View Full Version : Swearing
kb7lth
02-20-2003, 05:29 AM
Out of the 14 years I have been a Ham Radio Operator I have never heard anyone swear on the radio until now. #With in the last month I have heard two QSOs where one of the operators began swearing. #"I THOUGHT FOUR LETTER WORDS WERE FORBIDDIN WHILE OPERATING A HAM RADIO" #How did CB Radio become so degraded??? #Did it start with just a little swearing here and there??? #I enjoy Ham Radio and the people I meet on the radio. #It would be a shame to have Ham Radio taken down the same path as CB Radio has been. #Fellow operators let us operate as we should. #We have been given the privilege to hold the coveted Ham license let us not abuse it.
73's
ND7I
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
ke4pjw
02-20-2003, 07:05 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kb7lth @ Feb. 18 2003,23:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Out of the 14 years I have been a Ham Radio Operator I have never heard anyone swear on the radio until now. With in the last month I have heard two QSOs where one of the operators began swearing. "I THOUGHT FOUR LETTER WORDS WERE FORBIDDIN WHILE OPERATING A HAM RADIO" How did CB Radio become so degraded??? Did it start with just a little swearing here and there??? I enjoy Ham Radio and the people I meet on the radio. It would be a shame to have Ham Radio taken down the same path as CB Radio has been. Fellow operators let us operate as we should. We have been given the privilege to hold the coveted Ham license let us not abuse it.
73's
ND7I
???[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
When I first got on 75 Meters I was floored by the language.
Not that 75 is bad for any particular reason, it was just my first time I could ever remember hearing "SOB" and other colorful language over the air.
A friend of mine that is a Tech class helped me put up the dipole. He said "You studied CW for weeks to talk to these guys?" when we went to test it. I'm not sure if they realize just how bad they sound. Maybe a little tactful peer pressure would help keep it in check.
FT990
02-20-2003, 12:08 PM
And to think they kissed their Mother with that mouth. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif I think it's good practice to assume that who ever you are talking to has their wife and children sitting beside them listening and should treat them with respect.JMO
ai4ep
02-20-2003, 02:24 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif nah...to be fairly BLUNT and RUDE about the situation... folks that use those type of words are letting all who HEAR them know with every single word...how intelligent the person speaking into the microphone really is... the lower the I.Q., the more vulger words you hear. It does not matter if they are cb operators, or no-code techs, or general class, or EXTRA class,It does not matter if they own a company, or have a white-collar job, or dig ditches to make a living, or NO job at all.. NO one forces them to speak that way, nor is it "peer pressure", or a "bad child hood ". http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif ...kd4amg
KC2KFC
02-20-2003, 02:33 PM
Never seem to have that problem working CW #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
ai4ep
02-20-2003, 02:57 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif to kc2kfc : you are right !! C W has a built-in filter against that kind of communication...hmmm ( who would have ever thought it ? ) ... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif kd4amg
KC7HDE
02-20-2003, 04:40 PM
I have noticed that swearing has gotten worse and worse.
Not just the words but the amount of time I hear some one swearing over and over in the same QSO.
I don't think that we need more OO's but maybe we need to remind whom ever we are talking to that others may be listening and that they may not like their children to hear this before they change the freq and have to explain why such language is on Amateur Radio.
The very thing that their father has made out to be such a great fun thing to do. Oh well, This is just my thought.
73
Norm. T.
kd5kfl
02-20-2003, 04:47 PM
CB, and society in general, started swirling down the drain when a certain word that sounds like " m'other father" became socially acceptable.
If I ever used that word around my father he would have dribbled my head like a basketball. Whether my mother was present or not.
A couple years ago I heard a little girl in diapers use it while standing next to her mother. You know the family - Dad can be found in the bar when he's not working, kids are vandals, Mom has eight kids from 6 fathers. Wonderful people.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC7HDE @ Feb. 19 2003,13:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have noticed that swearing has gotten worse and worse.
Not just the words but the amount of time I hear some one swearing over and over in the same QSO.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Actually, the word "swearing" means "taking an oath", as one would do before testifying in a court of law. That said, there definitely is an increase in the amount of foul language used on the air, especially on 75 meters. Could it be a sign of a progressive CBification of our hobby?
Before you transmit, think of the airwaves as a public street where you can be heard by the entire world. What kind of impression do you want to make to others? Do you want to be radio's ambassador of good will? Or do you want to be an "Ugly American" who reminds your listeners of the images used by the late Baltimore newspaper columnist H.L. Mencken as he decried the coarsening of American culture?
