Censorship Is Not Solution for Trashy TV

Fox News ^ | 2/18/2004 | Wendy McElroy

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Janet Jackson

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From the article:

Passing a law has the same appeal as drawing a gun: on the surface, it quickly stops an activity that annoys you. But drawing a gun does not solve cultural issues: it only introduces force into them.

This should serve as a warning to "social" conservatives who support in a knee-jerk fashion the legislation of morality. Examples for children should be set at home - good parenting will result in kids being inoculated against media excesses, and our precious 1st Amendment liberties will be left intact.

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[TommyDale]

Censorship is not a solution, but boycotting sponsors sure works!

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Censorship is not a solution, but boycotting sponsors sure works!

Absolutely.

It worked regarding the CBS Reagan smear, and it can work again. MTV runs the Super Bowl halftime show next year? Change the channel at halftime and boycott all the advertisers. They'll get the message.

[EggsAckley]

I strongly doubt that the NFL will make the same mistake again. Heheheh.

[Notasoccermom]

Offer alternative networks, movie companies, radio stations, newspapers, magazines and let free enterprise win out. Support the positive and ignore the trash. Turn the channel or turn it off. It would be very helpful if we could get a comprehensive list of sponsors to boycott. Great project for an ambitious FREEPER!

[Thebaddog]

Censorship does work. It's just that everybody goes all wobbly when the name gets thrown around like a grenade. If JJ can't keep her boob under cover like any other mature woman with a minimum of good taste and class, she should be told to do so.

[pgkdan]

Independent television and radio stations may be silenced. This is especially unfortunate as the application of law is not necessary to remedy the offense.

The BDEA would increase the penalties for "transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language." Currently, the highest fine is $27,500 per offense. That maximum would be raised to $275,000 with an upper limit of $3 million for repeat offenses. Last Thursday, the Act was passed unanimously by a House of Representatives' subcommittee and moved on to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Increased fines are clearly in the air.

Good! I completely support harsh fines and a realistic threat of license revocation for stations that broadcast objectionable material. The airwaves belong to the public at large, not the broadcast companies and standards should be enforced. First Amendment arguements don't wash with me, we've always had limits placed on non political speech and have enforced deceny laws in the past. I'm sick of constantly giving in to those who would completely debase and trash our culture.

[Squawk 8888]

I strongly doubt that the NFL will make the same mistake again. Heheheh.

Exactly. And it isn't the threat of new laws deterring it.

[NYFriend]

"Murphy concludes, 'The bottom line is that broadcasters enjoy First Amendment protection.'"

Murphy's wrong.

[EggsAckley]

Yup. Laws have nothing to do with it. Except for the laws of the free marketplace. This years stunt really backfired on them, big time. LOL!

[Judith Anne]

I'm probably hopelessly naive, but I loved the marching band shows--they were awesome...

[secret garden]

I'm with you. It's pretty sad when the only place to avoid trash TV is The Animal Planet.

[gcruse]

Wendy is all over the word 'independent.' What's up wid dat?

[Dan from Michigan]

I agree.

I should mention that AOL considers gun rights porn......

[Dan from Michigan]

What happens in the name of 'decency' is TRASH.

I can just see a "President Kerry" appointed FCC commission censor Rush Limbaugh and others for 'indecency".

Power corrupts.

[Richard Kimball]

I strongly doubt that the NFL will make the same mistake again. Heheheh.

The NFL continues to put murderers, rapists and drug addicts all over the field. I find a Ray Lewis Nintendo commmercial a lot more offensive than the Super Bowl halftime. Of course, I turned the halftime off as soon as I found out that MTV was running it.

[LisaMalia]

This should serve as a warning to "social" conservatives who support in a knee-jerk fashion the legislation of morality. Examples for children should be set at home - good parenting will result in kids being inoculated against media excesses, and our precious 1st Amendment liberties will be left intact.

Nothing "knee jerk" about it actually. It's been building for years, and the peep show during the SuperBowl halftime show just kind of nudged some people.

I have no desire to censor the trash on MTV, Bravo and their ilk. I just don't watch it.

Here's the catch. When I pay my cable bill each month, I'm lining the coffers at MTV. Get rid of cable, you say? Ummmm, no. I have too many other stations I enjoy watching.

So, Hollywood, continue to put this garbage on, and hold me hostage to pay for it via my cable bill. I wouldn't want to tramp on someone's civil rights, by asking them to not produce and air soft porn on regular cable stations. I'll just sit here and protest in my own little way, by boycotting the sponsors. And I have a very long list.

[pgkdan]

I don't buy it. As objectionable as libs find Rush, they'd still agree that he's practicing political speech. The Super Bowl half time show...and half of what's on TV today is indecent and immoral. We have had a tradition of common morality in this country that has been completely corrupted in the last 30 to 40 years. I say it's time to bring back those standards.

[freeeee]

Censorship does work. It's just that everybody goes all wobbly when the name gets thrown around like a grenade.

Gee I can't imagine why, given the sparkling record of censorship and the charming people throughout history that have pushed it.