Bollocks to this!
Article on the Censoring of the word “bollocks” by Joel Baccas (at the request of #EUsupergirl) 03/12/18
Of course we can use the word “bollocks” on our Bollocks to Brexit Bus tour! Why has this become a hullabaloo in 2018?
The very word “bollocks” and its use was dealt with back in 1977 when a shop manager was caught displaying the Sex Pistols’ album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks’ in the shop window.
The Court case went into detail about the word “bollocks”. The barrister, John Mortimer, who was defending the shop manager called in an expert (yes I know we have all had enough of experts) witness, James Kinsley, who was a professor of English and also an Anglican priest.
He explained that the word “bollocks” has been around since Anglo-Saxon times to simply mean “a ball”, it then became a nickname for a clergyman. Clergymen were known for talking a load of rubbish (just like a lot like Brexiters do) so the word “bollocks” later developed to mean “nonsense”.
John Mortimer asked the Court: ‘What sort of country are we living in if a politician comes to Nottingham and speaks here to a group of people in the city centre and during his speech a heckler replies “Bollocks!”. Are we to expect this person to be incarcerated, or do we live in a country where we are proud of our Anglo-Saxon language? Do we wish our language to be virile and strong or watered down and weak?’
John Mortimer elaborated on the use of the word “bollocks” explaining how in biblical texts ‘it was used to describe small things of an appropriate shape.’ Further to this, ‘the word also appears in place names without stirring any sensual desires in the local communities.’ And our prime minister, Theresa May herself may be amused to read that, ‘Mortimer mischievously suggested this would be similar to a city being called ‘Maidenhead’ which didn’t seem to cause the locals… any problems.’
The magistrates after deliberation dismissed the case. The word “bollocks” on the album was not obscene.
Remember, all this bollocks already took place in 1977 and now it’s taking place again in 2018!
Ofcom in 2016 produced a report – ‘Attitudes to potentially offensive language and gestures on TV and radio’ detailed “bollocks” as follows:
‘Medium language, potentially unacceptable pre-watershed. Not generally offensive but somewhat vulgar when used to refer to testicles. Less problematic when used to mean “nonsense’’.
Brexit is a load of nonsense. There is literally NO SENSE to Brexit and in this context it is quite clear and apparent that our use of the word “bollocks” is entirely appropriate and fixates itself to mean “nonsense”. The word cannot be offensive as it is not being used in an offensive context.
We have every right to the use of the word “bollocks” for our #BollockstoBrexitBus tour. Anyone who takes offence is making a subjective judgement and it is therefore their own problem. The “Bollocks to Brexit” team are proud of our Anglo-Saxon linguistic heritage: “NONSENSE TO BREXIT!” (doesn’t exactly have the same kind of ring to it – does it?)
Writer: Joel Baccas is a regular contributor to @InFactsOrg and we are delighted to have him on the “Bollocks to Brexit” bus tour as a speaker.
Editor: Madeleina Kay #EUsupergirl
