Ofcom Discussion

(08-06-2012 22:35 )dan g 27 Wrote:  So from what I can gather, the only hope to end the censorship is a change of leadership at Ofcom, but not get rid of Ofcom. Am I right in saying that?

Couldnt agree more. There is a case for saying there is no taste and decency regulator for papers and magazines, so why have one for TV now there are 1000 channels. (The PCC deals with privacy and defamation type cases, not general matters like racism, sex stories in the Daily Mail or topless birds in The Sun). But it isnt going to happen. Probably.

Realistically if Ofcom is abolished it will only be replaced with some other TV regulation body under a different name. A TV only regulator might be the worst of all worlds as it would have nowhere else to show its credentials. At least Ofcom also deals with phone contracts and frequency allocation to phone companies so TV regulation is a fraction of what they do.

What might work would be better democratic credentials, though that would attract headline grabbers. OK, what would work better would be a Content Board and full Board with decent credentials as creatives, not university academics, journalists and civil servants who wrote the legislation. And better evaluation of public opinion. And not taking single complaints and pressure groups seriously.

That comes under reform, not replacement.

What ofcom fails to realise,is that censorship is simply self defeating.
All it does is create a society which is unable to exercise It's own discretion,to quote Clare Booth Luce; "Censorship like charity,should begin at home,but unlike charity,it should end there".
So as a adult,I am unable to make my own viewing choices for fear of harming/corrupting those around me,I can drink myself to death with copious amounts of cheap booze,intoxicate my body with nicotine,vote for corrupt politicians to control my every action,but I am unable to view adult models uncensored on a adult television platform???
I'll end my rant for the night with a quote from E.M FORSTER; We are willing enough to praise freedom when she is safely tucked away in the past and cannot be a nuisance.
In the present,amidst danger whose outcome we cannot foresee,we get nervous about her,and admit "CENSORSHIP"

How quickly does Ofcom respond if a complaint is made? Say for example a person sees something they don't like on the TV, that is offensive to them and they called Ofcom to let them know. Would Ofcom immediately alert the channel in question and tell them off, or would they get to it eventually?

This is in no way related to my post about Elite, Caty and the texting pics. I would never complain about ANY of the channels!

I just am curious as to how quickly Ofcom alerts a channel if an immediate complaint is made.

Sometimes I see some great sessions on these channels, and all is fine, then out of nowhere the women are quickly tamed and told to cool down, almost as if someone in the studio has taken notice and doesn't like it (Higher producer?), or as if Ofcom has called a studio to let them know a complaint has been made.

Is it that immediate for the babe channels? If someone called in and complained, could a great session be tamed within a half hour because of a simple phone call to Ofcom?

I should know this already, but I thought the process was a bit longer and that Ofcom mostly responded to letters/emails.

I doubt that Ofcom have night staff. A complaint would probably not even be read until the next working day. A nervous senior producer seems far more likely.

Well did anyone see David Cameron getting questioned at the Leverson inquiry? Well I was at work at the time but during my lunch, I was listening to the part when the PM said that there were complaints from itv bbc and others about Ofcom getting to big and to powerful since they took over from there predecessors which was the ITC.
Now the PM mentioned that he wanted to deregulate Ofcom in so many words, however he said that this legislation was put through, but it somehow slipped through the cracks due to having a coalition government i.e. the liberal democrats, though he never said directly, however he was clearly referring to the Lib Dems being the reason Ofcom hasn't been dealt with. As I've mentioned I only heard this during my lunch while at work, so please forgive me if I didn't get everything word for word, but at least you get the gist of what I'm saying.
So I guess it begs the question if the Liberal Demorcats are the Stumbling block to all of this, then does anyone no the reasons why? And what happens next?

