FCC fool is making big-time salary out of my tax dollars…the idiocy of this is absolutely galling. And they tell us it’s all for THE CHILDREN. What a load! Children are targeted by marketers to sell all sorts of crap to them, from food to toys, that do nothing but work to destroy their physical and intellectual health, any kid with a disciplinary problem is drugged up on Ritalin to keep him quiet, kids are being abused and killed in their own homes, and all they say is, well, the system is overburdened, some kids naturally “fall through the cracks,” schools are riddled with drugs and violence, BUT let one guy say “fucking brilliant” on a broadcast between 6 pm and 10 pm, and THAT’S going to harm them? They hear ten times worse than that if someone cuts off their parents while driving the ol’ minivan. This is the level of public policy we’re living under. So what kind of rock star do I want THE CHILDREN exposed to? The Bono kind, the creative, intelligent, committed, dedicated kind who doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks the walk. God bless Cliff, but he fits in everywhere…like a damp sponge.

  3. Thank you for that post. You wouldn’t be interested in running for public office would you? 🙂

  4. Thank you for that post. You wouldn’t be interested in running for public office would you? 🙂

  5. I’d like to hear Bono comment on all the f’ing ruckus over the f-word he uttered. It’s the second time he’s done it on live TV in the US, and it sure seems like he tries to slip it in there on purpose. Just to get a rise out of the stuffed shirts? Seem cool? Expose hypocracy? I think he may just think it’s funny… to see if he can get away with it…imagine how tickled he must have been when the FCC decided it was OK for _him_ to say it (but they would never let Eminem or Snoop Dog get away with it, right?) Just goes to show the power of Bono.

  6. I’d like to hear Bono comment on all the f’ing ruckus over the f-word he uttered. It’s the second time he’s done it on live TV in the US, and it sure seems like he tries to slip it in there on purpose. Just to get a rise out of the stuffed shirts? Seem cool? Expose hypocracy? I think he may just think it’s funny… to see if he can get away with it…imagine how tickled he must have been when the FCC decided it was OK for _him_ to say it (but they would never let Eminem or Snoop Dog get away with it, right?) Just goes to show the power of Bono.

  7. Great tirade, Paige, but I don’t understand the logic. Kids are on ritalin, therefore the f-word should be broadcast in prime time? Since the FCC Chairman doesn’t actually have the power to prevent child abuse, he should let the networks broadcast whatever they want? The only thing that is under the umbrella of the FCC is advertising; even then, it seems like you want more government control over what’s being advertized while simultaneously wanting less control over the program’s actual content. I’m simply perplexed.

  8. Great tirade, Paige, but I don’t understand the logic. Kids are on ritalin, therefore the f-word should be broadcast in prime time? Since the FCC Chairman doesn’t actually have the power to prevent child abuse, he should let the networks broadcast whatever they want? The only thing that is under the umbrella of the FCC is advertising; even then, it seems like you want more government control over what’s being advertized while simultaneously wanting less control over the program’s actual content. I’m simply perplexed.

  9. I’m sick and tired how the FCC Commision always stresses out “children” and their “safety” and “what’s right and wrong” to watch/hear and enjoy for entertainment. I just think its the responsibility of the parents who control what their kids can watch.

    But I digress as they’re eating up our tax money day by day on useless ideas and spending.

  10. I’m sick and tired how the FCC Commision always stresses out “children” and their “safety” and “what’s right and wrong” to watch/hear and enjoy for entertainment. I just think its the responsibility of the parents who control what their kids can watch.

    But I digress as they’re eating up our tax money day by day on useless ideas and spending.

  11. It is much more difficult to protect kids from profanity (and violence and bad behavior in general) on TV than it used to be, but I also think it’s still a parental responsibility.
    Has George Carlin commented on this yet?
    My 1 1/2 year old daughter has learned to say “Bah-no” and asks for him whenever I start the DVD player. I haven’t heard the f-word from her yet, but if she uses it as an adjective or adverb not describing sex, I guess I should let it pass….
    Now about that f’ing Winter ’04 release date 😉

  12. It is much more difficult to protect kids from profanity (and violence and bad behavior in general) on TV than it used to be, but I also think it’s still a parental responsibility.
    Has George Carlin commented on this yet?
    My 1 1/2 year old daughter has learned to say “Bah-no” and asks for him whenever I start the DVD player. I haven’t heard the f-word from her yet, but if she uses it as an adjective or adverb not describing sex, I guess I should let it pass….
    Now about that f’ing Winter ’04 release date 😉

  13. Bono should listen to his higher authority than the FCC and, “refrain from coarse talk.”

  14. Bono should listen to his higher authority than the FCC and, “refrain from coarse talk.”

  15. The only thing I don’t like about Bono dropping the f bomb on tv is that it makes him seem desperate for attention. “Look at me everyone, I curse even though I know I’m not supposed to!” Don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude, I curse every day, but I am respectful of other people who I know don’t want to hear such words and restrain myself.

