Media Indecency

Hababi · 06-07-2006, 06:10 PM

Media indecency hearings have been a talked about issue as of late...actually, namely, on tonight's PBS evening news. So, what do you think the role of government, namely the FCC, is in regulating decency on airwaves?

On one hand, I think that some provisions the FCC has are silly and outdated--what would be so bad about lifting the language restrictions? Is it really that terrible to hear the F bomb dropped on an episode of the Sheild, where it would be perfectly realistic?

At the same time, though, I cringe at the thought of the government having absolutely no role in regulating airwaves. Simply put, you would have televised executions. Fox would run evening shows of every bloody execution they could find. And I don't think anyone could say that'd be healthy for the public.

PerpetualBurn · 06-07-2006, 06:45 PM

What are the restrictions on swearing on American TV?

PerpetualBurn · 06-07-2006, 07:06 PM

At all? Or just within certain hours, like in the UK?

Hababi · 06-07-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

At all? Or just within certain hours, like in the UK?

At all. Well, for non premium channels. Stations like HBO basically do what they want. but for basic stations, never. Every once in a while a show will push it and include a shìt, or a network will air something like Saving Private Ryan uncut.

Reaganista · 06-07-2006, 07:29 PM

other stations run uncut late night movies

Quote:

So, what do you think the role of government, namely the FCC, is in regulating decency on airwaves?

I think the FCC should be abolished

Jharaski · 06-07-2006, 07:38 PM

I believe that the government really doesn't belong in determining what can and cannot be said or showed on television or radio. If I want to watch a show which says "bull****" then I should be entitled to watch it without having it censored or having to get the uncut series on DVD. The same goes with a movie. If I want to watch Titanic, Kate's breasts should show, and Leo SHOULD say "**** **** this water is cold!" and not "crap crap this water is cold!"

However, there should be some limit. Shows where swearing is not to be expected should have it blocked out, especially family and children's shows. If someone loses on the Price is Right (the game AND their tempor) I would certainly expect the network to do their job and not air that!

I do agree with TV ratings. But that's what they're there for! Why can't you say **** on a TV-MA show during the day? It's not like children aren't exposed to that anyway, but that's not the point. If you don't want your kids to watch it, use the V-cast. If you don't want to watch it yourself, then don't!

It is the role of the parents to decide what's best for the family. If the government needs to take over for irresponsible parents failing to keep their foiur-year-old from watching an uncut Saving Private Ryan or Tears of the Sun, then there isn't much hope anyway for that kid being raised properly anyway.
EDIT - to clarify for Tway, I mean a parent who DOESN'T want their kids to watch such shows.

If ANYTHING, the restrictions should be lifted after a certain time, which some stations like FX (I think) get away with.

Rounder · 06-07-2006, 07:41 PM

I don't mind government regulating telivision in general, But I do oppose them controlling what is said. A word is the same as any other word. in context saying aww damn is exactly the same thing as aw sh1t or aw fxck, and saying I have to take a poop is the same thing as I have to take a sh1t. Its just a word. The meaning is still there. I find it to be archaic, and kind of stupid. Nudity and violence, I really don't think I have a problem with the way it is handled now, aside from the bruhaha made over the airing of Saving Private Ryan a while back, and that was not due to government, but conservative bully groups. If you don't want your kids to watch what really happens in a war, turn off the damn tv or use that v-chip. I really have a problem with people telling me what I can or can't watch just because it offends them.

Reaganista · 06-07-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

However, there should be some limit. Shows where swearing is not to be expected should have it blocked out, especially family and children's shows. If someone loses on the Price is Right (the game AND their tempor) I would certainly expect the network to do their job and not air that!

I was with you until here

random profanity in children's programming should be encouraged.
****in kids

Quote:

V-cast

v-chip lol

Jharaski · 06-07-2006, 07:55 PM

[quote=The Tway]I was with you until here

random profanity in children's programming should be encouraged.
****in kids[/quest]

Hahaha. I do agree that swear words are just that - words. But I'd rather not teach little kids to swear in school and cause a ruckus. Though I wouldn't care if my kids swore around the house, as long as my wife / visiting relatives didn't mind, and I thought they would hold their tongue when they needed to.

Quote:

v-chip lol

I use neither V-cast nor v-chip, and merely mixed the names up.

Reaganista · 06-07-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Hahaha. I do agree that swear words are just that - words. But I'd rather not teach little kids to swear in school and cause a ruckus. Though I wouldn't care if my kids swore around the house, as long as my wife / visiting relatives didn't mind, and I thought they would hold their tongue when they needed to.

wouldn't be no ruckus if people had been getting called ****ing squirrels since 3 or 4 years old.

Jharaski · 06-07-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tway

wouldn't be no ruckus if people had been getting called ****ing squirrels since 3 or 4 years old.

Yup, but I'm not so sure that will change anything. I wish it would though.

Cain · 06-07-2006, 08:06 PM

At this point I'd say the FCC is holding onto the concept of "decency on television" by its fingernails anyway.

Jude · 06-07-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tway

I think the FCC should be abolished

Wtf I agree with you?

Personally I think parents need to do a better job supervising their kids and not blame the government. If they don't want their kids watching "dirty" TV then don't have them watch it. If the parents aren't around, the solution is simple, don't have a TV. If this would encourage people to watch TV less overall it would be a good thing. Every household should be like mine and not have a TV at all.

Against Miik! · 06-07-2006, 08:28 PM

Comedy Central runs some pretty racy movies uneditted late night on the weekends. I don't know what the penalties are for doing this however.

