Poll: Victoria police given permission to fine swearing

[Surreysmith]

At it's base level words are just a series of noises used to describe objects and actions. And can you be fined for making a certain noise?

If I changed words slightly would that be considered okay? like if I said "niggar" or "niggor" would I still be fined because they sound the same? And if so where will they draw the line? crab sounds like crap and beach sounds like *****.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You cannot make and enforce a law which is based on an OPINION - that is bias.

Much as I agree, a lot of laws are based solely on opinion - fueled by outrage.

I think it's a perfectly acceptable idea. As long as they have an exclusive list of what swearing is, they punish Police Officers equally under it, and it also covers the media.

Every. single. swear. word.

 

[Scarim Coral]

It kind of suprise me that no one had posted this yet-
This is a bad idea and I highly doubt it will work or in bizzaro world it will happen and we will see it in the future (above video).
I mean yeah I don't like swearing but what happen when you swear in reaction to a pain like a brick landed on your foot?

 

[Adzma]

Really?

Damn. Is the country ran by some old mothers or something? Stuff like this and the extremely tight video game ratings

Victoria had an election at the end of last year and voted in the Conservative party. Now this has happened so go figure. >_<

I'm beyond caring at this point. Every single day that passes another notch is added to the belt of "List of Reasons to hate Australia." I need to leave here... and soon.

 

[Goro]

So if I type C*nt over and over again, and call every other poster on this thread C&nt, and just tell you all you're C%nts.
I would....
a) receive applause and accolades from everyone for my use of 'free speech'
b) start some kind of war with people who believe in 'free speech', but don't like being called names
c) get banned because calling people offensive names is, gosh, offensive.
The average age of the Escapist user becomes apparent in forums like these.

 

[Harbinger_]

You know what? Those police can go fuck themselves.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

Seriously though, why is it every time the land down under gets into the news around here its for nanny state bullshit like this? Oops, I just earned myself a fine.

It's because Australia is a nanny state. It's ridiculous what they ban over here, everything from computer games to airsoft to riding your motorbike out in the bush. AND you have to have a license to do fucking anything around here. WHOOPS! That's 240 bucks gone... :/

I for one will just make up words, or call people 'cucking funts'. Suck that, you fothermucking cuck funting flutts!

 

[Baneat]

Not even offensive language should be in that law

I can get offended by anything, doesn't mean I can have you arrested.

 

[lockeslylcrit]

It seems to me that Australia is turning more and more into a police state.

 

[suitepee7]

Personally, I have no problem with this law. It's worked in Whistler, BC and is designed mainly for those too obtuse to develop any social skills. It helps the police cut down on belligerent attitudes and like most fines of these sorts, you usually need to go beyond the call of decency to incur a fine.

Part of living in a society is sharing a common level of decency and I for one don't like, nor appreciate, the downward slide that society has taken over the past few years.

but swearing is a contextual part of language. in some situations fine, it's frowned upon, but in other it is acceptable. for instance, saying fuck as every other word yeah i disagree with that, but if you stub your toe and just go "owww shit!" you can be fined. i disagree with that, a lot.

people who use swear words a lot don't use them because they don't know it is wrong. they use them because they know they are wrong, but they want to get a reaction. personally i think they are just words, if you get offended by them then you need to grow a pair, the people who use them in common conversation probably use them because of their lack of vocabulary.

 

[Sansha]

More and more of Australia becoming a ruthless police state.

I wonder how long it'll be before they ban leaving the country.

 

[FateOrFatality]

This is why I don't like how Australia doesn't really have a bill of rights (I'm pretty sure we don't have one - other than the right to vote, etc. - but correct me if I'm wrong).

The Government shouldn't be able to control what words we say, nor what games we play, or any of the other bullshit they do (making small breasts in porn illegal, attempting to censor websites, trying to remove the MA15+ rating).

Edit: Also, how the hell do they define swearing? Do they have a specific list, or are police just allowed to hand out fines if they think whatever you said could be considered swearing? It seems that with modern slang etc. it could be difficult to just define swearing. What if I went around screaming Chinese cursewords? Could I be fined for that?

 

[Your Fearless Captain]

Personally I think it's a violation of free speech

There is no such thing as a protected right to free speech in Australia, so nothing is being violated.

That's why I don't like Australia.

 

[Zhukov]

Huh.

Not quite sure what to say. Oh wait... I know.

Fack that.

 

[Joccaren]

Its always one step forward, five steps back with us isn't it?

We finally get R 18+ rating guidelines, and this has to come along because politicians here are absolutely useless, and can't think of anything better to do. Here's a hint: Something useful.

If it is a fine for those who swear loudly and often to offend other people, or who will not stop when asked too, then fine, but outline that in the law. As it is, it is too vague and can be interpreted to mean any swearing, which I might say is bloody ridiculous (Pays $240). The day this country actually does something for the people, is the day that I die of shock.

 

[Adzma]

How about showing a little pride in your nation. What has happened here that was so terrible that you want to leave?

I'll start showing pride in this country when the people stop voting conservative idiots into power, the country abolishes censorship, legalizes same sex marriage, reforms Medicare, gives the power back to the people, keeps religion and politics seperate; the list goes on.

It has a long way to go.

 

[FateOrFatality]

This is why I don't like how Australia doesn't really have a bill of rights (I'm pretty sure we don't have one - other than the right to vote, etc. - but correct me if I'm wrong).

The Government shouldn't be able to control what words we say, nor what games we play, or any of the other bullshit they do (making small breasts in porn illegal.

Oh for the love of god. We didn?t ban small breasts! Does on one on this fucking site do any research beyond some tabloid rag?

Source? I'm pretty sure I remember reading about it in the newspaper, and I live in Australia...