NEWS: George Carlin on Indecency

Speaking to the Associated Press, "More of the same, more of the same. What are we, surprised," said the now infamous author of the "Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television". Blaming the current atmosphere on religious moralism, media commercialism, and election year politics, the 66-year-old Carlin offered his opinions on the current rise in furor over "indecency". News.Yahoo.com "The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things � bad language and whatever � it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition. ... There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have." Now we may actually have an opportunity to discuss a topic in which I care dearly about, freedom of expression. I firmly believe that the concept of "freedom of speech" is not a right, but a responsibility. And the responsibility involved is the need to defend that which you abhor. Most people misunderstood Carlin's Seven Words, which were never about the specific words, and more about the faux-morality involved.

George Carlin is the man, and has been for many years.
What he said is absolutely right, and I have made my own comments on the matter in that thread about the reality TV show about plastic surgery.

Show thousands being blown up, but don't show titty. Our sons will masturbate, it'll be the end of the world.

George Carlin was the one that coined the phrase, "Religion is very anti-human." And that quote couldn't be more correct. Religion tries to tell us that the body is impure and bad and that we are born of sin and must be humble and must hide our bodies.

Religion is the most damaging thing to have ever happened to humanity. And no one has ever made that point better than George Carlin. I see him as a philosopher...

Originally posted by Thorfinn Skullsplitter
I see him as a philosopher...

The same with Bill Hicks, whose act was very similar to Carlin's. They both have great messages to tell through their humour.

I've been listening to Carlin for over 30 years and I KNOW that he is more than a comedian or entertainer. He is one of the boldest and deep thinking people of our time. If people could get past the words and listen to his message they would go, "Hey, he's right."

Originally posted by intrepid
I've been listening to Carlin for over 30 years and I KNOW that he is more than a comedian or entertainer. He is one of the boldest and deep thinking people of our time. If people could get past the words and listen to his message they would go, "Hey, he's right."

of course he's right. Carlin = THE MAN!

He was on Real Time with Bill Maher this past Friday. This HBO show has been stellar, with both Right Wingers and humans ( ) both well represented. He's had Ann Coulter on with Aron McGruder, Christy Whitman, Carol Braun.
Carlin was keyed on the morality/religion issue, but actually got out shined by the former PM of Canada ( a woman whose name I can't remember). I would vote for her in a nano after the line " Religion often gets in the way of Morality". Over all, free speech was very well discussed, as well as the hypocrisy surrounding it ( if a word is 'bad', why list the 'F' and 'K' with astericks in between? Isn't the "inmorral" intent conveyed anyway?)

The only woman PM in Canadian history was Kim Campbell.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
Now we may actually have an opportunity to discuss a topic in which I care dearly about, freedom of expression. I firmly believe that the concept of "freedom of speech" is not a right, but a responsibility. And the responsibility involved is the need to defend that which you abhor. Most people misunderstood Carlin's Seven Words, which were never about the specific words, and more about the faux-morality involved.

This whole hoopla about JJ's breast is being talked about for all the wrong reason, IMHO. My complaint is the pseudo-violence against women, women as an object thing that is portrayed in a lot of today's music. This is beyond "dirty dancing".
If folks want to complain about the obscenity of violence, that is one thing. But, to have this uproar about a not even naked breast is ridiculous. Almost like the event was staged and the outrage is staged.

People seem to never mind when commercials hawk a variety of products, such as Viagra, KY warming liquid.
I guess my point here is the inconsistency of the outrage.

I think that the excuse that "religion is the root of all evil" is completely false and completely misses the point. The root of all evil is MANKIND. Religion is the scapegoat. Religion is a tool that evil people maliciously twist to serve their immoral causes. If there was no religions then evil men would just pick a new tool like politics or government or big business or class separate or skin color or etc, etc, etc. Nothing will stop evil men from finding reasons to kill and control other men.

In their purest forms religion, government, politics, business, etc are good and beneficial, but in the hands of mankind these things are remolded by greed and the lust for power and total control into obscene weapons and used bash entire nations to death.

