BIFFO
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:41 am
Some Broadcasting Complaints Commission data
http://www.bcc.ie/Decisions/Oct2004/90% ... 0Oct04.doc
Complaint made by: Dr. Tim O'Neill Ref: 90/04
Station: Programme: Date:
RTÉ Radio 1 'Morning Ireland' 24 May 2004
Summary of Complaint:
Dr. O'Neill's complaint, under Sections 24(2)(a)(impartiality) and (b)(taste and decency) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, refers to a sports report given by Mr. Des Cahill during the 'Liveline' programme of 24th May 2004. During this report, Mr. Cahill made reference to hearing someone else commenting that Westmeath players had been under 'Biffos' for over fifty years or words to that effect. There was no particular context in which the use of the word 'Biffo' could be justified. This word is widely understood to stand for 'Big Ignorant Fucker from Offaly'. As a person born and raised in Offaly the complainant felt that such reporting was insensitive, negative and offensive to the people of Offaly and he believes that Mr. Cahill's inappropriate comment should have been spotted immediately by the other presenters or by the programme producers.
The complainant states he fails to see how the difference between what the 'F' word stands for makes any difference. That to say the term is in general usage does not mean that it is not offensive and in bad taste. To say that the word 'Biffo' has 'slightly affectionate connotations' is bizarre. Dragging another broadcaster into the explanation fails to address the central issue of the disgraceful manner in which Offaly people were described in the broadcast. The explanantion that the only usage of the term was to refer to an historical fact that Westmeath had not beaten Offaly for 55 years also fails to address the offensive words used. The fact that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, an Offaly man, uses the term himself in a humerous manner is a spurios argument.
The complainant stated that the issue at the centre of his complaint is the inappropriateness of the use of the word 'Biffo'.
Station’s Response
RTÉ states that the presenter Mr. Des Cahill was upset to hear that he had offended Dr. O'Neill. RTÉ understands that it is an acronym derived from 'Big Ignorant Fecker from Offaly'. It is acknowledged that the 'F' word is also regarded as standing for 'fucker'. However, Mr. Cahill is insistent that the term is in general usage as a term which has slightly affectionate connotations and certainly not the purely negative associations Dr. O'Neill ascribes to it.
The term is apparently used by Offaly people themselves and they appear not to find the term offensive. Mr. Brian Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, uses the term to describe himself in a humorous manner.
The context in which the term was used is that Des Cahill while in conversation with Micheál Ó Muirceartaigh relayed what he'd heard in a dressing room. The context was entirely neutral and certainly not critical of Offaly people. Des Cahill reported 'One Westmeath fan said to me afterwards can you imagine what it is like to be down trodden by 'Biffos' for 55 years'? The unnamed fan was apparently refering to the fact that Westmeath had defeated Offaly for the first time in over half a century. This was the only usage of the term in the report.
It is the RTÉ's view that the usage of the term 'Biffo' was not intended to give offence and that its usage was acceptable in the context and tone of the report. RTÉ does not feel that there is any reason to apologise on air for its usage. The RTÉ log of complaints does not record any phone calls on the issue and only one e-mail complaint.
Decision of the Commission:
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission rejected the complaint made by Dr. Tim O'Neill. The Commission was of the view that RTÉ did not infringe Sections 24(2)(a)(impartiality) and (b)(taste and decency). The comment made by Des Cahill was considered to be inoffensive. He made the statement during a conversation with Micheál Ó Muirceartaigh. It was part of an after match analysis and Des Cahill repeated, in an innocuous manner, a line he heard from a Westmeath fan. The tenor of the piece was light-hearted and taken in context, that of after-match banter, was unlikely to cause offence. The complaint was rejected.
http://www.bcc.ie/Decisions/Oct2004/90% ... 0Oct04.doc
Complaint made by: Dr. Tim O'Neill Ref: 90/04
Station: Programme: Date:
RTÉ Radio 1 'Morning Ireland' 24 May 2004
Summary of Complaint:
Dr. O'Neill's complaint, under Sections 24(2)(a)(impartiality) and (b)(taste and decency) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, refers to a sports report given by Mr. Des Cahill during the 'Liveline' programme of 24th May 2004. During this report, Mr. Cahill made reference to hearing someone else commenting that Westmeath players had been under 'Biffos' for over fifty years or words to that effect. There was no particular context in which the use of the word 'Biffo' could be justified. This word is widely understood to stand for 'Big Ignorant Fucker from Offaly'. As a person born and raised in Offaly the complainant felt that such reporting was insensitive, negative and offensive to the people of Offaly and he believes that Mr. Cahill's inappropriate comment should have been spotted immediately by the other presenters or by the programme producers.
The complainant states he fails to see how the difference between what the 'F' word stands for makes any difference. That to say the term is in general usage does not mean that it is not offensive and in bad taste. To say that the word 'Biffo' has 'slightly affectionate connotations' is bizarre. Dragging another broadcaster into the explanation fails to address the central issue of the disgraceful manner in which Offaly people were described in the broadcast. The explanantion that the only usage of the term was to refer to an historical fact that Westmeath had not beaten Offaly for 55 years also fails to address the offensive words used. The fact that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, an Offaly man, uses the term himself in a humerous manner is a spurios argument.
The complainant stated that the issue at the centre of his complaint is the inappropriateness of the use of the word 'Biffo'.
Station’s Response
RTÉ states that the presenter Mr. Des Cahill was upset to hear that he had offended Dr. O'Neill. RTÉ understands that it is an acronym derived from 'Big Ignorant Fecker from Offaly'. It is acknowledged that the 'F' word is also regarded as standing for 'fucker'. However, Mr. Cahill is insistent that the term is in general usage as a term which has slightly affectionate connotations and certainly not the purely negative associations Dr. O'Neill ascribes to it.
The term is apparently used by Offaly people themselves and they appear not to find the term offensive. Mr. Brian Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, uses the term to describe himself in a humorous manner.
The context in which the term was used is that Des Cahill while in conversation with Micheál Ó Muirceartaigh relayed what he'd heard in a dressing room. The context was entirely neutral and certainly not critical of Offaly people. Des Cahill reported 'One Westmeath fan said to me afterwards can you imagine what it is like to be down trodden by 'Biffos' for 55 years'? The unnamed fan was apparently refering to the fact that Westmeath had defeated Offaly for the first time in over half a century. This was the only usage of the term in the report.
It is the RTÉ's view that the usage of the term 'Biffo' was not intended to give offence and that its usage was acceptable in the context and tone of the report. RTÉ does not feel that there is any reason to apologise on air for its usage. The RTÉ log of complaints does not record any phone calls on the issue and only one e-mail complaint.
Decision of the Commission:
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission rejected the complaint made by Dr. Tim O'Neill. The Commission was of the view that RTÉ did not infringe Sections 24(2)(a)(impartiality) and (b)(taste and decency). The comment made by Des Cahill was considered to be inoffensive. He made the statement during a conversation with Micheál Ó Muirceartaigh. It was part of an after match analysis and Des Cahill repeated, in an innocuous manner, a line he heard from a Westmeath fan. The tenor of the piece was light-hearted and taken in context, that of after-match banter, was unlikely to cause offence. The complaint was rejected.