Media censorship?

[Aly]

Just curious on your thoughts about how much the media should censor, and when.

In this case, let's focus on TV--shows, movies, aired on TV.

Right now in the US, things are censored by the FCC if they are too "obscene" (which is hardly defined in the law--just try to look up the definition), and if they are considered too "obscene," whoever is responsible for letting it slip on the air is fined. Otherwise it's not allowed on TV.

One famous example is the Janet Jackson incident when she had a "wardrobe malfunction." Several fines were handed out to the stations of CBS.

It's no surprise, and no secret, that certain countries are far more conservative than others, so it will be interesting to see what everyone thinks! In the US, when a show is brought over from the UK, there is often a massive uproar over the content. (Skins, anyone?) From my experience with Canadian shows, it seems as thought the content isn't much worse than that in the US.

I'm curious as to what your views are about how much we should censor TV. Should we leave it kid-friendly most of the day, or is it up to the parents to tell their children when to watch TV and to block certain channels? Or, because of new technologies, should we be more strict on what we release to the public or less restrictive? Do you think what children watch affects their behavior?

My opinion:

SPOILER: Click to show

I think it's the parent's responsibility to censor their own children. There are plenty of blockers out there that are easy to use and inexpensive. My parents never used those for me, but they would use distraction tactics and help me memorize which channels were suitable for me, like Nick or Disney and Cartoon Network, ABC Family and Discovery, and so forth.

Any time I would stumble upon an unsuitable channel when I was little, staying up late and sneaking the TV on, I was never even interested in watching it. As I got older I strayed from cartoons and now nothing shocks me on the TV.

I am very much against the argument that says what we let our children watch dictates their behavior. I'm also proof to say otherwise. I've played violent video games since before I could read, I've watched scary movies all my life and I have never been in any trouble with any school or any law. All of my siblings are the same. In fact, the only reported incident (this was in my critical thinking text book called Ad Nauseum, which primarily focused on the impact of ads and was written in 2007) of children copying violent acts they witnessed on TV was because they were mentally ill, and not supervised by parents.

I think we should be less restrictive on content on TV. Sex, drugs and rock and roll won't be such a forbidden fruit if it's not so forbidden. As long as we educate our people well enough I see no reason as to why we should continue to shield them.

Of course, I think we should keep specializing stations. Children's stations are wonderful, as are ones specialized for adults. It does seem like, from what I've seen, things are shifting to be more station-oriented than time-of-day-oriented, but I'm not entirely sure as I don't have a TV eight months of the year.

Anyway. Those are my two cents.

What are your thoughts?

[gloria]

motto of my life; don't like it, don't watch it.

you get warnings, there are ratings so why not just use your noodle. I mean there are very little restrictions (i've been victim to falling asleep to a movie and waking up to not so child friendly late night ....things). I've also noticed a lax; Shows on cartoon network used the word 'pissed' (which isn't censored normally but it's Cartoon Network....) and now you can apparently say dick on TV. I've noticed little things getting more lax, but if a live show happens don't fine the station.

for the janet jackson incident, did they fine the venue for all those people that saw it in person? probably not.

There was also complaints of like a bedroom gossip show on nick that's the equivalent of Adult Swim. The complaint was they don't have an east coast channel so kids were seeing it. I say complain about the fact the kids shows got cut off, not what they are seeing. If that makes sense.

If uncensored porn gets air time, complete uncensored TV should get air time.
Just Sayin'.

[Ange Keating]

I completely agree with everything that has been said. It should be ultimately up to the parent to determine what his or her kid can or cannot watch. My parents were pretty strict with television shows when I was younger but after I got the sex talk, they started not caring. As long as I was educated, I could watch anything my heart desired (not like I do though haha). I also believe that trying to prevent kids from seeing things such as drug, sex, etc on television because it would 'screw' with their mind is a surefire way for teenage rebellion.

They get curious, want to try it out, and bam. It's human nature to feel an urge to do something people have told you not to do, so anyways.

Yeah. It's late, so this might not make sense, haha.

IN SHORT, I don't believe in censorship. The ratings before a show are there for a reason.

[Maddie]

I hate censorship and the argument that what we watch dictates how we're going to act. If your kids are that strongly influenced by movies, TV, etc. then you're doing something wrong in your parenting. It's just silly to me - half the time you know what's being said when a word is bleeped out, you know what's going on that's not being shown, so why hide it? If you're not mature enough to watch it then don't watch it.

