[microsound] [OT] FCC Insanity

[Jason Thomas <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

I'm just curious about people's experience in other
parts of the country since W was reelected regarding
the new degree of confidence/fascism exhibited by the
right wing since Nov. 2.  I have a couple anecdotes
regarding radio:

At my current day job, coworkers usually listen to the
rap station here in L.A.  I have, as a result,
incidentally heard the new snoop dog song several
times since its release roughly two months ago.  When
it was first played, only instances of the "seven
dirty words" were cut.  No surprise there. After
hearing the song broadcast a couple times, the words
"gun" and "AK47" were cut.  A couple weeks later I
noticed that the words "crip" and "blue" were censored
as well, where they had not been before. (Referring,
respectively, to the L.A. based crips gang and the
color with which they are associated.)  More recently,
the word "pig", in reference to the police, as well as
the words "gansta" and "hoe" have also been edited.   

Needless to say, I am somewhat surprised by the
"snowball" effect that has taken place with editing in
this particular song, along with others which I have
not mentioned. Why are words NOT on the list of seven
you absolutely can not say being taken out, and more
importantly, why now instead of when initially
released? After mentioning this situation with a
friend, I was told that Howard Stern said on today's
show that some of his markets are now editing every
instance of the word "sex."  Some have apparently been
even more liberal with their cuts, editing entire
sections of the broadcast that deal with a subject
matter deemed inappropriate, regardless of how it is
addressed.  

It is apparent that the FCC has such control over
deciding what is "indecent" without quantifying what
constitutes such a charge or providing any guidelines
as to how to avoid it, that most stations would rather
cut anything with the remote possibility of generating
a warning and/or actual fine than deal with the
costly, lengthly, and potentially unsuccessful battle
with this organization. It seems as if one right wing
zealot can call up a station, threaten to file a
complaint, and the station will just say fuck it and
back down. 

I can't say that I have any solution to this
situation, certainly not one that does not involve the
elapse of four years.  I am simply curious of others
experience with this type of activity across the U.S.
Has it had a negative impact of anyone's work on the
list? 

Later,

Jason Thomas

=====
Jason Thomas 
346 N. Vermont Ave. # 615
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 661-8093
http://www.jason-thomas.org
mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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