Please, please, please

[randy-decker]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Please,_Please,_Please
So could you guys just say frick instead of the other word? If you did, I could recommend you to my students. And I could blog you here http://egram-alc.blogspot.com/

[dohidied]

Frick? Holy **** that would blow cock.

[dremmy]

Yea, I think as soon as Kevin and Alex start actually formating the show how some viewers want it is when it's going to loose it's apeal.

The other day one of my boss's came over to my desk to make sure I was alright cause I hadn't stopped laughing, then I had to explain to him the "soy products making people gay" story and the "dam bofa burgers are making me crave cock" post... he stared at me for a bit then went back to his desk...

But that's the stuff that makes this show great, if you feel it's a bit too racy for kids then don't show it to kids, but don't ruin it for us adults!

[masherscf]

If you don't like the lingo, don't watch.

[tokenuser]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Please,_Please,_Please
So could you guys just say frick instead of the other word? If you did, I could recommend you to my students. And I could blog you here http://egram-alc.blogspot.com/I am trying to see the educational value of Diggnation, and why you would recommend it to students - and if you DID recommend it to students, I wonder at the problem you have with the use of "****".

Podcasts are not rated like television shows, and are not covered under FCC guidelines, however if you look at the MPAA ratings (http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp), Diggnation would fall under the guise of PG. Not PG13, not R, or NC17 - but PG.

Would you have a hard time recommending a PG rated movie to someone?

Taking it to a TV ratings standard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_rating_system), once again, Diggnation would fall under the category of PG, perhaps with the L and D modifiers (L for mild coarse language
D for suggestive dialogue (suggestive or explicit subject matter)). This is the same rating as most prime time network television shows (sitcoms, drama, and reality programming). The difference here is that (at least in the US) the ability to use the "F" word you object to is restricted to after certain times of day, or cable (even basic cable).

Check the kids iPods. I would suspect that your students have material with far more explicit and suggestive lyrics than ANYTHING Kevin and Alex have said.

Anyway - as an educational resource, I don't think Diggnation is really the show for you. Try inDigital (although Wil has slipped in a F word once or twice) or Pixel Perfect.

[magunwarrior]

I mean really unless they're elementary school kids then they've probably heard worse. I'm sure everyone of your students curses, even if it is elementary school, I did. Unless you're going to watch it in your class then why would they need to sensor their language. They get worse language from them kids and their rap music.

[acidburn]

Podcasts are not rated like television shows, and are not covered under FCC guidelines, however if you look at the MPAA ratings (http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp), Diggnation would fall under the guise of PG. Not PG13, not R, or NC17 - but PG.

Would you have a hard time recommending a PG rated movie to someone?


I'll preface my comment by saying I really enjoy diggnation and don't think they should change a thing.

Now in the interest of a lively debate, according the the MPAA's rating system the use of a sexually derived swear word such as the obvious one that starts with "f" more than once would get a movie a R rating.

But as tokenuser says, diggnation is podcast and not a movie so different rules apply.

Digg the website may have educational content, but the podcast is just fun entertainment.

To Randy: First, no disrespect meant. I checked out your blog and it appears you teach adults so I guess they could make the choice if they wanted to listen to the language and content heard on diggnation. But I do understand that as a teacher you may be uncomfortable recommending a podcast with swears. My suggestion: Recommend your students check out digg.com. Then if they find the podcast on their own.........after all they are adults.

[-mk-]

Why, oh why, do people still think that this show is designed to be educational or kid-friendly (or beg that it should be)? Basic premise: Two guys, sitting on a couch, drinking beer, shooting the shit about news stories on a website on the Internet (which includes its own "suggestive" material, mind you...the comments for these stories often make the dialogue between Kevin and Alex seem childish by comparison).

I know, there's always a flame war when the "please make Diggnation PG" posts surface - I'm sorry I contributed (for once), but this crap's getting old.

