Should People Be Fined for Using Offensive Language? (Brussels Thinks So)

by mrosen814 Posted 2012/09/06 20:00:00

Related Topics: Cursing, Swearing, Swearing Fine, Brussels, Belgium

1,354 votes
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	Yes	292 votes	22%
	No	1,062 votes	78%

In Brussels, Belgium, "any form of insult is from now on [is] punishable, whether it be racist, homophobic or otherwise," Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans' spokesperson quoted him as saying, according to the Telegraph.

So, how much will it cost you to mouth off? Well, fines will range between 75 and 250 euros for using offensive language or sexually harassing someone in public. What do you think about this cursing law? Do you think cursing is something one should be fined for in public?

NEWS.YAHOO.COM reports:
Brussels, Belgium, wants everyone to be nice. And if not, it’s going to cost you.

punishable racist homophobic brussels mayor freddy thielemans spokesperson quoted telegraph

+24

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RogerCoppock 2012/09/07 00:26:24 (edited)

No

+17
. . . And who determines what language is offensive?

Why not keep all language to government standard?
In this well known novel, they did exactly that.

For more information, please see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
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More polls by mrosen814

mousegirl to knoodelhed 2012/09/08 12:43:22

+1
I thought about this movie when I heard about this silly rule.

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Fluffyw... to mousegirl 2012/09/09 01:56:06

+1
I think everyone who's heard about that movie thought about it.

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Wolf 2012/09/08 08:41:15

No

+1
This shows the mental illness in the entire World today...the Nanny State at its extreme...

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Christo... to Wolf 2012/09/08 15:07:45

I'm tired of catering to the special interests. If you don't like what I say, don't listen/talk to me. Case closed.

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william neville 2012/09/08 08:25:40

Yes

iPod you cannt assault people howvcanbyou be allowed to attack them with words?

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Christo... to william... 2012/09/08 15:09:02

+1
If someone considers words an assault, they haven't progressed emotionally beyond 7 years old, and that's NOT MY PROBLEM.

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3359557 to Christo... 2012/09/08 17:05:50

+1
yeah, I grew up being told "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but NAMES will never hurt me"

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Christo... to 3359557 2012/09/09 07:27:45

And that's true.

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Shouldhavebeenborninthe70s 2012/09/08 08:24:54

No

could say it by accident

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hermit57 2012/09/08 08:18:24

No

+1
Would people with Tourett's Syndrome be excluded? And what about the use of innuendo ? That type of law starts a whole new ball of wax doesn't it? And in the end, it's all just words! Part of our language. Those who want to take offense to certain words are the type who deem them offensive in the first place. Quite frankly my dear, we need an emphatic DAMN thrown in for a more dramatic effect of getting ones point across! After all, they are all just words! And actually, I don't trust people who don't curse when the situation calls for it. It can be very cathartic! On the lighter side.....it may put the porn industry out of business! ;D

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Fluffyw... to hermit57 2012/09/08 10:44:30

"It may put the porn industry out of business! ;D",
That doesn't seem economically possible.

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3359557 to Fluffyw... 2012/09/08 17:07:13

With this administration, Who knows what they will want next. I'll be an attack on Religion, freedom of speech, and much, mcuh more. Get prepared.

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hermit57 to Fluffyw... 2012/09/08 20:41:02

+1
It was meant as a joke. :D It would be economically unsound to spend the money it would take to pay a task force to discover the violators! :D

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Fluffyw... to hermit57 2012/09/09 01:55:10

+1
I guess I shoulda figured it was a joke from the smiley. We need taskforces for more important stuff, like hunting down people from the Sovereign State movement and the like. And of course everyone swears so...

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AmericanVirus 2012/09/08 07:46:53

No

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Jarod Kochman 2012/09/08 06:56:24

No

Sometimes people may say curse words by accident

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chicku 2012/09/08 06:53:34

Yes

there should be an end to this a society does not require such things

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michael.reeves.3150 2012/09/08 06:50:53

No

+3
lame ass

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Bella 2012/09/08 06:28:22

No

I've been swearing sense I was six years old!!!! And I'm sure as hell not going to stop now!!!!!! That's a bunch of bull!!!! People just need to grow a pair and suck it up!!!!

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Jezebel 2012/09/08 06:14:40

No

If this were the case, anything anyone says could be turned into something offensive one way or another. I think people just really need to think before opening their mouths as it is.

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jerry.alan.carroll 2012/09/08 05:57:58

Yes

US Tax deficit would be cured in a day!

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jess 2012/09/08 05:36:12

Yes

+1
Control yourself!!

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chuck 2012/09/08 05:33:40

No

#$$k that s$%&

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Duane Freemantle 2012/09/08 05:17:32

No

Just ignored.

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cc 2012/09/08 04:59:07

Yes

Sure! I want to see how that flies. Most foul language is sexually insulting and it would be nice to keep it amongst like minded people, and not necessarily in certain public places.

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iPityThe___ 2012/09/08 04:48:09
Leantom, the Economic Ratio... 2012/09/08 04:45:40

No

Well, apparently Belgium has gone down the crapper with the rest of the EU.

It's a shame. Such great beer comes from Belgium.

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oldhenry 2012/09/08 04:34:13

No

Hell No! At least the US has its First Amendment even though it's constantly violated.
As long as people dont abuse it they should be allowed to use it.

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AvK 2012/09/08 04:20:57
ssmithix 2012/09/08 04:18:11

No

Not fined but it should be discouraged, especially around women and children

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Anarchico Anthony 2012/09/08 04:01:08
Doctor 2012/09/08 03:47:01

Yes

+2
YES I HATE CURSE WORDS TO NO END!!!!!!!!!! (but Then again Freedom of speech)

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joe keeney 2012/09/08 03:40:17

No

+1
Free speech your right in this country. Gald I don't live in Brussels another liberal tax.

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Jennifer Villarreal 2012/09/08 03:35:24

No

+2
No. Sometimes it just comes out

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bcarrera 2012/09/08 03:34:17

No

+2
Freedom of Speech and expressing yourself.

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Ronzo 2012/09/08 03:33:07

Yes

+2
People should learn to show some restraint and clean up their acts. Some people are uncouth and ignorant and appear to have a low IQ and no vocabulary.

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Monkeyvet 2012/09/08 03:31:45

No

+1
What's next, Lying? Where will we find a politician that's not guilty of that? Brussels is now officially the nanny state of the world. Be interesting to see who is runner-up.

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morgan 2012/09/08 02:37:35

No

+1
they are just words, people.

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ssmithix to morgan 2012/09/08 04:20:59

That's a slippery slope though. I don't use the N word but most people are offended by it and many provoked to anger or violence

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morgan to ssmithix 2012/09/08 20:11:20

actually most people use it has a synonym for "brother" or "homie"

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