The F Words used on Radio 4 in the morning.

[karlpeg]

I was listening to Radio four this morning as I couldnt pick up anything else where I was working and I am glad my customer wasent in the same room.
The program was about the life of a salesman.
During the feature I heard 4 x F�K words and 1 x S�T word.
I am sorry to sound like some old fart but this is not on for this time of the day. Has the water shed been abolished?
Is this the norm for radio these days?
Maybe the BBC are going down the same route as Channel Four.

[Ethel]

Was the programme A Smile and a Shoeshine? If so, I'll have a listen for myself.

[Ethel]

There is a warning about the language at the beginning of the programme, so it must be the right show.

[spock1]

agreed, there is no need for vile language - especially at a time when young children might be listening

[Ethel]

I can't imagine any young child listening to this show, unless the parent uses it to send him to sleep.

I have now heard the s**t word - totally in context, not gratuitous in any way. The salesman is recounting his experience in an interview - it is not a script.

I think this language in this show is acceptable - children old enough to be listening to it would be at school in any case.

To beep the offending words out would simply bring attention to them, I think.

They are talking about the masculine environment of sales - and the language is a reflection of this. Shows how competitive and aggressive it is.

I personally don't have a problem with this language in this show, at this time of day.

[karlpeg]

Yes it was Smile and a shoe shine.

The swear words were very fitting for the subject having been a rep myself, but it was just too early in the day for that sort of program.
They really did not make it clear that swear words would be used before the program.

[karlpeg]

Sorry Ethel ,but lets just say a Mother had her sick 7 year old at home in the kitchen drinking her chicken soup and then this sort of thing came on the radio.

[spock1]

and what about during school hols?

[Ethel]

It's not school holidays though is it?

I find Jeremy Kyle far far more offensive and most unsuitable for morning tv - the depiction of not only truly shocking things, but violence and bad language. I have watched it once.

I honestly do not think that particular radio programme would hold the attention of a 7 year old. He or she simply would not listen to it.

[jackthehat]

Grasping at straws a little here, chaps............aren't you ?

Obviously, karlpeg, you aren't a regular R4 listener........
and I feel it unlikely that any 7 year old would want to tune his (limited) attention span into the relentless talky programme his mummy is listening to whilst listlessly slurping his 'chicken soup' from a prone position on the chaise-longue...

and spock1 - any self-respecting 7-year old is out stealing cars or smoking crack during the school hols, anyway, surely ?!?

[spock1]

yours might be, mine are more behaved

[karlpeg]

I think we all know its wrong and their is no excuse for it..

[Buenchico]

Unlike TV, BBC radio has never operated a 'watershed'. The following is quoted from the BBC Producers' Guidelines:

"The inclusion of strong language is a matter for judgement by individual producers, in consultation with Heads of Department when necessary. The most offensive language should not be used on television before 9pm, and if used thereafter it should only be after due consideration.

The practice on radio is different. The speech channels, overwhelmingly the preserve of adult audiences, include challenging drama, comedy and factual programmes across the afternoon and evening. The inclusion of sensitive topics and strong language depend less on time of day than on editorial merits and clear signposting of programme contents. On the music networks - and elsewhere - when substantial numbers of young people and families are listening, care is needed with language and topic matter".

Chris

[karlpeg]

The person who wrote that must have no children of their own and if they do then they need to have their children taken away from them. the person who wrote that thinks children are a pain in the back side. I pay good money to people who run the BBC so why the hell are they letting idiots run the show. I hope that person is one of the many who gets laid off.

[Ethel]

Karlpeg - it would be a form of child cruelty to make a 7 year old sit still and pay attention to a Radio 4 programme.

You are making an awful lot of personal judgments about a corporate statement - no one person made that decision, but a collective on the advice of many people.

I am an adult, and do not want all radio content to be in tellytubby language on the off chance a parent is forcing his young child to listen to an adult programme. No child of impressionable age would choose to listen to the programme being discussed on this thread, or the vast majority of Radio 4 programmes.

[horselady]

I find the soaps get a bit near the mark sometimes, especially Emmerdale. They love the expression "he just wants to get in your knickers" OK, us adults take no notice whatsoever of the phrase but bear in mind we're talking 7pm here, little kids are still up and it makes me squirm a bit when they ask what it means.

[milkmeister]

I am not a prude by any means, and am in fact continually frustrated by the ridiculous bleeping out of swearing on the likes of HIGNFY which is broadcast after 9, BUT, I really don't agree that bad language is acceptable at that time of day. It is not only children that one may not wish to hear such language. My mother for instance, deeply religious people etc. To that end I complained to the BBC and received the following answer:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'A Smile and a Shoeshine'.

I understand that you found the language which was used during the programme
unacceptable, particularly as your children were listening. (NOTE FROM ME: I never stated this, indeed I have no kids)

If I may explain, BBC Radio does not operate a Watershed policy in the same way
as television. Our research shows that the number of children or young people
listening to Radio 2, 3 and 4 is so minimal as to hardly register. Radio 1 and
Radio 5 Live's popularity with younger listeners brings with it special
responsibility which the stations take very seriously.

We try to provide programmes of adult interest at times most convenient for a
general audience without imposing unnecessary restrictions on writers and
artists. This is a difficult area of judgement. We are guided by our
experience of public reaction and our understanding of the kind of audiences
drawn to particular programmes. The constant feedback from our audiences helps
us know what material is and is not acceptable to them.

Therefore, I would like to assure you that we have registered your comments on
our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we
compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the
BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all
other comments we