S66 2-4-1 : Discussion & Chat

(16-10-2011 00:46 )vila Wrote:  

(11-10-2011 22:49 )aceman65 Wrote:  2-4-1's arn't banned. It's just that Ofcom have placed such ridiculously heavy restrictions on them, that they are virtually unworkable. As no physical contact is to be made between them whilst on screen.

Not unless they've said something beyond the last comment I've seen from them.

That was one of their occasional rule interpretation reminders which listed several practices which are unacceptable in any circumstances and added a final item saying that certain types of girl/girl contact carried a "high risk" of running foul of their 'Generally Accepted Standards' non-definition. They quite specifically didn't say those things were banned and it's quite evident from some of what I've seen since that the channels understand this but seem to have decided not to take any risk unless they think it's in their interest to do so (e.g. a certain channel's relentless promotion of its encrypted so-called "porn channel").

All that clarification notice says to me is that the channels need to be careful not to overdo it. Since the rule and its interpretation have been in force for a considerable period of time during which a great deal of 2-4-1 content has been shown without any challenge fron Ofcom I really don't understand the channels' knee-jerk reaction.

Its odd that Ofcom say GG interaction risks widespread offence. This seems to be blatant antigay discrimination - they would not say that its offensive for a man and a woman to snog, otherwise the entire James Bond genre would have to be banned. And its OK for two men to snog in family soaps. What makes it even more odd is that their own detailed study into public attitudes supported the same rules for gay and straight and did not object to kissing.

Ofcom are making it up.