Lumping all people of any principle philosophy together is very narrow-minded. Not all Christians are evil bigots out to take away the rights of other people just like not all conspiracy theorists are hallucinogenic taking, paranoid crackpots.



[Edited on 15-3-2004 by zerotime]

[Edited on 15-3-2004 by zerotime]

Quote by Donttreadonme: This whole hoopla about JJ's breast is being talked about for all the wrong reason, IMHO. My complaint is the pseudo-violence against women, women as an object thing that is portrayed in a lot of today's music. This is beyond "dirty dancing".
If folks want to complain about the obscenity of violence, that is one thing.

Carlin touched on this years aho by switching the word # with the word kill, to show the stupidity and the double standard.

Quote by Zero: If there was no religions then evil men would just pick a new tool like politics or government or big business or class separate or skin color or etc, etc, etc. Nothing will stop evil men from finding reasons to kill and control other men.

He also touched on this, saying that these were the tools used by the rich to seperate us so they can continue to go to the bank.

I recommend thinkers to check out all of his material.

I vote SkepticOverlord the way above top secret award for the month of march just for bringing up george carlin.



Falcon

I am currently working on a geroge carlin file that is all of his past speaches on religion its going to be damm funny when I get done with it. But what we really need is george carlin for president of the F.C.C. he would straiten that place out in one visit lmao!.

Yup, there's a swell guy to explain to me what the significance of morals, mores and taboos are.
Great post, thread, Skeptic. And considering the number of positive affirmations to Carlin's drivel, it appears my predictions of the demise of our once great culture is about on target.

Originally posted by Thomas Crowne
Yup, there's a swell guy to explain to me what the significance of morals, mores and taboos are.
Great post, thread, Skeptic. And considering the number of positive affirmations to Carlin's drivel, it appears my predictions of the demise of our once great culture is about on target.

Oh man, Thomas. Raggin' on the Carlin. If I had a white glove, i'd slap ya across the face with it

Quote by T.C.: And considering the number of positive affirmations to Carlin's drivel, it appears my predictions of the demise of our once great culture is about on target.

Hate to tell you this but Carlin has been pointing to this for years as well. Not only our culture but our existence. He say the planet is fine, it's not going anywhere, WE are. And when gone the planet will heal itself. We will only be a bump on Earths history.

I understand, Thorfin. I have to admit, he has made me laugh on numerous occasions.

intrepid, I hate to break it to you, but he and I may seem to be pointing the same rifle, but the old boy is just holding onto the wrong end, that's all. The same values he attacks are what made our society and culture strong. Ever since the organized assault against those very values began, we have been losing ground, and will continue to lose ground. He is part of the problem, and I wouldn't go looking to a comedian for the solutions.

The Creator that the Founding Fathers credited for the rights and liberties upon which this nation was founded has a different plan for this world, and I don't think the planet will be around very long after the "bump" is gone.

T.C., I do not look for answers from him, or anyone for that matter, I don't know if there ARE any answers. This society has been degrading for the past fifty years. I know there are theories of what COULD be done but when applied to the real world, hasn't it gone a bit too far to help? I'm just saying that he puts it oput there, without B.S. so that anyone could see it.

Originally posted by Bout Time
He was on Real Time with Bill Maher this past Friday. This HBO show has been stellar, with both Right Wingers and humans (

) both well represented. He's had Ann Coulter on with Aron McGruder, Christy Whitman, Carol Braun.

I agree with BT. Real Time with Bill Maher is one of my favorite shows on tv right now. I never miss it. I especially enjoy the "New Rules" segment in every show. Great stuff.

morals are inherent. public opinion does not constitute morality. (ref. germany, world war two)
this great(was) nation was founded on the notion of freedom from the tyranny of the old established order, not on a policy of prudishness or christian guilt.
this great(was) nation is now the old established order. only the names have been changed to protect the guilty.
a lot of whores are way more 'decent' as people than many priests or politicians are. the notion of decency has been adulterated to mean 'not christian'.
the human body is a beautiful thing. especially when it is naked and rubbing up against me. this statement is NOT indecent. human nudity is not indecent. sex is not indecent. forced 'morals' are.