CW: homophobic slur
This month, Canadian radio banned the Dire Straits song ‘Money for Nothing’ over an anti-gay slur in its lyrics.
Has the f-slur now become as unacceptable as other swear words? And how has the word changed since its origin as a bundle of sticks?
Linguist Daniel Midgley explains on this week’s Talk the Talk.
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The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council’s decision:
http://www.cbsc.ca/english/decisions/2011/110112.php
An early Globe and Mail article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/faggot-lyric-disqualifies-dire-straits-hit-from-canadian-radio-play/article1868052/
CTRC urges a review of the ban:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crtc-urges-second-look-at-ban-of-dire-straits-song/article1879631/
Radio stations are confused:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/24/dire.straits.song.ban.rstone/
but some protest:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dire-straits-money-for-nothing-banned-in-canada-20110114