KG4RUL
02-20-2003, 05:02 PM
I did hear one good string of cursing while listening to a QSO on 20M. #The one doing the cursing was pressing the PTT bar on the side of his mike as he reached down to adjust the thermostat on an electric heater. #Lets see, hand on metal mike, other hand on metal heater shell with an internal short. #I was surprised that he was able to finish the QSO at all.
Dennis - KG4RUL http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
Yep, I hear the occasional <span style='color:red'>F-BOMB</span> and <span style='color:red'>S-BOMB</span> delivered on 75 and 20 SSB. Hey, I'm no saint, linguistically. In "acceptable" company, I use this vocabulary freely from time to time. But on the air, it's just not acceptable.
Forget the legality for a minute. Even if it were somehow legal, such language makes us look bad. Why do these people forget that they can be heard by hams and non-hams alike? Shameful.
And I agree that you rarely hear this on CW. Could it be that a ham sending CW has to actually think about what he's going to "say" before he actually says it? One can then conclude that the potty mouths are NOT thinking before running their yaps inappropriately. Tsk tsk!
Out.
ai4ep
02-20-2003, 06:18 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif i just rotate the V F O knob to the right or left... easy to find a CLEAN q s o going on. **got an idea: record the vulger talk, then play it back for them to hear their selves... what would happen ?? **... HF is all kind of FUN, if not on one band, there is always another with some one INTERESTING to talk to...kd4amg
wb6bcn
02-20-2003, 06:33 PM
There are four letter words I don't hear enough, and other words I hear too much. #The offensive words aren't liminted to four letters. Even the good four letter words are often used with negative connotations:
Positive word: #Love:
Negative connotation: #Affair:
Other offensive is the term: #Male offspring of a canine:
There are many words used that are socially unaccecptial, and the quantity of letters isn't limited to four, #however some many consider "Hard Work" two bad four letter words in a row.
I contend that you may say anything on the radio so long as it will not offend your childern, parents, grand parents, and members of the clergy.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
kf4lne
02-20-2003, 09:44 PM
I remember having to explain to friends back when PSK got popular that no I wasnt in a internet chat room. Someone felt the need to make heavy use of F*CK while having a PSK QSO and backed it up by saying nobody will ever hear it and nobody will care. I must say that anybody with a receiver, PC with a sound card and $3 audio cable from Radio Shack can get PSK, SSTV and several other sound card ready modes. Where I live we do have people who monitor the SSTV on 2M using their scanners and I assume we also have PSK watchers too. I personally see every image that comes across the local SSTV freq on 2M and have seen some crap that shouldnt have ever been sent. (some lucky ham has a hot female companion too) As for the language around here, there is the occasional slip in the heat of the moment, but usually something that can also be found in the bible such as "damn" or "hell".
N3BIF
02-20-2003, 10:49 PM
Sadly ham radio is only mimmicking #society , #We live in a society far too permissive ,but then again that's the downfall of all great civilizations, #and ours #will not be any different. # Look it up .. We are a disgusting lot.
I just got my ticket and on my first contact the other party used the F-word! My first "freaking" contact. Grant it, Im 41 years old and work in a profession where swear words are the norm, but "dang-it" the rules are the rules.
Mike
K9STH
02-21-2003, 04:48 AM
Athough my father (and even sometimes my mother) would curse (not that bad, but occasionally), I was brought up NOT to use those terms. Frankly, I am not a "prude", and occasionally something slips (like when I hit my thumb with a hammer!), but I think that such language only demeans you when you use it. If I have to listen to it (can't get away for some reason), I just consider the person using the language either crude or immature.
As for on the air, to me it is a definite "no no"! I don't use profanity on the air and I don't appreciate those who do. Now, several years ago I was on my way to work in downtown Dallas and came upon a car wreck. The police were already working it, but there were cars all over the place. I was actually transmitting at the time on a local 2 meter repeater and said something like "my god, look at that"! About 10 minutes after getting to work, I received a telephone call from one of the trustees of the repeater who said that there were "several complaints" about my language and if I ever referred to "god" on that repeater ever again that they would see that my license was revoked! Frankly, I believe I know the one person who probably complained (her husband was another of the trustees and she is of a very conservative religious group). But, I definitely did not "take the Lord's name in vain"!
Well, on my way home, I listened on the 440 MHz repeater operated by the same organization and I heard several phone patches made by two more of the repeater trustees and the person whom I think complained. All of these were business related and were definitely in violation of FCC regulations! At that point I decided that the "powers that be" of that particular organization were not persons with whom I wished to be associated and I haven't been on that repeater since. Previous to that I had given the organization things like Heliax for the repeaters, worked on the equipment when the repeater "staff" could not fix the problems, etc. But, their little "tirade" about my saying "god" (which was not even intentional!) was too much for me to stomach.
