"You are fined one credit for violation of the verbal morality statute"

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

MIDDLEBOROUGH (CBS) – Public swearing is so bad in Middleborough that they’re considering a plan to start enforcing a longstanding but rarely-used law.

Folks in town have had enough of kids and some adults who think it’s OK to drop high-volume obscenities in their otherwise bucolic downtown.

“It’s intimidating to my customers,” says business owner Paulette Lilla, “to the people who are out here downtown, and I think it’s a good thing that they’re doing something to try to curb it.”


Former Middleborough Selectwoman Mimi Duphily says, “I don’t think it will solve the problem but it will make them understand what is acceptable behavior and what is not.”

The town’s police chief has proposed to give $20 tickets to vulgar loudmouths as a deterrent to downtown air pollution.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/04/3...-for-swearing/

I don't have much to say on this one except that I think it's a silly idea and not necessarily the best way to go about solving the problem.

[DrFaroohk]

Like the thread in Things I Hate, I see this getting dicey when its words like Ass, Bitch, Bastard, etc....who's to say they are really "offensive"?

[mikoyan29]

Here in Michigan, we sent a guy to jail for obscenities. The initial reports made it sound like a couple word thing. HOwever, it sounds like it was a long tirade. Not sure what became of all the appeals though.

[lordlundar]

Oh if only that could be done on XBox Live. Microsoft would make a killing on that.

[Seifer]

Isn't that infringing on free speech? Swearing in public doesn't hurt others - it might offend them, but so do political tirades, and those are allowed by law. If you don't want people swearing in your business, kick them out. People on the street are swearing? Sorry, but it's their right. Either ignore it, ask them to stop, or remove yourself from the situation.

[SongsOfDragons]

Is it wrong that until I saw the URL of the article I seriously thought you were talking about Middlesborough in Yorkshire? It's close to where my mother grew up and I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it. XD

They only just missed out on city status recently too.

And in the UK, I'm sure such obvious verbal tirades anywhere can get you at least yelled at by the bobbies - unless you're in Hyde Park Corner...

[jackfaire]

This to me proves that if not prevented a kid will go through a lobotomy upon becoming an adult and suddenly be very stupid.

Here is what will happen. The kids will create swear words that aren't on the list and say them incessantly until they are on the list then when those are banned they will make up new ones so on and so forth.

It will be made so bad that laws banning slang will be passed as well. Because after all the only difference between slang and swearing is perception.

[Rageaholic]

Sounds like Virginia Beach. They have "no swearing" signs up the boardwalk. I always thought it was a dumb law.

[Rapscallion]

If it only serves to reduce it from using curses as punctuation then I'm not worried. The issue comes when career prudes use it to gain leverage that I start to object.

Rapscallion

[Evandril]

I dislike the idea on principle, but the best way to do it would be to focus on the volume, not what's said. Far easier to show how shouting is a public nusance, legally, than word choice, since that doesn't limit freedom of speech...Just volume of speech, which I do not believe is directly covered

[Sarah Valentine]

I just can't help but think of that scene from Demolition Man where John Spartan is swearing and the machine keeps spitting out violation slips.

[PepperElf]

Sounds like Virginia Beach. They have "no swearing" signs up the boardwalk. I always thought it was a dumb law.

I know the signs you mean. I had a coworker who claimed it wasn't really enforceable due to the 1A.

I mean the volume I can see cos that's different but... really how do you decide what is and isn't offensive? What swear words are over the limit and which ones are ok?

It’s intimidating to my customers,”

Is it bad that I read that as "IMITATING" rather than "intimidating"?

[MadMike]

I just can't help but think of that scene from Demolition Man where John Spartan is swearing and the machine keeps spitting out violation slips.

Thanks a lot you shit-brained, fuck-faced, ball breaking, duck fucking pain in the ass. So much for the seashells. See you in a few minutes.

Yeah, that was the best part of the whole movie.

[telecom_goddess]

Thanks a lot you shit-brained, fuck-faced, ball breaking, duck fucking pain in the ass. So much for the seashells. See you in a few minutes.

Yeah, that was the best part of the whole movie.

awww geeze now I'm highly offended cause you SWORE!

Seriously....people swear, they have the right, and if others don't like it they can tune it out or go elsewhere. People get way too offended over what they see and hear nowadays.

[Nyoibo]

I have no problem with swearing, I do it every damned day, however I tend to aviod it in front of children, what I have a problem with is people who yell and scream out obcenities, there's no need for it except in very specific circumstances .