***Iskandar*** · 06-07-2006, 10:40 PM

The role of government in television is not to regulate at all.

A show intended for children could not have characters Dropping f-bombs left and right. They'd be afraid of the consequences.

Cain · 06-07-2006, 10:55 PM

Jude is exactly right. Governments can't parent for parents.

Seriously, I wonder sometimes if half the current population of children is a genuine accident. The way I see some parents treating their kids (in public, no less), you'd think they never wanted to have them in the first place.

***Iskandar*** · 06-07-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cain

Governments can't parent for parents.

That's my opinion on a lot of things. ...

Hababi · 06-07-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

The role of government in television is not to regulate at all.

Would you really be comfortable with that severe of an approach? Would you really be ok with the evening television featuring another round of The Most Brutal Executions Ever Caught on Film? Completely eliminating government restrictions would have averse side effects on society.

Reaganista · 06-07-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

A show intended for children could not have characters Dropping f-bombs left and right. They'd be afraid of the consequences.

not really

not that that's a bad thing

there should be ****ing on daytime TV

Cain · 06-07-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadway Danny Rose

Would you really be comfortable with that severe of an approach? Would you really be ok with the evening television featuring another round of The Most Brutal Executions Ever Caught on Film? Completely eliminating government restrictions would have averse side effects on society.

I dunno. The Japanese seem pretty okay, despite the massive amounts of hentai and Battle Royale all over the place.

06-07-2006, 06:10 PM	#1
Hababi Serenity Now Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 17,674	Media Indecency Media indecency hearings have been a talked about issue as of late...actually, namely, on tonight's PBS evening news. So, what do you think the role of government, namely the FCC, is in regulating decency on airwaves? On one hand, I think that some provisions the FCC has are silly and outdated--what would be so bad about lifting the language restrictions? Is it really that terrible to hear the F bomb dropped on an episode of the Sheild, where it would be perfectly realistic? At the same time, though, I cringe at the thought of the government having absolutely no role in regulating airwaves. Simply put, you would have televised executions. Fox would run evening shows of every bloody execution they could find. And I don't think anyone could say that'd be healthy for the public.

06-07-2006, 07:38 PM	#6
Jharaski No more lobster Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hillsborough NJ Posts: 3,447	I believe that the government really doesn't belong in determining what can and cannot be said or showed on television or radio. If I want to watch a show which says "bull**" then I should be entitled to watch it without having it censored or having to get the uncut series on DVD. The same goes with a movie. If I want to watch Titanic, Kate's breasts should show, and Leo SHOULD say " this water is cold!" and not "crap crap this water is cold!" However, there should be some limit. Shows where swearing is not to be expected should have it blocked out, especially family and children's shows. If someone loses on the Price is Right (the game AND their tempor) I would certainly expect the network to do their job and not air that! I do agree with TV ratings. But that's what they're there for! Why can't you say ** on a TV-MA show during the day? It's not like children aren't exposed to that anyway, but that's not the point. If you don't want your kids to watch it, use the V-cast. If you don't want to watch it yourself, then don't! It is the role of the parents to decide what's best for the family. If the government needs to take over for irresponsible parents failing to keep their foiur-year-old from watching an uncut Saving Private Ryan or Tears of the Sun, then there isn't much hope anyway for that kid being raised properly anyway. EDIT - to clarify for Tway, I mean a parent who DOESN'T want their kids to watch such shows. If ANYTHING, the restrictions should be lifted after a certain time, which some stations like FX (I think) get away with. Last edited by Jharaski; 06-07-2006 at 07:40 PM.

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06-07-2006, 06:45 PM	#2
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	What are the restrictions on swearing on American TV?

06-07-2006, 07:06 PM	#3
PerpetualBurn Like a greasy chip butty Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Highway 61 (again) Posts: 9,447	At all? Or just within certain hours, like in the UK?

06-07-2006, 07:41 PM	#7
Rounder Token Fat Guy Join Date: May 2004 Location: Panama City Beach, FL Posts: 1,499	I don't mind government regulating telivision in general, But I do oppose them controlling what is said. A word is the same as any other word. in context saying aww damn is exactly the same thing as aw sh1t or aw fxck, and saying I have to take a poop is the same thing as I have to take a sh1t. Its just a word. The meaning is still there. I find it to be archaic, and kind of stupid. Nudity and violence, I really don't think I have a problem with the way it is handled now, aside from the bruhaha made over the airing of Saving Private Ryan a while back, and that was not due to government, but conservative bully groups. If you don't want your kids to watch what really happens in a war, turn off the damn tv or use that v-chip. I really have a problem with people telling me what I can or can't watch just because it offends them.

06-07-2006, 08:06 PM	#12
Cain xenomorph may be involved Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 9,085	At this point I'd say the FCC is holding onto the concept of "decency on television" by its fingernails anyway.

06-07-2006, 08:28 PM	#14
Against Miik! Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Athens Posts: 18,264	Comedy Central runs some pretty racy movies uneditted late night on the weekends. I don't know what the penalties are for doing this however.

06-07-2006, 10:40 PM	#15
*Iskandar* Саша Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 27,053	The role of government in television is not to regulate at all. A show intended for children could not have characters Dropping f-bombs left and right. They'd be afraid of the consequences.

06-07-2006, 10:55 PM	#16
Cain xenomorph may be involved Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 9,085	Jude is exactly right. Governments can't parent for parents. Seriously, I wonder sometimes if half the current population of children is a genuine accident. The way I see some parents treating their kids (in public, no less), you'd think they never wanted to have them in the first place.