I was thinking of getting a few stations together and discussing the various Greek, Roman, and Egyptian gods on the repeater. I could just see the person who complained going "off the deep end". But, since I decided not to even operate on that particular repeater anymore I just forgot it.
Anyway, there are degrees of what people think of as profanity. However, there are certain words that I think at least 99 percent of the population will agree are not acceptable in "mixed" company and definitely should not be used on amateur radio. Unfortunately, the liberal interpretations of what is legal (not what is socially acceptable) to say has reached the point where just about anything goes. I don't agree, most amateurs don't agree. But, legally there isn't much that can be done. If someone starts using such language in a QSO with me, I either ignore it (if in a roundtable) or sign with the station if I am in a one-on-one situation. I don't make a "big thing" out of the situation, but I don't stay where that sort of thing goes on.
If I hear someone using such language, I just tune past them. I don't get upset, but I don't have to listen to them either.
Glen, K9STH
it is ashame some people have to talk like that on the air, I have been fortunate not to hear much of it, since I have a four year old who is very interested in amateur radio, and listens with me.. the only thing I can say, is someone is swearing, don't talk to them at all.. dead air, or end the conversation right away, and if they don't have ANYONE to talk, maybe they will go QRT for good.. they do give us all a bad name, but I wont add kindling to their fire...
ai4ep
02-21-2003, 02:07 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif good idea... if they dont have any one to talk to, they have no audience for their vulger talk..and AMATEUR radio does NOT get a bad name... kd4amg
W2JDH
02-23-2003, 01:42 AM
Bad language anywhere simply reflects the genral coarsening of society in general. Swearing or cursing on the air is the same as doing it among the mixed company of decent people. The speaker shows their ignorance and inability to properly express themselves. They make asses of themselves and never realize it. Ignore it, move on.
kb7lth
02-23-2003, 02:27 AM
I agree with all the comments made on this subject. #Thanks for the input. #It is good to know there are others in the hobby who enjoy using ham radio the way it was intended. #All your comments are highly valued. #Thanks.
73's
ND7I
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
WA6CAW
02-25-2003, 06:53 PM
I like the comment my wife made when someone, who was looking for me, asked her" Where in hell is he"?
She responded" Well, if that is where you have been looking, no wonder you can"t find him"!
MEMO
Please use the following terms to replace their more harsh alternatives:
Shoot # # # # # # #Dang
Fudge # # # # # # #Son of a Biscuit
Gol Darn # # # # # Freakin'
Arse # # # # # # # #Fiddlesticks
MotherFather # #alpha-hotel
Poo-poo # # # # # Froggin'
Consarned # # # #Jiminy Cricket
Jeezy-Peezy # # Gee Whiz
Cripes # # # # # # #Cheese 'n' Crackers
Gosh Hang # # # #Flippin'
Shucks # # # # # # @$#%&!!*$#!!
Violators will be darned to heck.
Hi. It's me again. Forgot something.
Know how the FCC came up with the list of "magic words" you can't say on the radio? They had a committee of guys deliberately bang themselves on the thumb, full force, with a hammer. The words that came out comprised the "banned list."
Just so ya know.
Out.
ai4ep
02-26-2003, 06:04 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif i remember GEORGE CARLIN had a story about the "7 words you can not say on tv ", but for the life of me I can not remember all of them, almost got the orrect order, but can some one help me with this OLD saying that GEORGE CARLIN has on one of his old stage stories ? ** maybe the moderators wont BAN you ( or me ) for this ** ....( KEEP the CODE )... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif kd4amg
try this order:
S P F C C M T
W1RFI
02-26-2003, 07:34 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (w3sy @ Feb. 25 2003,11:14)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Know how the FCC came up with the list of "magic words" you can't say on the radio? They had a committee of guys deliberately bang themselves on the thumb, full force, with a hammer. The words that came out comprised the "banned list."[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Years back, we had a fellow in the Lab that cussed a lot. Understandable, I guess, because if one sets one's hand down on a hot soldering iron, "Golly, gee whiz" just doesn't seem to cut it.
When this happened as a tour came through, however, the Lab Dad decided that something had to be done. Thus, the XXX Jar was brought into the Lab. The premise was that swearing was officially banned in the Lab, and if a Labbie got caught swearing, he either had to be written up, or toss a quarter in the jar. When the jar got full, the Lab Dad would buy pizza and everyone would be happy.
Well, with such a rule, it would be inevitable that someone would utter a word that most folks would call a cuss word, but that the person saying it would feel was appropriate, so clearly a list of proscribed words was needed. So, at a closed-door session in the ARRL Lab Dad's office, we had a very heated drafting session in which we put together the list. Best business meeting I have ever attended!
