Profane Language On TV-Should It Be Allowed?

[Mitchell]

I was just reading an article about the William Shatner show, "Shit My Dad Says". Apparently, the show's writers are having issues with the FCC over what words are acceptable to use on TV.

The first show I ever heard a "curse" word used in, was "Dallas", back in the 1970s. As anyone who watched that show knows, people used to call JR Ewing a "Bastard" with regularity. Later on, women were referred to as "Bitches" in that show. In the mid 1970s, on the Starsky and Hutch TV show, the cops used to use "Damn" a lot.

So, my question is this: People say that profanity should be kept off TV due to the exposure to children. Yet, kids can see rated R movies with their parents, and hear the "F" and other words, all over the screen. I saw Saturday Night Fever when I was 7, and Grease when I was 8. Those movies were/are awesome, and they had plenty of profanity in them.

Is it a double standard to control cursing on TV, but to have every curse word in the book in movies, even if they are rated "R"?

Thoughts?

Mitch

 

[IrishTickle]

I always thought it made sense to just have certain language after watershed, usually 9pm. It's just common sense. You'll always get people complaining that even that isn't enough and that children could still hear it. But that's the parents responsibility. If you don't like it, change the channel.

I don't really see any reason to difference between tv and movies on tv (I assume you're talking about movies watched at home?).

 

[RosieCreek]

I think what would really be more tricky for parents are all the advertisements for things like erectile dysfunction and every other personal product you can think of. The first time I saw someone pouring blue liquid onto a maxi pad to see how much it could hold, I was really grossed out.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

It will eventually happen, regardless of what people think. I remember back in the 70s there was such an uproar over Newhart when one of the characters said 'Damn'.

Now, 30 years later you hear: Damn. Bitch. Ass, and this is even on prime-time 'family' shows.

I think in the next 30 years, we'll be hearing words like 'Shit' or 'Fuck' on Prime-time TV.

It's the evolutioin of television.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

I always thought it made sense to just have certain language after watershed, usually 9pm. It's just common sense. You'll always get people complaining that even that isn't enough and that children could still hear it. But that's the parents responsibility. If you don't like it, change the channel.

I don't really see any reason to difference between tv and movies on tv (I assume you're talking about movies watched at home?).

Back when I was a kid, HBO wasen't allowed to show 'R' movies until 8pm. Now you can find them any hours of the day.

 

[IrishTickle]

Back when I was a kid, HBO wasen't allowed to show 'R' movies until 8pm. Now you can find them any hours of the day.

Things are a lot different over here. There wouldn't been any excessive profanity before 9pm. I can't imagine that changing anytime soon.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

Things are a lot different over here. There wouldn't been any excessive profanity before 9pm. I can't imagine that changing anytime soon.

Well I can't speak for Ireland, but here even on the 'family' shows you hear bitch and ass.

Every generation seems to go deeper into the toliet than the one before, it seems.

I forsee in the future (perhaps not in my lifetimes) you'll be seeing full-blown sex-scenes on network TV.

 

[Mitchell]

Irish, when I say "movies", I mean ones in the theater, not on TV.

I dont know how it is over there, but, in America, if a movie that had been shown in the theater, and that has excessive profane language, is shown on regular TV channels, that isnt a premium channel like HBO, the movie is edited for content, and all the words like "Fuck" are edited out. Such is why, unless I have seen a movie already in the theater, I wont watch movies that have been shown in the theater, on regular TV, because they may edit out scenes or lines containing swear words.

They dont make too many TV movies in America anymore, not like they used to on the major networks in the 80s. Most TV movies are on Lifetime, Family Channel, and the premium channels, and, depending on the channel, may or may not include mild swear words that aren't the "F" word, etc.

Mitch

 

[usgrant]

I read the bible once a year, I believe in a higher power, I am somewhat amazed how teen-age girls and young women throw around obscenities...That being said, who gives a fuck. After say 10pm, up until maybe 5AM you should be able to say whatever you want on TV or Radio. This country is still too puritanical. I just don't think children should be exposed to that crap, that is the why of my time frame

 

[Artoo]

They're just words. Why should it matter so much?

 

[c7_assassin]

The way I've heard it told, the only reason we have any legal restrictions on what can be said on TV is because back in the day, there were only a few TV channels in existence, so people couldn't exercise much choice in what they watched. Therefore the content had to be regulated in order to uphold public decency.

Nowadays? If parents have a concern about what their kids are watching, they can change the channel. More control than that is just the government deciding that you're too lazy and incompetent to babysit your children.

And if anyone has a problem with this argument, you need to explain why it's one thing to regulate the words you can use on TV, but another thing to regulate the words you can read in print. Kids still have access to bookstores and public libraries, after all.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

They're just words. Why should it matter so much?

And parents are always saying 'It's not the Government's business to raise my children'. So let the parents program their TV's V-Chip and they can moniter and censor it to their hearts content.