That's probably a little blunt, but yeah...that's how I feel.

[gloria]

I have something small (and personal to add).

My parents are the opposite. My dad doesn't care what I watch (we watch the same shows like weeds, breaking bad, big bang etc etc) and then my mom treats me like I'm five. She flipped out when she found out I saw Black Swan at 16, watch Family Guy, and why Horrible Bosses was rated R when we went to see it.

When I stay with my mom I find myself resentful and restricted when we try to find movies to watch and it does make me isolate myself because I feel like I can't do anything. So I understand how teens with strict tv guidelines can rebel.

Then there is the other spectrum; The ones that get so timid and hate anything remotely bad and watch things like PBS 24/7 and repress the curiosity that usually grows when restricted which is another reason I'm against censorship.

*I'mma live in this thread now, I love it*

[Maddie]

I get what you're saying and I agree. I wouldn't say it entirely doesn't affect how we act but the fact that I like to watch my dad play Hitman 2: Silent Assassin doesn't mean that I am going to grow up and become a murderer. It can certainly have an impression on people, but in a more subtle way than murder on tv --> going out and committing murder for real.

Edit: I'd also like to add that I experience a similar thing to what Gloria's gone through. My dad tries to be really controlling of what I watch (he hates all my guilty pleasure shows and the shows I actually consider good) and I've really done nothing to resent that. Honestly, can I not have more credit than that? I know how to act. It's okay. I'm not going to go to band camp and have sex with an older drummer. I'm not going to be Barney Stinson. I'm not going to have a deaf baby who gets switched at birth. I'm not going to work for The Agency and kill people with fancy guns for a living. I'm going to enjoy some fiction and make the clear distinction between real and fake because I'm an intelligent human being.

[Aly]

Just clarifying my point on the mimicking on TV, Mikkay:
Obviously saying something is influential. But kids aren't going to find guns cool just because they watched Rush Hour. That's my only point on that XD

[bryony]

To a certain extent I think censorship is important. Protecting children from certain things is really important, especially as nowadays children are being encouraged and in some ways forced to grow up faster. There's a value I think in trying to kind of preserve their childhood. Being exposed to sexual images or whatever can make children feel the need to act differently and grow up faster. I'd hate that for my children to be honest. I'd want them to be free and innocent for as long as possible, and delay having to worry or whatever about sex and being scared or anything.

But then I think a lot of the responsibility should lie with the parents and not the television companies or whatever. My parents were always careful with what we saw, but equally didn't outright ban anything. It's really not that hard for parents to keep an eye on what their children are watching, but it's also important to talk to them about it.. So I reckon that daytime tv should probably be careful and maybe censored. I mean, in the UK there's a "watershed" time of 9pm, after which tv can be explicit and such, which isn't a bad idea I reckon. Children's tv channels are great, and definitely a good idea. So yeah. Censorship's a good thing, but also I think that parents need to take a good deal of responsibility.

[mercy]

Well a problem for me with censorship is that it is often done illogically and sometimes in a sexist way - in any case, a way that is not helpful but instead destructive. In the US, there have been quite a few cases where the woman having sex could not be seen to enjoy it - then it's R. Then it's porn to them. But if they're being subjected, well that's more accepted because really now women should not be thinking they're not dirty if they're enjoying sex.
In addition, there is that case where a documentary about bullying in middleschool is rated R so that middleschoolers WHO ARE IN THE FILM could not watch it. This is a movie about middleschoolers and how they are ruining each others' lives and they are not allowed to see it due to ratings.

Also, the fact that the US system raises hell and makes the ratings go up very quickly when nudity or sex are introduced but hey excessive violence that's okay. As if two people (or more, hey whatever you like) enjoying each others' bodies is more destructive to thought than two people (or more) wreaking havoc on each other.
This is a part of our culture, but the ratings system enforcing it certainly doesn't help it go away.

I will note that for films that getting it rated is optional, but you are more likely to gain a larger audience if it IS rated.

I find the ratings system in the US corrupt and in this case it should be thrown out the window and ripped ferociously into a billion pieces.

Also, once again - you pick what you watch. You pick what you show your kids for as long as you can, before they (like I did) find ways to go outside of your will and enjoy movies that matter deeply to thought not despite their explicit nature but also BECAUSE of their explicit nature.
But, of course, there is always a time for rebellion. And so until that time, do what you can to raise your children well because being exposed to violence or sex too early can have adverse effects and I understand that. Large concepts must come in time.