Now, one of the Lab guys was pretty shy and he didn't contribute anything to the meeting. (Lets just say it wasn't me and let it go at that...) At the end of the meeting, the Lab Dad pulled out a quarter, handed the fellow the list and told him that the meeting wasn't over until he said one of the words on the list. He carefully look at the list, flipped the page and looked at the second page, and went back and forth a few times to figure out which word he could bring himself to say.
We really appreciated the guy who started this whole thing, because he ended up buying most of the pizzas. Alas, I was a close second. :-)
Just a bit of unofficial ARRL Lab history. Copyright 2003, Ed Hare -- not to be reprinted without permission, and permission not to be granted! :-)
73,
Ed Hare, W1RFI
ai4ep
02-26-2003, 08:22 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif generally speaking, one tends to use language that he/she/it feels CONFORTABLE with, both in-person, and on-the-air. Sooo those who CURSE on-the-air are more likely to use profanity while talking "in-person". You can not seperate one from the other...that is where the "tuning knob " comes in handy, should it ever be needed....hi hi hi ....kd4amg
n7ujj
02-26-2003, 08:59 PM
[
Thus, the XXX Jar was brought into the Lab. The premise was that swearing was officially banned in the Lab, and if a Labbie got caught swearing, he either had to be written up, or toss a quarter in the jar. When the jar got full, the Lab Dad would buy pizza and everyone would be happy.
]
I had about 10 students in a programming class who got in the habit of using words, while appropriate, should not be used in school. #I brought in a large Water cooler bottle and we called it the pig jar. #If you swore, you had to put a quarter in or spend a quarter hour after school, or clean the "pen".
It was a very tough program the kids were working on when Steve Pelleterrie stood up and walked over to the jar, dropped $5 in and sat down. #We asked if he wanted change, but he said not to bother, he'd use it up by the end of the assignment. #We all knew the feeling http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
What swearing? Never hear swearing?
Next time I am in Georgia I will make sure I listern in to see what all the bother is about http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
.
I think Harry N0PU nailed the George Carlin Seven Words:
S P F C C M T
Yes, they indeed are:
Shoot, pee-pee, fudge, "C-U-In-Toledo," cork sniffer, motherfather, and ta-ta's.
George Carlin is one of the funniest motherfathers on the planet. If you ever see his "Brain Droppings" book in the bookstore, buy it immediately.
Out.
Carlin's Second one "Napalm & Silly Putty" is just as good although he has a lot more gratuitious potty-talk in it...
kf7qq
03-20-2003, 03:30 PM
I have always heard some cussing out there, and other bad things, but it has gotten worse lately. Lets face it, things are different now partly cause it is easier to get on the h.f. bands. I still remember taking that 13 wpm code test, to get my general.
All those cb buddies I left in the past, were intimidated by the 5 wpm, and that kept them out of the mix. Heck, they are probably on the air now, with an Extra!
kf6nfw
03-20-2003, 11:30 PM
What is the stupidest thing, or funniest thing you have heard on the air. Where you embarressed by their stupidity?
I recently was listening to three ops on simplex UHF, and was amazed at how dumb one could be when advertising the recent vandalisim was done by none other then them. As their qso went on, I rcognized one of the morons, and wanted to say something, but chose not to get involved on the air. While also listening, I also heard them discussing that the local Taco Bell headset frequ. was such, and that it was fun to place 200 iguana taco orders, of course I had to laugh, but was also embarassed to listen to any more. I did record the Taco bell comments, and later played it back for the one I know. While I did not take any action to the FCC, I did give a warning about such.
Which brings me back to the same week I got my ticket.
I was on the local repeater, in another county where I lived, and had a problem with my mouth. No I could speak clearly, maybe too clearly!
The friend I was speaking with, and I had been invited over to another Hams house one after noon.
Upon our arrival, he made sure we understood the rules of the air.
As he laid into us, I wanted to tell the old kook where to put it, but then he brought up something of interest so I listened.
He being an avid church goer suprised the hell out of me with the language that flowed freely from his mouth. The sailor was present in him!
Any ways to make this shorter, he told me he didnt care what I thought or what I said so long as it wasnt over the air.
Now I had a choice. retire my ticket after only a week or get along with the program.
Thanks Murray AC6RT, I needed that.
Chris KF6NFW
w9ass
03-21-2003, 02:33 AM
Kinda reminds me of these yahoos up on 440 late at night that never ID and use some CB type language. I can understand if you slip once in a while, but this was some low-grade chatter from guys who may not have been licensed period. It was F this and F that. When I came to ham radio I left the bad language at home and wish they'd do the same. Holding the tongue is discipline, man. It makes a good character too!
KC9DGM