Texan Criminally Charged For Using Bad Word In Front of Teenager

[babylonsister]

http://jonathanturley.org/2009/04/21/texas-criminally-charged-for-using-bad-word-in-front-of-teenager/

Texan Criminally Charged For Using Bad Word In Front of Teenager
Published 1, April 21, 2009



Texas authorities continue their criminal crackdown on potty mouths. The latest criminal is Joseph Loflin, 48, who was charged with using the word “shit” in front of a 13-year-old girl in Texas City, Texas. Loflin used the word to describe cat droppings left in his garden.


A former police officer, Loflin confronted his neighbors about their cats going on his lawn and used the descriptive term in front of his daughter.

He was upset because his dogs are attracted to the droppings and then lick him and carry them into the house. When he threatened to call the animal welfare people, they threatened to call the speech police for his use of profanity.

Debbie Rainey explained “He kept repeating the word in front of my child” and objected to his use of the word in front of his teenager.

He is the third person charged under the law, which comes with a $170 fine. He has demanded a jury trial.

These laws are highly questionable from a constitutional standpoint on grounds ranging from free speech to vagueness. The right to swear at police was upheld recently in South Dakota.. Conversely, swearing in court remains a grounds for discipline.

It is unclear why the Rainey’s did not ask their teenager to step away from the conversations. There is no question that Loflin was being rude and boorish. But, the use of criminal law to police speech is not how to instill good manners or force people to say “Holy Cat Feces.”

[WolverineDG]

1. Who here believes this kid never heard or used that word, raise your hands please

Thought not.

Jesus, some people need hobbies..... :eyes:

dg

[babylonsister]

2. Ridiculous, isn't it. nt

[hobbit709]

5. I learned that word in two languages long before I was 13.

[sonias]

8. I know that word in at least 5 languages

Come on you have to be able to say some words in every language.

:eyes:


Sonia

[hobbit709]

9. I probably know it in at least a dozen

From English to Russian and Turkish.

[sonias]

3. Cat shit - this is stupid

I always think it's crazy that the censors bleep out the word "shit" on the comedy channel - like on the Daily Show. But he can say balls, anus, bitch etc. :wtf:

:crazy:

Sonia

[hobbit709]

4. That's like time when I delivered the fishwrap

and the supervisor told me he didn't want to hear me cussing. Then he asked what my problem was.
I replied "It's my birthday and I'm so fornicating happy I could just defecate"
It took about 30 seconds to filter through his mind before he realized exactly what I said.

[sonias]

7. ha ha - you got'em

I actually think your "filtered" sounds more offensive of the two.

:rofl:

Sonia

[kjackson227]

6. As if we didn't have more important things to worry about.

People are going absolutely crazy. Is it the economy that's bringing out all the weirdos and loonies???