Norfolk walking a fine line in rights of rapper cited for cursing

So I will use your space to say that I think Mike had the funniest Boogaloo incident response I have read. I usually enjoy you (Kerry) much more than him, but on this one, he hit it right out of the park! Cheers, MGM

but the first amendment was not created to protect tame speech, but offensive speech. this will never hold up in court, the city of norfolk is wasting your tax dollars on this one.

"The rapper said he'd never take his own three kids to a nighttime event where alcohol is served and vowed to fight the misdemeanor charges in court."

That is the most logical statement made about the entire thing. People either need to get a baby-sitter or realize that a rap concert is not the place for their 3 year old if they don't want him/her to hear bad language.

I really don't care who supposedly dropped the ball or should have researched the other, the simple fact is, Boots has two eyes and could easily see that the venue was not an enclosed arena where filthly language will not penetrate the neighborhood. He knew exactly what he was doing and thought is was funny. It is probably a stretch for citing him but this idea that the 1st amendment allows us to scream vulgarities whenever and wherever we choose is a bit ludicrous. I cannot stand thumping potty mouth rap openly forced upon me and my little children. Let's be adults with common sense and keep it to yourself.

Kudos! Only if it would fall on 'deaf ears' : )

I too would like to live in a world where we didn't hear offensive things, but this isn't how to approach it. This is right up there with our "Droopy Doors" law and other attempts to legislate people to death. The only thing that will prevent any of us from hearing profanity is if we apply social pressure to those who are doing it, not legal pressure. I know not to take my 6 year-old son to a Tides game because the guy behind us will probably shout filthy things at the players or refs, and most people should be aware that if they attend a show given by a rapper the same thing will happen.
Since most people who live near the event said they did not hear offensive things we might want to ask whose delicate sensibilities are being trampled on here, and why is such a huge deal being made over something to the surprise of even those involved?

I agree with the column. Still nothing new illuminates. I know the rest of the country must be laughing at our backward issues. it is time to put this behind, way behind, I agree we need new leadership because if this takes hold and gets people cracking with opinion I wonder what the public would speak on if some real investigative journalism went into some more prevailing topical subject matter that would really put a magnifying glass on the more serious issues. There seem so many with Downtown Norfolk in general;untold stories there that Pilot refuses to actually tell

Lets hope that those boots dont walk all over Norfolk and festevents..

Would it have anything to do with the new tax payer neighbors who like the idea of living in a downtown setting but don't like the noise that come from the festivals at waterside??

Don't blame the police too much because they were put on the spot by someone who demanded action. Those officers weren't on the street at the local theater or the mall where teens saying #$@%^@ and ^%# they were at the festival providing security. You can blame this issue on Festevents who didn't have it in their contract or at least explain the rule to the person or group, don't say they didn't read about it on their web site and want to charge them using the F bomb.

Excellent column, Kerry!

Way to stand up for decency. Let's see you find a photo of a naked man, get offended, and turn it over to the police. Hmmm... but you won't stand behind city officials when they try to raise the bar on public decency?

The low-life got a ticket. You make it sound like he was thrown down on the hood of the police car. Typical liberal garbage.

Just because there is so much profanity in society does not mean it is right.
Profanity may be the way it is in society right now. That just means that we must work harder to re-educate people that it is wrong and that civilized people do not use it as everyday language. Profanity should not be accepted as the norm.
Festivents is absolutely right to prohibit profanity in its contracts.
It would be nice if the City could prohibit profanity in the park, but that would be too hard to enforce on an equal basis and might violate free speech guarantees in our great Constitution, but just being legal does not make it right.
Profanity in public is WRONG and in POOR TASTE, even if it is legal. Even stronf supoporters of our exceptional 1st Amendment should know that and therefore should work towards eliminating profanity through voluntary actions. There is absolutely no need for profanity as a part of a public act.
Users of profanity in this manner are exhibiting low class manners. Let us all clean up our acts and let us encourage others to do so also.

Kerry, You are right on this one.

Karen was right to pull the plug, However, this charge will not stand in court.

The city should save time and money, and drop the charge.

I am disappointed in you. Usually I agree with much of what you say, but your column looks like a random churning of comments posted on Pilotonline these past three days. There was nothing original nor enlightening there--I expect much more of you and I usually get it.

The only thing I agree with you on is that the onus was on Ms. Scherberger to research the act, not on the act to research Boogaloo Festival and its standards.

Why can't you see there is a difference between someone's "right" to use profanity on the sidewalk (and my right to walk away) and the idea that someone being paid to perform can say anything they want until the plug is pulled? If he had started an altar call to try to bring people to Jesus Christ, right in the middle of Town Point Park, would we see this as First Amendment rights? Sincerely, Mary G. Martin

Well said and time for Sberger to move on as well. And she can get on the bus with Bfoot and together they can exit the Norfolk scene. Some things are obvious.