TV Censorship

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by dzfan
I am sure that most TV are but I think that most parents don't know how to set them but I was looking through the TV Watch site and it looks like it is pretty easy. It is as "easy as toast"

http://www.televisionwatch.org/site/...C49F7}&notoc=1

Went to that link and laughed out loud when I read this:

The TV ratings system is an easy-to-understand guide to the content of all TV shows, and is the first place parents should look for information about shows their children are viewing.

The ratings are grouped into two categories: shows designed for children and general ratings. Shows designed for children are rated with a Y—TV-Y, TV-Y7 and TV-Y7-FV (fantasy violence). The general ratings are similar to the movie ratings: TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14 and TV-MA. While many of these programs may be appropriate for children, they are not designed specifically for children. A travel program, for example, might be rated TV-G.

In addition to these designations, the TV ratings include content descriptors that provide additional information for parents: V (violence), FV (fantasy violence), S (sexual situations), L (coarse language) and D (suggestive dialogue).

Not that the TV rating system is incomprehensible, but to say that it is "an easy-to-understand guide" is laughable. The movie rating system is easy to understand; the TV rating system is too complicated, especially when you're dealing with people who have trouble programming a VCR. Nor have I found the TV ratings to be very helpful or reliable. Not infrequently, I've found the rating and the reality of a show to be off the mark.

I'm all for parents having responsibility for what their kids watch, and Ms. MysticCat and I take that responsibility seriously -- starting by limiting "screen time" (TV, computer or video) period. But as a parent, I haven't found the TV rating system to be particularly helpful.

[dzfan]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
Went to that link and laughed out loud when I read this:

Not that the TV rating system is incomprehensible, but to say that it is "an easy-to-understand guide" is laughable. The movie rating system is easy to understand; the TV rating system is too complicated, especially when you're dealing with people who have trouble programming a VCR. Nor have I found the TV ratings to be very helpful or reliable. Not infrequently, I've found the rating and the reality of a show to be off the mark.

I'm all for parents having responsibility for what their kids watch, and Ms. MysticCat and I take that responsibility seriously -- starting by limiting "screen time" (TV, computer or video) period. But as a parent, I haven't found the TV rating system to be particularly helpful.

MysticCat81, I am so glad that you take serioiusly -- I think that it is really important to because there are a lot of parents out there who do not...

As for the downloadable guide,did you download it? I actually took a look at it and for someone who is not technologically savvy, I was surprised how easily it is to set the v-chip...I actually did not even know what the v-chip really was until recently which I think is the case for most adults nowadays...I just think that it is something that is overlooked by most parents, you know? Also, the rating system might be hard to understand but I think that most important thing for parents to do is screen the shows first to see if they are appropriate

[kddani]

I can use the SuperBowl incident as an example. I wasn't quite ready for my kids to witness something like that, and neither were they. I didn't expect it and wasn't pleased about it.

Did your kids actually understand what was going on? If they did, HOW? I wasn't even sure what happened or what i was looking at. I thought hey, was just what I thought it was, but I wasn't sure and didn't think it was a big deal. You couldn't see anything really, it was far enough away. Unless you have some HUGE tv and Janet Jackson's boob was about 3 foot big, I really don't think you could really see anything that a normal kid would really notice.

All the media hype and coverage afterwards probably did more damage to the kids who saw it. They didn't notice it at the time, but since everyone went on and one about it, they think back and are like wow, I saw a boobie!!!!!

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by dzfan
As for the downloadable guide,did you download it? I actually took a look at it and for someone who is not technologically savvy, I was surprised how easily it is to set the v-chip...I actually did not even know what the v-chip really was until recently which I think is the case for most adults nowadays...I just think that it is something that is overlooked by most parents, you know?

Yes. I don't thinks the V-Chip is that hard to understand. I think the ratings system is a combination of too complicated and not adequately informative. Admittedly, I'm not sure how create a system that is adequately information and not complicated, but the current system ain't it.

Also, the rating system might be hard to understand but I think that most important thing for parents to do is screen the shows first to see if they are appropriate

While I agree in theory, that is much easier said than done. Unless you record a show, and either view while it's recording or watch the recording first and then decide whether your kids can watch it, or you watch it and decide whether kids can watch a rerun (something almost impossible with anything but regular primetime shows, which my kids never get to watch), this is near impossible to do.

