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Oh, FFS: Town bans swearing in public
By adamg on Tue, 06/12/2012 - 7:32am
Yes, Middleborough town meeting up and approved fines for public cussing.
One of Middleborough's ponds is known as Assawompset.
Ed. note: However, Assawompset Elementary School is in a neighboring town.
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Comments
Time to Learn...
swearing in other languages. Greek is always a good one for that.
Ya Got Trouble, Right Here in Middleborough
..."are certain words creeping into his conversation, words like, "swell", and "so's your old man"?
(with apologies to The Music Man)
Not surprising, Middleborough
Not surprising, Middleborough is so ASSawompset backwards.
Peterborough
http://www.bostontipster.com
I understand what they are
I understand what they are doing but is it worth it financially to the town.
What will be the ratio of money collected from fines compared to how much it will cost the town to defend the law in the courts when someone challenges it on 1 amendment grounds.
I don't understand what they're doing
Swearing might be rude, but there's no evidence whatsoever that it is detrimental or harmful to society or that individuals who swear are any better or worse than those who don't. Middleborough is making a laughingstock of itself and more importantly, is playing with Constitutional fire that could cost it dearly in the future.
I do
A bunch of old women and men, half senile, flooded the town meeting and thought in their old age that decency laws need to be brought back... back for the children!
Seriously, watch the news report and laugh at who and why this is being pushed.
The town should know better, but apparently people of better judgment are too busy trying to stay afloat in this economy to be bothered with this dreck.
My parents own small hometown is having the same issues, but with a different problem. Their tiny village, every meeting, is in the process of planning a 3-5 million senior center that they really can't afford, that will serve little purpose, and that only makes sense because a small group of seniors banded together and want it.
Everyone else is a bit miffed about telling these people it's a waste.
Awwww
Fu*k
Hey, Middleborough
Go fahk yahself.
A List?
Where does one find out just exactly what constitutes a swear? As Kaz brings to our attention in an oblique way, variant pronunciations may or may not be acceptable!
Shite? Sumbatch? Arsehole?
And where is the line drawn? I'm sure they mean to wipe out asshole (excuse that) but what about bumhole? And can I get away with "proper" terms for acts once considered indecent? Will I be sucked into court if I ask someone to fellate my penis?
Inquiring dirty minds want to know!
On another note, some creative individuals (of which I am not one) might find out if Middleborough has an official website, then bombard it with obscenity-laden messages. Fun thought.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Another "I'm holier than thou" ruling:
Really....fining people for swearing in public!!??! Swearing's an age old pasttime, which is as American as apple pie. This sort of "I'm holier than thou" attitude's getting out of hand. Those people in Middleborough are a bunch of little goody-two-shoes purists.
Thanks Miki
It's been forfuckever since I've seen you around this shithole! How the ass have you been?
:) Well, well, well! You're fuckin' welcome, eeka!
I'm fine...how the hell have you been?
:)
Like, Middleborough, this is
Like, Middleborough, this is sooooo not cool.
What constitutes swearing?
I mean, I get the obvious ones, but what about "Goddang it" or "frigging?" Both are considered swearing by my grandfather. Will Middleborough be providing a list of what not to say, or is this going to be trial and error? What about workarounds ("H-E-double hockey sticks")?
Just curious.
Bylaw
leaves it up to the police officer.
Really??
Cripes...
Sigh.
Damn right Kaz
And don't use that word cripes down in Middleborough. I'll let you know if its a swear or not depending on what kind of day I'm having. (I don't consider damn a swear either)
Golly, Gosh, Gee
Actually refer to a rather holy deities neither regions. They were swears and sacrilegious back in the day.
What a difference a few hundred years makes on sentiments.
Which is really why this bullshit is fucked.
Gee, Officer Krupke...
...krup you!
Oh, the kids will adapt and
Oh, the kids will adapt and start yelling epithets at each other that will go completely over the heads of the bottle and stopper.
Wrong Town
Assawompset is a Lakeville school, part of the Freetown-Lakeville School District. It even says so in the linked article...
Damn, I made an ass of myself, didn't I?
Fortunately, some redemption comes from the fact that Assawompset Pond does lie partially in Middleborough.
In the meantime, I've deleted the earlier ass-backwards reference in the original post.
This won't go over well
in Athol.
If you pinch your tongue and say Athol
do you get "apple"?
Not quite what it sounds like......
After reading this on boston.com, this anti-swearing law isn't exactly new.
The law existed for awhile, it has just been decriminalized which had the effect of reviving it:
And of course, its contitutionality is questioned: