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BBC censors The Pogues' Christmas classicBy Nicole Martin, Digital and Media Correspondent Last Updated: 1:29pm GMT 18/12/2007
Comments
Great BBC comedians of the past (such as the Two Ronnies)will be turning in their graves or yearning to get int them.
The BBC have no right to tell people that they should be offended (we can make up our own minds) that's why we have on/off switches and remote controls.
Let the BBC PC brigade Pogue Mahone! Faggot is pretty offensive. Are we in the 1980's? If it was the N word in regard to black people no one would be objecting to its removal. Shame on the band.
There is an easy fix for this stupidity!! Everyone just needs to cancel that quarterly direct debit we seem to need to pay the bbc and sorted, bbc disappears :) They can't fine you or take you to court for watching other channels. What an inult to Kirsties memory, 7 years to the day after her untimely death! Absolutely ridiculous. Are we now going to start changing te pictures in our art galleries because they may offend te sensibilities of some sector of our diverse population?
I thought that bleeping the word 'faggot' out of this most classic of all Christmas songs on radio 1 was, to be frank, a joke. I cannot belive for one instance, that this song and its lyrics could ever cause offence to anyone, and that includes people who are gay - how ridiculous! The BBC proves once again that it speaks for its own bigoted opinions and not those of the country. I think it is time the BBC and others got their own 'houses' in order before they start critising others. What right have they got to change someone else's work isn't "scumbag" just as offensive?
I am an atheist, like many others in the UK. I can't stand any religion and while Xmas is a good time for mid-winter holidays I get offended by Christian and other religion's hypocrisy I see in the world every day. I know atheists are probably in a minority but BBC, please don't hark on about Christmas and all that on the TV as you run the risk of offending me. Just to clarify, I expect all xmas content to be censored or bleeped out. Thanks for being so accommodating. In my day, a 'faggot' was something you ate. I remember many a day when I'd come home from the pit, and my mother would have made brains 'faggots' for us supper. But they were only a shilling then mind you, not like today with this ruddy new euros that them foreigners keep trying to make me buy. What happened to earning an honest penny down a coal mine before going to your local for a flagon of finest ale? And it was only thrupence. Do you recall the Kinks with Lola.The Beeb made them change not the references to ladyboys but Coca Cola to Cherry Cola.
absolutely ridiculous rubbish BBC need to live in the real world along with the rest of us Oh For heaven's sake. As a gay man, whos is a queer and a faggot I find it offensive that the BBC feels it should take offence on my behalf.
It's a boon Don't edit the record. Edit the BBC instead to rid of of this namby pamby pc correct bunch of faggots! What on earth are we letting this country become? When will the so called 'powers that be' supposedly running, but actually ruining the BBC realise that common sense must prevail. Why does somebody at the BBC find this lame Americanism offensive? Sounds like the decision has been made 'on behalf of the gay community' by the Head of Diversity (please tell me there's not such a position at the Beeb!) I am far more offended by the constant use of the "F" word by Jonathan Ross and Gordon Ramsay - whose programmes I might otherwise watch - than by the Pogues song, but then I'm just a middle-aged, heterosexual, Cof E, white male and the BBC couldn't give a **** about my sensibilities, so long as they can extort my licence fee. All this hot air about a vulgar song. What is this world coming to? I am not religious, but I thought Christmas was about other values. Once again the BBC (Bigoted, Biased and Corrupt)shows that it has an agenda. Over the jerry springer opera there was the highest ever registration of complaints (exceeding 63,000) and appeals not to show it since it WAS offensive, not (might offend). And those who complained were told that the BBC was committed to pushing the boundries and wouldn't change it's mind, no matter how great the offense. Now it seems that, that statement is no longer true. Or perhaps it just hates certain minorities and uses every opertunity to abuse them. The BBC is no longer an institution that is for the public good and it should be wound down and removed from the shelf. This story is important but also does not get to the heart of BBC culture; there are hundreds of decisions, made by BBC managers, about what is played on music shows or reported on news programmes or commissioned by editors. Censorship is used on a daily basis to promote the world view of the BBC.
