Bush signs broadcast decency law (1 Viewer)

[Stace]

WASHINGTON - President Bush signed legislation Thursday that will cost broadcasters dearly when raunchy programming exceeds "the bounds of decency."

At a signing ceremony for the new law increasing by tenfold the maximum fine for indecency, Bush said that it will force industry figures to "take seriously their duty to keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material."

For raunchy talk or a racy show of skin, the Federal Communications Commission can now fine a broadcaster up to $325,000 per incident.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060615...ZdOWC1YZ99xFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

I think this is ridiculous. We already have a ratings system and V-chips....are people too lazy to actually use the tools already at their disposal? If there's certain things you don't want your kids watching, block it....or better yet, get them away from the TV and do something WITH them! If you find certain programming offensive, you can block it from yourself, too. And there's that great thing called a remote that allows you to change the channel!!

More restrictions on what we can see on TV and hear on the radio? It's only a small step away from censoring the internet. How much control are people really willing to give the government over matters like this? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? There are so many resources available to us as consumers that allow us to filter the content on our TVs, radios, and internet....so why don't more people use them? Why try to push their standards on the rest of us?

 

[Blue Collar Joe]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060615...ZdOWC1YZ99xFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

I think this is ridiculous. We already have a ratings system and V-chips....are people too lazy to actually use the tools already at their disposal? If there's certain things you don't want your kids watching, block it....or better yet, get them away from the TV and do something WITH them! If you find certain programming offensive, you can block it from yourself, too. And there's that great thing called a remote that allows you to change the channel!!

More restrictions on what we can see on TV and hear on the radio? It's only a small step away from censoring the internet. How much control are people really willing to give the government over matters like this? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? There are so many resources available to us as consumers that allow us to filter the content on our TVs, radios, and internet....so why don't more people use them? Why try to push their standards on the rest of us?

They are not 'making new rules and laws.' They are going to start enforcing the ones that already exist, and drastically increase the fines to make them pay attention. 32,500 doesn't mean much to a major network. 325k means a lot!!
No, they are not changing the rules. They are simply going to make the networks abide by the rules previously set forward. You want to see crap like that, get the pay channels, like HBO and Cinemax.
But the so-called prime time? It should be as it always was meant to be. Family oriented.

 

[americanwoman]

I don't believe in any kind of censorship so I think this is complete bullshit!! If you can't watch your own damn kids or don't want to watch it change it or turn off that ****ing boob tube and get a life!

 

[Stace]

They are not 'making new rules and laws.' They are going to start enforcing the ones that already exist, and drastically increase the fines to make them pay attention. 32,500 doesn't mean much to a major network. 325k means a lot!!
No, they are not changing the rules. They are simply going to make the networks abide by the rules previously set forward. You want to see crap like that, get the pay channels, like HBO and Cinemax.
But the so-called prime time? It should be as it always was meant to be. Family oriented.

I never said that they made new rules and laws. However, you'd better believe that the networks aren't willing to lose money over this. And it's ridiculous. Just because SOME people don't want to see something on TV, doesn't mean the rest of us should have to suffer. If you don't want to see it, don't watch it, it's that simple!

I personally don't care if prime time TV is family oriented. I can guarantee you that once my son is old enough to even watch TV, we won't be spending hours in front of it. That time is better spent reading to/with your children, playing with them...spending QUALITY time with them, not zoning out in front of the boob tube, and the TV shouldn't be used as a babysitter, either. Parents need to stop being so lazy and actually spend some time with their kids.

Besides, who is the FCC to determine what is "obscene" and what isn't? It's the age old morals, values, and standards issue. Do I find sex scenes to be obscene? Only for children. Swear words? Not really great for children, but most of us swear in our day to day lives anyway, so what's the difference?

And I do have satellite TV, though we don't subscribe to HBO or any of that because we don't watch any shows on those channels. Most of the shows we do watch are on local channels; however, we can't even get those around here without subscribing to cable or satellite, so I'm already paying to watch the channels they want to regulate. And since I AM paying for them, I DON'T want them regulated by anyone but me or my husband. We can decide for ourselves what is and isn't appropriate for our family; why can't others take the same initiative?

 

[BWG]

It's getting close to November. Gay bashing, flag burning, decency on TV (everyone I've ever seen comes with an on/off button). Gotta round up the flock and herd 'em towards the polls. :wow:

 

[americanwoman]

It's getting close to November. Gay bashing, flag burning, decency on TV (everyone I've ever seen comes with an on/off button). Gotta round up the flock and herd 'em towards the polls. :wow:

oh yeah, all the real issue we americans are so damn worried about. :roll:

 

[Blue Collar Joe]

I don't believe in any kind of censorship so I think this is complete bullshit!! If you can't watch your own damn kids or don't want to watch it change it or turn off that ****ing boob tube and get a life!

