You make the call

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Jim, does your league publish a list of banned words, or is it left to umpire judgment to define "profanity"?

If it is left to umpire judgment, you may find an umpire or two who would consider saying "Christ" as cursing based on their religious sensibilities. That was Mike's point.

And, as the Don Imus ruckus points out, feigned offense can also be an issue.

We have league commissioners and umpire supervisors who monitor all games in the parks. The sportsmanship and profanity rules are a point of emphasis with managers, players and umpires. Words do not have to be profane to be abusing or threatening,,,while a muttered,self-directed, oath audible only on the diamond does not warrant any action.

These rules cause no concern to anyone and are followed without complaint.
Since the "profanity out", if it is invoked, is imposed on the offending team's NEXT batter, peer pressure alone makes the actual calls extremely rare.

Regarding the Imus affair, I have no idea what "feigned offense" means.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

I have no idea what "feigned offense" means.

feigned
adj.
1 imagined
2 pretended; simulated; sham

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Dakota

feigned
adj.
1 imagined
2 pretended; simulated; sham

Who feigned offense?

The remarks were directed at a group of basketball players who were offended.
What did the basketball players do to warrant being called nappy headed ho's?
They did not "feign" offense. They were truly offended.
They also accepted Imus's apology.

[Dakota]

I was talking about all of the other "community leaders". I doubt any one of THEM was offended by the words, only by the idea of who said them.

Here is an exercise for you: do a comparison of all of the things the self-proclaimed "community leaders" have said about other groups with what Imus said and then convince yourself that these "community leaders" were actually offended by anything. They just saw an opportunity.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I was talking about all of the other "community leaders". I doubt any one of THEM was offended by the words, only by the idea of who said them.

Here is an exercise for you: do a comparison of all of the things the self-proclaimed "community leaders" have said about other groups with what Imus said and then convince yourself that these "community leaders" were actually offended by anything. They just saw an opportunity.

Imus made a career, in part, using insulting language against public figures.

This practice is not without risk.

The fact that he was very successful and had a large following allowed many public figures to wink at his excesses.

But when he used his forum to degrade those not involved in public discourse he was left with no defense and no defenders.

Did this warrant firing him?

That was up to his bosses at CBS.

This is probably not the right forum to discuss this, but if you want to continue feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

[NCASAUmp]

So why is it that no one here uses profanity without substituting characters? Apparently, we all know where the line is drawn, and so do the players.

Okay, that comment was only 10% serious. If it's a simple d@mn it, I definitely let it go. When they drop a very loud "f-bomb," I have a hard time just letting it slide, especially at the league I previously mentioned. It's not that I have sensitive ears. You should hear me at work when someone breaks their computer. "I have to go unf*** So-and-So's computer." However, if I don't enforce the rule in that league, I won't be asked to call there again.

*shrug* Not my rule. I just enforce it.

[Dakota]

Please read what I write carefully. I was not defending Imus. I don't like Imus. I don't listen to his program. (As an aside, there's a novel concept - if a person is offended by Imus, turn off the radio! Wow! Who'd a thought of that!)

I was mocking the self-proclaimed "community leaders" for their obvious hypocrisy and self-serving pretence at being offended by the very thing they engage in themselves.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I was talking about all of the other "community leaders". I doubt any one of THEM was offended by the words...

Especially in the "hip hop" community.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

So why is it that no one here uses profanity without substituting characters?

Because the program that supports this board won't let me use creative language. Here, allow me to demonstrate.

I think that censorship is complete and utter bull****, and I really don't want any son of a ***** controlling what I can and cannot say.

[Skahtboi]

In the previous post I actually typed the words that have the asterixs, er, asteri, um asterixes. Well...you know, those little star thingies!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Imus made a career, in part, using insulting language against public figures.

You mean prople like Al Sharpton, Howard Stern, Jesse Jackson, any stand-up comic regardless of race, gender or sexual preference, George Wallace, (enter rapper's name/designation here), etc.?

Imus is an ***, but in this country, that is NOT against the law. He can be stupid, but if that was illegal, all the politicians would be looking for green cards. (f.y.i., that's a knock on politicians, not legal immigrants).

Nonetheless, the over reaction to the stupidity and poor attempt at humor is resolved in one, single motion of changing the station. Hell, it was five days and a YouTube tour before it even hit the light of day.

The FEIGNED offense taken was not only trivial and a sign of immaturity, but contrary to the beliefs upon which this country was born.

Anybody got a flat to wave?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Anybody got a flat to wave?

[NCASAUmp]

I think he was looking for one that's more of a white flag.

Personally, I prefer the Gadsden Flag. Love it. Google it.

[jimpiano]

Nothing Imus said or did was illegal or violated any law.
He is still free to say and do as he pleases.
CBS honchos just said he would not be using their microphones to do so.

The Bill of Rights restricts the government from interfering with your free speech rights. It offers no protection from anyone's boss who finds an employee's speech offensive.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Nothing Imus said or did was illegal or violated any law.
He is still free to say and do as he pleases.
CBS honchos just said he would not be using their microphones to do so.

The Bill of Rights restricts the government from interfering with your free speech rights. It offers no protection from anyone's boss who finds an employee's speech offensive.

Trust me, those snakes didn't find anything he said offensive. If they had, it wouldn't have taken Al Sharpton to initiate punitive action.

The cowards just drew the politically correct card from the deck. But that's okay, because I will now make an effort to avoid sponsor who advertise on CBS radio.