In English the word faggot is used to describe either a sort of meat ball or a bundle of firewood. In other languages, or local dialects, the word might take on other spelling or other meaning but I fail to see see how that affects the BBC who pride themselves on their use of the Queen's English. Perhaps we should all just make American the default language? its a great song and the reference was never an issue until now, does this imply that all radio one listeners are of the gay persuasion. you could change it to "mohammed" - sounds a bit like maggot to ban words in the pogues Song is a pathetic of the BBC People are always taking acceptable words and using them as an offensive reference to something.
For a newspaper that is normally so prudish that
another good reason to not listen to the BBC. They think they own the right to lead our lives! I feel sure that the BBC will renege on this ban once the Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan, finally pops his clogs... which might be before Christmas, judging by recent photos of him. How come they can leave the word 'arse' in it when that's actually a genuine 'rude' word. I bet her majesty the queen (not to mention my mum) would take offence if I said it in front of her so why hasn't that been censored too?
the song is not homophobic the scentence it is
Why DT bleeped out the word "p***ed!!!?"
BBC is partial in its censorship. certain groups are protected but others such as christianity are open season at the beeb for mockery and bad "jokes" . They are much more careful with groups like gays and muslims. I bet all the homosexual people are now feeling extremely embarrased by the BBC and their pathetic decision to tamper with one of the best songs ever created.Who the hell had the cheek to decide this for us,If we arent careful we will end up in a lifeless society,Pure sterility,Oh sorry,To late.Anyway im offended by the BBCs decision to blank out this word every time i hear the song,What will they do to appease me,Idiots. The BBC are world-class censors, for heaven's sake. No one does it like Auntie.
Political correctness gone mad!!!
Perhaps they should censor 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby in case that is offensive to anyone. And this in a world where the bbc has said that piggy-eyed radio 1 DJs can use the word "gay" to simply mean "bad". How insidious and damaging is that? What word are gay people supposed to use now? They've fought (not en masse, but you know what I mean) for decades to make GAY the acceptable, non-insulting term for being homosexual. There is no other word in use.
Ban the Beeb! There has been condemnation of this farcical BBC act of censorship from all, including gays it seems.
Absolutely stupid - are these people mad ? Where does their remit call for sensorship of lyrics ? This song has been played for years and not one complaint from anyone. Who are these in the Beeb who have decided this ? They should be named and shamed and the Corporation should immediately reverse the change. Political correctness always exposes the sheer
No wonder Chris Moyles thinks the ban is ridiculous; how come he has not been banned on account of his foul-mouthed, profane, vulgar, toilet-humoured, puerile morning show - all broadcast at a time when impressionable youngsters are listening. The BBC is stark staringly bonkers. The BBC has become a disgrace. The licence fee should be ended and the organisation made to survive in the real world.
Shouldn't they be calling it F****tale of New York?
Pogues, Slade, Wizzard, John Lennon, Band Aid, Wham Aaaaargh! Ban the whole bloody lot of 'em, says I. It is this tedious musical backdrop to the festive season that helps make it so unendurable. Roll on Jan 2nd! Anyway, 'faggot' is the only reasonable rhyme for maggot. I'm not gay so I asked my brother whether he found anything in the song 'Fairytale of New York' offensive. He said no.
Surely what two Irish singers, perhaps with Republican leanings, would have meant by using the word 'faggot' insultingly might have more to do with an attempt to insult English cuisine than gay people. When will the one of the infernal cookery shows that anyone who admits to owning a television has to pay for (or risk a gaol sentence) have this recipe:
The BBC have now ruined one of the best lines in that song. Pathetic!! What else are they going to cock up? Typical BBC - trying to keep the homosexuals happy but never mind if Christians are offended by anything in the lyrics! Has the world gone completely mad, that has to be the best Christmas song ever. Why are the BBC being so precious? It's pretty pathetic - they've bleeped "slut" too,btw. Given the way the paranoid management at the BBC has behaved this year, it should come as no surprise. Radio 2, though, is playing the song uncut - it's on as I type this. May I point out to all readers who say it is PC Gone Mad, that mad is a perjorative term, and is better described as "Different State of Mental Stabiility"
What is the BBC thinking?. Haven't the petty, narrow minded dogooders something better to do with our licence fee money?. The person in the BBC responsible for this ridiculous action should be fired straight away. What utter utter rubbish.