 

[Leo tickles]

Yeah, they should be allowed.

Most everybody knows the cuss words anyways, and if not, they'll pick it up from school anyhow. It takes one bad parent to say a bad word, then one kid to repeat it, soon enough, everybody is saying it.

So, TV, movies? Yeah, let them say whatever the fuck they want.

 

[Goodieluver]

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[Texas_Tickle]

More control than that is just the government deciding that you're too lazy and incompetent to babysit your children.

And therein lies the problem. Too many parents ARE too lazy to be parents and want 'society' to raise their kids for them, since they can't be bothered to be parents, themselves.

 

[sasaxrah]

I am much more concerned about the crazy amount of violence on TV. That's much more detrimental to children.

 

[Goodieluver]

I am much more concerned about the crazy amount of violence on TV. That's much more detrimental to children.

1. There is no proof or correlative data in regards to violence in media and teens being violent. Sadly to site a trash producer(michael moore) who interviewed Marylin Manson regarding his music and KMFDM inspiring the columbine shootings "I wouldn't say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say, and thats what no one did" Its that belief that violent media breeds violence and that stigma is how we get TRAVESTIES of justice in the jailing of the West Memphis Three
2. Most of the serial killers, and psychopaths came out from the "conservative" media age of the 40s-60s when you had "good wholesome" television like leave it to beaver or other family oriented shows. If people want to make an argument over violent media causing violence now, I can make an argument that repressive lifestyles and unobtainable family homes caused people to snap and rebel against that fallacy
3. There is more violence in the news both print and televised that should be worried about
4. Oh hell, i'll post what i referenced in number 1
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P27cnBizD7U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P27cnBizD7U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[sasaxrah]

1. There is no proof or correlative data in regards to violence in media and teens being violent. Sadly to site a trash producer(michael moore) who interviewed Marylin Manson regarding his music and KMFDM inspiring the columbine shootings "I wouldn't say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say, and thats what no one did" Its that belief that violent media breeds violence and that stigma is how we get TRAVESTIES of justice in the jailing of the West Memphis Three

I didn't mean to say that watching violence inspires other violence. I just think it's inappropriate for a little kid to watch rape and murder, and grow to think that it's not that big of a deal. When I was 5, my babysitter let me watch an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" with a violent murder on it. I had nightmares and fear before going to bed for years. Sure, blame my babysitter for poor judgment. But the massive amount of violence can't be good to watch, and it's reasonable to assume that kids will see it since it's everywhere.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

1. There is no proof or correlative data in regards to violence in media and teens being violent. Sadly to site a trash producer(michael moore) who interviewed Marylin Manson regarding his music and KMFDM inspiring the columbine shootings "I wouldn't say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say, and thats what no one did" Its that belief that violent media breeds violence and that stigma is how we get TRAVESTIES of justice in the jailing of the West Memphis Three
2. Most of the serial killers, and psychopaths came out from the "conservative" media age of the 40s-60s when you had "good wholesome" television like leave it to beaver or other family oriented shows. If people want to make an argument over violent media causing violence now, I can make an argument that repressive lifestyles and unobtainable family homes caused people to snap and rebel against that fallacy
3. There is more violence in the news both print and televised that should be worried about
4. Oh hell, i'll post what i referenced in number 1
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P27cnBizD7U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P27cnBizD7U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Parents far too often look to blame the media because it's easier than blaming themselves or Snowflake/Junior

 

[Libertine]

I remember a BBC advert years ago about strong language on TV- a police chase culminating in a violent arrest. During the struggle and handcuffing the large black criminal bellowed in a a Prince Charles accent, 'I shawn't forget this in a hurry, naughty Mr. Policeman!', after which the narration went on to say that dialogue must have a certain degree of realism, tempered by the time of day the program containing it is shown.

I agree- otherwise TV re-evokes those episodes of 'I Love Lucy' or 'The Dick van Dyke Show', which featured the married lead couples in their chaste twin beds, separated by night-tables.

 

[Goodieluver]

I didn't mean to say that watching violence inspires other violence. I just think it's inappropriate for a little kid to watch rape and murder, and grow to think that it's not that big of a deal. When I was 5, my babysitter let me watch an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" with a violent murder on it. I had nightmares and fear before going to bed for years. Sure, blame my babysitter for poor judgment. But the massive amount of violence can't be good to watch, and it's reasonable to assume that kids will see it since it's everywhere.

And did watching that ep cause any long term damage or emotional growth problems in you?

 

[Ticklish9's]

Censorship is fucking stupid.

Kids hear worse at home and at school every day. Words have no more power than we give them.

And censoring sex only contributes to the bizarre hangups our society has.


Fuck censorship.

 

[usgrant]

I just want to keep a lot of that stupid shit off television, early hours because of kids. Yet we do monitor a lot of obscene content such as Jerry Springer, MSNBC and CNN.