Has the relaxed censorship of television gone too far?

1. 92

   iggy7117posted 8 years ago

   Has the relaxed censorship of television gone too far?

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2. 74

   prektjr.dcposted 8 years ago

   In my opinion, the lack of censorship has gone too far.The whole idea of censorship is to censor that which is inappropriate for general audiences.  The term relaxed being applied might be permissible, but it has been not only relaxed, but almost forgotten!  I am not one that might be considered a prude, but it seems as if there is little if any limit on content, language or overall acceptability of information that is on television these days. The children in my life are not permitted any television. We stick to videos, educational sites and even internet games over television.

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      Michaela Osieckiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Well, who gets to decide what is inappropriate or not? That's a very relative term and will be different for each viewer.

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3. 80

   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   
   
   Network TV starting "relaxing it's censorship" several years ago when it noticed HBO and Showtime along with other pay cable channels content were getting much better reviews by critics and taking home the lion share of Emmy awards each year.
   Secondly advertisers have made it known they want to advertise on shows that draw the coveted ages 18-49 demographic audience.
   Therefore you might have a show like "NCIS" be ranked #1 overall however a show like "Empire" which is #1 for age 18-49 is seen as being the show other networks will want to emulate.
   Young children and adults over the age of 50 are not the "prime" demographic. Their shows are usually on TV earlier in the day.
   For those with cable they also have the option of stations like "Me TV" where they show old TV shows from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
   There is also "Tuner Classic" which shows old Hollywood black and white movies. Odds are if you have 200-300 channels you can find something you enjoy in any given hour.
   When it's all said and done network TV is in business to make money.
   Should ever the viewing audience ages 18-49 show a preference for shows like "Happy Days", "Mork and Mindy" or "Columbo" odds are the networks would RUSH to produce similar shows.
   People vote with their remote.
   Having said that most programs will feature a screen stating "Viewer Discretion Advised" or list age recommendations along with content bullets spelling out this show contains violence, nudity, or "strong" language...etc

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4. 61

   fpherj48posted 8 years ago

   I will say, "Yes, I feel more often than not, they're much too relaxed!"   Strange you ask this question today since I thought about this very thing just a few days ago  as I was watching TV.  Frankly, I was taken off-guard & thought I had not heard accurately!   I was literally in shock as to what was said.  It was not late at night either, when we expect most all children are sleeping.
   
   I don't see near enough censorship, especially during what is "allegedly" TV Family time. I'm always wondering how much of this trash my grandchildren are hearing & seeing on a regular basis. I know their parents are very alert and do their best to screen what the kids watch.  However, no parent can be on guard 24/7 & everywhere,.  It's really a disturbing situation.
   
   True, eventually the world we live in now can & will expose youngsters to a lot we'd prefer they don't, but the "relaxed" censorship occurs earlier & earlier.

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      Michaela Osieckiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Family TV time has moved to much earlier slots in the day, prime time television is aimed at the 18-49 demographic now, certainly not kids.

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5. 70

   Aime Fposted 8 years ago

   The only thing that's ever made me think "holy sh*t, can they actually show that on television?" was a scene in Game of Thrones, and if people don't know they're in for some disturbing viewing when they turn on Game of Thrones then they're not paying enough attention (for the record it's my favourite show and I like that it pushes boundaries).
   
   I think with the ability to lock channels/programs and the rating systems and the viewer discretion messages, most content that requires discretion will receive it (and if it doesn't then again, you're not paying attention). 
   
   I'd be curious to know which issues people feel should be censored more.  Violence?  Sex?  Language?  Other content? All of it?

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      dashingscorpioposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Game of Thrones is a HBO show and just about anything goes on HBO, Showtime & STARZ cable TV channels. They're not bound by FCC network TV rules like CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. People pay a premium for stations like HBO. They expect edgier content.

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   Kim Bryanposted 8 years ago

   One only has to watch ten minutes of the American sitcom '2 Broke Girls' to see lax censorship breeds shows that are sorely lacking in a real plot and instead gain their ratings with shock value. For example, in the aforesaid show, I came to the conclusion the writers are attempting to see how many times they can toss out the words 'penis' and 'vagina.'  How is that good television?

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