The collective netisphere appears to be preparing to get its knickers in a twist over Senator Stephen Conroy saying the f-word on a live ABC broadcast. The fact that we even care in an embarrassing indictment of us as a nation.
The ABC reported on Conroy’s comments, made during an appearance at the Press Club in Canberra:
I have seen a new definition of sovereign risk; it is asymmetrical. If a tax goes up, God, that is sovereign risk. But if a tax goes down, fucking fantastic.
Conroy is now trending on Twitter as a result of this passing remark. But let’s be clear here: this is not unusual language in ordinary Australian discourse. I guarantee that when I get on the train to go home this afternoon, I’ll hear similar phrases dozens of time.
The only reason anyone appears to care is because (1) this was on the ABC; (2) it was daytime programming, so children might have been tuning in shortly thereafter; (3) Conroy is responsible for broadcast standards. But if you think your children have never heard or used swear words, you’re wrong. Like them or hate them, they’re an established part of the national discourse. Equally, if you think Conroy swearing once in a live broadcast opens the floodgates for non-stop swearing, you know nothing much about broadcasting or, indeed, anything.
I do come at this subject as something of an expert. I wrote my honours university thesis on swearing in Australia. Back in 1993, it was nigh-on impossible to say any swear words on TV. But standards have changed, as standards often do. Nowadays you can say “shit” on an evening broadcast and no-one cares much. Language changes. That’s the world we live in. Get over it.
There’s plenty of room for arguing with Stephen Conroy and disagreeing with him. But pretending that a single swear word, offered by one adult in response to another, is one of the important issues he should be discussing or defending is just plain crazy. Can we be bigger than that? Sadly, I fear the answer is no. [ABC]
Picture: Cole Bennets/Getty Images
technojames
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:43 PMI’m not sure “I write my honours thesis on…” is the language of an honours student… just sayin…
feral
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:45 PMWhen’s that internet filter coming? Never? Fucking fantastic.
Inform
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:48 PMYou sir…. are too quick for me +1!
Drew
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:49 PMFuck yeah =D
M0les
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:07 PMI think this needs a few more “me too!” replies.
Duke
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:20 PMWell I’ll be f…ed, this must have been a spam or scam coming down the fucking portal!
note: first phrase contains the word filtered, not the other f one…
Lolz
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 6:26 PMIt’s still on the backburner until next year.
Chris
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:03 PMFuck.
Krispy5
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:48 PMThere’s a big difference between my 3,4,5 year old occasionally hearing a swear word then them seeing it as normal use. I certainly don’t want my young kids walking around swearing like its normal and accepted.
Schmak
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:39 PMHow is it NOT normal and accepted?
Your child is going to have a shocking day when they go to school…
MotorMouth
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:28 PMI’ll tell you how it is not normal and accepted, you retarded fucking prick. Its because I understand that when I call you a “retarded fucking prick”, you understand that I really hate you (and I do, because you are clearly stupid). When a 10 year-old hears it from a Cabinet Minister on TV, he assumes it is a perfectly acceptable adverb, like “very” or “really”. It also shows that Stephen Conroy has a very poor vocabulary, and/or poor impulse control. I don’t know anyone who swears more than I do (I was in the Infantry for 10 years, FFS), but my mother NEVER heard any word worse than “bugger” pass my lips in her life. Why? Because foul language was offensive to her and I had far too much respect to even think of offending her. Mr Conroy should have at least as much respect for those who voted for him.
EMH
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:50 PMYou must be living under a rock! This word and others like it can be heard every night on TV!
I don’t swear, don’t even like hearing others swear, but my opinion on the subject is irrelevant; this horse bolted from the stable long ago.
Krispy5
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:58 PMThese words can be heard after my kids are in bed… not during the day
MattPrime
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:11 PMI see, you Home-school your children.
Good for you.
Shane
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:18 PMYou sir, are an idiot! Since when does a child think anything when hearing a cabinet or any other minister?
A child doesn’t swear, because it understands, it’s a child. They know it’s not acceptable behaviour. And for this reason my brother didn’t swear in front of me till he was 18… the same reason my Nan will (hopefully she hasn’t lol) never hear me say fuck.
The social responsibility of respecting the social norms of your contextual station. Everything has a context. And this context was adults speaking to other adults. What child watches the national press club really?
Jaezass
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:51 PMLook, swearing on TV in general is pretty common these days, but he is a polly and pollies do on occasion stuff up, we all do. However if he does it again that’s bad taste and he should be carpeted for it. I guarantee every body who has a cross to burn will jump on him too. Just don’t make a habit of in in public, is all.
Roland
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:51 PMWill Conroy put himself on the black-list?