Originally posted by kddani
Did your kids actually understand what was going on? If they did, HOW? I wasn't even sure what happened or what i was looking at.

You'd be amazed at what kids will pick up on, especially when you think (hope?) they're not paying enough attention or have enough "ignorance" to let something slip by them. I constantly am.

[dzfan]

Well, I think that V-chip is a start for parents but additionally, I think that sitting and watching tv with them is an ideal combo. Personally, after talking to my cousin about the issue who is a mom of three girls, she believes that the best thing to do is sit down and watch the shows that other kids their ages are watching with them. If something inappropriate comes up then she will explain to them how that issue is unacceptable or explain what things mean, etc...she says if her girls don't see it on TV they are going to hear about it from someone at school and she feels better to have been the one to explain to them instead of another 5, 7 or 8 year explaining to them. I dont know about you but I was always that kid in elementary school who was clueless about everything and getting the wrong idea about things -- overall just naive and wish my parents had talked to me about the current issues going on.

This issue is such an important issue and something that all parents should look at seriously...my only argument is that I dont think it is necessary for the government to come and cancel shows... I would just be heartbroken if some of my shows are canceled or modified, you know?

[hoosier]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Consorship in broadcasting is illegal. It's one of those First Amendment things.

Control of content by making rules and regulations regarding the retention or loss of a broadcast license isn't, and the FCC has done it for years.

Special interest groups have tried to do it with boycots, letter writing campaigns, etc. with some, but not a lot of success.

It is much more difficult to do to cable programs, because they do not broadcast on the "public airways," and the FCC has much less clout.

Things like the "V Chip" are supposed to allow parents to set schedules so their children can't watch programs with certain ratings.

Bottom line is, though, I don't think parents can control what their children watch in all cases.

It's a sticky situation.

I thought the flap and fine regarding Janet Jackson's boob proved censorship lives?

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
I thought the flap and fine regarding Janet Jackson's boob proved censorship lives?

Censorship, as it is used in a broadcast context, means precensoring a program.

The Janet Jackson episode would fall under lewd, obscene or pronographic programming.

[dzfan]

Originally posted by hoosier
I thought the flap and fine regarding Janet Jackson's boob proved censorship lives?

As DeltaAlum said, in the sense of broadcasting it means "precensoring a program" which I do not believe should be left up to the government to decide... I fear that in ten years shows like Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, Nip Tuck, etc are not going to exist because the government does not approve of... yes I believe precensoring is a must but I believe that it is a must in one's house by the parents, you know?

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by dzfan
I fear that in ten years shows like Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, Nip Tuck, etc are not going to exist because the government does not approve of... believe that it is a must in one's house by the parents, you know?

I'll frankly be astounded if that turns out to be the case.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I'll frankly be astounded if that turns out to be the case.

I agree, because I think Congress as a whole is smarter than that. I hope.

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by dzfan
Curious how everyone felt on the topic? Personally, I think that parent activists should take responsibility and deal with their problems they are having in their homes and quit making it everyone else's business... if the government controls TV, then TV will not be the same. Glad that there are groups like TV Watch who are out there to protect our shows...thoughts?

You make a very well thought out point.

I agree completey, you should be the president of television.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
you should be the president of television...

Hey, that's the job I want.

Either that or King of America!

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I agree, because I think Congress as a whole is smarter than that. I hope.

Congress is a lot smarter than that, I think -- politicians with any sense are not going waste their time or re-electability targeting a number one show like Desperate Housewives. Remember Dan Quayle and Murphey Brown? Popular culture wins over politics.

More to the point, however, Disney, Fox, Viacom and their friends are way too influential to sit by while the government "bans" shows like Desperate Housewives or Family Guy.

I have to admit that groups like TV Watch remind me of Chicken Little, warning that the sky is falling down. Of course, after seeing the movie with my kids, I know that it really was falling, so my thoughts deserve a grain of salt.

[DeltAlum]

My favoirte fake "tease" when I was working in TV newsrooms was, "The sky is falling, film at 11."

[Optimist Prime]

I don't have too much faith in congress. They are more of a waste than matierals dumped into rivers.