I say too bad. It's a lot like the word "nigger" which blacks call each other all the time (this side of the pond anyway). Offending someone is not a crime. "Not yet", I hear George Orwell saying.
A faggot is a small meaty style rissole, or a pack of wood for a fire.
A final conclusive piece of evidence that I did the right thing.
Unbelievable! No, I suppose believable in this crazy, politically correct world. By the same logic they will be censoring Shakespeare because various tracts might be seen as insulting to Jews, the French and the Welsh.
Yet another reason to stop paying the licence fee What a load of pc rubbish, this song has been around for so long it is part of Christmas! Offensive?
who gives a f***?and who gives a f*** about the pogues? absolutely pathetic - i don't understand all this political correctness - its going to ruin our country !! The BBC should know better. Its just a song a and a very good one at that, for god sake let it be !! This must be a joke, or at least mis-information. An organisation that has recently been made to look as stupid and inept as the BBC would surely not be employing people of such limited intelligence who have nothing better to do than come up with this PC nonsense. Or would they? Maybe they could dub in 'nice' words so that Aunty is happy. i was in tesco today and there was a big bag of faggots in the freezer section. anyone find that offensive? Political Correctness - does any other country have such ludicrous people using those words as often as us British, I do not think so, the song is whats called "a classic" its 20yrs old and was played then with no probems. "Political Correctness" the two words that will destroy our way of life. Freedom of Speech is the way forward. Will the Queen's Christmas message become
Who are these people at the BBC who make these idiotic PC decisions? Clearly they're not in touch with public opinion. What's worse is that we pay their wages through taxation (the licence fee) and yet they're clearly not accountable to anyone. It's like having your local council in charge of your viewing schedule It's time this country scraped the licence fee. Is it anyone wonder that the younger generation are dropping TV like a stone in favour of more interactive and less censored forms of entertainment such as the web. At least you can still hear the original version on You Tube! Absurd.
I also want 'arse' bleeped out - I don't want the BBC thrusting bottoms in my face on Christmas morning an absolute travisty.
Licentia vatum poetic licence surely applies. Anyway, I suspect that more will be offended by the actions of the BBC than would have been by the lyrics of this fine song.
The BBC should also ban any rendition of Good King Wencelsas, in case it encourages Kings to force young boys out in blizzards. Totally pathetic! This is a great song and I would suggest that we should all phone our local BBC radio stations and ask them to listen to the public and ignore the beebs PC madness! The word Faggot is an "ould Irish slang word" roughly meaning "a useless piece of stick", something you wouldn't even throw on a fire. The word was commonly used as an insult, a way of calling someone useless. Today, Irish people are more likely to call someone a 'useless gobs***e' and I can think of a few people in the BBC that that term might aply to.
No, they are exchanging insults and faggot rhymes with maggot. I don't think its an insult to homosexuals, probably some hetrosexuals don't like the word and they're the real objectors. I bet they're prudish about arse too. butterflies are animals. They're not plants are they.
BBC censors are so inconsistent. Why have they censored reference to my favourite food- Mr.Brains Faggots in Rich Sauce, and not censored the song's offensive title- "Fairytale..."