Editted for common sense thanks to BWG> I don't care for insulting people, BWG. I come here for rational debate, and lost my temper. Thanks for getting me to calm down and not stoop that low.

I never said that they made new rules and laws. However, you'd better believe that the networks aren't willing to lose money over this. And it's ridiculous. Just because SOME people don't want to see something on TV, doesn't mean the rest of us should have to suffer. If you don't want to see it, don't watch it, it's that simple!

I personally don't care if prime time TV is family oriented. I can guarantee you that once my son is old enough to even watch TV, we won't be spending hours in front of it. That time is better spent reading to/with your children, playing with them...spending QUALITY time with them, not zoning out in front of the boob tube, and the TV shouldn't be used as a babysitter, either. Parents need to stop being so lazy and actually spend some time with their kids.

Besides, who is the FCC to determine what is "obscene" and what isn't? It's the age old morals, values, and standards issue. Do I find sex scenes to be obscene? Only for children. Swear words? Not really great for children, but most of us swear in our day to day lives anyway, so what's the difference?

And I do have satellite TV, though we don't subscribe to HBO or any of that because we don't watch any shows on those channels. Most of the shows we do watch are on local channels; however, we can't even get those around here without subscribing to cable or satellite, so I'm already paying to watch the channels they want to regulate. And since I AM paying for them, I DON'T want them regulated by anyone but me or my husband. We can decide for ourselves what is and isn't appropriate for our family; why can't others take the same initiative?

Stace.
I am in the same boat. The only way for me to get local channels is through the local cable provider. Rough living in the boonies, eh? I don't think most of this means a lot.
It will more than likely just affect from eight until ten, which are the so-called prime time hours.
I do agree with you that parents need to take a more active role with their kids, and the TV is a poor substitute. I didn't let my kids learn their morals from TV.
I am still picky about what I watch. Maybe two hours a day of TV? King of the Hill, the Simpsons, some news and the weather channel. Otherwise, NCIS maybe.
Well, I forgot about Deadliest Catch. I actually like that and Little People, Big World. That is the extent of my TV.
I couldn't even begin to tell you much about the rest of what is on the idiot box. Mainly because of the fact that I don't care for it, but I also don't really care if they took off most of the shows, either.
But the laws? Nothing new. Merely the latest fad going on. In six months, after the elections, you can safely bet that these newly 'enforced' laws, will revert back to the blue law status.
Until another election or Janet Jackson Boob expose.

 

[BWG]

edited out of respect for Blue Collar Joe. Nice goin' Joe

Come on man, we don't need that.

 

[Blue Collar Joe]

Come on man, we don't need that.

You were right. I edited my post to keep my self respect.

 

[jfuh]

Editted for common sense thanks to BWG> I don't care for insulting people, BWG. I come here for rational debate, and lost my temper. Thanks for getting me to calm down and not stoop that low.




Stace.
I am in the same boat. The only way for me to get local channels is through the local cable provider. Rough living in the boonies, eh? I don't think most of this means a lot.
It will more than likely just affect from eight until ten, which are the so-called prime time hours.
I do agree with you that parents need to take a more active role with their kids, and the TV is a poor substitute. I didn't let my kids learn their morals from TV.
I am still picky about what I watch. Maybe two hours a day of TV? King of the Hill, the Simpsons, some news and the weather channel. Otherwise, NCIS maybe.
Well, I forgot about Deadliest Catch. I actually like that and Little People, Big World. That is the extent of my TV.
I couldn't even begin to tell you much about the rest of what is on the idiot box. Mainly because of the fact that I don't care for it, but I also don't really care if they took off most of the shows, either.
But the laws? Nothing new. Merely the latest fad going on. In six months, after the elections, you can safely bet that these newly 'enforced' laws, will revert back to the blue law status.
Until another election or Janet Jackson Boob expose.

Decency laws lol, complete bull$hit. Sure swearing curse words and hard core pornography I can understand. But nudity such as JJ exposing a boob, that's nothing. Go to a meuseum what are you going to see? Nudity, there's nothing wrong with the exposition of the human body. In fact it is when you make a big deal out of it, making it seem wrong that's when there's a problem.

This country needs to get laid. Too many of the religious right is way too uptight about everything. They need to get that bug out of thier a$s.

