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Censorship on television.

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Kid__
Always Born a Crime
Kid__
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 6686
August 22nd, 2006 at 02:54pm
Okay, I don't know how many of you know, but today there has been talk of cartoons being censored because they have scenes which are considered 'unsuitable for young children'.
Tom and Jerry is the cartoon in question this time around and what is wrong is that in a few episodes, Tom (the cat) is shown smoking.
So I want to know what you think.
Has censorship gone too far?
Do you really think children are so influenced by cartoons that they want to do exactly what the characters do?
Should the people who censor our television programs be more worried about the violence, teen pregnancies and crime shown on shows for teenagers before the 9pm watershed or what happens in well-known and well-loved cartoons aimed at children?
assiralc talc
Really Not Okay
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August 22nd, 2006 at 04:29pm
(I hate to say this but) I agree with Chris Moyles. (If you don't listen to Radio One, don't worry....) Basically, he pointed out how stupid it was to complain about the smoking and ignore the cartoon violence. Tom & Jerry is based around the idea that in every episode the cat tries to kill the mouse in as many brutal ways as possible, but god forbid that one of them should light up. I think all the decapitating and blowing up would be more potentially harmful to children than a little smoking, but there you go.

Starr:
Do you really think children are so influenced by cartoons that they want to do exactly what the characters do?


Depends on the child, really. I never really liked cartoons much so I don't think I was ever influenced to act like the characters. Neither do I know anyone who emulates cartoon characters. But I do think the psyche is formed from early childhood experiences, so lots of exposure to cartoon violene could lead a person to feel it's acceptable to go around hitting their enemies with large inflatable hammers or something.

Starr:
Should the people who censor our television programs be more worried about the violence, teen pregnancies and crime shown on shows for teenagers before the 9pm watershed or what happens in well-known and well-loved cartoons aimed at children?


Probably, yes. Cartoons can be good vehicles for forming children into socially acceptable adults, so whatever message a kid's programme is giving out could stick with them their entire life. The Peter & Jane books (I think that's who they were, but they could have been Andrew and Mary for all I know) followed a typically sexist premise of its time; i.e. the boy is the decision maker and the girl is the passive second-class citizen with a passion for baking. Children reading about such characterisation might end up believing that their role in the world has been defined by those books and their message.
StonyPony
Jazz Hands
StonyPony
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August 25th, 2006 at 01:54am
I am not in favor of censorship at all.
I do not think that it is the government's business what people have to say. I think that people should decide for themselves what to view and not view on television, and that while some laws should be made as to which stations can show what (for example, some stations would not be liscensed for nudity, et cetera), it should be the people who make the decisions and not the government.
I do not think that viewing violence, smoking, drugs, et cetera makes people do those things.
the original JULES
Demolition Lover
the original JULES
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August 25th, 2006 at 07:16am
I believe that the reality in this situation is that children are easily influenced by anything that previews on TV.
Their minds can be compared to sponges; they soak everything up.

It's up to the parent/guardian to keep an eye on what their children watch.
If they're willing to let their children sit in front of the TV and watch whatever happens to be on, then they should be prepared for any consequences.

It's common sense as a parent, that you need to be responsible for your child's actions in some cases. I think this is one of those cases.
arsonist; edlaine
Shotgun Sinner
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August 25th, 2006 at 08:06am
I think that censorship should be implemented.

The television influence the kids too much.
Too much in fact that they want to live the screen.
Kurtni
Fabulous Killjoy
Kurtni
Age: 32
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August 25th, 2006 at 06:11pm
I think channels geared towards Children, such as cartoon network or Nickolodean obviously need to see the audience they are targeting, but ultimately, its the parents duty to monitor what their kids do, the rest of the world isnt responsible for making sure that your kid is sheltered from all the bad things in life.
biggest_mistake
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August 25th, 2006 at 06:39pm
Censorship is more annoying that anything, really. Kid channels I understand. Others... it just doesn't make sense and it's just annoying.
Kurtni
Fabulous Killjoy
Kurtni
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August 25th, 2006 at 07:08pm
Biggest_Mistake:
Censorship is more annoying that anything, really. Kid channels I understand. Others... it just doesn't make sense and it's just annoying.

Exactly, the rest of the world shouldnt have to protect children. PARENTS need to act like parents.
the original JULES
Demolition Lover
the original JULES
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August 25th, 2006 at 09:30pm

Okay, so here's a question:
What happens when children go to another friend's house to play, and they are watching TV. The friend is allowed to watch whatever, as their parents have agreed, but their visitor is not. What happens when something inappropriate is viewed?
ByeHalyconDays
Bleeding on the Floor
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August 25th, 2006 at 10:29pm
Our Avenged Jules:

Okay, so here's a question:
What happens when children go to another friend's house to play, and they are watching TV. The friend is allowed to watch whatever, as their parents have agreed, but their visitor is not. What happens when something inappropriate is viewed?


The parents can try to explain to the child why its wrong or why they don't want them to watch it. The parents should tell the other parents that they don't want their childern to watch that show.
Kurtni
Fabulous Killjoy
Kurtni
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August 25th, 2006 at 11:15pm
Our Avenged Jules:

Okay, so here's a question:
What happens when children go to another friend's house to play, and they are watching TV. The friend is allowed to watch whatever, as their parents have agreed, but their visitor is not. What happens when something inappropriate is viewed?