Graham
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:52 PMI agree that its really no big deal, but why would Giz post an image of him with a child on his lap giving the impression that he’s whispering a naughty word in her ear or something (I assume its his daughter?). That’s probably even less appropriate than his own comment. I know its to perhaps push home the “someone think of the children” angle, but its not really cool to use a child’s image for that purpose. The child is not the public figure, he is.
Ozoneocean
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 3:53 PMYep, this should be a non-issue.
The guy should have a bit more decorum and remember where he is when he’s doing an interview, but the fact that he let it slip isn’t that big a deal.
M0les
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:06 PMIf anything my opinion of him went up.
AAron
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:27 PM+1
Antonia
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:08 PMOf course there’s a difference between calling someone, say, a “f*cking pig” and saying something is “f*cking fantastic”? The former is an attempt to cause hurt and the later an attempt at emphasis. Still, I believe a Senator should be more careful with public comments. (Partly because his detractors will use this as “proof” of whatever nasty thing they can think of.)
bugwan
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:09 PMStorm in a fucking teacup.
Jason
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:11 PMSo… what was all that about sovereign risk ?
bugwan
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:14 PMAlso, what sort of child is watching Ministers speak at the Press Club?
RB
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:17 PMSo before opening his mouth, he did, for once, NOT think of the children…
About fucking time :P
Ash
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 4:26 PMI loled @ this
Mike
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:14 PMLet the censorship jokes begin…..now…..
Borganstein
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:33 PMLove it, for all the things that he was going to fuck up, THIS is what everyone will be talking about.
AC
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:45 PMbut but… the alliteration!
Perry
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:48 PMIt was a slip of the tongue, nothing more, and used innocuously. Why it was even worth reporting is beyond me.
Michael
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 6:55 PMSadly, if he goes, we will still have a internet filter. :(
Sam
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:47 PMOh who cares if Conroy fucking swears.
Kroo
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 8:24 PMFunny, I remember there being a shitstorm when Abbott said “shit happens”. Seems like is only fine when done by the good ol’ boys from the left, ay?
Steeeve
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 6:52 AMMr Abbot was, however, referring to people dying.
The shitstorm of teacup magnitude wasn’t due to him saying the word “shit” but rather to his nonchalant dismissal of Australian troops dying.
Max
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 8:20 PMIt wasn’t a nonchalant dismissal of diggers eating lead. Soldiers being killed is shit, and it does happen. They’re at war. I’m sitting on a ticking time bomb waiting for the inevitable when one of my mates comes home from Afghanistan in a bag. That will be shit too. The forum in which the remark was made was totally approriate for that particular statement.
P3t3
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:08 PMI was watching this and didn’t even notice it!
Sicarius123
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:32 PMI care. This man is trying to censor the nation, but doesn’t think he should be held to the same ideals?
Die in a fire Conroy.
Daniel
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:39 PMHe never stated we aren’t allowed to swear. He’s actually proven his point that he is able to swear on tv and have it reach young people. He’s still entitled to use words of his choice – given they are heard by people “old enough” or as indicated by his policy.
His policy was to censor – not to manage people’s behaviour. Your statement has no actual relevance to his goal despite me being personally against his censorship mission.
But the reason i’m posting is because i think it’s disgusting how australians can actually laugh at their drastic use for vulgar words/swearing, yet get all offended when a politician (in general) says one miserable swear word live on tv.
If anything – by us taking it very seriously, i’m surprised the majority of this country isn’t actually supporting censorship. But we live under double standards. We don’t want to be stopped from using said words, yet we want our politicians to curb their language? Fuck off.
Daniel
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:44 PMIf you’re having trouble understanding my point, i will put it in layman’s terms…
I don’t think any of it should be censored. We should all be able to speak freely. Although ABC should’ve “beeped” it out if they felt the need to. The burden was on the broadcaster. I’m not supporting him, i just believe in the use of logic and common sense where due. And logic states he shouldn’t be scrutinized for a “broadcast” issue.
Nick
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:45 PMNobody is offended by Conroy swearing. People are laughing at him because he’s an incompetent fool and a hypocrite to boot with a lengthy history of pathetic wowser policies.
mat
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 10:32 PMcan i just say one thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26UA578yQ5g
also i hear a hell of a lot more swearing on tv that 5-10 years ago was not allowed.
steve mate, right on :)
Azza
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 11:04 PMThe only thing I take away from this is he clearly lacks personal control – as he knows there would be consequences for him if h swore on tv.
Never sworn in my life in front of my family, rarely do it at work.
Daniel
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 1:59 AMWell aren’t you special? Like i said, just because you don’t swear, doesn’t mean you have to impose the same beliefs on others.
Besides, like i also said, he can swear on tv – people swear on tv all the time, but the abc let it pass, therefore it’s the broadcaster’s fault – not his.
You can only censor what is already there – censorship doesn’t mean changing people’s behaviour.