It's not a blanket ban, it's a blankety blank .... I remember the song being re-released about 10 years ago. Shane and Kirsty sang it on Top of the Pops and were made to change the lyrics to
Posted by Cary on December 18, 2007 6:47 AM
Welcome to the United Soviet State of Britain: humourless, cheerless, we will now have to get our entertainment in court suing each other for perceived insult. If you laugh it may be at some-ones else's expense: That could be a hate crime! Big Brother is watching you... Will they now ask Mr Brain to rename his faggots in case a passing homosexual in the supermarket is offended? I hope Shane and the boys rerelease "Hells Ditch" as a follow up .. The top brass at the BBC will be jumping from the top floor of Lefty Towers !!!! I would question the use of that picture of Shane
Im a scumbag and I must say I'm very offended by the use of the word in that Christmas song , please beep it out Mr Beep Beep C. Scumbags of the world unite ! i'm slightly annoyed by everyone refering to the pc culture as a purely leftwing thing.i'm a socialist and i absolutely love fairytale of new york.it isn't fair that they can censor things like this. If I don't like something on TV or radio, I turn to the off switch. The BBC is right, and wrong. Unfortunately our current 'culture' seems based on the vulgar with people actually buying disgusting, so called Christmas cards which would be better binned, young people who can't live without drugs, the bad examples set by people like Moss, Winehouse, Doherty etc. which encourage young people to behave badly. However the PC brigade have gone too far in this country, and that is why the BBC should broadcast the song. How can we ever clean up our act as a Nation if we are not exposed to things we would rather not see and hear. I would imagine that any gays would do what I would do, switch the thing off. It is about time we all got off the 'sensitivity' podium and considered more important issues on our polluted world. If we feel offended why don't we do something useful rather than sit about tut-tutting. I think the word "Fairytail" is a bit dodgy too! What a joke, absolutely pathetic! I've recently been watching 'Allo 'Allo - a great classic from the BBC in the 80's. Makes me wonder what that programme would be like if it was made these days!
Having just reminded myself of the lyrics, does this mean that the BBC believes that it is therefore still appropriate to refer to a woman as an 'Old Slut' or have they censored that line too? The BBC has spent over Ģ100k on leadership courses with Labours favourite consultancy over the last 5 years - Common Purpose.
Wee should stop pandering to minority groups. If faggot is in the original then it should not be bleeped out. In any event, as said by others this words has other meanings. If teh lyric was okay when it was orginally published, why isn't it acceptable now? Just another sign, I'm afraid of the BBC reflecting its masters' numbskulled way of looking at 'right on' causes. How long before Uncle Remus is banned for portraying a negative image? No,No,No. Many gay friends have this as their all time favourite song, and are definitely not offended. The BBC have some very sad individuals working for them. Get a life. I've said this before and I'll say it again. The BBC is a left of centre political organisation. The media in general attracts young upwardly mobile people who by the very nature of youth have an idealistic, utopian outlook. This fits in nicely with left leaning politics and it shows from this rediculous decision. As many people have stated in this discussion, the BBC has been playing this song for many years and only now deemed it too dangerous for the rest of us. Censorship is the way in which dictators stop you hearing the truth so you cannot interpret in your own mind the message conveyed. The BBC should stick to developing factual programmes, good drama and stop this political nonsense. They are civil servants and should serve the people, not censor them I pity what your country has become. The world laughs at you. As a gay guy, I don't find it offensive whatsoever. The song was written in a time when "faggot" was commonly used and acceptable. To begin altering songs made long ago would mean "bleeping" out alot of the music back catalogue. However, if the song was made today and directed at homosexuals solely then I do think that would be a whole different story. I object to the word "scumbag" and would like it
This must have been a close call for the Beeb. Two of its favoured client groups -homosexuals & Republican Irish. Such a tough choice to make. I wonder if they considered asking the Pogues to re-record the expletive as f***ing English and then everyone could be happy. When is this sick, sad nonsense ever going to
Further to my earlier comments, I urge all who agree to complain to the BBC via its website!
Disgusting restriction of freedom of speech. The song is, what, twenty years old and nobody's ever commented upon it or its lyrics as anything other than a Christmas classic. We actually pay the BBC to indulge in this sort of nonsense? Get on and make a decent programme for once in your life rather than wasting your energy and our money on ridiculous PC posturing. My daughter likes the song and she queried some of the lyrics, not faggot actually, some of it was hard to explain but it was harder having to tell her that the girl with the great voice was dead. And how tragically it happened. One simple and easy question for whoever made this stupid decision. Why now, when you have been playing the song for so may years already? That's the final nail - I now support revoking the license fee, and trimming the head count at the beeb - starting with the idiots who made that decision. Just enjoy the song. It's a great song. If a ridiculous scandal about political correctness helps to get it to number one ... so be it ! Let's not forget Kirsty's mum is still fighting for justice. Once again the self-appointed guardians of our morality and "offence" blunder in with their size 12's and end up annoying all those people who pay their salaries. I've always liked this song and will play it extra loud just for the BBC.
