RE: Ofcom Discussion
Remind me. Didnt Ofcom slam the Daily Mail for mounting a campaign against the X-Factor/Christine Aguillara show using photos that were not taken from the broadcast?
Independent report my arse. The head of the Mothers Union was only ever going to give one viewpoint.
Actually I half agree about sexualisation of young kids, what sane parent puts a 4 year old in a T shirt saying "Porn Star"? But how the fuck do you legislate against that? Introduce a censorship authority for clothing? Send a social worker round? Traditionally that kind of thing has been "policed" by peer pressure, against the parents and retailers, not the law.
Opt in for internet porn? Technically impossible for ISPs to enforce this. Computers are already sold with antivirus packages preinstalled, Google defaults to Moderate Safe Search, so also pre-activating adult filters on the antivirus when a new computer is sold doesnt sound so bad. There are plenty of innocent parents who dont have a clue what is on the internet and are not technically savvy. Id guess most readers of this web forum have at least basic computer skills, so we tend to forget what its like for some people.
But selling computers with antivirus parental controls preconfigured doesnt need legislation.
So Christine Aguillara was on the borderline of acceptability. It was actually acceptable then. No tits. No bums. No crotch close ups. Just leggy dancers in bodices. Hmmm. Interesting to see how anyone could frame a clear set of rules to allow the majority of dance shows but not dance shows with dancers in dance costumes. I see to remember a sequence from the BBCs Celebrity Come Dancing that ended up with a crotch shot of a hottie. Since it had been extensively choreographed that must have been deliberate. But its the BBC and they also featured mingers so that was OK.
Back to the point.
Enforcing the watershed so shows before 9pm are kid suitable? Had to argue with that.
Does that also mean that after 9pm grown ups should be able to watch shows that appeal to their tastes? Hard hitting police drama like Silent Witness, Wallander, Rebus, Britains Toughest Cops, Ross Kemp on Gangs, NCIS, CSI? Occult shows such as The Vampire Diaries, a History of Horror with Mark Gattis, Ghost Hunters, Psychic Interactive. Sex themed soaps (Desperate Housewives). Anything with Katie Price. Stand up comedy with strong language (Dara O'Brien, Lee Evans, Russell Howards Good News). Challenging adult cartoons featuring the strongest swearing by cartton children, racism, murder, theft (South Park). Historic drama with rape and buggery (Rome). Genuine serious injuries (24 Hours in A&E, The Real A&E). Swearing (Have I Got News for You). Gay innuendo (QI). State sponsored murder of war criminals (Nazi Hunters/The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich). Violent or scary films (Children of the Corn, Interview with the Vampire, Total Recall). Honest mainstream erotica?
Every single one of the examples listed above is broadcast at 9pm, almost all are on this week (apart from Rome and some of the stand up), and almost all is free to view on Sky. Apart from the last one.
If the MU/Government start talking about a gradual transition and extended watershed they will have to explain why it is OK to see men beating each other to a pulp and corpses on mortuary slabs but not sex.
Putting Nuts and Zoo in plain covers? Why? Define what constitutes a lurid cover without including most of the womens trash. Also the Sun, Star, Mail, Express and News of the World.
Apparently 6% of 9-16 year olds have seen pictures of people having sex. Er, yes, its called school sex education. Assuming that is not what the report means, and it excludes The Sex Education Show (specifically aimed at teens), there is huge difference between a 9 year old seeing sex and a 16 year old. It could be argued that occasional access to sexual images at that age is part of the learning process and avoids a dangerous overnight transition at 16. Ask older people and they will tell you teenage boys have always circulated porn at school, scout camps, etc. Its not new, its not dangerous.
The clue, I think, to the Daily Mails thinking is the phrase "It demands a return to the days when parents could be confident that programmes broadcast before 9pm would be suitable for the whole family."
Ah, the 1950s, when Dads all had short brylcreemed hair, Mums didnt have tattoos and there were no darkies. How the Daily Mail hankers for those days. Just dont mention THE DARLEKS.
Gone fishing
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