Some friends and I are having s small argument on a hypothetical situation. If there were offensive language or imagery on a disc ( ie: a dye of a naked women etc..) , would you agree that would be grounds for a warning if there was someone in the group who found it offensive?

Under what rule?

Here is the Couresy rule - if it isn't covered in this section it isn't a courtesy violation.


801.01 Courtesy

A. Players should not throw until they are certain that the
thrown disc will not distract another player or potentially injure
anyone present. Players should watch the other members of their group
throw in order to aid in locating errant throws and to ensure
compliance with the rules.

B. Players should take care not to produce any distracting
noises or any potential visual distractions for other players who are
throwing. Examples of discourteous actions are: shouting, cursing,
freestyling, slapping course equipment, throwing out of turn, throwing
or kicking golf bags, throwing minis, and advancing on the fairway
beyond the away player. Shouting at an appropriate time to warn someone
in danger of being struck by a disc is not a violation of courtesy.

C. Refusal to perform an action expected by the rules, such as
assisting in the search for a lost disc, moving discs or equipment, or
keeping score properly, etc., is a courtesy violation.

D. Players are responsible for the actions of their caddies.
Players shall receive warnings and penalties (where applicable) for the
actions of their caddies.

E. Littering is a courtesy violation.

F. Courtesy dictates that players who smoke should not allow
their smoke to disturb other players. Smokers should extinguish their
cigarettes and carry their cigarette butts to a trash can. Disposing of
cigarette butts by dropping them on the ground is littering.

G. A player violating a courtesy rule may be warned by any
affected player, even if from another group, or by an official, with
all players of the group advised of the warning. The player shall be
assessed one penalty throw for each subsequent courtesy violation of
any type in the same round. Repeated violations of courtesy rules may
result in disqualification in accordance with section 804.05.

One miiiiiiight consider it an extension of the dress code rule in the Comp Manual, which prohibits such pictures on clothing, but that would be a stretch, unless one call the disc when one is holding it an "accessory".

....which only applies to Majors & NTs, except if TDs want to apply it to lower tiers, which I doubt ever happens. (Wouldn't you like to see "offensive" defined? THAT would be a fun discussion!)

I've read the rule a bunch lately (writing my officials test this week) and much like a ton of other rules it can be open to interpretation. It does say visual distractions which a disc could be, but it also says while throwing. I personally know someone who hates any form of 'porn' which I know they would put a disc with a naked women on it under. Stupid I agree, but they would get their chance to argue it. I'm just wondering if anyone thinks a TD would rule on their favour or if it's just way to big of a slippery slope. If I was appraoched as an official I'd like to think I'd just say 'sorry freedom of expression and the fact that you don't need to look at it makes it ok' or something like that.

Some friends and I are having s small argument on a hypothetical situation. If there were offensive language or imagery on a disc ( ie: a dye of a naked women etc..) , would you agree that would be grounds for a warning if there was someone in the group who found it offensive?

According to the rules offensive language would be, imagery on the disc doesn't.

According to the rules offensive language would be, imagery on the disc doesn't.

What if the imagery on the disc contained offensive language? :D

A dirty talkin' disc. That's hot!

I've read the rule a bunch lately (writing my officials test this week) and much like a ton of other rules it can be open to interpretation. It does say visual distractions which a disc could be, but it also says while throwing. I personally know someone who hates any form of 'porn' which I know they would put a disc with a naked women on it under. Stupid I agree, but they would get their chance to argue it. I'm just wondering if anyone thinks a TD would rule on their favour or if it's just way to big of a slippery slope. If I was appraoched as an official I'd like to think I'd just say 'sorry freedom of expression and the fact that you don't need to look at it makes it ok' or something like that.

I wouldn't, and I doubt any TD would.

Very slippery slope. Imagine ruling on every conceivable offense someone might drag in front of you. Porn? Offended by religious messages on someone else's disc? Rebel flag? Ku Klux Klan? Drug references? Environmental messages? Political messages? Logos of my favorite sports team's rival?

(A thought on the naked lady. If the offended player could try to call it pornography, illegal to be displayed in a public park, and thus an illegal activity. Good luck, but he or she could try).

According to the rules offensive language would be, imagery on the disc doesn't.



Please point out where the rule states "offensive language".

I've read the rule a bunch lately (writing my officials test this week) and much like a ton of other rules it can be open to interpretation. It does say visual distractions which a disc could be, but it also says while throwing. I personally know someone who hates any form of 'porn' which I know they would put a disc with a naked women on it under. Stupid I agree, but they would get their chance to argue it. I'm just wondering if anyone thinks a TD would rule on their favour or if it's just way to big of a slippery slope. If I was appraoched as an official I'd like to think I'd just say 'sorry freedom of expression and the fact that you don't need to look at it makes it ok' or something like that.


after seeing the previous posts saying a picture of a naked lady on a disc is not a problem..... well, you guys are thinking like, guys... all it takes is one FEMALE player to see something like that, have a cow over it and complain to the td that she is completely humiliated by the disc and is subject to a hostile environment at the td's tournament, that disc and any other form of "negative imagery", will be banned..... affirmative action, its real, it exists, its everywhere.....

I woudn't say it's "not a problem".

Just that it's not a courtesy violation under the rules, or at least not without some major stretching of them, and unlikely to be ruled illegal by the TD.

Now, if you think one of the women players might make a stink about it....imagine it being seen by one of the younger juniors, and the stink that child's mom might make.

Please point out where the rule states "offensive language".

The rule does not use those words. However, in 801.01B, the words "shouting" and "cursing" are used and those are generally thought to be offensive uses of language.

One miiiiiiight consider it an extension of the dress code rule in the Comp Manual, which prohibits such pictures on clothing, but that would be a stretch, unless one call the disc when one is holding it an "accessory".

No, No, NO. The rules define EXACTLY what qualifies as a courtesy violation. That's it.

Violating something in the Competition manual NOT a courtesy violation. Ever.

In fact, according to the Competition manual the ONLY ramification to not following something in the Competition manual is possible DQ. That's it.

There is no authority to dole out any other punishment other than possible DQ for not being in compliance with the Competition manual.

A good christian could say Gateways stock Demon Stamp is offensive.....:)