This is absolutely ridiculous. This sound is 20 years old - everyone knows the lyrics and in all the time I have heard it, not once did I feel it was offensive to homosexuals. How pathetically PC. PC Nazi's - at least they are allowing a Christian song to be played or perhaps the BBC had not considered that the song might offend Muslims as well? An organisation that falsely employs a gimmicky non-functioning lottery button in it's programmes and also falsifies phone in's, even for children, isn't someone who's guidance I would follow on what should be said, how and when.
It's time we buried so called "Political Correctness" in the BBC.
The last time the clowns at the BBC censored a song Frankie Goes to Hollywood made a fortune.
Pathetic! It's no wonder that no-one listens to Radio One any more. Might I suggest that, under the circumstances, Chris Moyle launch a new campaign for a Christmas No. 1 - Don Henley's 'Get over it!'. Says it all really. Do you know when I was young, we used to eat faggots in the north - I suspect they still do. This is yet another example of PC gone mad. This great song allways moves me when I hear it.
Pathetic - sums up this country and the direction we are heading. I hate what has happened to this country, it is beyond ridiculous. If I have to explain why then that is even sadder..f****** do-gooders, makes me sick..to even think that a gay person would be "offended" by the word faggot is surely an insult to homosexual people. Do the right-on BBC PC brigade really think it is their job to protect them, that is even more insulting, surely ...can anyone be that sensitive? Of course not... the minority are determined to spoil it for the majority Yet when my husband complained to the BBC about their incorrect grammar and pronunciation and describing butterflies as "animals", ther reply was that they are not guardians of the English language! No, the BBC is not right to censor the song. Nobody worth paying any attention to could possibly be offended by it. Maybe, we should bleep out the BBC! Quite ridiculous. Great-Auntie Beeb. I'm sorry to Britain but you have become the basket case of Europe and the laughing stock of the world, take a leaf out of Australians book. This year some PC nut cases tried to ban Father Christmas from saying "HO HO HO" as it may cause offence to women.
And I thought the BBC had done something about the pro-IRA Pogues...and it turns out to be this!!! How utterly ridiculous. The BBC has no right to assume itself as a moral censor. Although no great fan of the Pogues I shall now play this song repeatedly. When are we going to stand together and change this country back to how WE want it - its okay sending in emails, etc, whinging on in our small groups - WE need change and the sooner the better - we need our little units to be one large one so we SHALL be heard and SHALL bring back COMMON SENSE - What have we got to lose as it is all lost anyway! Come on boys and girls its time to act, come on and lets get something going here and lets get back on track - I've had enough! Its the minority unsetting the majority - lets act - suggestions please! Quite right, it should be banned. And while we're at it I would suggest the following to be offensive and worthly of sensorship. "White Christmas" (just in case we upset the African-British community), "Away In A Manger" (homeless and nomadic people), "Two Little Boys" (for the obvious reason), Little Donkey (for people with small asses), "Good King Wenceslas" (hunter-gatherers who gather winter fuel), Jingle Bells (because sleigh rhymns with gay),etc. etc. The epithet "feckless goons" springs to mind. Idiots. I have a suggestion - rather than removing a word from a song, why don't they remove some of the idiots in charge at the BBC instead. This is what you pay your TV licence for... To fund the PC brigade. This is why I don't pay mine anymore. Let them send me to court, I still won't pay for this tripe. Reality TV, censored songs, rigged phone voting... BBC? - Brainless Boring Crud! I eat faggot's most weeks. A little bit of onion gravy and mash. What's wrong with the humble faggot. Perhaps they should change the word to savory duck! Sad isn't it. It seems the only people we can offend now, with impunity are white, Anglo Saxon, middle class heterosexuals. All the rest are capable of taking offence - - -or do they? I fear it's the minority left/liberals who now run the asilum. why do we always have to be carefull about offending every minority grooup in the world? We,the average people, live here as well and no one cares about offending us! If they donīt like it tell them to get a sense of humour. This is ridiculous -- I am gay and am absolutely
Why is it that traditional minded folk, whose sensitivities mean that they are offended by certain vulgar words are ignored by the BBC, whilst others sensitivities are so important? The BBC goes out of their way to insult the former group.
