To be clear, the term “f*****” was as degrading and offensive to gay men in 1987 as it is today, it’s just that most gay men didn’t have any platform or opportunity to express this, and many straight people didn’t care about homophobia. That is the context that needs highlighting.

 

I think in 80s Dublin slang it didn't mean a homosexual. But, regardless its offensive now to homosexuals. I would usually favour non-censorship, I don't see any harm in the correct use (that is, by a black person) of the n-word, or of sexually explicit lyrics etc. But if your policy is to censor (as it is with BBC) then I don't see why this song should be an exception.

 

Also the word "$l*t" is in it which is often overlooked in the argument.

 

Edit: Someone mentioned "$l*t" earlier, but the way its's censored here I thought it was "sh1t".

 

Edit Edit: why is "$l*t" censored here but not "f*****"?

Edited November 19, 20204 yr by CianS

For me it’s also the acrobatics people do to justify keep this one specific word played at 11am on Radio 1 on a Monday morning, whilst completely ignoring the fact that they censor every other slur in every other song. It’s all very...revealing.

Edited November 19, 20204 yr by iain

I am a gay man and I am the song should be left alone if you don't like it turn the song off the lyric comes on halfway through just mute the sound for 5 seconds it's not as if you do not know when it will appear.

You might not have a problem with the slur, but many others do. You could say that some people are fine using the n word but that doesn’t mean it should be used on radio because it doesn’t offend everyone within the demographic it targets.

 

The same point can go the other way as well. If they just mute the word and you want to fill the gap sing it out. People can still enjoy the song with one word muted out. Commercial radio would have died years ago if people turned off whenever they might face a song with something muted out. If streaming sites muted it, then I would be annoyed but radio (especially the bbc) has a responsibility when it comes to stuff like this to make sure what they play is suitable for all audiences.

 

Haven’t heard the other version but I agree it should be muted pre-watershed. Don’t see why stuff like this needs to be publicly announced as others have stated, it just ruffles feathers.

This is it to me:

 

@1329364764582088704

 

Also, as well as the Pogues agreeing its offensive these days so should come off radio, a reminder of this:

@1329361745324945409

Edit Edit: why is "$l*t" censored here but not "f*****"?

 

BuzzJack exposed!!!

 

(the BuzzJack censor does have some weird holes in it)

 

((I also don't see why there should be any need for this site to have a word filter at all, we're all adults here and it's very easy to get around anyway, but that's entirely irrelevant to this thread))

Maybe the reaction to its use in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special last year prompted them to re-think it specifically this year?

 

I'm pleased by this move as I feel the context has been eclipsed by the word being more commonly associated as a derogatory term. So to me that leans towards the criteria that other censored words on the radio face. The song still gets to exist and people triggered by the word can feel more at ease. Sounds good to me.

Probably did that had a lot of complaints when used in Gavin and Stacey.

 

I think it is a good idea that those words have been censored.

BuzzJack exposed!!!

 

(the BuzzJack censor does have some weird holes in it)

 

((I also don't see why there should be any need for this site to have a word filter at all, we're all adults here and it's very easy to get around anyway, but that's entirely irrelevant to this thread))

 

I totally agree with this tbh - as long as people use language responsibly, it's annoying to have the filters when most other adult forums don't. (Maybe some extreme words like J*ss Gly**e could be censored)

 

Although this site can be a bit slight with offering warnings/suspensions compared to others too, so maybe it wouldn't be the best idea lmao.

Edited November 19, 20204 yr by 365

This is it to me:

 

@1329364764582088704

 

Also, as well as the Pogues agreeing its offensive these days so should come off radio, a reminder of this:

@1329361745324945409

 

This addresses the issue perfectly to me also, I think back that f***** meant something else in Ireland back then, sure I remember reading something about that. However, that doesn't matter as the word is so recognisable, it should just be blanked out in my opinion. Still my personal favourite Christmas song regardless.

I'm generally pretty strongly against censorship but this is just taking a version that exists already and choosing to play it instead, which is fair enough. As others have said I think it would have been much better to make the change quietly.