 

[Stace]

Stace.
I am in the same boat. The only way for me to get local channels is through the local cable provider. Rough living in the boonies, eh? I don't think most of this means a lot.

The sad part is, I DON'T live in the boonies...not by most folks' standards, anyway!! I mean, honestly, I live 15 minutes outside of uptown Charlotte!!

It will more than likely just affect from eight until ten, which are the so-called prime time hours.

And the sucky part about that is, most of the shows I watch are on during that time frame!

I do agree with you that parents need to take a more active role with their kids, and the TV is a poor substitute. I didn't let my kids learn their morals from TV.
I am still picky about what I watch. Maybe two hours a day of TV? King of the Hill, the Simpsons, some news and the weather channel. Otherwise, NCIS maybe.
Well, I forgot about Deadliest Catch. I actually like that and Little People, Big World. That is the extent of my TV.

I don't watch a whole lot of TV, either. During the normal TV season, we watch The O.C., Smallville, and Desperate Housewives. During the summer months, we watch Rescue Me, but that comes on FX AND right at 10 p.m. anyway.

I couldn't even begin to tell you much about the rest of what is on the idiot box. Mainly because of the fact that I don't care for it, but I also don't really care if they took off most of the shows, either.

And I think a lot of people fall into this category....but heck, out of the shows I do watch, the sex scenes, swearing, and other such things have pretty much become a necessity to the shows, lol. I don't want the FCC squeezing the networks so hard that they stop showing it!!! I mean, the shows I do watch aren't exactly aimed at being family shows anyway, that's why I watch them....I don't want them turning into family shows!

But the laws? Nothing new. Merely the latest fad going on. In six months, after the elections, you can safely bet that these newly 'enforced' laws, will revert back to the blue law status.
Until another election or Janet Jackson Boob expose.

Excellent point.

 

[Blue Collar Joe]

The sad part is, I DON'T live in the boonies...not by most folks' standards, anyway!! I mean, honestly, I live 15 minutes outside of uptown Charlotte!!



And the sucky part about that is, most of the shows I watch are on during that time frame!



I don't watch a whole lot of TV, either. During the normal TV season, we watch The O.C., Smallville, and Desperate Housewives. During the summer months, we watch Rescue Me, but that comes on FX AND right at 10 p.m. anyway.



And I think a lot of people fall into this category....but heck, out of the shows I do watch, the sex scenes, swearing, and other such things have pretty much become a necessity to the shows, lol. I don't want the FCC squeezing the networks so hard that they stop showing it!!! I mean, the shows I do watch aren't exactly aimed at being family shows anyway, that's why I watch them....I don't want them turning into family shows!



Excellent point.

I don't think you'll see any changes in what is going on on TV at the moment. I think that the biggest thing you'll notice is...nothing. They simply won't push the envelope any further than current.
Otherwise, nothing more, as the precedent has already been set as to what is currently on is 'acceptable', although that would depend a lot on who you ask.
Thus, don't expect any changes. Literally. They'll stay just as steamy as they currently are.
And no, I don't want TV to go back to the old days where they showed mom and dad sleeping in seperate twin beds in PJ's my grandma would feel stifled in.

 

[Stace]

I don't think you'll see any changes in what is going on on TV at the moment. I think that the biggest thing you'll notice is...nothing. They simply won't push the envelope any further than current.
Otherwise, nothing more, as the precedent has already been set as to what is currently on is 'acceptable', although that would depend a lot on who you ask.
Thus, don't expect any changes. Literally. They'll stay just as steamy as they currently are.
And no, I don't want TV to go back to the old days where they showed mom and dad sleeping in seperate twin beds in PJ's my grandma would feel stifled in.

True, true.

I think a big part of my problem with this is it's just another "issue" in a long string of "issues" that have been coming up lately that are completely insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There are much more important issues Bush should be focusing on, like, oh, I don't know, federal spending, education...stuff that actually matters in the long run.

 

[Blue Collar Joe]

True, true.

I think a big part of my problem with this is it's just another "issue" in a long string of "issues" that have been coming up lately that are completely insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There are much more important issues Bush should be focusing on, like, oh, I don't know, federal spending, education...stuff that actually matters in the long run.

The election is months away, and I think this is just a token bone being tossed to the radical christian element. I emphasize the word radical. I am a christian, but not rabidly demanding whatever.
The closer we get, the more 'important' things that will get addressed. Right now, they are just doing the usual primary dance, to warm everyone up for the big night.

 

[MSgt]

Meh. Mere politics. In the grand scheme of things, it won't affect anything anyway.