• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dire Straits Censored! What?!?!

#61
I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the people responding here are straight. Kind of like asking a bunch of white people how offended they really are by the word "******"... And I wonder how many people would really be okay if Mark was using the word "******" instead, or how many Jews wouldn't mind if the word in question was "kyke". Would it be perfectly acceptable to most people to walk into a video store and see a porn flick playing on the several T.V.s placed around the shop? But, wait, that's just a film! How dare people censor a film - that's limiting freedom of speech. Nonsense. There's no infringement upon "freedom of speech" here. Mark Knopfler is free to say whatever he wants. You can still pick up the song in its original form - it's not as if the government is burning copies of the record. :rollno:
 
#64
Jools4001 said:
I would like to know by what right these self-appointed paragons of virtue see fit to determine the meaning of the English language.

Over here in England, the word '******' has very limited homosexual connotations. It's is (rarely) used as a somewhat old-fashioned word for a small bundle of firewood but is still in common usage to describe a sort of meatball. As far as I'm aware the only homosexual slant on the word over here has come about through being re-imported from the US and in making it's way back over here, somewhere over the Atlantic, it's venomous intent has evaporated. It has about as much of a sting as calling breasts 'boobies'.

Since I'm not gay I can't speak for gay people in the UK to see whether they find being called a ****** offensive, I'm just basing my observation on the fact that my openly gay son and his longterm partner fall about laughing at it - maybe they are just unusually thick skinned.

Maybe I should drop a note to Ron Cohen asking him to ensure his statements about the usage of the English language carry a PC disclaimer about being confined to the American and Canadian usage of the word only in case his proclamations about English usage offend people in the country where the language originated.
Click to expand...

I love you Brits! :hyper:
 
#65
bass12 said:
I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the people responding here are straight. Kind of like asking a bunch of white people how offended they really are by the word "******"... And I wonder how many people would really be okay if Mark was using the word "******" instead, or how many Jews wouldn't mind if the word in question was "kyke". Would it be perfectly acceptable to most people to walk into a video store and see a porn flick playing on the several T.V.s placed around the shop? But, wait, that's just a film! How dare people censor a film - that's limiting freedom of speech. Nonsense. There's no infringement upon "freedom of speech" here. Mark Knopfler is free to say whatever he wants. You can still pick up the song in its original form - it's not as if the government is burning copies of the record. :rollno:
Click to expand...

Ok, you got me, I am straight. But I have a few gay friends that are Dire Straits fans and don't have a problem with that word in the context it is used, since they're using the word sarcastically to talk down about people that do use the word in a serious tone.

And as a man (gay or straight not withstanding) I don't see anything wrong with porn, either :p

Jools4001 said:
I would like to know by what right these self-appointed paragons of virtue see fit to determine the meaning of the English language.

Over here in England, the word '******' has very limited homosexual connotations. It's is (rarely) used as a somewhat old-fashioned word for a small bundle of firewood but is still in common usage to describe a sort of meatball. As far as I'm aware the only homosexual slant on the word over here has come about through being re-imported from the US and in making it's way back over here, somewhere over the Atlantic, it's venomous intent has evaporated. It has about as much of a sting as calling breasts 'boobies'.

Since I'm not gay I can't speak for gay people in the UK to see whether they find being called a ****** offensive, I'm just basing my observation on the fact that my openly gay son and his longterm partner fall about laughing at it - maybe they are just unusually thick skinned.

Maybe I should drop a note to Ron Cohen asking him to ensure his statements about the usage of the English language carry a PC disclaimer about being confined to the American and Canadian usage of the word only in case his proclamations about English usage offend people in the country where the language originated.
Click to expand...

And in this context, Dire Straits would be talking about very wealthy bundles of sticks or meatballs :D
 
#66
bass12 said:
I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the people responding here are straight. Kind of like asking a bunch of white people how offended they really are by the word "******"... And I wonder how many people would really be okay if Mark was using the word "******" instead, or how many Jews wouldn't mind if the word in question was "kyke". Would it be perfectly acceptable to most people to walk into a video store and see a porn flick playing on the several T.V.s placed around the shop? But, wait, that's just a film! How dare people censor a film - that's limiting freedom of speech. Nonsense. There's no infringement upon "freedom of speech" here. Mark Knopfler is free to say whatever he wants. You can still pick up the song in its original form - it's not as if the government is burning copies of the record. :rollno:
Click to expand...


Definitely...and like I've stated repeatedly throughout this thread - the song has been censored in one way, shape, or form since it was released 25 years ago. This is nothing new...and I'm sure when Dire Straits recorded it they knew it would be censored at times - but they knew that the satire would move faster that way. You think if nobody was offended that anyone would find the song lyrically intriguing? We are a prime example, as we wouldn't be talking about it right now. Censorship in this form helps people to engage the art...but it also helps to limit the "collateral" damage from the art. That's all IMHO, though.
 
#68
bass_lord_mutha said:
Ok, you got me, I am straight. But I have a few gay friends that are Dire Straits fans and don't have a problem with that word in the context it is used, since they're using the word sarcastically to talk down about people that do use the word in a serious tone.

And as a man (gay or straight not withstanding) I don't see anything wrong with porn, either :p



And in this context, Dire Straits would be talking about very wealthy bundles of sticks or meatballs :D
Click to expand...

Kinda adds a new perspective on 'Sultans Of Swing', eh? :hiding:
 
#70
MIJ-VI said:
Kinda adds a new perspective on 'Sultans Of Swing', eh? :hiding:
Click to expand...

Funny and finally a joke!

Remembering that this song is written as a parody, mocking two appliance movers Mark Knofler over heard as they joked about a video they were watching on MTV while he was buying a fridge. Once that is understood there is no reason for someone who is gay to think Mark is talking about them and using the word in a derogitory manner other than to make fun of the two movers. .....
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back