You can't say that on the radio...

[WB4CS]

Looking for some advice from my fellow hams. In my area there's a younger ham that has recently moved to the area and is active on many of our local repeaters. On several occasions while rag-chewing he will let a few curse words slip out. Examples would be: "That's a damn good radio." "Hell even I can't hit that repeater." or "I'm testing this antenna out for ****s and giggles." Off the air, I tend to have language like this as well, so I can understand how someone might slip up occasionally. However, when I'm on the air I make sure to watch my P's and Q's.

I remember way back when I tested for my ham ticket that it is stressed that cursing is not allowed over the air, but I don't know that I've ever heard a definitive list of what the no-no words actually are. The next time I have a QSO with this ham I want to remind him of the FCC rules and help guide him to be a better ham operator, but I don't want to approach the subject without knowing exactly what to tell him.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[elk2370bruce]

I think it is time for you and another ham to have a sit-down with this young ham and discuss his inappropriate behavior on the air and offer help in correcting the problem as "elmers". I would not embarrass him on he air.

[gewecke]

This is not a big deal, simply remind him that he's not on the phone but on the air, so watch his terminology. If he's mature enough, that shouldn't embarrass him at all.

73,
n9zas

[DaveNF2G]

Be aware of local repeater policy, too. Some repeater operators are more strict than others when it comes to appropriate language or topics of conversation.

The FCC is only concerned with the "7 Words." 'Damn' and 'hell' are not on that list, but they do offend some people.

[rapidcharger]

The repeater owner can make their own rules and tell them never to use profanity on the air and they may want to go that route and send them a letter. As far as I know using profanity isn't againt the FCC rules. Obscenity and indecent language is but luckily the FCC makes a very clear distinction between those on their website.

[LtDoc]

'Acceptable' language is determined by society (large or small). What may be acceptable in one society/group may not be acceptable in another. If some language/actions are not acceptable then inform the 'user/do'er' of it and go from there. Sounds about as normal as it get's, doesn't it?
- 'Doc

[WB4CS]

Originally Posted by DaveNF2G

.

The FCC is only concerned with the "7 Words." 'Damn' and 'hell' are not on that list, but they do offend some people.

Any idea what the "7 Words" are or where they are listed?
Me and another ham a few years ago got on this subject (off the air) and his take on it was, if it's allowed in Broadcast media, it's okay for ham radio. I'm not sure what is and isn't allowed on the air, which is why I'm reluctant to bring this up to the new ham I mentioned.

Me personally, I have no issue with "damn" or "hell" over the air, but then we get into a slippery slope with words like "s h i t", which is one this ham has been using.

After 17 years in the hobby I feel that I should be more active in being an Elmer to newer hams, but if I'm going to quote rules, I want to be quoting the right rules

[WB4CS]

Originally Posted by LtDoc

'Acceptable' language is determined by society (large or small). What may be acceptable in one society/group may not be acceptable in another. - 'Doc

I agree completely! Personally, I have no issues with any type of words and am not offended by cursing. Hell, I use them daily! However, so that I know I'm following the rules of the radio, I don't use them on the air.

[MOONBOOTS]

Originally Posted by KT4EB

"That's a damn good radio." "Hell even I can't hit that repeater."

Since when did these 2 phrases contain contain swear words? No cursing there. Club repeaters might be more strict than privately owned repeaters with the verbage that can be used, but I don't see the FCC fining anybody for saying these 2 phrases. Now maybe if the Church owned the repeater, than that would be "off color" but still not swearing like so many of the 4 letter words we all hear on a daily basis. Hey, times have changed. Blacks don't have to sit in the back of the bus, in some states, 2 men can get married, & language that was once offensive is not any more.

[kb2vxa]

You may be surprised at the proper definitions of such words as swear, profane, curse and vulgar which is why the FCC legal beagles chose obscene and indecent. The rule of thumb is don't include bad words in your every day vocabulary and you won't say them on the air. There are plenty of substitutes that get the point across, the British are masters at this and Americans can learn from them. Last but not least, if words like hell and damn offend you don't read the Bible.

[MOONBOOTS]

Yeah, Isaiah 36 verse 12 is a good start.

[WB4CS]

Originally Posted by MOONBOOTS

Since when did these 2 phrases contain contain swear words?

