I was watching a part in a movie where it was very obvious that the crazed gunman was screaming horrible curse words. I could clearly hear the words:
"F*&#k you motherf*&#@%s!!!!!!! Kiss my #%$#!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
It was interesting how the captions were virtually non-existent during this part. Instead, the captions vaguely described how the man was screaming, following a bunch of made up words and symbols.
I notice that censoring with closed captions happens quite often. I think that it does not make any sense for people to be able to hear the curse words or inappropriate language while the captions don't even acknowledge them. Sometimes they use "nicer" words instead.
Is this some sort of mistake? Are they using captions specifically made for shows that would normally censor curse words? Or are they afraid of offending deaf and hard of hearing people? Do they think we are stupid?
Some of us like to curse too. We are not all pure and innocent babies needing protection from the bad words.
I want to know exactly what kind of curse words or horribly inappropriate language is being used.
I cannot have interesting adult discussions about the part in the movie where the guy called the other guy a "sand bag".
(e
"F*&#k you motherf*&#@%s!!!!!!! Kiss my #%$#!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
It was interesting how the captions were virtually non-existent during this part. Instead, the captions vaguely described how the man was screaming, following a bunch of made up words and symbols.
I notice that censoring with closed captions happens quite often. I think that it does not make any sense for people to be able to hear the curse words or inappropriate language while the captions don't even acknowledge them. Sometimes they use "nicer" words instead.
Is this some sort of mistake? Are they using captions specifically made for shows that would normally censor curse words? Or are they afraid of offending deaf and hard of hearing people? Do they think we are stupid?
Some of us like to curse too. We are not all pure and innocent babies needing protection from the bad words.
I want to know exactly what kind of curse words or horribly inappropriate language is being used.
I cannot have interesting adult discussions about the part in the movie where the guy called the other guy a "sand bag".
(e
Right, yea. Didn't know you blogged on this topic! When Gone With The Wind came out, people were shocked when Rhett Butler said, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" lol wow, we've come a long way.
ReplyDeleteIf some shows beeps out the words, then I'd understand if if they didn't caption it. But, if there's a swear word, spell it out!
:)
Candy~
Well, what if the little 'uns are watching the movie too? Think you'd care to explain what a douchebag is when they pester you with that question, "What's a douchebag?" ;)
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I do see at movie theaters young 'uns who shouldn't really be watching a violence/sexual content/swearing rated movie, even if they're with their parents. So I wonder if such parents monitor what comes thru TV and computer programs. I suppose the captioners have to strike a balance between what the adults know and what children should or should not know, in order to sell such entertainment.
I'd rather that the swear words were captioned same as they're spoken, myself, but I can see that some audience members are being exposed to words that they're not old enough to understand.
Ann_C
No kidding and guess what, my hearing child would be the one who get to hear it while I get to be treated as a child. Whose suppose to be the parent here? Some hearing people are way too backward because they really hear it than see it.
ReplyDeletePaternalism. We must be protected against these swear words or we shall be corrupted @@
ReplyDeleteIs this 'equal access'? Scoff. This shouldn't be done in the first place. I don't understand why FCC isn't doing anything regarding this practice. : /
MZ
@#%@ ##*! @*#$@!($@#$@*#! @#%#!
ReplyDeleteAgree with you and respondents! If it's audible, then it should be captioned, period.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find fascinating are the fuzzy circles pasted over peoples' mouths when they cuss on TV. Marvelous. They are concerned about lipreaders?
Yet in some movies they substitute nonsense symbols or for off-color language. That's a double standard right there.
This was something I raised last August on my blog, after someone contacted me personally, to see what I thought about and my readers too. Here's the link if you like to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://l1zblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/what-are-your-thoughts-to-subtitles-on-tv-being-censored/
This was not the 19th century. It was the 20th century that started the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteWe still are learning about the censorship, the good and bad slangs and idioms in the broadcasting networks. They sure use lots of hints that we have hardly figured it out. FCC did do nothing to prevent these "hints." We have seen swimsuits and underwears on the TVs. FCC did do nothing to stop them.
Pretty ironic, isn't it?
MZ....The broadcasting networks tend to edit to remove all the swear words in order to follow FCC's rules.
However, if you want to see the pornograghy and, all you have to is to pay for the fees in the cable networks. The R-rated movies are allowed to use the swear words at the cable networks, theaters and DVDs. FCC did do nothing to stop them.
Pretty ironic, isn't it?
That's the double standard.
All films have ratings don't they ? and describe levels of sex, swearing, nudity etc, basically if you don't want to read any of that watch disney...... Although a young woman living with 7 vertically challenged males looked a bit iffy.....
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was very prudish captioners who would want to censor the spoken words too if they could.
