Automatic censorship for Television?

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In addition, the V-chip relies on someone else to decide what the categories and boundaries are, and I doubt they approach them with the same moral compass I do.

For example, I would rate “Everybody Loves Raymond” at the very top of the objectionable scale. Not for Language, Violence, Sex, Drug use, or whatever the common rating categories are. But it shows a very damaging model of family structure: relatively weak husband, and a family realtionships built on arguing, yelling, and supposedly witty put-downs. My parents like that show, and I see them emulate that dynamic–no doubt unconsciously, but it’s still there. It’s hard to be around for very long. It just isn’t funny in real life.
 
I want some program to block stupidity. Oh, and “celebrity” news.
 
Well, as a writer I am against censorship in all but the most extreme cases. I believe the best tool we have is our opinions. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. The ratings will go down and the show will disappear. And if there’s something that absolutely cannot be handled just by turning the TV off, then it’s time to start letter writing and protesting. It HAS made a difference and protects us from becoming like China with state-approved TV and such.

I do, however, sympatheize with parents trying to monitor the content of what their children are watching. I used to work at a video store and there was endless confusion for parents about the PG-13 rating. So I’ll give the advice I always gave them - when in doubt, watch it yourself first.

Personally, if I hear a movie or book is controversial in content, I will make a point to see it or read it so I can form my own opinion on it and then later explain reasonably why I am against it. Well spoken, thought out commentary will trump hysterical blabberings nine times out of ten.
 
Well, when I can sit down and watch “Andy Griffith” or a football game, and not be subjected to a Viagra commercial or a promo for a sexually explicit show, **then **I’ll believe that the remote control solves the problem.
 
For some reason I am just not personally offended by what comes on tv. So I say no censorship. I don’t want the state or anyone else dictating what I can and can’t watch. What would be next-eliminate rock and roll radio because some find it offensive? Where would it end? No, if you don’t like it, switch it off. We don’t need the government as our babysitter. Freedom for each individual home.
 
“Switch it off” is not a fair solution. I paid for a TV just like you did, my taxes fund the FCC just like yours, I pay for cable TV just like you, and I purchase products just like you. In other words, I’m paying for the service as much as you are. (I’m not addressing anyone in particular. By “you,” I’m referring to anyone not offended by the sex, violence and vulgar language.)

This means that I’m paying for a service enjoyed by others. I wish they would allow us to choose the cable channels we want, and that a channel rated “G” would only carry “G-rated” commercials, and commercials only for “G-rated” shows. Seriously, right now the only channel I have available where I won’t be subjected to the offensive stuff is EWTN.

If the state troopers didn’t enforce highway speed limits, there would be many cars driving way too fast (I might be one of them, since I have a lead foot :rolleyes: ). For those folks who didn’t want to be subjected to the dangers of speeding cars, the “switch it off” logic would mean that they should just stay off the highway, if they don’t like the speeding cars.

I think the best solution is:
  1. For broadcast TV (i.e., not subscriber TV), the FCC should enforce the laws of decency already on the books.
  2. Cable providers should allow subscribers to choose the channels they want, and ensure that everything on that channel meets the same standards (a G-rated channel has G-rated commercials for G-rated products).
 
Agreed. There should be consistent content on the G-rated channels. But I also subscribe to the cable service and should have the freedom to watch what others might consider offensive. If they take that away they are restricting my freedom. I know who you are addressing BTW.😛 If all you can watch is EWTN then do so. I don’t want every channel just being a duplicate of that. What is offensive to one is entertainment to someone else and should not be interfered with.
 
goofyjim said:
Agreed. There should be consistent content on the G-rated channels. But I also subscribe to the cable service and should have the freedom to watch what others might consider offensive. If they take that away they are restricting my freedom. I know who you are addressing BTW.😛 If all you can watch is EWTN then do so. I don’t want every channel just being a duplicate of that. What is offensive to one is entertainment to someone else and should not be interfered with.
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First, while your post did indeed prompt my response, I really wasn’t intending it for you specifically.

Second, I agree that (to some extent), we all should be free to watch whatever we want. I’m not advocating taking all offensive material off the TV; I’m saying that each of us should be able to confidently select the type of material we are allowing into our homes. With the current system, we simply cannot.

BTW, the reason I say “to some extent” is that I still believe that what we watch can influence our behavior; therefore I certainly would not approve of public executions, “reality TV” showing gang violence or beheadings by Islamic extremists, etc. I do admit that I sincerely wish there was no violence, pornography or bad language. Didn’t Paul say we should look to things above, not to things below (paraphrasing)? I mean, if we are continuously subjected to bad things, we being to accept them. I remember during the Vietnam war, when they would show the deaths on TV, at first it was shocking, but as time went on, I became hardened to it. I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s true.