That's exactly my point. I PERSONALLY don't consider them swear words, but in my 17 years as a ham I don't recall anyone using them on the air, and the ones that did were considered lids (poor operators.) Hence, I don't use them on the air even though they are part of my normal vocabulary in person.

Let's not dwell so much on those two words, my biggest concern is this ham's usage of other 4 letter words, and their legality on the ham bands. Since I've never seen a definitive list of what is and isn't acceptable, I don't want to lecture a new ham and be wrong.

Perhaps it was me that was taught wrong in my early days on the air? Maybe it's all fine and dandy to say on the air that "I don't give a (s h i t)" about something. Maybe I've been doing it wrong for 17 years

[WB4CS]

Originally Posted by MOONBOOTS

Yeah, Isaiah 36 verse 12 is a good start.

Man, now I'm going to have borrow a Bible from someone since I'm an atheist and don't have one handy to read

Care to elaborate on what you mean?

[MOONBOOTS]

12 But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

[k3cfc]

Originally Posted by DaveNF2G

Be aware of local repeater policy, too. Some repeater operators are more strict than others when it comes to appropriate language or topics of conversation.

The FCC is only concerned with the "7 Words." 'Damn' and 'hell' are not on that list, but they do offend some people.

Do you mean from George Carlin 7 words? LMAO


K3CFC

[Jay911]

Even if the words are supposedly "prohibited" by law, other than pointing that fact out to the operator in question, you should just let it go. To spend any amount of time fretting over something like that - the phrase "there's 5 seconds of my life I'll never get back" comes to mind.

[k3cfc]

If this is left unchecked he will think it's ok and it will turn this repeater into a CB SEWER.

K3CFC

[MOONBOOTS]

Years ago, my friend who owned a UHF repeater had a dirty joke session scheduled for Friday @ 10PM. We all knew when it was coming, & the young ones were fast asleep. Anything within reason went, but we still tried not to be vulgar. When we told jokes about men of color, they were called "blue men" to not insult anybody who might be offended. This went on for a year, until we ran out of jokes.
If you watch wrestling you would be amazed on what words the FCC allows. I'm sure the producers work very closely with their lawyers. The word "pri*k" is allowed, while the word "a*s" is bleeped out. Isn't that strange?

[k3td]

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

...There are plenty of substitutes that get the point across, the British are masters at this and Americans can learn from them.

Bloody right you are!

[n5ims]

Originally Posted by KT4EB

Any idea what the "7 Words" are or where they are listed?

Seven dirty words - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A followup question (you haven't asked it yet, but here's the question and the answer). Why is that important to this topic? FCC v. Pacifica Foundation | Casebriefs

Originally Posted by KT4EB

Me and another ham a few years ago got on this subject (off the air) and his take on it was, if it's allowed in Broadcast media, it's okay for ham radio. I'm not sure what is and isn't allowed on the air, which is why I'm reluctant to bring this up to the new ham I mentioned.

Me personally, I have no issue with "damn" or "hell" over the air, but then we get into a slippery slope with words like "s h i t", which is one this ham has been using.

After 17 years in the hobby I feel that I should be more active in being an Elmer to newer hams, but if I'm going to quote rules, I want to be quoting the right rules

This link (Obscenity, Indecency and Profanity | FCC.gov) may help lay out what types of words may be OK to use and at what times or in what settings. While that guideline is for the broadcast licensees, it should help to define what may be appropriate in other areas as well. If you notice, it's never OK to broadcast what's "Obscene", but what's only "Indecent" or "Profane" can't be aired "between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m" but is fine overnight.

The FCC has defined broadcast indecency as “language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.” Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity.

One other issue is that "contemporary community standards" may vary from area to area. What's OK in an urban area along the coast may not be OK in a very rural area in mid-America.

Specifically to the amateur service now (emphasis added). FCC Rule "97.113 - Prohibited transmissions" "a) No amateur station shall transmit:" "(4) Music using a phone emission except as specifically provided elsewhere in this section; communications intended to facilitate a criminal act; messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein; obscene or indecent words or language; or false or deceptive messages, signals or identification."

One may argue that this prohibits language that is "obscene" and "indecent", but may not prohibit language that is simply "profane". This argument doesn't say that it's right to use profanity over the radio, but it may not exactly be against the rules.