What the f*** is happening to this country? PC gone mad..what a bloody joke.. If the song has been played every Christmas for the last 20 years without causing previous offence what's the point of editing it now? All sounds like the beginnings of a lyrical witch-hunt to me. ''Faggot (epithet), a pejorative term for a homosexual or effeminate man
If the Telegraph can print it - then the BBC should be able to play it! This is the BBC we have now its run by minority groups - religous groups, non - British, homosexuals etc that have turned it into its present totally bias approach to the media in general. Banning the Pogues or George Formby is another form of bigotry. And of course, as the late Kenny Everett would have said, "it's all done in the BEST possible taste!"
No - if it was extreme profanity or sexual references before the watershed, ok, but using political correctness as a basis for censorship is just plain wrong. You don't get rid of something just by making the words illegal. All of this (as is happening) leads to parties such as the BNP becoming more credible - but then whoever said that free speech was only that with which you agree? Nice to see the liberalist left incontrol at BBC Towers censoring things again in the name of 'free speech'. What a bunch of PC, mealy mouthed FAGGOTS - when will the PC mafia realise that their actions cause far more offence than any of the actions/lyrics that they censor, and in their censorship, the UK is becoming a laughing stock Why should we care. If people get insulted by a word in a song then they are too sensitive.
I think it's about time we shot all the people that are offended by things like this .We need to get back to the real world as the one we are in is just a sad place. I suppose the BBC staff are well placed to know how homosexuals will react to the word "faggot" Sadly, this doesn't surprise me. The BBC censored the word "gay" in a programme in which a young man related how he was bullyed by teachers and pupils because he was gay. I was very offended by this censorship which, because the word was beeped out, condoned the victimisation of this man. Sometimes the Beeb pretends to be sensitive but at other times it couldn't care less! What is the problem BBC? ... Faggots are renowned worldwide as very tasty Welsh meatballs in gravy. Is a faggot not a meatball?
This leaves little doubt as where the BBC's concerns lie these days.
The BBC, censorship, never!
Cheap lousy faggot refers to the cheap food item available in most supermarkets. What the deuce has it to do with Homosexuals or jolly people?? The phrasing from the BBC spokesman says much about the corporation; "This step has been taken as this is a word that members of our audience would find offensive." Not "may" or "could" but "would" find offensive. We know you see, because we're the BBC. We tell you what to think and how to think. Now that's offensive. Maybe we should censor "White Christmas" to be PC This is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. The BBC has gone PC-mad. I am a gay woman, with many male gay friends, and we've always loved this song. I think the BBC needs to stop being knee-jerk PC. It's not necessary to sanitise every instance of the word 'faggot' - only where it is obviously being directed at gay members of the listening audience as an insult. Thanks, for caring, BBC, but next time, why don't you ask us? The lovely people at Stonewall - or, indeed, your own Diversity team - will always advise! I object to the word maggot being used. They are useful medically, and shouldn't be derided. The songs' title's a bit tricky too, better change it.
The bbc are a joke; have these morons got nothing better to do? Whichever humbug scrooge made this decision should stick it where the sun does not shine! Absolubtly stupid, another station frightened of 'offending' people. It'll come to the stage where they don't play music for fear of offending deaf people. Political correctness gone mad. So I have to call a favourite leftover meat treat something different? My grandmother taught me to make them, and they were, and are, called "faggots". A "faggot" is also a piece of wood. Isn't it time the PC Brigade got lost with their imagined slurs and insults? If something is "queer" it means it is odd or peculiar. If that offends homosexuals, which I don't believe it does, tough luck! I don't see why we have to change the English language to appease these PC jobsworths. "Gay" means happy, or glad, not homosexual. Make of that what you will. Post a comment
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