ReplyDeleteCensorship is everywhere, America is viewed as quite a censoring country... in reality films can be seen by anyone at any age, and those of us parents wouldn't want our kids to see (Or read some of it), that's why they have a rating system, which was set up by parents and concerned adults. Might I suggest even THIS blog would censor me if I posted a string of obscenity ? Deaf.read could pull it too... Another form of accepted censorship is an drink ban on young people... you don't want 10 yr olds blind drunk in the name of freedom do you...
ReplyDeleteAnon, in this situation, we aren't talking about the words censored by FCC. The hearing viewers can still hear the curse words, but the captions don't show these same words. Likewise I assumed they were censored verbally until several hearing friends informed me that these words were clearly audible.
ReplyDeleteTo the last anon, I remember reading an article where the captioners objected to the transcribing of profanity due to religious reasons and they were given some leeway with their captioning. In my opinion, this is highly irregular. The transcribers must record profanity in the court rooms. If these captioners refuse to caption for whatever reason, then they are in the wrong field. This practice violates the concept of equal access.
MZ
I thought marley and me would be family friendly movie - rated PG- like majority of family movie (most are rated PG, very few are rated G). And it turns out there are some swear words that kids shouldn't be saying and a some adult situation as well.
ReplyDeleteIf a captionist won't write due to religious reasons, then why is she taking a job that make her hear those words. In her case, it sounds like she is willing to hear evil, but will not speak (say it) or see evil (write it).
ReplyDeleteShe should get a job as a captionist for christian movies instead because she is not doing deaf parents any favor by censoring captionings.
We should not limit anyone, the audience from the writters story, full exposure of dialogue, why edit the writer's artistic expression. What's next books and museums. One chooses what one wants to see or not see. Follow the advisory and Rating of TV shows and Motion pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat? You Deaf people know those words too? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you. I thought we were supposed to protect you from the foulness that is the spoken language, since you are purer of mind and heart than us foul hearing (and speaking) people.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, it should only be censored in the captions if it is censored in the soundtrack too. If they speak it, it is necessary for it to be captioned exactly the same. Not only does censoring captions insult the Deaf Community, it takes away rights and choices it has no right to get involved in.
The captionist has an obligation to caption everything that is being said. I'm outraged that they censor the captions when there's no censoring for the rest.
ReplyDeleteThe FCC needs to investigate this matter, imho, and I think NAD should jump on this, as well.
A right to read obscenity ? Takes all sorts ! What I found is that deaf people can ALWAYS 'read' swear words and abuse, we get it from early age, so it's the first real communication we understand. Even without text we KNOW swearing is there. It's the same with 'near the knuckle' DVD's, many are simply not captioned at all... I don't feel deprived if the swear words are out... then again I don't feel there is a need to punctuate every sentence with it, shows poor script writing ability....
ReplyDeleteI was at a Christian hospital when I was a teenager, where on the weekends we were only allowed to watch G rated movies, and they all had captions, but i think there was some sort of additional filter on the captions.
ReplyDeleteWe were watching Anne of Green Gables, and the word "gay" (which was spoken in the context of "happy, merry") was captioned as "hug".
FAIL.
I just sent a letter to AMC objecting to their censorship of closed captioning while the same words were quite audible to my hearing partner. The stereotype of hearing impaired persons as naive holy-rollers or "dummies" is perpetuated by support services, including interpreters. (I remember when the self-righteous prohibited the Library of Congress from transferring "Playboy" into Braille.) Too many of them use their positions to proselytize and convey their prejudices to outside entities. People in industry, including entertainment, prefer to consult with hearing "experts" rather than with us on how to deal with us.
ReplyDeleteIt especially foolish when AMC censors the caption bit not sound on shows like "Breaking Bad", "Mad Men", "The Killing", etc. All because "Children might be watching." If a kid, hearing or deaf, is watching a show like those, swears are the least of their problems.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, basically they are saying, "Well you deaf/HI people have to be protected. It's obvious you don't have the maturity and intelligence to see the big-person words. Now go grab your pacifier and try to go beddie-bye. It's late and you should be in bed."
I'm 40, I may not drink, smoke or do drugs, swear infrequently, but that is MY choice. I don't care if others do or not. If a word is spoken, it needs to be transcribed. I have multiple disabilities and I HATE being perceived as being somehow a 'lesser' person.
I just searched this topic because I was watching Netflix and the censored captions were really irking me. I'm not hearing impaired, but I always use captions because it can make it much easier to follow the story of the program I'm watching. This is ridiculous that people who really do need captions are being infantilized like this.
ReplyDeleteI just searched this topic because I was watching Netflix and the censored captions were really irking me. I'm not hearing impaired, but I always use captions because it can make it much easier to follow the story of the program I'm watching. This is ridiculous that people who really do need captions are being infantilized like this.
ReplyDelete