(15-06-2012 02:31 )continental19 Wrote:  Well did anyone see David Cameron getting questioned at the Leverson inquiry? Well I was at work at the time but during my lunch, I was listening to the part when the PM said that there were complaints from itv bbc and others about Ofcom getting to big and to powerful since they took over from there predecessors which was the ITC.
Now the PM mentioned that he wanted to deregulate Ofcom in so many words

One thing I did se on a documentary the other days was Cameron's original speech in which he said he was going to strip Ofcom of some of its powers. Some here have castigated him for going back on his promise however, far be it from me to stick up for this dreadful government, but he did say quite specifically that its over-all regulation of the industry was to be the power that it would lose, but that it would retain its responsibility for monitoring television content.

(15-06-2012 22:32 )Tonywauk Wrote:  One thing I did se on a documentary the other days was Cameron's original speech in which he said he was going to strip Ofcom of some of its powers. Some here have castigated him for going back on his promise however, far be it from me to stick up for this dreadful government, but he did say quite specifically that its over-all regulation of the industry was to be the power that it would lose, but that it would retain its responsibility for monitoring television content.

Hmmm fair point Tony, I see what you're saying.

(06-06-2012 16:53 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  Some people may have viewed my comments as somewhat controversial but yes I had a feeling that perhaps it might provoke a strong reaction. Just to reiterate I am not a racist or a bigot, but the way television and media is currently being regulated is biased towards the groups which I've mentioned.

Ofcom also has a serious mistrust of the parents/guardians the right to protect their children. Despite all the safety measures currently in place Ofcom still want to control what they deem what is suitable and unsuitable viewing.

Agreed this country has turned out to be far too much PC. Now if people think I am well wide of the mark then here is just an example of the the International SKY EPG Channels available with TV5 Monde being the exception as the only European channel available. Where are all the dozens of German, French, Polish, Spanish channels etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_channels_on_Sky

I am not for one minute blaming these groups but they do have a certain amount of people who will knowingly complain to Ofcom about content that offends them which Ofcom will pander to far too quickly rather than defending the British values and way of life because it offends their moral puritanical ways of thinking.

The right to be offended is exactly what democracy brings with it. I ofcourse don't give a damn what is broadcast on the Religious or Asian Channels because I don't watch them. They serve me no purpose in the same manner that an Adult orientated channel should serve them no purpose either.

Why then despite all this Ofcom still feel it necessary to throw their weight around when it comes to the Adult section of the EPG. Why is the vagina deemed so offensive that not even those who are watching the channels are allowed to view it. We can't even see a decent girl on girl show either.

I also accept that the UK isn't the only country is Europe that caters for an ethnic minority, as having visited Germany last year they also have the same influx that this country has, the only exception being is that they haven't turned into the PC country which the United Kingdom has turned into.

Some people like to refer to this country as Great Britain but the great was lost a very long time ago

YES my argument all along,,why is the vagina offensive..What grounds do they have to ban the vagina..They allow everything else on UK tv except a vagina..Its so taboo and rape is on the up and i always accuse ofcom in promoting rape witheir sexist fucking attitudes every time i write..My goodness twitter went mad when they showed that penis on Embarrassing Illnesses,the man stood up pulled his pants down pulled backed his foreskin and had camera shot right down his urethra at 8.05pm..Other vagina that night consisted of 2 uploaded photos..17 complaints were made but utter disgust at channel 4 indecency before the watershed was rife round my neck of woods and twitter..It would have been explicit after the watershed...Ofcom does what it always does and shoves complaints under the carpet..

So oftwats what do you 800 staff with 67K salaries and upwards do 40hrs every week to earn that extortionate amount when everywhere else is been shutdown..I fucking hate the c@nting lot of them and they all shuold be up for fraud for FIDDLING THE FIGURES..Fraud is taken very,very seriously and ed richtwat should be in prison for fiddling and lying at what expenses it saves the government when they are all LIES..