  16. The only thing I don’t like about Bono dropping the f bomb on tv is that it makes him seem desperate for attention. “Look at me everyone, I curse even though I know I’m not supposed to!” Don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude, I curse every day, but I am respectful of other people who I know don’t want to hear such words and restrain myself.

  17. Millions are dying of aids, kids are shooting each other in school, US troops are being killed in the streets of a country that wants them out – and the response is to censure a swearing rock star and announce that we’re going to spend $90 billion going to Mars. That, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with America today.

  18. Millions are dying of aids, kids are shooting each other in school, US troops are being killed in the streets of a country that wants them out – and the response is to censure a swearing rock star and announce that we’re going to spend $90 billion going to Mars. That, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with America today.

  19. Looks like they closed comments on the other topic, but I just wanted to alert that Interference has changed RMP’s message in their post and removed the late winter quote…

  20. Looks like they closed comments on the other topic, but I just wanted to alert that Interference has changed RMP’s message in their post and removed the late winter quote…

  21. The news talks about murder, war, and jacko supposedly molesting children in the 6-10 block. How is hearing the f-word, which I’m sure they *never* heard from kids at school, really going to harm children? As long as it isn’t meant as an attack on someone, it is just a word. f’ing cool and very cool essentially mean the same thing… it doesn’t make one morally depraved to use one or the other. taboo words are silly imho, the content of speech has far more impact than its structure.

  22. The news talks about murder, war, and jacko supposedly molesting children in the 6-10 block. How is hearing the f-word, which I’m sure they *never* heard from kids at school, really going to harm children? As long as it isn’t meant as an attack on someone, it is just a word. f’ing cool and very cool essentially mean the same thing… it doesn’t make one morally depraved to use one or the other. taboo words are silly imho, the content of speech has far more impact than its structure.

  23. Case, like Paige before you, your argument seems to lack a certain bit of focus. What if I turned the argument back to ya? “Millions are dying of AIDS, and your response is to complain about the FCC on a U2 fan blog; that, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with U2 fans today.” See, that doesn’t make sense either. Look, we can discuss whether there should be an FCC and what language, if any, the FCC should prohibit on public airwaves. But the fact that people are dying of AIDS has no impact whatsoever on that discussion. There’s no logical reason to bring it up, regardless of how well the tactic appeals to the emotions of others.

  24. Case, like Paige before you, your argument seems to lack a certain bit of focus. What if I turned the argument back to ya? “Millions are dying of AIDS, and your response is to complain about the FCC on a U2 fan blog; that, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with U2 fans today.” See, that doesn’t make sense either. Look, we can discuss whether there should be an FCC and what language, if any, the FCC should prohibit on public airwaves. But the fact that people are dying of AIDS has no impact whatsoever on that discussion. There’s no logical reason to bring it up, regardless of how well the tactic appeals to the emotions of others.

  25. I think the point in case’s post was that this is what the media / government is currently focusing on, not micropolitical action. Though it is true that they are not really “responding” with FCC/Space because none of the issues are breaking news.

    Think of how there are special reports in the news (!) on this springs upcoming fashion trends and what colors and styles are hot this year when there are slightly more substantial issues that could be adressed.

  26. I think the point in case’s post was that this is what the media / government is currently focusing on, not micropolitical action. Though it is true that they are not really “responding” with FCC/Space because none of the issues are breaking news.

    Think of how there are special reports in the news (!) on this springs upcoming fashion trends and what colors and styles are hot this year when there are slightly more substantial issues that could be adressed.

  27. well Achtung Bubba, i disagree. I see a clear link between millions dying of aids, and not being able to say one bad word on TV. Its about letting people live in their save little worlds, and only concern themselfs over ridiculous details that matters shit. Posting on a webside has nothing to do with giving people an illousion about what the world looks like, but this case does. I do not agree with the Mars project being a waste of money. Compare the U.S. military bill to this figure, and its realy quite insignificant. Military… now THERES a waste of money…

  28. well Achtung Bubba, i disagree. I see a clear link between millions dying of aids, and not being able to say one bad word on TV. Its about letting people live in their save little worlds, and only concern themselfs over ridiculous details that matters shit. Posting on a webside has nothing to do with giving people an illousion about what the world looks like, but this case does. I do not agree with the Mars project being a waste of money. Compare the U.S. military bill to this figure, and its realy quite insignificant. Military… now THERES a waste of money…