[tokenuser]

Now in the interest of a lively debate, according the the MPAA's rating system the use of a sexually derived swear word such as the obvious one that starts with "f" more than once would get a movie a R rating.BTW - my assessment of Diggnation having an MPAA rating of PG is based on the following line from their description of what constitutes a PG rated film "There may be some profanity in these films."

Going offtopic (sorta) the problem with the MPAA ratings is they are inconsistent, since they are not rated by the same people, and are heavily influenced by personal bias rather than objectivity. In many respects the FCC TV ratings are far more objective.

But, when it comes down to it, if all these gosh darn blasphemers don't stop cussing and taking the Lords name in vain, then we all all going to heck in a hand basket.

I know, there's always a flame war when the "please make Diggnation PG" posts surface - I'm sorry I contributed (for once), but this crap's getting old.

I actually think Diggnation IS PG. Definately not G, and probably NSFW (but should you be watching it at work anyway?). And I agree - this IS getting old. Diggnaiton is what it is. They tried self censorship in the early days - it failed, they tried bleeping content - it failed. The formulae that worked is the one that is in place now.

[-mk-]

But, when it comes down to it, if all these gosh darn blasphemers don't stop cussing and taking the Lords name in vain, then we all all going to heck in a hand basket.

Spoken like a true Carolinian - represent that bible belt, fool! ;)

[tokenuser]

Spoken like a true Carolinian - represent that bible belt, fool! ;):) I am Australian - I swear like a ****ing sailor.

[-mk-]

:) I am Australian - I swear like a ****ing sailor.

Good on ya, mate! While I am a true Carolinian, I am facetious as well, and also swear like a ****ing sailor. :p

[masherscf]

Does Australia have a bible belt?

[tokenuser]

Not so much. We have the regular religious nutters (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~wanglese/pebble.htm) like you get here, but no bible belt per se.

[popltree2]

Does Australia have a bible belt?

Australians don't believe in belts. They are strictly a suspender-oriented continent.

[shadowbird712]

Not so much. We have the regular religious nutters (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~wanglese/pebble.htm) like you get here, but no bible belt per se.

There are religious nuts everywhere, of all types and religions.

And they all annoy the living hell out of me.

But before this becomes a theological debate...

Kevin and Alex tried it, and it failed. They even once said that it would be silly to try it again. Just don't like your kids watch it and don't watch it at work.

[jamesd]

I like the format and style of the show the way it is. You can't pander to everyone so you have to take a stand at some point and say "This is what we're doing and it's not going to change". Otherwise, one the anti-swearing lobby get their way, the anti-somethingelse lobby will move in and it will never end till they all get their own way.

By the way, I'm Scottish and i also swear like a ****ing sailor :)

[kowgod]

By the way, I'm Scottish and i also swear like a ****ing sailor :)

So many sailors here. Hmm.

Well, I'm Chicagoan, and I swear like a ****ing... Chicagoan.

[tokenuser]

So many sailors here. Hmm.

Well, I'm Chicagoan, and I swear like a ****ing... Chicagoan.You know if you move to San Francisco the patchoulli wearing, tree hugging, tie dyed hippies will beat that out of you and then shove a rainbow flag of peace so far up ... never mind. Just be prepared for the shock.

[casework]

BTW - my assessment of Diggnation having an MPAA rating of PG is based on the following line from their description of what constitutes a PG rated film "There may be some profanity in these films."

Going offtopic (sorta) the problem with the MPAA ratings is they are inconsistent, since they are not rated by the same people, and are heavily influenced by personal bias rather than objectivity. In many respects the FCC TV ratings are far more objective.

But, when it comes down to it, if all these gosh darn blasphemers don't stop cussing and taking the Lords name in vain, then we all all going to heck in a hand basket.



I actually think Diggnation IS PG. Definately not G, and probably NSFW (but should you be watching it at work anyway?). And I agree - this IS getting old. Diggnaiton is what it is. They tried self censorship in the early days - it failed, they tried bleeping content - it failed. The formulae that worked is the one that is in place now.