I like to use the analogy comparing our souls to a plant. If you water a plant daily, it will grow. If you add a little plant poison to the water each day, it will negatively affect its growth, or eventually kill it. I think our souls are the same way. If we nourish them with Godly thoughts/actions, they will grow in purity. If you add a little un-Godly things each day, our souls are negatively affected.
 
This is exactly true. With freedom comes responsibilities. If you were in charge of Cultural Exchange of the United States with other countries, what would you send them as the “best” examples of our culture? Britney’s latest concert, a copy of Grand Theft Auto, what about Porky’s or American Pie?

The “arts” have been perverted. Beauty is replaced by indecency. Profanity degrades both the user and the language. Endless sex jokes masquerading as “comedy”?

Over the last 30 years, Catholics have been gradually desensitized to sin. When things started, too many people said, “Oh, that’s not so bad…” But 30 years later, it’s really bad.

Catholics - stop poisoning your minds. Every thought should come into obedience to Christ.

God bless,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
This is exactly true. With freedom comes responsibilities. If you were in charge of Cultural Exchange of the United States with other countries, what would you send them as the “best” examples of our culture? Britney’s latest concert, a copy of Grand Theft Auto, what about Porky’s or American Pie?

The “arts” have been perverted. Beauty is replaced by indecency. Profanity degrades both the user and the language. Endless sex jokes masquerading as “comedy”?

Over the last 30 years, Catholics have been gradually desensitized to sin. When things started, too many people said, “Oh, that’s not so bad…” But 30 years later, it’s really bad.

Catholics - stop poisoning your minds. Every thought should come into obedience to Christ.

God bless,
Ed
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👍
 
edwest2 said:
This is exactly true. With freedom comes responsibilities. If you were in charge of Cultural Exchange of the United States with other countries, what would you send them as the “best” examples of our culture? Britney’s latest concert, a copy of Grand Theft Auto, what about Porky’s or American Pie?

The “arts” have been perverted. Beauty is replaced by indecency. Profanity degrades both the user and the language. Endless sex jokes masquerading as “comedy”?

Over the last 30 years, Catholics have been gradually desensitized to sin. When things started, too many people said, “Oh, that’s not so bad…” But 30 years later, it’s really bad.

Catholics - stop poisoning your minds. Every thought should come into obedience to Christ.

God bless,
Ed
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I don’t consider poisoning my mind. I consider it freedom. I would not send it abroad as the best but to just censor it and take it away is looking to the government to be our babysitter. While I don’t watch much tv, especially the offensive stuff, I want the freedom to do so. I am not harming you or anyone else by it.
 
KinseyMcGuire said:
Well, as a writer I am against censorship in all but the most extreme cases.
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In the end, how is this different from, “I am for censorship – as long as I get to be the censor”?

Everyone’s idea of “extreme cases” will differ.
 
Censorship is a poorly understood word, especially in the popular imagination. Most people have been trained to believe censorship is always bad, or only as something wielded by the government. Not true.

Self-censorship should be the most common example. It happens when an individual decides not to cuss and swear or use God’s name in vain even though he may want to. Or decides to avoid writing something that is mean or vindictive.

I’m sure most here have watched a TV program where certain words are bleeped out.

I’m all for criticising the government but nothing is to be gained by using gutter language. Cussing and swearing at your elected officials is not, in my view, a sign of intelligence but a sign of a lack of emotional self-control.

For Catholics - children should not be allowed to use bad words. And that list of bad words should be passed on to their kids as well. They don’t stop being bad once you turn 21.

God bless,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
Censorship is a poorly understood word, especially in the popular imagination. Most people have been trained to believe censorship is always bad, or only as something wielded by the government. Not true.

Self-censorship should be the most common example. It happens when an individual decides not to cuss and swear or use God’s name in vain even though he may want to. Or decides to avoid writing something that is mean or vindictive.

I’m sure most here have watched a TV program where certain words are bleeped out.

I’m all for criticising the government but nothing is to be gained by using gutter language. Cussing and swearing at your elected officials is not, in my view, a sign of intelligence but a sign of a lack of emotional self-control.

For Catholics - children should not be allowed to use bad words. And that list of bad words should be passed on to their kids as well. They don’t stop being bad once you turn 21.

God bless,
Ed
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I’ll censor myself by not watching the State of the Union address tonight.😃
 
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