Cussing
In case Americans think I am rude because of the limitations on their network television, some cussing quickies. The following words are acceptable on New Zealand network television and everyday speech before 9 p.m.: asshole, arsehole, bastard, bollocks, bugger (despite its connotations), bullshit …
Because of American and British television, fanny and fag have entered usage here with dual meanings, though often the British one is preferred.
About the only one that comes on after 9 p.m. that you don’t hear before is the f word, which makes movies that air at 8.30 p.m. really weird: censored for the first half-hour, then free reign after that.
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I, for one, think you are humerous. At our house, we watch a lot of foreign film. I usually have to look for the meanings of a few things. I hope you don't think the Americans are too puritanical that you must explain. Ah well.
I listen to Penn (of Penn & Teller) radio show via podcast and it's bizzare that he can't say the name of their TV show on radio without changing it to "Bulls Hit".
I wonder if America will ever see Francis Fulfords view of their country, I thought better than Borat, on public tv ;-)
Can you just imagine what we think when an American asks for a fanny pack at a store?
It was in relation to the British TV series Life on Mars, as a US version is now mooted and the participants were wondering whether the political incorrectness of the original would be carried through.
We had an hour’s interview at the office yesterday and I branched off into a bunch of non sequiturs. Then I realized: that could have been a show. I am probably more humorous in person when it comes to commenting on everyday events (the TV guy is restrained), discussing everything from Nicky Watson to Jimmy Carr. Wish we recorded it!
American network television has evolved a bit cursing-wise. You do hear "bastard" and "bitch" and, I think, "ass", a lot now, and maybe even "asshole". And, of course, the teen lingo version of the f-word, "freaking". I don't think we're at "bullshit" or just plain old "shit" yet.
I remember watching a syndicated show on a local station back in the early 80s, the host of which was a short, sandy-haired impressionist whose name escapes me now (John somebody). But SuperDave (kind of a deadpan Evil Kneivil) was a recurring guest on his show. One night he said the f-word about 3 times and I went and woke up everyone in my (parents') house. Made them all get up and watch the tv in wonderment as he said it several more times. It was surreal because you never heard that word on local or network tv.