Have written to Graham Howell to make a complaint against ofcom as he is the bloke to write to to do this...No reply yet so going to see whats next and i think its court of human rights.This sexist act has gone on for to fucking long..Ofcom need to have a valid anser as to why the most harmful thing in existance is female genatalia..

(16-06-2012 12:23 )fedup Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 16:53 )Scottishbloke Wrote:  Some people may have viewed my comments as somewhat controversial but yes I had a feeling that perhaps it might provoke a strong reaction. Just to reiterate I am not a racist or a bigot, but the way television and media is currently being regulated is biased towards the groups which I've mentioned.

Ofcom also has a serious mistrust of the parents/guardians the right to protect their children. Despite all the safety measures currently in place Ofcom still want to control what they deem what is suitable and unsuitable viewing.

Agreed this country has turned out to be far too much PC. Now if people think I am well wide of the mark then here is just an example of the the International SKY EPG Channels available with TV5 Monde being the exception as the only European channel available. Where are all the dozens of German, French, Polish, Spanish channels etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_channels_on_Sky

I am not for one minute blaming these groups but they do have a certain amount of people who will knowingly complain to Ofcom about content that offends them which Ofcom will pander to far too quickly rather than defending the British values and way of life because it offends their moral puritanical ways of thinking.

The right to be offended is exactly what democracy brings with it. I ofcourse don't give a damn what is broadcast on the Religious or Asian Channels because I don't watch them. They serve me no purpose in the same manner that an Adult orientated channel should serve them no purpose either.

Why then despite all this Ofcom still feel it necessary to throw their weight around when it comes to the Adult section of the EPG. Why is the vagina deemed so offensive that not even those who are watching the channels are allowed to view it. We can't even see a decent girl on girl show either.

I also accept that the UK isn't the only country is Europe that caters for an ethnic minority, as having visited Germany last year they also have the same influx that this country has, the only exception being is that they haven't turned into the PC country which the United Kingdom has turned into.

Some people like to refer to this country as Great Britain but the great was lost a very long time ago

YES my argument all along,,why is the vagina offensive..What grounds do they have to ban the vagina..They allow everything else on UK tv except a vagina..Its so taboo and rape is on the up and i always accuse ofcom in promoting rape witheir sexist fucking attitudes every time i write..My goodness twitter went mad when they showed that penis on Embarrassing Illnesses,the man stood up pulled his pants down pulled backed his foreskin and had camera shot right down his urethra at 8.05pm..Other vagina that night consisted of 2 uploaded photos..17 complaints were made but utter disgust at channel 4 indecency before the watershed was rife round my neck of woods and twitter..It would have been explicit after the watershed...Ofcom does what it always does and shoves complaints under the carpet..

So oftwats what do you 800 staff with 67K salaries and upwards do 40hrs every week to earn that extortionate amount when everywhere else is been shutdown..I fucking hate the c@nting lot of them and they all shuold be up for fraud for FIDDLING THE FIGURES..Fraud is taken very,very seriously and ed richtwat should be in prison for fiddling and lying at what expenses it saves the government when they are all LIES..

Have written to Graham Howell to make a complaint against ofcom as he is the bloke to write to to do this...No reply yet so going to see whats next and i think its court of human rights.This sexist act has gone on for to fucking long..Ofcom need to have a valid anser as to why the most harmful thing in existance is female genatalia..

Well if the vagina was allowed to be shown, wouldnt the girls want to do more than just show? That would be the problem ofcom would have.

(16-06-2012 12:23 )fedup Wrote:  ...
YES my argument all along,,why is the vagina offensive..What grounds do they have to ban the vagina..They allow everything else on UK tv except a vagina
...

Technically inaccurate.
If you check the 'Mainstream TV nudity vs babeshow nudity' thread you'll see that vaginas are allowed on UK tv, they are often displayed on the same show you mention, Embarrassing Illnesses, as well as elsewhere. The place they are not allowed is on the babeshows (more specifically it seems it is frowned upon when shown in an openly sexual context).