'Bloody' is an offensive word, declares ASA The Sun newspaper has been ordered not to use the word 'bloody' on posters in future. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it was socially irresponsible to use the word in an advert that appeared in a public place. The advert appeared on the side of a lorry. It stated "Where the bloody hell were you?" against a …
Bloody is a bastardisation of "By My Lady!" an expression of surprise of yesteryear. (In the same way that Blind Me! turned into Blimey!) The Victorians got prudish about the vague blasphemy of the whole thing and By My Lady became Bloody. Hell was tacked on later ( I imagine in the 20's) and stuck because it rolls of the tongue so well.
If we're going to get prudish about bloody - could we revert, please? Somehow it doesn't seem so bad these days.
Ta
Alex
I just don't get it. Seems the most offensive word in English is "Ban" or its derivatives. Ban waste collections, ban supermarket plastic bags, etc...
For Fuc*ks sake, even the word FUCK is possibly an acronym - "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" - but Wikipedia offers more possibilities.
OK, in (partial) acceptance, when at primary school some 45 years ago, our heamaster taught us that "bloody" referred to the blood of the Virgin Mary - maybe hence the drink - but I never saw, or can see the connection. And, as she was stuffed by Gabriel, why the 'Virgin* bit?? She had kids afterwards, so ditto.
FUC*K 'em!!! PC correct wank*ers. Oh, that'll be the IT connection... (the PC bit, I mean) ;-)
the use of bloody in that context is surely just a coloquial thing. it's a very english turn of phrase
such as "only s'posed to blow the bloody doors off!"
and honestly, what kid these days would think bloody is a swear word anyway?
it'd probably seem very quaint and old-fashioned
like someone saying "where the gosh-darned heck were you?"
we're going to end up having to speak like Ned Flanders or face being slapped with an ASBO
I fell off the podium and hurt myself and I have a bloody knee.
The ASA do have a use, but sometimes, they're idiots. Rather than have a swipe at mild swearwords, I'd prefer them to have a go at real lies in adverts, such as my train company touting it's new timetable as "improvements" when it's cutting services by 50%
Is, IMHO an expression of mild surprise. But then, there are really no 'bad' words, it all depends on context. How can a word be deemed to be offensive,when it is the meaning conveyed by the word that has the potential to cause offence, and not the word itself? For instance, I find the use of any word to advertise the Sun 'newspaper' grossly offensive...
The ASA are really showing their stupidity this week aren't they - had someone threatened to strip them of the little power they have?
How can one person's complaint ban the use of such a mild word (and, given the context, it was clearly meant as a humorous take on the Aussies' prolific use of the word). Did her child even see it? Poor child, so wrapped up in cotton wool one day they're going to get a real shock when they realise the world isn't made of candy sticks and lollipops.
seems like we do live in fucking christian Iran after all.
frankly this country is a mess, tories and labour are the same party, with the same megalomaniac ideas and aims, lib dems are a bunch of enviro loonies and media darlings.
Kids hear worse EVERYDAY, I hear parents yelling "reebok/chardonnay/shannon, get your fucking arse over here before I batter pure fuck out of you!" (and yes some muppet did call their kid reebok :-| )
Ive even heard young pre school kids yelling fuck you and other obscenities to adults, so I think the use of Bloody in a satirical context is a NON ISSUE, then again keep the population focused on one hand while you fuck them with the otheer
So you can't use bloody now. How about bleeding, as in 'that red stuff is from my bleeding leg'. However, that falls down if you've stopped bleeding and are now simply bloody. Hmm, how should I address this issue should it arise without risking being banned from the NHS for using offensive language?
'Bloody' is an oblique reference to the crucifiction of Christ. When men of old wanted to swear, they would avoid direct God and reference something related instead. 'Bloody' refers to the wine that our lord and saviour shared with his disciples at the last supper and would have been very offensive. In 1408.
The publishers of The Sun should thank their lucky stars they didn't publish anything truly offensive. 'Gadzooks', for instance is a reference to the nails that were used to crucify our blessed master ('Gods Hooks').
I remember as a kid being told not to say bloody, but we had a cure rhyme to deal with it!
Bloodys in the bible, bloodys in the book, if you don't believe me, have a bloody look.
Obviously this was before kids went around carrying AK47's and machetes and stuff. Wheres the IT angle though? Unless you suggest we start to read the Sun for unbaised technological opinion?
Speaking from the Antipodes, I am very glad that I did not have to see those Tourist Board adverts.
Lara Bingle might be a highly desirable example of feminine pulchritude, but that simply doesn't fit with the crass expression.
I can only hope that your sensible ASA will now go after the silly Australian Tourist Board as well.
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