T.V. censorship in America

[jagged]

American T.V. I think is quite censored compaired to Japan and other countries other then the ones that Scary Dictators control. But other then that America seems to have the most stupid Censorship laws because you have the ability to control what television you watch and what your children see. So why so many complaints and is it neccessary or is it needed censorship?

Examples Tivo, Sattalite, Even cable can have control over what you allow yourself to see.

[ssjharsh]

If the world were perfect, then no, there is no need for censorship. It should be the parents' job to decide what kids can and cannot watch, and just because a few people are offended by something does not mean it should be censored. If many people do not like it, then they should not watch it, and therefore the show will become unprofitable, and thus will be taken off the air. However, most parents today do not have such control, since they are at work, and many times the kids know more about the tv or comp to get around any parental settings. Also, even if something is deemed unacceptable by the large majority of society, there will always be a few who have no problem with it. Furthermore, when you have a minority cornered on a topic, such as censorship of pornography during midday regular channels, that minority will become even more vocal and aggressive to ensure what they want gets done. On the other hand, many times there is a "silent majority" that want the censorship, but are not as vocal to the media (however, amongst themselves, a distaste will grow). Then, it is the duty of representatives of that silent majority to try to get what their constituents want. Even though some of America's censorship laws may seem ridiculous to us, there are always people out there who wanted that change.

[Tokoyami]

lmao, sorry but ive always wondered why they censor so much. Sadly some parents like to sue tv companies because a boob was shown on tv and there lil baby boy saw it. Instead of teaching that little boy not to watch those programs.

I beleive its because of the fear or parents exposing there kids to things. Also because of the parents ignorance and deglegence to teach there kids to handle things.

I once had a friend who couldnt watch looney toons. Because he hit his older brother in the head with a hammer thinking the older brother would just turn flat then pop into normal shape like in the cartoons. Sadly the brother ended up with a concussion for a week. lol, i no it sounds crazy but its true, no joke. So the mother banned him from watching looney toons. Instead of teaching him the difference between reality and tv.

A sad but true part of the so called "American Dream"

[Sahiden]

....I just hate the whole censoring thing...

[.:.:AzN:.:.]

HAHAHA, whacked his bro with a hammer! Anyway, true, tehy refuse to make tehm aware but to leave them ignorant.

[ssjharsh]

....I just hate the whole censoring thing...

yea, I wish there was less censoring too, but I mean everyone draws the line somewhere, as to what should or should not be shown on TV, because what is acceptable to show on TV often equates to what we are willing to accept in our culture and way of life. For example, let us say all censorship was removed... then what if someone put like violent sex or beastiality or something like that on TV. I guess you could say that it should be the parents' responsibility to make sure that their children do not watch, but then how do you explain to a 7 year old the concepts of rape or beastality? Of course, without any censorship, then things like this would be common. If people were as sophisticated and "advanced" as we like to think, then we would just turn off the tv until the corporations took it off the air. However, there are always people who will watch, and who will accept those things into their culture. So, some censorship has gotta be there.

[General Cox]

The censorship on British tv is ok i think, allowed to swear after 7 or 9, i cant remember which and pornographic adverts are allowed on after 11 or 12 i think (im not sure i dont take a note of when they come on :P), they do however still censor naked body parts, unless its meant to be there, ill always remember billy connoly dancing round trafalga square naked for comic relief, its not a good memory :P

its mainly based on, young children should really be in bed by 9 and even the older ones should be making there way off to bed about 11 (by older i mean about 12) and after that you should know about these things anywho. To be honest if a kid of 8 turns on the tv at 3 in the morning and sees porn, then it really isnt the networks fault, its the parents for not putting the parent lock on the tv :P

[Tokoyami]

Yea, its all because parents cant teach there kids right from wrong now a days. We need some censorship but that amount we have now is rediculus.

[Sahiden]

What's the point in cencorship if you have the Internet....

[sgb162]

I can basically sum up the reason and goal of cencorship in america in 8 easy words:

How does that make you feel about you?

[Sahiden]

Doesn't it seems a little like they actually try keeping people ignorant in America... Dunno. Censoring is at a minimum here in Belgium.

[Tokoyami]

lol, from what ive seen in this world, most people are ignorant. Close-minded, only open to things that within there knowledge, not willng to accept what thet don't understand.

But I dont neccesarily think they are trying to make people ignorant

[Mr_Jingles]

Censorship is stupid in my opinion... at least the part they censor is stupid.
Censorship always reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons where they show that guy from Fox network censoring everything in the book he's holding - even the bit where he laughs and stops abruptly only to say "no".

But if it's not bad enuf with tv networks censoring programs it's the manga industy as well. By which i mean the american company CMX - they need to be put down!

But like General Cox said, censoring here in the uk isn't all that bad - 9pm watershed for anything with violence or "of a disturbing nature". Even after around 6/7pm u get soaps and crap like that using swear words on the breif occasion. But anything with an adult content is left for after 10:30pm here in the uk. Which is fair enuf. But when u get some fat handed corperate gimp with his "CENSORED" stamper thats when it all goes wrong.

"oh no he said damn, best send a memo to the producer of that show to wash the actors mouth out with soap and water"

[jagged]

Ok I understand all your opinions but what causes this censorship to happen. Usually its only one group of people like mormans or christians or some extremist group that wants there to be censorship in our t.v. I can give a few examples of shows that have tons of swearing violance etc. One is Elfen Lied. (sorry if i butchered the name). I have the censored version and there's still blood everywhere nipples flying out of shirts and torso's and heads ripped apart. I wouldn't let a child watch this until he or she was about 15 years old. Besides if they really wanted to get it then they can get it themselves. There is the internet and somehow little kids will get to it if they want to.

[Mr_Jingles]

Ok I understand all your opinions but what causes this censorship to happen. Usually its only one group of people like mormans or christians or some extremist group that wants there to be censorship in our t.v. I can give a few examples of shows that have tons of swearing violance etc. One is Elfen Lied. (sorry if i butchered the name). I have the censored version and there's still blood everywhere nipples flying out of shirts and torso's and heads ripped apart. I wouldn't let a child watch this until he or she was about 15 years old. Besides if they really wanted to get it then they can get it themselves. There is the internet and somehow little kids will get to it if they want to.
Well unfortuneately, thats true why waste time on rules and regulations when it comes to internet - on there you are just an IP adress. But the thing is this censorship law is to try and supposedly stop violence and anti-social behavious in teenagers and what not by restricting them to what they can watch blah bah... thats utter crap. I dunno whats its like in the states but here in the UK ive been into places where they don't care if some 15yr old just but an 18 film - hell if the kid can't get them they'll pester their mum or dad into getting it so what is the figgin point? Everyone is different and the government who made up this crap seem to think they can go around pushing people into telling them what they can and can't watch - another form of control, but it doesnt work.

And then you have DC companies like CMX stucking their nose in and censoring Tenjou Tenge...ugh dont get me started on that.

[Tokoyami]

Well for the internet, its alot different, you can control what comes up on the screen, unlike Tv, on TV you hae to watch what is on each channel, you cant control whats on each channel, unless you have On Demand, or satilite channels.

[sinkinswimmer]

Well, I'm a bit tired and not about to trudge through the posts here to see what's been said. Here's hoping my point hasn't already been made.

If there are tv commercials telling parents that they need to be parents and know what's going on in their childrens' lives, then censorship has a place in society. If people would be parents, then yes, censorship would become a trivial issue. Since that is not the case, censorship is indeed necessary.

[Tokoyami]

i beleive thats completely true.