  29. Achtungbubba, I was going to let this go because you just don’t get it, but being a U2 fan means you indulge in “hope springs eternal,” so let’s see if I can make this clearer to you. If you went to a doctor and he did a bunch of tests and told you, you have tested positive for cancer, lupus, AIDS, high blood pressure and you have two completely blocked arteries, BUT your nose is a little bit too long for my taste, so what we have to do is get you to a plastic surgeon for a nose job THIS INSTANT, the rest of that stuff can wait, it’s no big deal, and you went to ten other doctors for additional opinions and they said the same thing, would you say that there is a big problem with the ol’ medical profession? Because your nose that some may think is a little too long has nothing to do with your general health, and has no importace — it is superficial and cosmetic and concentrating on it is totally misleading to what is really wrong. That’s exactly what we’re saying here — so-called “bad words” are nothing but a social prejudice, a matter of manners in some quarters and not in others. And I defy you to find one case of a child growing up in ruin and destruction because they overheard or even used one of Carlin’s Seven Words. This is a tactic they use to get people with, shall we say, limited critical thinking skills, and that’s way too many people these days, to get all up in arms about what isn’t important so they won’t focus on what is, because dealing with what is important interferes with the plans of the powers that be. The media go along with it, because they are looking for ratings and readers, and they don’t want anyone leaving the paper or magazine unread on the stand or grabbing the remote. And to make it worse in this case, they involve Bono, a man of intelligence and integrity, in a scenario that contains neither. That’s why it’s on a U2 log.

  30. Achtungbubba, I was going to let this go because you just don’t get it, but being a U2 fan means you indulge in “hope springs eternal,” so let’s see if I can make this clearer to you. If you went to a doctor and he did a bunch of tests and told you, you have tested positive for cancer, lupus, AIDS, high blood pressure and you have two completely blocked arteries, BUT your nose is a little bit too long for my taste, so what we have to do is get you to a plastic surgeon for a nose job THIS INSTANT, the rest of that stuff can wait, it’s no big deal, and you went to ten other doctors for additional opinions and they said the same thing, would you say that there is a big problem with the ol’ medical profession? Because your nose that some may think is a little too long has nothing to do with your general health, and has no importace — it is superficial and cosmetic and concentrating on it is totally misleading to what is really wrong. That’s exactly what we’re saying here — so-called “bad words” are nothing but a social prejudice, a matter of manners in some quarters and not in others. And I defy you to find one case of a child growing up in ruin and destruction because they overheard or even used one of Carlin’s Seven Words. This is a tactic they use to get people with, shall we say, limited critical thinking skills, and that’s way too many people these days, to get all up in arms about what isn’t important so they won’t focus on what is, because dealing with what is important interferes with the plans of the powers that be. The media go along with it, because they are looking for ratings and readers, and they don’t want anyone leaving the paper or magazine unread on the stand or grabbing the remote. And to make it worse in this case, they involve Bono, a man of intelligence and integrity, in a scenario that contains neither. That’s why it’s on a U2 log.

  31. If they did change their minds and decide that what Bono did really *was* bad, what are they gonna do? Wash his mouth out with soap? (Then they should use Irish Spring! Tee hee.)

  32. If they did change their minds and decide that what Bono did really *was* bad, what are they gonna do? Wash his mouth out with soap? (Then they should use Irish Spring! Tee hee.)

  33. ok ok…i’ve been listening to the 30second Wake Up Dead Man & Discotheque snibbit that’s been circulating around the internet for a while and I can say with 100% certainty that this album is going to a techno masterpiece with Boy-era influences!!…oh wait a second, they already released the album Pop? and they released another album too? aw man. shoot. i better go climb back into my hole again.

    i shall now listen to a file called “U2 new song Solar demo” on Kazaa which is really a 20 second loop of some dude’s electric kazoo. i shall provide you further *new* album conclusions shortly….

  34. ok ok…i’ve been listening to the 30second Wake Up Dead Man & Discotheque snibbit that’s been circulating around the internet for a while and I can say with 100% certainty that this album is going to a techno masterpiece with Boy-era influences!!…oh wait a second, they already released the album Pop? and they released another album too? aw man. shoot. i better go climb back into my hole again.

    i shall now listen to a file called “U2 new song Solar demo” on Kazaa which is really a 20 second loop of some dude’s electric kazoo. i shall provide you further *new* album conclusions shortly….

  35. I don’t know where to start, so I won’t.
    Ignorance is bliss and patience is a virgin.

  36. I don’t know where to start, so I won’t.
    Ignorance is bliss and patience is a virgin.

  37. so you do know that the head of the fcc is the son of the u.s. sect.of state…hope that bono will be able to continue to travel to u.s.

  38. so you do know that the head of the fcc is the son of the u.s. sect.of state…hope that bono will be able to continue to travel to u.s.

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