Obscene Behaviour

David ThrefallI had a conversation with someone at work today that highlighted the disparity between different people in what is and is not considered to be naughty, dirty, filthy or unacceptable.

The programme “Shameless” came up in conversation and I remarked that we don’t follow it.

The customer I was talking to said he and his wife didn’t either, because “it’s obscene. Isn’t it?” I had to admit I couldn’t say one way or the other, however the show does have reputation for being pretty free with the expletives and sexual content.

The reason we’ve never watched the show isn’t that of course. We would hardly be shocked by a bit of foul language and sex. We just don’t fancy watching it. His reaction on the other hand was disgust at his perception of the content. Funny isn’t it how people’s views on what could generally be termed adult programming vary so much. I suppose as the guy is older than me his attitudes were forged at a time when morals and attitudes were different, though I’ve know people older than him who weren’t so prudish.

It takes all sorts I suppose.

Tags: Shameless, obscenity, morals

One thought on “Obscene Behaviour

  1. You can ask N all about Shameless he’s a Shameless addict. I’ve watched it a couple of times and it’s funny, and I think only British shows can make lower income households funny in an existential sense (life’s absurdity, etc). The only thing is that I’m hopeless following serials on television because I lose track of time, miss them, and end up renting the DVD’s but Shameless is similar to the Australian show Kath & Kim, but without the swearing. The Australian term ‘Bogan’ is equivalent to the UK term ‘Chav’, and although Australian shows try to focus on making Bogans funny, they are nowhere near matching shows like Shameless. Frank (the guy pictured) is hilarious. He’s a drunk, he has no real prospects, half his family (his other kids) live in another house with the young teenage daughter wearing the pants, and he lives with his second wife (defacto) with his two baby twins, and it makes you wonder ‘what the eff does she see in him?’ and it’s not a drama, it’s black comedy, but it’s so funny. I’ve lost track of all the hangovers Frank has had. There was one scene where he was legless in an alley/lot, and he has this epiphany, but the way the actor portrayed it was hilarious.

Comments are closed.