What language is acceptable on commercial radio these days? This came up on several fronts this week, after I heard Stafford on 640’s morning show Monday joking about “emptying out the ‘shitter.’" He then added, “I get one of those a year.” Of course, he’s famous for constantly employing the word “shyte” on the air, getting around the taboo.
 
I recently heard a few guests on CFRB’s Roundtable use the word “bullshit” during the morning drive in relation to something political. It wasn’t dumped.
 
And then I read this bizarre article from the U.K. where a host had American podcaster/comedian Marc Meron on his show, with the guest using the word, “pissed off” during their live interview. The host then immediately issued an apology, saying that word isn’t allowed on British airwaves.
 
Yet I hear “pissed” or “pissed off” all the time on talk radio here and no one bats an eye – or an ear.
 
There’s no question language has become a lot less strict on the airwaves these days – just listen to some rap lyrics.
 
But I find it amazing that Meron’s purported sin is verboten on British radio but here it’s more or less part of speech – especially considering I always thought U.K. standards were a lot looser than ours. (There has been swearing and nudity on England’s over-the-air TV screens since at least the 70s.)
 
So what, I wonder, constitutes going too far? What words can you say on radio here that were once unacceptable and which can never be uttered (beyond, of course, the dreaded F-word?) I wonder how these things actually change.
 
Does anyone on radio give a shit – er, a shyte, er - a darn anymore?