Not to be disagreeable toward your honorable points; but, it isn't, "we".
It's, "them". :^)
"...there IS a market for such crud."
Unfortunately you're correct about that, alright.
*They* know it also; so, there's really nothing to stop 'em from continuing to spew the crap out faster than a *big* ol' honey wagon can pump it.
Still I'd bet no one posting to this thread --hell, to this website-- watches any of their junk, either.
Isn't that (not watching) recourse really the most rational way to deal with the scumsters & their filth?
"Some people -- a meager, vermin-ridden handful to be sure -- like this stuff."
Man I hate to say but it has to be more than a meager, vermin-ridden handful.
You looked into the lifeless faces around you of late?
They look *poisoned* to me.
"Fine. If they are enough audience for the advertisers to court, then let the market dictate."
I couldn't agree more, this deals with the very essence of freedom & our free market economy.
Then again when the free market does speak and the sleeze-balls are rejected?
Notice they only pop-up again down the line, and really IJ, that was my only point.
What's happening, I suspect, is much bigger than any of us realize and whatever the truth, it ain't pretty.
"If the networks are willing to subsidize such pollution just to promote their agenda, then so be that too. The stockholders need to know how their money is being spent and wasted, and that's perfectly acceptable too."
As long as stockholders make money we can expect no support from them. Faceless, "Institutionalized investing" has brought us that reality don'tcha think?
"However, I find that wrestling with a pig only gets me dirty and irritates the pig."
HA!!
True-true, gotta tell ya I'm one guy who'll get in the dirt if I feel it'll be fruitful toward promoting a sincere & good cause.
E-S: "The great falling away prophecied by the apostle Paul has established itself in spades!"
Yea, hopefully. ;^)
OTOH knowin's not controllin', either. ;^)
We all *know*, we all are (at this time, anyway) helpless to stop the buggers.
It pisses many good people off to have to wait around and probably suffer along with the scumbags when St.Paul's prophecies come true, too. Damn.
R4E: "I see the television networks as electronic drug dealers: With that in mind, this debate seems to offer two choices: 1) Shun the dealer until his business is unprofitable and goes away, or 2) Demand that he dump his lucrative supply of heroine and start selling Pop Tarts instead. Which strategy do you think will have greater success?"
Funny analogy; however, let's add a third choice here.
3) The general public will continue swallowing, unabated, Hollyweird's (& Wall Street, can't forget their complicit role) poison until one day they can swallow no more.
On that day the culture as we've known it will be dead.
This can & will happen if and/or when *they* [ever] outnumber *us.
Y'know some would say, R4E, we're damned close to point #3 too.
...& some say the *signs* are everywhere.
Good points all around. Therein lies the immense frustration I think we all have towards this issue.
The more I think about it, the more I agree with you. If the issue were an abortion clinic opening up in your hometown, the equivalent responses would be to either 1) speak out against it, or 2) move to another town. In that scenario, of course I’d advocate the first choice.