The parents allowed them to go over there didnt they? Whatever happens, they have to deal with.
Mud
Really Not Okay
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August 26th, 2006 at 10:11am
Where I live (Malaysia) censorship is ridiculous. All language and romance is censored, but even the most graphic violence is allowed to be shown in the middle of the day on most channels. And when I say "language" and "romance", I mean Bart Simpson saying something "sucks" or two people kissing. Its become a complete joke and by censoring it (usually badly), it only brings attention to it. But then in the middle of the football (which children, and wusses like me, may well be watching) they show adverts for horror movies with full-on blood and guts. I think in Malaysia there needs to be more censorship on violence and less on language and romance.

I do think daytime tv should have some restrictions. Parents can't be around kids all the time - and it wouldn't be healthy if they were. But I think that parents do need to take steps towards protecting their children - for example, I know on my tv you can lock certain channels so that children can't watch them unless they have the pin number to do so. That way parents can choose which channels they consider appropriate for their children to watch, but can also unlock other channels to watch with them or to allow them to watch on occasion.
MistressRhi
Motor Baby
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August 28th, 2006 at 11:59pm
^i agree with Mud, it is ridiculous what they censor and then they blatently let other things come through, like why censor cartoons and then have music shows on all day with clips like my humps....surely this is a horrible message to children but its completely allowable?

lol, all i can think of is the Simpsons when Maggie attacks Homer - wow now there's a paradox, a cartoon dealing with and making a message about cartoon violence...o.O
Kid__
Always Born a Crime
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August 29th, 2006 at 08:11am
You see that is exactly what I am trying to say.
In the Simpsons, Itchy and Scratchy beat the Hell out of each other. And it's usually way over the top. That is shown at 6pm every night here in Britain on Channel 4.
Switch to Channel 1 at 7.30pm or 8pm most nights and you will see Eastenders (a soap favored by many teens) where there are rapes, attacks, affairs, muggings, underage sex and drinking, drug abuse and often violence and murder. Every night the same characters are seen drinking in the pub at lunchtime, then going back to work and usually driving later in the show at some point.
I know they can both be over the top, but surely the second one should be censored more than the first should because it shows actors - real, living people - doing these things, but the first is only a picture.
Children may not have as much sense as teenagers, but teenagers are very impressionable as well. They can see these things happening on TV and insist on trying them out for themselves.
Kids are easier to control than teenagers as well, so if the parents don't like what their child has saw on TV or thinks it will affect them, they an turn the TV off or keep them inside and away from potential harm. With a teenager you generally don't have that option. Usually they either refuse to talk to you, or do things behind your back and without your consent and most have a TV or computer in their room, so it is harder to control what they are and aren't exposed to.
That why I think the censorboard should worry about shows aimed at teenagers and young adults more than it should about shows aimed at young children.
Mud
Really Not Okay
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August 29th, 2006 at 09:04am
Itchy and Scratchy are a sarcastic comment on children's cartoons, as well. They're meant to make you think about what you see, and made me think about it from a young age. (Or at least thats how I always construed it.)

I think that issues should be raised in programmes aimed at teenagers. But its important that issues are treated rationally. If you say "Oh my God these things are terrible! If you do them YOU WiLL DIE!" you're going to come off as preachy and no one will take notice. But at the same time, its important not to glamorise them or be overly sympathetic. Its a fine line.
The Nightbeast.
Salute You in Your Grave
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November 13th, 2006 at 11:49pm
I think that in the future, there should be a program or a chip or something like that where we can decide whether or not to censor everything and what to censor.
And you would be able to change your settings, in case you have a child and want to censor stuff out again.

Anyways, I dont agree with censorship.
Ive always looked at it as the parents fault if their child does what they see on televison.
bloodredruby69
Banned
bloodredruby69
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November 13th, 2006 at 11:56pm
Censorship is a double edged sword, I think.

If you want the security and safety of knowing that what your children, family and friends are watching is clean, wholesome and largely incapeable of influencing them in a negative way, you give up some freedoms as a price. Speach, thought, expression.

If you want to go totally uncensored, you get to see all the details and messages, as well as anything else the programing might hide, but you are more likely to be influenced by it, and are unable to control what your children watch and how it effects them.

Censorship is needed in day to day life, to a certain degree. But in excess amounts, you sacrifice rights to freedoms.

The only thing that I believe needs to be really censored is the news. Light to moderate censoring of the rest is for our protection and overall happiness as a group.
cocaine.
Shotgun Sinner
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November 17th, 2006 at 02:43am
Here on TV, it's not that bad.
I mean, they do censor some ridiculous crap out.

Recently, there was an outcry over a bank advert being banned, because a person in a rabbit suit, dancing around was tripped over by someone holding a broom.
ONE PERSON complained, and it was taken off air.

But then you have war docos, and people are like, "We don't need to ban this", but it's got a horrible amount of gore and blood. Like, you see someone have their leg amputated and things.
To me, that's what people should be censoring.
It may be appropriate for movies with MA and R ratings, but TV shows that have PG or M ratings, I think not.
dream brother
Jazz Hands
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November 17th, 2006 at 05:29am
apparently larry flynt discovered that in the states they dont have any form of censorship on political ads on tv
so he was going to run a bunch of ads which were basicly hardcore porn with him off to the side doing these radical leftie rants
this was about the time that he ran for president and is on the dvd on the people vs larry flynt
i think censorship is silly really people should have the option to choose what they and their family watches and if we wanted to censor things we should censor all he violence on the news and not some funny old cartoons
whitney.
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November 17th, 2006 at 11:57pm
I think cencoring is practically seperating us from the real world.
When they bleep out things, they make me feel like "Well, I guess they don't want me to experience the real world, and in the real world, everyone swears." It's only natural. Cept all the excessively religious people.