If the F word is used more than once or twice, it gets an R rating. Other than that, foul language is basically fair game. I know for a fact because I know of multiple cases of movies cutting out one or two uses of the word and it drops it back to PG 13. Also keep in mind Diggnation discusses a lot of adult themes not appropriate for kids under the age of 13.

In any case, Diggnation shouldn't be for little kids, and it shouldn't be used for educational purposes either.

I'm not a huge fan of cussing, I cuss on occasion but try to keep it out of my daily language, but I personally don't ever want Diggnation to change one bit. Kevin and Alex have tried censoring themselves by their own power and simply by bleeping things out and it just kills the show. I want to hear them having real talk, telling real stories... not concerned with what will get them an explicit tag on the iTunes store. If that's how they talk, that's how they talk.

[tokenuser]

If the F word is used more than once or twice, it gets an R rating. Other than that, foul language is basically fair game. I know for a fact because I know of multiple cases of movies cutting out one or two uses of the word and it drops it back to PG 13. Also keep in mind Diggnation discusses a lot of adult themes not appropriate for kids under the age of 13.

From the Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA_film_rating_system#The_rating_process) ...If a film uses "one of the harsher sexually derived words" (such as ****) 1-3 times, it is routine today for the film to receive a PG-13 rating, provided that the word is used as an expletive and not with a sexual meaning (this was mentioned in Be Cool, when Chili Palmer complains about the movie industry. "****" is said only in that scene, giving the movie a PG-13). An example of a film that might suggest this criteria is Waiting for Guffman, which contains mostly PG-13 (some could even argue PG) content, yet is rated R because a man auditioning for a role uses "****" (the only time it is spoken in the movie), in a sexual sense. Exceptions may be allowed, "by a special vote of the ratings board" where the board feels such an exception would better reflect the sensibilities of American parents. A couple of exceptions were noted: rare films such as Guilty by Suspicion were allowed as many as 9 uses of the word; probably due to the precedent set in the 1970s by politically important films such as All the President's Men. It is a common misconception that if a movie uses "****", in a nonsexual context, more than once, it will automatically receive an R rating. In reality, PG-13 movies are routinely allowed two or three uses.

I wonder how many times an expletive is used in each Diggnation epsiodes? Obviously once or twice, but is it perceived to be more frequent than it actually is??

[rhett803]

Spoken like a true Carolinian - represent that bible belt, fool!

Ever notice the really only people outside of the south notice the bible belt? I am smack in the middle of South Carolina, and I don't really notice it. Maybe growing up here has caused me to become immune to the idiocy?

I do know it annoys me that I can't ****ing! buy anything on Sunday's till 1pm!


Diggnation is fine. It's a PG rating at most. Try recommending your kids a book instead of a podcast next time.

[casework]

From the Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA_film_rating_system#The_rating_process) ...

I wonder how many times an expletive is used in each Diggnation epsiodes? Obviously once or twice, but is it perceived to be more frequent than it actually is??

Wait, so are you showing that I was right or trying to disagree? That's basically what I just said. Yeah, there are some exceptions, and on average it may be 2 or 3 instead of 1 or 2, but basically the same general thought process.

But, there's almost two different types of Diggnation episodes. Old/non-drunk shows. They didn't cuss a lot in the earlier shows, and they're usually much more clean with language when they're sober. When they're drunk, easily 5+ times. It started with Alex, and it seems as if Kevin is no longer reserved in what he says, most of the time.

[ryudo]

Click here for a real education. (http://www.funfreepages.com/flash/the_word_****.php)

[casework]

I wonder how many times an expletive is used in each Diggnation epsiodes? Obviously once or twice, but is it perceived to be more frequent than it actually is??

I randomly picked episode 75.

At the 15 minute mark, the F word is used 11 times.

20 minutes: 11 more times.

25 minutes: 4 times.

40 minutes: 9 times.

55 minutes(end): 6 times.

Total: 41 times.

Strange they used it more in the first 20 minutes of the show than the last 35 minutes... you think it would be the opposite.