It would still be ironic (for want of a better descriptor, satirical would probably be better), its status as irony is not dependent upon other people understanding it as such. It was a poor choice only insomuch as plenty of people mistake it for bigotry on the part of Knopfler, when it is quite the opposite. But that sort of blowback is something artists have to deal with all the time, unfortunately the world is full of stupid people who care more about the words themselves than why and how they are used, and prefer to react hysterically rather than stop and consider what they are reacting to. As an artist, Knopfler is more than entitled not to give a shit about those people. Roger Taylor of Queen had a similar problem with media outlets refusing to play or stock his anti-fascist song "Nazis", because he called it, wait for it, "Nazis". The horror.
Sensibilities of extremely over sensitive Christians it seems. I'm Christian but I am not 'offended' by such things being laced throughout entertainment.
If this was running SyFy U.S. I don't understand it. The show ran originally on U.S. TV and I recall no censoring.
Broadcast media got a little jumpy after the Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" incident several years ago. The FCC threatened to fine not only the network, but every affiliate that aired that halftime show. Cooler heads prevailed but that's when network censors tightened things up, including song lyrics.
It still amazes me that broadcast TV is full of shows about murder and other bloody violence, and nobody bats an eye at that, but a brief flash of a nipple is enough to bring down the wrath of the censors. What century are we living in?
I totally get that "Money for Nothing" is being ironic. My point was that THAT word is just as offensive as the n word to a lot of people, as it's almost always used as in invective. Some words are so loaded that using them in a pop song context—where most people don't get subtlety, let alone even understand most of the lyrics—is arguably a questionable choice. In fact, regarding this very topic...
Eh, "Faggot" doesn't upset me anymore than the acceptable "Gay" which for me conjures up images of a prancing limp wristed princess shouting "Hey Girl" I've never noticed, do they edit John Lennon? Everybody talk about Faggots, faggots...
I'm not 100% but I think 'bleeping' out cursing or otherwise has something to do with the time of day the station airs it. I can't bear to watch the bastardized version of Casino that AMC sometimes broadcasts!
The owner of the press gets to decide what he prints, broadcasts, or says. He isn't obligated to print, say, or broadcast what someone else has to say. The person with the objectionable material isn't being censored by the denial or conditions of the owner of the press. He is free to buy his own press or other means to convey his message. With the Internet, and other means of technology today, that's pretty easy.
Not really on cable channels. They have the one edit that's "safe" for all day. Not that it really matters, since cable channels can legally air whatever they want, whenever they want. FCC can only regulate over-the-air channels...which these days only really includes the major networks.
It might just be me, but watching the fallout from this side of the pond. It seemed an over reaction.
Yep, in The Sun on Page 3. Though another paper is as bad if not worse The Sport. And yes the debate about this feature does crop up from time to time.
Actually I've already given an example where it is apparently the case on cable. Just five days ago on Syfy, they censored the uses of "sh*t" in Continuum at 8 PM, but allowed its use in Lost Girl just two hours later. Similarly, their sister network USA allows the word through in their 10 PM show Covert Affairs, but doesn't use it in shows aired at 8 or 9. Which does lead me to believe it has more to do with time slot than content rating, since Covert Affairs is rated TV-PG while Lost Girl is TV-MA.
Of course, censoring of minor obscenities runs the risk of people thinking of worse obscenities. I remember seeing Glenn Campbell once on the old Dick Cavett show and he says he's got a joke but it's kind of off-color. Cavett says, well go ahead if it's too much they'll just bleep it. Well, Campbell tells his joke and they censor the punchline. Not the whole joke, mind you, but the punchline. And you just know that what you're thinking at that moment about the ABC censors is a dozen times worse than anything that would come out of Glenn Campbell's mouth. Some message boards censor certain words, even when used in a totally innocent context. Such as the first name of the last Vice-President! I suggested using the proper anatomical term, such as Penis Cheney, Phillip K. Penis, or that noted comic actor Penis Van Lesbian.