 

I think having a policy where it's up to the individual DJ to decide which version to play is fine if you don't broadcast to the whole world that it's your policy! Now those presenters might feel like whichever one they play is going to be interpreted as making a statement.

I personally think it’s ridiculous and I’m part of the group who would have a reason to take offence to it.

 

Literally the world is so PC these days and full of people who get offended over everything :lol:

I don't understand why people are so quick to dismiss people as "snowflakes" just because something doesn't personally affect you. It's become as much of a buzzword as your "-phobes" and "-isms". Maybe try showing some compassion and open yourself up to other people's perspectives and experiences? People are able to debate and understand shades of opinions, I don't see what anyone gets out of shutting people down.

This idea that we’re all taking the word out of context, and that it means something different in the song...kind of loses credibility when Shane McGowan referred to the Pet Shop Boys as “faggots” a year later in 1988. He knew exactly what the word meant at the time he wrote the song.

I personally think it’s ridiculous and I’m part of the group who would have a reason to take offence to it.

 

Literally the world is so PC these days and full of people who get offended over everything :lol:

it's censoring an offensive word. Just like how every song with "f***", *the N word* or "shit" is censored. So why is it an issue here for you?

 

It's an offensive name call. It says a lot when even the band themselves are tweeting in SUPPORT of radio censoring it.

 

We should change the word to "gammon" and see how inoffensive and "IT'S JUST A WORD!!!!1!++!" it is to them.

it's censoring an offensive word. Just like how every song with "f***", *the N word* or "shit" is censored. So why is it an issue here for you?

 

It's an offensive name call. It says a lot when even the band themselves are tweeting in SUPPORT of radio censoring it.

 

We should change the word to "gammon" and see how inoffensive and "IT'S JUST A WORD!!!!1!++!" it is to them.

 

I’m literally someone who’s been called that word many times it might bother some people but I’m comfortable enough with myself to not be too bothered by it. I get why it’s been done but I wasn’t someone who’d have been campaigning for it to happen. The original will always exist as well :lol: this is just for radio right? They’re not gonna remove the original or anything on iTunes / streaming sites are they?

I personally think it’s ridiculous and I’m part of the group who would have a reason to take offence to it.

 

Literally the world is so PC these days and full of people who get offended over everything :lol:

 

I don’t really know what to say to you then - maybe read this article if you want a very clearly articulated account of an experience that many gay men have gone through, and why the word can be harmful to them.

 

https://theguyliner.com/opinion/dont-f-with-me-at-christmas

I’m literally someone who’s been called that word many times it might bother some people but I’m comfortable enough with myself to not be too bothered by it. I get why it’s been done but I wasn’t someone who’d have been campaigning for it to happen. The original will always exist as well :lol: this is just for radio right? They’re not gonna remove the original or anything on iTunes / streaming sites are they?

So... what's your problem with it being censored? :P

So... what's your problem with it being censored? :P

 

No real problem I just think it’s OTT and there’s bigger stuff going on right now than one line in a song making the headlines yet again :lol:

Radio 2 is playing the original version and Radio 6 can choose which version to play, in recognition of the generational divide over the issue.

 

Speaking as a gay man who was around when it came out I was never, and never have been, offended by the lyric. It's mildly amusing, it's supposed to be a story of a drunk and a drug addict having an argument at Xmas, and yes, people did speak like that then I don't want history being whitewashed. It is what is was. Other offensive words (when they were INTENDED to offend) are now supposed to be now non-offensive because they refer to something else but I would never use the Q word because it still has memories of 70's hurt. So I understand if some find the F word offensive. Just fade it during the daytime, like other pop songs. I'm going to continue to play the original.

 

BTW the big phrase a few years back which got on my nerves was kids saying "oh that's SO gay" and me not having a clue whether it was a good thing or a bad thing they were talking about, and the kids having no idea that it might sound a bit dodgy either way to older people who'd chosen the word to be a neutral/positive representation of something that had only negative word associations. Language is an ever-evolving thing.....

 

 

Nobody has to have the fact Cardi B is in fact not referring to her pet cat coming in from the rain, despite what the word used to mean.

 

 

If other gay people are offended by this song are they also offended by the song from West Side Story? :rolleyes: