PlaneShift
Fan Area => The Hydlaa Plaza => Topic started by: Fantasyfiend on December 01, 2003, 10:20:20 pm
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I guess I should warn everyone before hand, that what I\'m about to say is a long drawn out rant. If you don\'t want to be brought down by it, you might want to leave. Sorry for wasting what little time it took to load and read this far.
I have to tell -someone- about this loathsome thing. No matter who I talk to in \"RL\", they don\'t seem to comprehend the vile stranglehold their in. I watch EmptyV, and all I see is the twisted filth of collectively foul minds. If you haven\'t figured it out thus far, I will break it down.
I hate television.
God, it disgusts me how someone like Britney Spears and Madonna can suck face at an award show and become more popular. I cannot. Cannot . Understand, why you would have someone randomly enter your room. For what? So they can judge by your living conditions if they would date you?! Queer Eye For the Straight Guy; doesn\'t it strike anyone else as rude, or even disgusting, how people (A) Assume that homosexuals are good dressers, and (B) Dictate what they should, or shouldn\'t wear? This is America, you have a right to dress like a slob. Exercise it.
Jesus, how long has Howard Stern been on the air? He\'s married and he lives like any single pervert I know. Eminem. Slim Dorky. A tongue as venomous as that just about deserves to be removed. And his stupidity dwarves that even further. Comments by him about how \"joking\" about rape, murder, and gang-bangs are okay -if joking-. It doesn\'t end.
The Band, Hell on Earth, were going to publicize a suicide. Then, claimed it to be in a secluded place. Anyone sick enough to watch another person throw their life away, and find entertainment from it deserves to be cast off to a much more horrific death for being so unforgivably sick. Christ, it almost makes Maralyn Manson look decent (I won\'t even get started on that one.)
Even commercials. Axe Body Spray. Depicting \"man\" as a so-called gentlemen with a sick horn-dog sex-freak waiting to jump out. True. Humans as animals are not above dirty pleasures of the flesh, but with that kind of crap being forced into everyone\'s mind, is it any wonder AIDS is such a killer? It\'s the same thing with another cologne, whose name I forget, showing a cowboy and girl about to, ahem, ride a bull. I am aware that these \"commercials\" air on channels and programs not meant for children. I find it irrelavant. Why bother NOT having cigarette commercials when your just going to promote sex?! Victoria\'s Secret. Again, depicting only the desirable, trying to lull minds into an accepting state that you can be carnally desirable (Though I like those commercials...Stop looking at me like that.)
Why is it, that some skank like Madonna, who let us not forget, wrote a book about her sexual ways, is now writing a children\'s book. Yeah, here little Suzy, read this story about Little Red Riding Hood who show\'s the Wolf and Grandma how to have fun...at the same time. I realize now that my gripes seem to revolve around sex on television. Yes, I suppose so. But it seems like that\'s what they promote the most.
I would LOVE to see America if it went without T.V for a month. Hell, a week would be interesting enough. Let\'s see what they could accomplish when their minds aren\'t distracted by soap opera\'s, or Spring Break Wet T-Shirt Contests. Just think about how many potentially great minds were laid to waste by something so aptly called \"The Stupid Tube\". When television was introduced, children stopped reading so they could see that brain-washed squeeky clean family like \"The Cleavers\" live their lives, neglecting their own. Brainwashing, even then.
Even people I admired, turned to sludge. The Osbournes. I liked Ozzy\'s music. For a while, I even liked the show. Then I got to think about how sad it was to watch Ozzy and his misbehaving children. It finallly dawned on me. Yes, I know that as a star, he has to make a living, and someone of his reknowned state would make for a dare-I-say perfect Reality Show. But I find myself liking it less. Even finding out about Pete Townsend with his child porno problem, ruined another star I considered good. Maybe I just put too mcuh faith in people. They do make mistakes after all.
I think I bantered myself enough to where I got my point across. Yes, that should suffice. I suppose by now, most of you who read this thinking I\'m probably quite cronicly insane. No, I don\'t think so. The only reason I exploded like this was because I held it in for so long. My point seems like it was illustrated fluently. I don\'t expect to change any minds. I\'m not slamming anyone who stomached my anger this long. I\'m just expressing my personal views...on global level.
Then again, it\'s subjective. I mean, everyone has a right to their own conflicting opinions. So I guess, this was long, drawn-out, and somewhat pointless.
-Joe
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Computers are so much more fun than TV... I barely have any channels, and my family never bothered getting any because when we did, nobody watched it.
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I have a TV just beside me, but I rarely watch it. And soap operas? So many people stand in front of the tv for ages just to see a soap opera. Well, you know.. I dont see Tv, but I spend a lot of time with my computer... :P
[Note:But of course, I\'m not american :P]
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There are only a handful of shows that I like.
Samurui Jack
Futurama
Family Guy
Fooly Cooly
Cowboy Bebop
Spongebob Squarepants (don\'t laugh)
That\'s probably about the extent. I don\'t watch Spongebob much, or Samurui Jack. I don\'t think they\'re showing FLCL anymore (at the moment, anyway). Either way, I spend most of my time programming or reading anymore.
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*shrugs* I\'m a computer obsessed American, that\'s a minority though. :(
I watch TV rarely, though oddly enough I like this spy thriller called \"Alias\"
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If seeing two people kissing on TV makes you sick then I feel very sorry for you. You obviously have lived in a sheltered world.
Room Raiders (I think that\'s the name), it\'s a TV show. Sure you can\'t judge someone by their room alone, but I don\'t understand what upsets you so much about this. If they judged me by my room....well lets hope they don\'t. It\'s not like they just see you walking down the street and say, \"Hey we\'re gonna search your room.\" They agreed to have their room searched. Their young, their just looking for a nice piece of arse. Let em.
Queer Eye For the Straight Guy. If you\'re gonna attack someone over this show why not attack the guys on it? It\'s their show, they\'re the ones publicizing the stereotype. And hell if they don\'t like the makeover, no one\'s stopping them from going back to how they were before. Me, I let no one dictate how I dress. If you saw me you\'d know right away. I have invented my own sense of fashion. But I don\'t yell at someone who doesn\'t like it.
You don\'t like Howard Stern, then don\'t listen to him. Again those girls go on his show voluntarily and they know what to expect.
This one\'s gonna get me in trouble. The only thing in life anyone truly owns is themself. They can do what they will with their body as long as it doesn\'t hurt anyone else physically. I\'m not saying someone should encourage someone to commit suicide but if that\'s their own choice then that\'s their choice. Except in cases of abortion. It\'s not the woman\'s body, it\'s a child. Prolife.
Ok I don\'t understand how AIDS is involved in this at all. So anyone who has sex will get AIDS? Don\'t think so. Sexuality is a normal part of humanity. Why should it be hidden?
Madonna. She explores her sexuality. That\'s a problem. And you\'re saying that anyone who has sex is not fit to teach children? What\'s the difference between a person who is open about sex and someone who hides it?
I am a TV junky. I love it, I watch it everyday for hours on end. Am I brainwashed? No. I am an avid reader. And not just Fantasy and Sci-Fi and stuff like that. Right now I am reading The Templar Revelation, a book about Christianity and herecy. Which might I add is a life changing book. Definently check it out.
Ozzy. Great music, great man. I think this is a great show. Ozzy battled drugs, alcohol, and disease. What helped him through all of that? His family. Misbehaving kids? Oh yes because all children are absolute angels. Again it\'s a normal part of life, only televised.
I think you just need to realize that this is the 21st century and that people are just embracing all walks of life. Why should all TV be clean cut and perfect when that\'s not how life is?
My advice to you is if you don\'t like it don\'t watch it. I\'m sure a majority of people want it there, that\'s why it is there, so obviously they don\'t have a problem with it. And don\'t say that just watching TV will change a person. It won\'t. Am I the way I am because of TV? No, I\'m the way I am because of the way my parents raised me this way.
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Oh and another thing. I\'ve seen FLCL, Futurama, and The Family Guy. And it seems hypocritical that you like those shows when a lot of the same elements are in those shows. How many sexual undertones are in FLCL? There is a commercial for Family Guy and shows them all fighting. The father beating the mother. And Futurama? A robot who does nothing but drink and smoke.
Don\'t get me wrong I love those shows. But how can you say TV is so bad when those shows are no better?
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I sure hope fantasyfiend isn\'t in any positions of high power cause if he\'s anything other than maybe burger flipper I pray for those people whom he has influence over.
I agree that mtv can be overwelming at times but all that means is you need a break, stop watching if it makes you so sick and also,
Stop being so damn prudish (hope i spelled it right)
have some fun...
also, monketh, I feel computer obsessed americans wont be such a minirity in the future, there are plans to get every body glued to this medium, its only gonna be a matter of time before we\'re all jacked into the matrix.
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The thing I love the most about TV is the ability to either change the channel or turn it off!
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:rolleyes: Shows are put on television according to what people watch, I don\'t see how the people who make these are to blame if the idiots actually watch stupid shows, good for them for making a living. I only have regular television so I know nothing about those shows talked about...but I only watch one show and the occasional \"Whatever the hell is on\".
I used to watch a lot, but most of what I liked was cancelled...I still watch Titus on my computer...that show was just great stuff.
Morally television is definately degrading, regular TV is almost just like cable or whatever, there are some that still pull through.
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I think the real issue is that fantasyfiend doesn\'t agree with the way of life these shows represent he wishs to trample them, they have a right to exist to. even if you think they are stupid because they don\'t abid by the social rules of your demographic
(too-shay!!)
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Originally posted by cmhitman
I think the real issue is that fantasyfiend doesn\'t agree with the way of life these shows represent he wishs to trample them, they have a right to exist to. even if you think they are stupid because they don\'t abid by the social rules of your demographic
(too-shay!!)
He also has the right to express what crap he thinks it is.
For me, its not that I disagree with the content, its that I do stuff that I think is more fun than watching TV (like posting on PS forums)
Originally posted by Fantasyfiend
There are only a handful of shows that I like.
Samurui Jack
Futurama
Family Guy
Fooly Cooly
Cowboy Bebop
Spongebob Squarepants (don\'t laugh)
Spongebob is a VERY popular show, even among older kids.
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did i say he didn\'t?
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No, I\'m just adding my opinion to the argument, using your quote as a starting point.
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...thats cool
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I have a TV nearby. I only watch FLCL, .hack, Cowboy Bebop, and Blue Gender. Besides that I\'m glued to my art book. (And my computer.)
FLCL has about 27 sexually enhanced scenes. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto is the animator and has the habit of having some kind of sextual content in his anim?.
I watch Futurama only sometimes.
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Just for the record, I agree with you 90% Fantasyfiend (change \"I hate television.\" to \"I hate television commericals and the idea they try to force on people.\" and it\'s 97%).
It\'s just downright upsetting the kind of things that are allowed on TV today. I mean, some people will argue that \"it\'s just the advancement of human culture.\" That\'s a lot of -> ^#$%@#$* <- no matter how you try to justify it.
I also love when people say that the media and advertising \"don\'t affect you.\" It\'s so naive to think that you can watch television completely objectively and sweat that it doesn\'t change the way you think. Because it does; you simply don\'t notice it. That\'s why it is so dangerous.
Just think about what television was like 20 or 40 years ago: what would the overall reaction be if they played the stuff back then like what\'s on now? How have things changed between now and then? It\'s a slow, gradual process of introducing new ideas into society, and trying to get them accepted.
And it works.
The first show of it\'s type is always controversial (first it was divorced families, then teen parents, then gay couples, etc.) and the majority of the population is quite upset about it, and many will file complaints to the station. The second show will be accepted by more people as \"normal\" (even though their only exposure to it was the first show), though still angering quite a few. By the time a third show comes around, no one has anything to say about it.
And sure, I\'d love to see America survive without TV for a week. I could go for a week without my computer for all I care (I\'m not talking about leaving for vacation for a week, that\'s easy :P). These things don\'t control my life; they\'re simply things I enjoy doing. Sure life would be different (personally, I feel for the better of mankind as a whole) but it would definitely be livable.
If anyone wants to refute any of the points I made (real refutes, no flames of bursts of rage please), I welcome the discussion. I\'m not going to attack any shows in particular because I feel the best way for discussion is to keep it theory only (and I watch hardly any TV except for a few sci-fi shows that I like).
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I hardly ever watch TV anymore, even to watch a few sci-fi programmes that i like, not just because my TV is stuck on Chnl4 an i lost the remote but bcoz TV has the tendancy to make you sit mindlessly staring at endless crap.
I dont know about american TV but most things on english tv rot your brain(much like mmmorpg\'s)and is a complete waste of time, i used to watch alot of TV before i had the net out of boredom, but it was just pointless and i was just watching other people lead their lives instead of doing somthing with my own.
Everyone has their own opinions tho and if they enjoy watching TV then its up to them. There are alot worse things they could be doing instead.
If you have a problem with tv them think yourself lucky that you realised and they didnt.
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ive got no plorblem with my tele and i dont see what the big deal is
so what if you hate reality tv, wrestling,other shows and bull only idoits recreate the damm dangerous stunts and they then land themselves in hopsital, (well .... ive landed my self in the hospitals for a certain number of reasons like STReet SOccer luckly dads surgon but he cant stich very well, to date ive got over 25 stiches in all sorts of places but umm... not there luckly )
but none of them are infulenced by the tv.
and whats wrong if the kids hobby is watching tv weren\'t you hooked on to your (fill in blank here) and common if you play online games which dont have a anti sware system you get more trash talk and swearing from older but less mature gamers who take pride in flaming the newbies and you see that the younger bunch of gamers use considerable less
also where did you learn what F*** means didnt you learn it when you were little to but then there was no tele to begain with
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Briefly: TV is poisonous, but it shouldn\'t be the only guilt-bearer for social problems.
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I think perhaps you\'re letting you ego take over you.
There are people who live up to a certain standard... morally, money-wise, intellectually.... doesn\'t matter.
The problem is that they scorn other people because of this standard. I attribute this as a negative side of egoism.
My advice is just live with it and continue doing what you think is appropriate, but don\'t criticize if you can help it.... Besides, do you really reserve the right to decide what kind of things you want to censor from television?
Anyway...
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Originally posted by AendarCallenlasse
If seeing two people kissing on TV makes you sick then I feel very sorry for you. You obviously have lived in a sheltered world.
this depends on who those 2 people are, i turned the TV on the other day and the first thing i saw was the part of the clip \"beautiful\" of christina aguilera where you see 2 guys making out... yes that makes me sick.
and it\'s not that i have something against gays, but it seems like ? of what they broadcast nowadays has to have gays in it, wich kinda annoys me..
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Samurai Jack is the best piece of American animation on television in years. That aside Adult Swim is the only justification for TV\'s existence. Well, the Daily Show is funny too, but that\'s not enough on it\'s own.
Any discussion about ummm, stuff, on TV is a moot point though. It is a country under the illusion of fre... I mean yeah it\'s a free country...
<_<...
>_>...
Good I don\'t think they saw that :D .
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This is funny for several reasons. The people who replied negatively, I mean. So easily drawn into a bought. I warned you at the top that it was the bantering of an angered mind. By no means am I prude. I view porn, like anyone else (I hope). But their is a resounding differance.
I do it in private. I don\'t go blaring my sex life out on television for a cheap screw and a pocket full of Benjamins. I have no problem with sex. Without it the human race is doomed...and probably boring. The problem is how television tries to get you to watch by shoving it under your nose.
Don\'t bother lecturing me about Ozzy. I am well read on Rock history. I know about bat head biting, and ant-line sniffing. I know. And I admire Ozzy for how well he\'s overcome all this, and become a reasonable father. I never said kids were angels. Most of them are little screwheads anymore. But I\'ve seen Jack and Kelly do some stuff that I would not tolerate. And they just bend over and take it.
I think my problem is how degraded society has become. I think television helped, but I wouldn\'t blame it entirely. Bad parenting was the axe that brought the tree down. That Doctor Spock moron.
Turning off television is pointless when radio is getting just as bad. What\'s the ratio of music to commercials? Companies filtering trash and mind melting advertisements down your grey matter.
People kiss in public. I don\'t roll my nose up at them kissing. I roll my nose up at the popularity and media coverage of how perverted they are. Jesus, It\'s about to catch up with the 9-11 coverage. (BTW, I felt like it should have been covered, but it\'s time to let the dead rest. We should remeber the dead, but not keep picking healing scabs.)
Hypocrite for what I do watch? I honestly haven\'t considered that. But the sexual overtures in FLCL don\'t bug me, because (1) FLCL usually portrays it as humour, and (2) sex is simply a part of life. Granted. As for Futurama, perhaps you have a point. But again, it was directed as humour. It\'s not saying, \"Drink this, get laid.\"
Like television, if you don\'t like my opinions. Your more than free to press the back button. (Thank God for sarcasm.) I mean, you can always turn your head, riiiight?
But, please, by all means, if you need to call me a hypocrite and prude. Be my guest. I warned you clear at the top of my post, and you came looking for a fight. Besides, I could use a good laugh.
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Fantasyfiend,
So...you\'re saying that the biggest problem with television is \"how degraded society has become [because of it]\" ??
NOTE: I just want to be clear before I make my next comment.
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Nope. It would be stupid to say that a problem like failing society could be pin-pointed down to a single factor. That would be pointless. Music, TV, media, Online pop-ups, and bill boards. So many factors. If it were -just- tv, then it would be easy to fix, but television was the subject I decided upon. Frank Zappa wrote a song called, I\'m the Slime. To which, I agree fully.
I would like to take this space to say, that don\'t get me wrong. Normally, I don\'t go looking for fights. This was just an explosion of aggravation. Normally I\'m pretty agreeable. But I\'ve been reading Johnny, The Homicidal Maniac , and it\'s taught me how it\'s important to find constructive ways to blow off steam, and let the bad roll away. I think that blowing up on a forum isn\'t too bad.
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Fantasyfiend: Umm...you seem to have misread my post.
It does not say: \"So...you\'re saying that the degragation of society is completely due to television?\"
It says:
\"So...you\'re saying that the biggest problem with television is \'how degraded society has become [because of it]?\' \"
I realize that it\'s pointless to wave toward the television and say \"this is the device that destroyed the human race.\"
Well lacking the answer I was expecting, and too tired to wait for another post, I\'m going to make my point anyway:
You are a hypocrite.
You\'re saying how bad TV is for society, how bad music, radio, and advertising are all negatively influencing the people of the world, and then you go against everything you\'ve already said:
I view porn...but their is a resounding differance.
Believe it or not, that stuff affects your mind in ways you cannot imagine. Your mind begins to think that that is what all women should look like. Even worse, it\'s objectifying women, which later on can cause men to beat their wives, and other such horrible acts ;(
Now refute that.
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If a man beats his wife, it\'s not because of images he saw on the internet. He was looking for an excuse. Usually their father\'s did it to their mother\'s continuing a sad spiral of violence. Same thing with school shootings. \"IMAGES ON TV MADE US DO IT!\" No. You wanted blood. Perhaps you are right about me being a hypocrite, but I hardly see how television is doing anything for women\'s rights. Free Will. They chose that.
Do you even look at it? No, they don\'t look alike. I\'ll have you know, that I\'m not PROUD of what I do. I already said that I don\'t wave around my sex life.
On second thought, if you want to examine this \"hypocrite\", answer me this, do you REALLY want to know about my sex life? Heaven know\'s it might make for some interesting talk around the water cooler.
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On second thought, forget it. This is my thread. I\'ll preach from whatever soapbox I want. No one made you read that, and no one\'s making you read this.
Objectifying women? So you honestly think that I see girls as playthings. Let me walk you through a normal monday for me. I sit next to a girl in my Networking class who I would like to take on a date. No, not pork her. So far, there have only been one girl I liked seriously, and I would have been more than happy to do anything for her. Except sex. I don\'t believe in sex before marriage. It leads to unwanted pregnancies, and possible diseases.
Anyway, I can\'t even get up the courage to ask her out.
Frankly, I wasn\'t even brave enough to tell her that I liked her. Well, she\'s married, and has a kid now. I was able to talk to her as a friend before, now I don\'t even want to talk to her, because I don\'t want her or her husband thinking I\'m a creep. Objectify women...I guess I got the good laugh I wanted. I\'m afraid of them, much less use them. A creepy cycle. I turn to crap like that to fill something I don\'t allow myself, yet I fill it with the wrong thing. Like stuffing a twinkie with feces. It is filler, but it could be something else so much better.
You mistake television and media for a trigger. To some degree it is. It doesn\'t make anyone kill anyone, I doubt it causes unprotected sex. But it grinds down the mind and morals to the point where it seems like a reasonable alternative.
Am I a hypocrite? Yes. I guess I am. You narrowed in, and fired. And actually, for that I am thankful. It\'s easier to see life when your sucked down into it not looking down from some false perch. However, instead of easing up on television, it just gives me something else to be wary of. Guess it was better that I pulled a sword out of myself.
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First, I just want to make sure that we all understand that the only thing I actually accused you of is being a hypocrite. I don\'t blame TV for directly causeing domestic violence, nor do I think that you objectify women.
I am simply pointing out *patters* that have been extensively researched and published. Believe it or not, a group of students back in high school put one of our half-days to use, by using it to show a film documentary on the affects of media on the public. The day was very well planned, and after the movie we all got in groups and shared our feeling of what we learned.
But my gosh, you would not believe the sort of things that came up in that film unless you had seen it. A good portion of it was a case-by-case study in how women were portrayed in the media, and things that advertisers *specifically* do to get the desired effect. It was absolutely sickening. Literally, I could have hurled at the kind of stuff the media was intentionally doing to its viewers.
So, I am merely saying that many times the media objectifies women (along with other things), and *subconsciencly* your mind may begin to go along with it. Again, I am NOT accusing anybody, I am merely stating that these patterns have been researched by scientists and analysts and the patterns do exist. \"It doesn\'t make anyone kill anyone\" Directly, no; anyone that watches a fight scene on a movie and immediately goes out and kills someone is among a very, very small minority. \"I doubt it causes unprotected sex.\" I am in complete disagreement with you here; sex is completely over-glorified by so many aspects of the media that it\'s nowhere near funny. The media does not cause people to have sex, but it does make it seem like \"hey, if people look like this and act like this on TV, then I guess I should too.\" I would most definitely say that the amount of exposure our young people have to sexual scenes in the media (everywhere, including TV commericals, billboards, magazine advertisements, you name it) is an overwhelming factor in the number of sexaully active teens (in America at least).
You asked (referring to pornography): \"Do you even look at it?\" To this I say: \"at once time in my life, I did.\" But I woke up one morning and thought \"what the hell am I doing? I am such a greater person than this. I don\'t need this stuff to make me feel good, when I can go talk to my real women friends that I don\'t need to hide behind a glass screen to interact with.\" And that was it, I gave up everything I had to do with that. And guess what? I feel a whole lot better about myself and the people around me. I am definitely not proud of what I did, but I am extremely grateful that I was able to give it up before it got much worse.
\"You narrowed in, and fired. And actually, for that I am thankful.\" All I wanted to do is provide my opinion. If I have inspired you to change your ways for the better, then no thanks is needed. I feel better knowing there is one more person in the world willing to give up what he knows is wrong, and hopefully one day be a father who will teach his children the truths about right and wrong, and not let anything in the world change their views for the worse.
Because that is all I can ask of my life.
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there are three main problems with tv as I see it.
1)Commercials. don\'t get me started on this, coz they are the biggest.
2)Mindless pap. most of the shows on tv have no meaning. and i\'m not talking about every story having a moral, i\'m talking about shows that don\'t make you laugh, cry, think, etc.
3) They can\'t be turned off. yes, i know they have a switch. but people get addicted to TV, and by \"people\" i mean MOST. as in more than half of the people who own a tv. people who turn on the tube for a show they want to watch, watch the show, and then, start flippin,\"there\'s gotta be something else on...\" everyone\'s done it a few times, but so mny people do it EVERY DAY.
those are the problems with tv, as I see em.
Jessyn
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Originally posted by Xandria
Believe it or not, that stuff affects your mind in ways you cannot imagine. Your mind begins to think that that is what all women should look like. Even worse, it\'s objectifying women, which later on can cause men to beat their wives, and other such horrible acts ;(
Nothing causes anyone to do anything, it is their own actions and a picture or image or even a living person has no choice whether or not they do it...even if they grew up in that enviroment, it is not an excuse.
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i love television...period
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I agree with Jessyn. It\'s sad how many people have nothing better to do than stare for hours on end at a box. I think it comes from boredom. I know that sounds like an obvious statement, but there\'s nothing to occupy their minds, so they watch it. Personally, I got programming.
Commercials are bad, but I think infomercials are worst. They\'re like 1/2 hour commercials trying to justify the stupidest and most useless items. They had one for pills for male enhancemant, and they were actually going around on a street talking to people about the product, and it\'s effect. I don\'t know HOW they went about asking them about it (or why people even answered). Then they had a live audience. That was so horribly stupid I actually had to laugh. Come back to the show, people clap and sit down.
Shows on tv aren\'t really about morals anymore. FOX is real bad about showing things like \"Worlds Most Shocking Acts Caught on Tape!\" or Worlds scariest car chases, or world\'s biggest bowel movements. The only channels that seem to present anything close to a moral is the Hallmark channel. VH1 used to be cool, but now it seems they cater to rap and Pop more than anything else.
Yes, you can turn off a tv. You can turn off your radio, but that doesn\'t stop anything. Billboards for example.
I went up to Houston to visit some family that came down for Thanksgiving (It was actually the first time I drove through there without family. Except my cousin who drove through most of the heavy traffic). Anyway, there was a huge billboard for a laughably called \"Gentlemen\'s Club\". The ad said something to effect of.
\"You\'ll find it too hard to leave\"
Written big, bold, and across the sky, staining it. Subtle messaging? Hardly. That seems like one of the last things that should be seen from the 610 Loop.
It\'s really a shame when that kind of crap is suddenly \"Okay\" in this day and age. I realize that our ancestors during, say, \"The Salem Witch Trials\" and Prohibition were probably being a bit over Zealous, but I see no reason to go backpedalling hard in the opposite direction.
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and it\'s not that i have something against gays, but it seems like ? of what they broadcast nowadays has to have gays in it, wich kinda annoys me..
This is a personal choice though. There is no difference between two guys kissing and a girl and guy kissing. If you disagree then you are simply looking at it from a typical homophobic (Too harsh a word maybe) perspective. Would you be so offended if it were two women kissing?
3) They can\'t be turned off. yes, i know they have a switch. but people get addicted to TV, and by \"people\" i mean MOST. as in more than half of the people who own a tv. people who turn on the tube for a show they want to watch, watch the show, and then, start flippin,\"there\'s gotta be something else on...\" everyone\'s done it a few times, but so mny people do it EVERY DAY.
If a person can\'t go a day without watching TV, and mean seriously cannot, then they should visit a therapist. It\'s not the companies fault if they get \'addicted to TV\'.
Hypocrite for what I do watch? I honestly haven\'t considered that. But the sexual overtures in FLCL don\'t bug me, because (1) FLCL usually portrays it as humour , and (2) sex is simply a part of life. Granted. As for Futurama, perhaps you have a point. But again, it was directed as humour. It\'s not saying, \"Drink this, get laid.\"
So it\'s ok if it makes someone laugh? I\'m sure someone got a kick out of watching someone die. Sure they were obviously deranged. But as long as it makes someone laugh it\'s ok. To him, it was humour.
Anyway, there was a huge billboard for a laughably called \"Gentlemen\'s Club\". The ad said something to effect of.
Well if you have a problem with that then you probably should attack the American Constitution. Every business has a right to advertise. EVERY business. There is nothing wrong with strip clubs. It\'s a business. Hell I was at one only a few days ago. The women there make money and the men there can let off some steam.
You mistake television and media for a trigger. To some degree it is. It doesn\'t make anyone kill anyone, I doubt it causes unprotected sex. But it grinds down the mind and morals to the point where it seems like a reasonable alternative.
TV is a very, very small part of what influences the younger generation to do anything. And I am saying this from the point of view of an 18-year old, college freshman. I watch TV all the time. I have never done drugs, obviously haven\'t killed myself, and never had unprotected sex. If I turn off the TV, I still have a pot smoking roommate. Rooms of beautiful girls on all sides of me, and plenty of reasons to end my life.
Best TV show on TV?
Law and Order: SVU
or
Law and Order: CI
or
Law and Order
Ok any of the Law and Order shows.[/COLOR]
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I on the most parts agree with FantasyField.
MTV degrades humanity. They sell sex and all kinds of degrading behavior.
But I would understand if MTV was an adult channel. Adult minds(20-45) :) are not affected in any way by watching this stuff, in fact, adults wouldn\'t watch it because it\'s simply put, crap.
But no, MTV specially targets teenagers. Before, when MTV was just making it\'s roots, there was mostly music videos, and some shows like beavis and butthead :). But now, they learned how to lure more young viewers. And that\'s by selling sex. They show teenage soap operas. Stuff like real world, rich girls, sorrority life, dismissed, those shows make me SICK. They do not show any values, they do not teach any morals, other than preditor instinct :)
Hey, I catch my mom watching Rich Girls and I ask her why she\'s watching it. She just wants to look at how they live :). But she\'s 40 years old. Her mind will not be affected by the behaviour of the girls, and she will not try to act like them. Young girls, by watching this show, will look on contrary, how these girls act, dress, what are their values. And why? Because they are rich.
On another note, Family guy, Futurama, South park are adult shows and parents are warned this beforehand. And they are usually shown at night time. But MTV runs their degrading programs all day long and teens are attracted by what they sell to them.
p.s. watch comedy central all day. You can\'t go wrong with that :)
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So anyone who watches those shows tries to copy them? I watch Viva La Bam. I love that show. Do I act like Bam? No. I\'ve watched Jackass. Do I do any of that stuff? Hell no. If someone does then they are an idiot. Period. And you cannot blame MTV for that.
Real World. That is the best show ever made. It shows normal people and how they interact. Sure there is cursing, sex, occasional nudity, and mild violence. But that is normal in every person\'s life. Hence the name, Real World.
MTV plays these shows for one reason. That\'s what we like. If MTV played a bunch of bible-beating, parent driven shows then they would go out of business because that isn\'t what we want to see.
MTV isn\'t to blame for why we like those shows. Hormones is. If you\'re a religious person God is to blame for making us the way we are. It\'s normal teenage behavior. Don\'t like it? Too bad.
Comedy Central:
The Man Show
South Park
Crank Yankers
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You say things that some people might agree with... but I don\'t agree with you saying it at the expense of scorning other people who like MTV, who are gay on television, who are pop stars appealing to the masses, and so on.
It\'s quite easy to hate all this stuff, but do you see a dangerous flaw within yourself when you do this?
I say it again, you\'re letting your ego take over you. I wouldn\'t go on arguing to show how self-righteous you are, or how you think your judgement on everything should be the standard for everyone.
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IMHO, TV is influencing society, which is in turn influencing it.
I\'d describe that as \"just another problem of money\". People want to get more bucks, so they all try to outdo the others in terms of audience, by any mean they can find. Is it bad? Not if you consider the capitalistic society in which we live in.
As some people already stated here: You can just switch your TV off. That\'s what I did 3 years ago and I don\'t feel that bad (just watched scientifical magazine, moto gp, futurama, and ... dark angel :P).
But don\'t blame TV for being what it is, you\'re probably aiming at the wrong target.
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Originally posted by AendarCallenlasse
So anyone who watches those shows tries to copy them? I watch Viva La Bam. I love that show. Do I act like Bam? No. I\'ve watched Jackass. Do I do any of that stuff? Hell no. If someone does then they are an idiot. Period. And you cannot blame MTV for that.
Real World. That is the best show ever made. It shows normal people and how they interact. Sure there is cursing, sex, occasional nudity, and mild violence. But that is normal in every person\'s life. Hence the name, Real World.
MTV plays these shows for one reason. That\'s what we like. If MTV played a bunch of bible-beating, parent driven shows then they would go out of business because that isn\'t what we want to see.
MTV isn\'t to blame for why we like those shows. Hormones is. If you\'re a religious person God is to blame for making us the way we are. It\'s normal teenage behavior. Don\'t like it? Too bad.
Comedy Central:
The Man Show
South Park
Crank Yankers
When I watched it 5 years ago and I watched it a lot :), there was less sexual stuff. The real world was just invented and so on. Today, it\'s not the same MTV.
Hey, I don\'t care what people watch and what they don\'t watch, I\'m trying to see if other people agree with what I said. And if enough people agree, it becomes a statistic :)
Comedy central is also trying to sell sex nowadays, but they are not as good as MTV. They should learn from MTV
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TV is a very, very small part of what influences the younger generation to do anything. And I am saying this from the point of view of an 18-year old, college freshman. I watch TV all the time. I have never done drugs, obviously haven\'t killed myself, and never had unprotected sex. If I turn off the TV, I still have a pot smoking roommate. Rooms of beautiful girls on all sides of me, and plenty of reasons to end my life.
Tv may be a \'very small\' influence to you, but the media has a bigger influence over the most people than anything else ever invented.(except mayb religion...but thats dying out too)
You cannot deny that the media does not affect you, because it does,wether its subconsiously or not. it may not even effect you directly but indirectly it does. Your friends/fammily\'s opions affect you, and many of those opinions are derived from the effects of the media.
IMO the whole world as we see it is from the consequences of the media,very few people,will not ever see anything to do with the media, and those that dont you will find live a very sheltered and if not better life.
The media streches its reach to almost everyone in developed countries,and even those that are not are affected in some way.
The media publicises everything, and desenserises people over centurys so that sosiety changes.
If it was not for media, you wouldnt be discussing issues about sex on this forum,or murdors,killings, or anything like that at all.
Tv is part of the media, and therefore it is part of the one thing that has influenced the world most, and the one thing that has indirectly affected almost every person on the earth.
It is therefore the \'thing\' that has poisoned minds, yet also educated people. It has brought together people and a new way of thinging causing the good effects and also bad affects.
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At least someone shares a similar point of view:)
Thanks for the post, Windra
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What I was saying is that even if TV was \'cleaned up\' teens would still be surrounded by bad influences. TV is no more influential to a teen then their friends and family. Yes it is very influential but not to the point that a person will stop being who they are and become some sort of zombie to capitalism.
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Real World most certainly NOT is the best show ever made. For one thing it\'s deprived of anything real.
Empty-V sets them up a nice little crib and personally I haven\'t seen them do jack other than make idiots of themselves. How many normal people have a hot tub, and how many normal people have money to burn that they didn\'t earn? Mostly, people still living with their parents.
That\'s what Empty-V is, anymore. Started cool with music videos, now it\'s the big pimp daddy to an army of slathering creatures who barely pass for human. Spring Break on MTV, I once witnessed a game to see who could undress and change clothes with a girl in a cramped phone booth. That\'s sick, sad, and pointless. If you can\'t see they\'re shoving \"naughty\" under your nose for ratings, then your pretty blind.
How many of those punks have NORMAL jobs. Sacking Grocceries, changing the tags on store items. Christ, they live in an uptown penthouse, and they eat at the nicest resteraunts. Do you ever see them settle with F\'ing McDonalds?
Besides, if that\'s what normal people are like anymore, then let this war end in a quick global genocide, because we\'re screwed where we stand. I never see so many people p*ss and moan about whose laundry is laying around. If people have that much sex, with that many partners, then the world is sadder and sicker than I thought. If that is so \"real\" then, again, that would explain the rapidly growing population, variations of VD, and why the world is so filled with a-holes.
And sashok, don\'t you dare blame God. He gave Adam and Eve warnings early on. Still they proceeded. The human race has a tendancy to destroy ourselves. Be it with drugs, food, sex, greed, blasphemy or what else you can think of. I wonder myself why he didn\'t just stomp out the human race early on, but it\'s not for you to pass judgement. Don\'t forget, your under him.
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Sorry, some corrections.
AenderCallenlasse, Are you justifying Hell on Earth letting someone die on stage?
Sorry, sashok about that God remark, I mean AenderCallenlasse.
I don\'t consider myself \"self-rightous\". But I find it pretty easy to see the fecal matter that has become society.
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Well I guess I should clarify something. I don\'t believe in god. Once Upon a Time I did, but then I found out that the Christian religion was all a bunch of lies. But that\'s a different discussion. What I was trying to say is that teens will behave a certain way with or without TV. It\'s a part of life. Teens will always be sexually active, they will always be defiant, and they will always do things that adults find insane. We\'re born that way. Or for Christians, God created us that way.
As I said before. I bleieve every person has a right to do what they want with their life and body. I would never encourage another person to end their life, but they have a basic human right to do it. When you really think about it, what is so bad about it? It all depends on what your beliefs are.
I don\'t love all of society. I don\'t like everything that is on TV. I do indulge in some of the shows that are not morally correct. You, as well, do. Though you defend them by saying that they present it all in a manner of humor. So do Jackass and all of those other shows. But you cannot say that TV is bad or that society is bad because of it. If you say that, or say that the shows that depict alcohol, drugs, and sex in them are bad and you watch shows that contain those, then you\'re just as bad as everyone else.
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I\'m not even going to touch on the whole \"God exists or not\" argument. I\'ll respect your beliefs but you damn well better respect mine and anyone else involved in this. Religion is irrelevant in all this.
I also indulge in things that are frowned upon. Reading comics that depict horrible violence. I watch FLCL. For the sex? No. I like the story and animation. I watch:
The Simpsons (When the rare chance comes around}
FLCL
Family Guy
Futurama
Samurui Jack
Spongebob
Mystery Science Theatre
Cowboy Bebop
XPlay
There\'s a huge differance in knowing that filth exists in life, and dodging it, and knowing that filth exists in life, and wallowing in it.
Just so you know, I have no sex, protected or otherwise. I don\'t swear in front of children, speak in foul tongues in front of women. There\'s alot of things I don\'t do, and still better myself. I would hope you would understand and reciprocate.
Free Will. Everyone has the right to do whatever they want, but that doesn\'t make it acceptable. If I wanted I could rape someone in front of an orphanage. Would that make it okay? No. Attack the Constitution. You know, one of the biggest things wrong in America is Freedom of Speech. It allows good people to enrich the lives of others, but it allows morons to spill their grey matter vomit across unsuspecting victims. It allows revolting lyrics to be played in Parking Lots while children are trying to get to school. It lets bands like Cannibal Corpse say things to disgust as many people as possible.
Attack the glorious Constitution and Bill of Rights? You bet. Because it started out with the best intentions and was twisted into something that let freaks get away with crap, and call it \"The way they choose to be.\" And they have that unviolatable right, which they deserve as much as any American, and yet they abuse it.
No wonder other countries laugh at us.
I\'m sitting in a computer lab at my College. I\'m looking around and thinking, \"My God. Maybe there is hope.\" Because a majority of these people, these REAL people, have better things to do than waste their lives away mooching off the government and killing their braincells with chemicals outlawed by the government. THere was a guy with bright orange hair, all in black at my college. I thought he was just some slacker taking college work to avoid actual work. I was wrong. He knew way more about Math than I was able to comprehend. You can\'t judge people. These people I go to school with, I see hold chance for a brighter future. Who have better things to do than watch a 3-hour Best-of Spring Break marathon.
Television isn\'t real. It\'s a marketting device. Industries use it to force their way into brains, like sperm into eggs, planting their little mottos, logos, and any other BS they can get away with. There\'s nothing wrong with sitting and watching something. You have a right to do so, and have every chance to exercise it. They know that, and take advantage of it whenever they can. Just because bilboards depict grotesquely advertised skin clubs, doesn\'t mean you can\'t take a sunday drive once in a while. Just because the Playboy channel is on doesn\'t mean you can\'t watch the Civil War documentary on a differant channel. People choose the slime they bathe in. I did, and change for the better whenever I realize what I\'m doing. Most people don\'t care. They continue ignoring better sense, to indulge in their own little wills.
Messages brought to you by Phillip Morris. Remember how they weren\'t supposed to have cigarette commercials on television? They found a way around that. And people just sit and take it up the pipe, because it doesn\'t bother them. Making it seem like they care about your health. They don\'t give a damn, otherwise they wouldn\'t have a cancer increasing substance stuck on the back wall of convience stores in a big white box for all to see. And we have a choice not to smoke up. One choice I made a long time ago. To be honest:
I drink coffee, cola, and the occasional mixed drink (like twice a year maybe). Cola should count as bad substance, man that stuff gets sickeningly sweet at times, AND it can melt nails.
For every show that could be considered acceptable, there are easily 20 others that cater to home shopping, soap opera\'s, skin shows, and crappy music videos (Though that\'s my opinion of them).
It would make more sense to say what was wrong with me, than wallow in self-rightousness about stuff I don\'t do. However, I HAVE led a sheltered life (or something that can be called that, at times). I\'m thankful for it, and yet I suppose I regret it. I haven\'t been exposed to enough of the filth of society to accept it as normal, but I\'m better than it. I have my faults, and maybe I screw up, but I\'ll roast in Hell before I sit grinning at some screen for hours on end like a slack-jawed, 21 chromosone, dumb, money-spending American that damn box wants to think I am.
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Well as I said in a previous post, everyone has a right to do what they want with their body as long as it does harm another person physically.
And if a band has a CD out or is popular then that means people listen to it and loike it. Just because you do not like it, doesn\'t make it wrong. I happen to be a big fan of deathmetal. Do I do drugs, sacrifice the neighbors ctas, slit my wrists, etc. No, I just enjoy the music. Sure some of it is twisted but any parent who blames them for corrupting their children is simply trying to find excuses other than they failed in raising their child.
So we should all stop watching shows because you think they are wrong? I am at college as well. NO one here is perfect. But you know what? Some of the smartest people around still do bad things. I know some insanely smart people who spend every weekend getting high and piss drunk. I don\'t know one person who hasn\'t watched the Spring Break special on MTV. But what is wrong with it? Seeing young adults having fun? God forbid. Maybe it\'s the lack of modest clothing. There are ways around that, maybe the Middle Eastern countries got the right idea?
cancer increasing substance stuck on the back wall of convience stores in a big white box for all to see
You know what commercials I hate? Those stupid truth commercials that attack cigarette commercials. Every person who smokes chose to start smoking. No company put a gun to their head and made them smoke. I saw this one commercial of a guy who\'s wife died of lung cancer. And he blamed the cigarette company. Not the fact that his wife spent half her life smoking a pack a day. Everyone knows they are bad for you. And why attack cigarettes? Alcohol and cars kill just as many people. Why not attack them?
America is envied by other countries because of it\'s free will. The way you\'ve argued, it seems that everyone should watch a certain show, dress a certian way, like certain things. they should all be squeaky clean. No sex, no drugs, no fun. This arguement will go on forever because it\'s all opionated. In my opinion, your opinion is wrong. And visa-versa. But every person has a right to watch, listen, wear, and do what they want as long as it doesn\'t infringe on another person\'s right. Keep that in mind.
If you don\'t like TV, then don\'t watch it. But do not say that other people shouldn\'t.[/COLOR]
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Woot! three cheers for the Boob tube:d. Its a love hate relationship:P I am a cartoon addict and though my folks tell me its not right for a 21 year old to sit in front of the TV for hours watching Dexters Lab, Rocko\'s Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, Pokemon etc, I just can\'t help it. I simply love it. I need two hours of cartoons a day to sustain meself. Other things I watch seldom. So I guess finally I come to the conclusion that TV is bad, or was that good? Well finally all that can be safely said is \"I am confused\" ?( :P.
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It\'s easy. Some TV is bad. But most of it is great. While I am not a fan of the \'kiddy\' cartoons anymore, I still watch the more \'adult-oriented\' cartoons. I have actually become a pretty big fan of Adult Swim now. I\'d say it\'s my second-favorite next to the Law and Order series. Gives us older kids an excuse to watch carttons.
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I agree with the doom opinions about TV. It has already turned most people in the US, including people posting to this forum into basically zombies. But hey, the world needs burger flippers and people who think the Real World is real. haha
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I watch TV sometimes, and most of the time, I really don\'t see how people can find that entertaining. Social interaction is entertaining, even if most people are morons. That\'s why I play MMO games.
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I mostly watch the various news channels and documentaries... so I don\'t know what all this hubbub about morally wrong TV programs or marketing is about.
Seriously... if you don\'t like violent programs, don\'t watch them. You must learn that you live in a world where there are other people and these people have different opinions, cultures, tastes, perspectives ... but most importantly moral and ethical codes.
What one person considers perfectly fine may be unacceptable to others. For example, the Taliban in Afghanistan banned television and art depicting people because it was considered idolatry. This was considered by the ruling militia to be morally righteous.
Another example - the totalitarian USSR regime of Stalin imposed an iron curtain and spewed constant propaganda. Forms of media like television were risky; people would start to think for themselves. Not to mention that they tried to abolish or ban religion as that was considered a poison to the mind to that regime. Whenever we impose limits on media, we create ignorance and encourage propaganda.
What are you going to do? Take away the freedom of others like these previous examples? Jump up and down like a spoiled brat and demand that everyone suddenly follow your moral and ethical codes ... losing their free will?
Of course companies advertise... they do that everywhere. As long as these advertisements do not harm anyone, they are ok. You have a brain - if you don\'t like advertisements, ignore them. Life is full of things that we don\'t like to see and we must learn to either ignore them, or stay away. Get over it.
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Nobody said TV should be taken away. And the people insulting TV DON\'T watch it, if you were paying any attention. Of course they know they don\'t have to watch it, or else they would be watching it.
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Of course tv should not be taken away.
Nor should the naive expect that their moral codes are any superior than that of any other person. The message from the first post seemed to spit out: Me good, you evil.
Maybe if people actually tried to spend their time on thinking of ways to improve the human condition and fight disease, poverty, hunger etc instead of simply ranting about its current problems...
BTW, I was talking about the author\'s insistence that the media change the way and things it broadcasts, not taking tv away... read my last post more closely.
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Oh, he insisted on that? I must have missed that... ah well.
Most people think that their right, there is nothing wrong with that. And look at you, looking down on those you consider to be looking down on others. He doesn\'t have the right to make people change, but he is allowed to yell about it, and that isn\'t making anyone do anything. He is just expressing a desire too.
Disease, poverty, hunger etc. are all current problems, and the best way to fix them is to get support, through ranting, of course. You contradicted yourself. I know it sounds like I\'m stretching it... but I\'m not.
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Originally posted by shadowmancer
He is just expressing a desire too.
Disease, poverty, hunger etc. are all current problems, and the best way to fix them is to get support, through ranting, of course. You contradicted yourself. I know it sounds like I\'m stretching it... but I\'m not.
Sure, and there is nothing wrong with expressing your opinion. But seriously, ranting accomplishes nothing more than hostility.
Debating, on the other hand solves problems. You see, the difference is that when we debate, we come to a conclusion. Ranting by definition is little on comprimise and big on hope... I hope this, I want that... but not: I will do this, this is what could be done and this will be helpful in this way.
And yes, I can look down on someone but I don\'t blatantly consider my morals to be superior. Take it easy.
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Fantasyfiend, I didn\'t actually read your post, and I haven\'t read any of this thread since I don\'t have time to.
I\'d just like to say I like shows like StarHunter, Jake 2.0, John Doe(cancelled), That was Then(cancelled), Tracker(cancelled), Tremors(cancelled).....aw, why do all the good shows get cancelled? :D The only show that I like that\'s made it to year 2 is...oh wait
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You know, verbal attacks on me as a facist are really pointless. You don\'t know me. Don\'t pretend you do. When my siblings are watching crap on tv, I walk out of the room, and exercise my free will. If I don\'t like it, I don\'t make myself watch it. That would be like hammering nails into your skull when no one made you.
And if you haven\'t been reading my posts then open your eyes and read this (This is directed at you, Aender):
Kissing in public doesn\'t bother me. If you want to dress like a slob, do it. You want to listen to Death Metal? It\'s your right. This is America. You can do anything, right up to the point of twisted perversion in America, and you reasonably have a right to do as you wish, but when someone forces THEIR freedom of speech down my throat, I have every right to regurtitate it back right into their faces. I don\'t want to control society. I want it society to take the next big step. In times of ancient England, kids were getting knocked up at like 12-13. Kings actually had a right to sleep with a bride before the groom did. Now that I think about I was wrong to some degree about a failing society, but it\'s a work in progress, and television is hindering that progress. I\'m not saying DON\'T watch tv. Hell, I do once in a while if I find something I WANT to watch. But people have 15 hours of stuff they watch, not because they want to watch it, but they\'re not constructive enough to walk away from it and find something better to do. Potterymaking, Going to concerts, have sex with teenagers. WHATEVER. A bad life is better than no life at all. They choose their lives, they live it. Not me, so I don\'t see why I have to swallow and accept bitter pills that I don\'t need. I don\'t see why, just because half the city of Houston goes to skin room, that I have to acknowledge their propaganda. It\'s like pop-ups on the internet or spam in my email. I never asked for enhancement pills, so I do what every one with free will does. Delete that sucker. I have every right to ignore something I don\'t like. But that\'s not the way life is. Things can\'t be ignored all the time, and in this case, that unignorable -thing- is how much time people spend with something that has little substancial worth.
Oh, and Aender. It\'s ironic that you make me out like a facist. I expressed myself at the top of my post, and posted that it was the working of an angered mind, and was my opinion. You CHOSE to write your opinions trying to make mine small. I was saying what was on my mind. If you don\'t like what I have to say, you can use YOUR free will and ignore this. No one is making you subscribe to my notions, but you chose to acknowledge them and argue. Not me. Don\'t make me out to be something I\'m not.
As for those \"Truth\" commercials, I would have to agree. It fanatacizes that smoking cigarretes is like putting a gun in your mouth. Blaming the cigarettes would be like blaming Smith and Wesson for school shootings.
Television, as I have come to realize it, is a roll of the dice. Sometimes it can come out with something so ingeniously funny as Invader Zim, and then the next moment it\'s blaring out some other idiocy. It has done good things like showing the world, America\'s first man on the moon. We knew, almost instantaniously, when the Twin Towers were hit. But for every \"good\" it can do for society, there are twenty \"bad\" things.
TV cannot, and should not be taken away. I\'m not saying for people to destroy it, I\'m saying for people to do something better with their time.
Balance is what so many lives are missing. People don\'t seem to know when to stop drinking or stop smoking or stop waving their genitalia in front of a camera. Balance is understanding that if something bothers you, you avoid it. Apperently it doesn\'t bother people to make idiots of themselves on television, so I avoid it. I just also chose to speak what I think.
Kblilik is right, I knew when I started this thread that it would draw contradiction like moths to flames. I am more than happy to debate, and come to a better conclusion, and have once or twice through this. But I stand on my opinion that television is degraded.
To Kramy: I haven\'t seen any of those, though I was interested in Tremors. I\'m not sure how many of those are Reality Shows. But I avoid those like the Black Plague. Television hasn\'t figured out how to show real people, and stop trying to characterize them as things like The Vegetarian, The Homosexual, The Insecure One, or The Partier. People are still made out as extremes, rather than average people.
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Originally posted by Fantasyfiend
And sashok, don\'t you dare blame God. He gave Adam and Eve warnings early on. Still they proceeded. The human race has a tendancy to destroy ourselves. Be it with drugs, food, sex, greed, blasphemy or what else you can think of. I wonder myself why he didn\'t just stomp out the human race early on, but it\'s not for you to pass judgement. Don\'t forget, your under him.
I think what ur refering to is erm..\'the arc\' if you take that literaly...or as a metaphore.
And God aparently didnt create us this way,if you go by the bible we are born perfect and the \'devil\' infulences us.
(you could compare TV to this, it \'influences\' us in the same way.)
christianuty today is influenced and developed on the changing opinions of people, its a subject ive studied and thought about alot,It is enterpreted in diferent ways,each view is diferent and cannot be judjed as if every christian believes that way.
TV does not force anyone to do anything. It suggests things that the weak minded pay attention to.
We all choose our own paths in life, and if someone desides they have nothing better to than watch TV,get pissed,sleep with evry person they meet an get high on drugs every night its their own choise.
We have our own free will to do whatever we want,your concience may stop you from doing those things that are \'bad\' but others dont and they will face the consequences from their actions.
TV shows what the audience wants, if people want to watch the mind numbing crap, that is what will be shown, people want it and they get it.
We influence TV and it influences us. Its an constantly changing issue.
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I\'m fine with showing 500 channels of moronic drivel 24x7, whether it is just stupid, violent, sexual or whatever. What I don\'t like is when I\'m watching some show like a football game and the *previews* for upcoming shows show the worst parts of those shows to get people interested. It doesn\'t affect me personally (much), but my 4 yr old son of the future shouldn\'t have to see that if we\'re just trying to watch the football game.
The other issue, however, is that like with the so-called Digital Divide, there is become a Brains Divide. The dumb people in America are getting dumber and the smart ones are getting smarter.
Dumb shows in Top 20 ratings:
SURVIVOR:PEARL ISLAND
TWO AND A HALF MEN
FEAR FACTOR
KING OF QUEENS
STILL STANDING
TRISTA AND RYAN\'S WEDDING
ACCORDING TO JIM
BECKER
Smart Shows with Smart Characters in Top 20:
CSI: MIAMI
CSI
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
COLD CASE
LAW AND ORDER
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
NAVY NCIS
LAW AND ORDER:CRIMINAL INTENT
SIMPSONS
CSI, CSI:Miami and Cold Case are by the same team. All 3 Law and Order shows are by the same team. So basically most of the smart tv on the broadcast networks is very concentrated in just a couple of scripting teams. People are starved for intelligence, which is why the smartest shows are the also the highest rated.
Too bad there are also a lot of burger flippers who jack up the ratings of shows like According to Jim.
There\'s my theory. :-)
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SURVIVOREARL ISLAND
TWO AND A HALF MEN
FEAR FACTOR
KING OF QUEENS
STILL STANDING
TRISTA AND RYAN\'S WEDDING
ACCORDING TO JIM
BECKER
Smart Shows with Smart Characters in Top 20:
CSI: MIAMI
CSI
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
COLD CASE
LAW AND ORDER
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
NAVY NCIS
LAW AND ORDER:CRIMINAL INTENT
SIMPSONS
Survivor-Whoever came up with that should die.
King of Queens- Kevin James, hilarious.
The Law and Order shows are definently the best shows on TV right now, I\'m actually asking for the SVU DVD boxset for Christmas.
And how did the Simpsons get on the smart list? I mean I love the Simpsons...but I\'d hardly classify it under the same intelligence rating as the Law and Order series.
FantasyFiend- I don\'t remember ever calling you a fascist but if that\'s how you interpret it, then so be it. Anyway I say we just agree to disagree because I don\'t see this discussion ending. But before that just let me comment on a few things.
Potterymaking, Going to concerts, have sex with teenagers
What about those people who\'s hobby is TV. Or how about this, which bands are popular, how do you know about them? TV. But the way you are putting this all out, you want to change how people live. Maybe this isn\'t your intention but that is exactly what you are saying. You believe that every should stop watching TV and pursue hobbies. It\'s not your life, and does it hurt you? No.[/COLOR]
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Frankly, I don\'t CARE which bands are popular. I decide for myself what music I like, not that damn box. I hear something I like, and I listen to it. Unlike the sad few who sit at the edge of their seats waiting for the next big boy band, or the next punkest thing. I listen to older music, but I do listen to the White Stripes and some Gorillaz when the mood takes me. I find most modern bands to be pathetically lacking. Musically, and characteristaclly. All the vocals and stylings sound the same as every other band. I
Yes, I would agree that our opinions are differant. I don\'t think people should persue a hobby, per se. I think that people who have nothing better in their life to do then stare at a box that dribbles nonsense should go out and get a life. I know, since I don\'t have one. But I don\'t fill the void with that slime. I try to fill it with taking classes and trying to better myself intellectually. It doesn\'t pass for a life, but that\'s something I\'m trying to work on.
And again, you didn\'t read my post. I said for people to get a life, and the choices they make don\'t effect me. I posted that already.
A bad life is better than no life at all. They choose their lives, they live it. Not me, so I don\'t see why I have to swallow and accept bitter pills that I don\'t need
I don\'t care what people do with their life. I find it sad that they would do things like base what\'s real by what they see on Empty-V or Jerry Springer. As far as people becoming zombies to capitalism, they bombard people with so many commercials that they become unseeing of the stupidity of it. Do you remember those pots with the siv lid? Remember the commercial where the mom is fighting a siv, while the ungrateful family are voicing their protest loudly? The father tapping his watch, keeping the \"Woman\" on a schedule? What bothers me is when they try and get me to believe that that family is going to improve from a pot with holes in it. Was it a good product? Maybe, I haven\'t tried it. Should it be marketted? Why not, someone might like it. Should they act like everyone\'s family is ungrateful and driven by some stereotype of a dominant male? Hell no. I get tired with stupidity and stereotypes of what the world is being crammed down my throat.
And yes, I do interpret you calling me a fascist. You put words in my mouth that I want people to dress, act, and watch the same thing. If you meant something else, then I certainly missed it.
The way you\'ve argued, it seems that everyone should watch a certain show, dress a certian way, like certain things. they should all be squeaky clean.
It sounds like your calling me a fascist. That or a prude.
I don\'t expect people to be anything, other than what they are. If you think me having hopes for a better world is expecting too much, then I\'m sorry you expect me to just lay down and accept the world as it is. If that happened, we never would have reached the Rennaisance. If we just accepted everything for the way it was and not what it could be, then as far anyone knew the world would still be flat. I don\'t demand people to change. I urge them to try something new. Something I\'m starting to take steps in myself.
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Before this goes any further, I better wipe some of the mud away.
Aender, Sorry about the animosity. But being seen as some vicious dictator like mind was offending. You are right on several degree\'s. However I stand on my thoughts that there are better things to do then television. I think it\'s waste of time. Still, I think that it has some good shows. Most of it I don\'t like, and don\'t watch. If you do, hey, that\'s your choice. I don\'t care, because it\'s not my mind. You can\'t have a constant hobby, there\'s nothing wrong with sitting down to something once in a while, but as I see it, someone who sits in front of it from dawn till dusk need to get out and find something to do.
I still need to find something to do to develop a life. I have a bad habit of seeing society as cockroaches, but\'s it hard not to when media portrays society as that. I guess television has swayed opinions of mine, but in the differant direction. Instead of considering that normal and accepting it, I consider it normal and despise it. However, I am working on it. If I actually got out of my comfort zone and met real people instead of despicable money whores that I\'ve misunderstood \"normal\" people to be. God I must seem like an ass right about now.
Anyway, one of my friends in my Visual Basics class might be calling this weekend. I can\'t even remember the last time I expected a call. That sucks. Oh well, things are looking better. Now I just need to find a good hobby and maybe a girlfriend. I think that\'s what my real problem is. Some people don\'t have lives, so they spend it infront of a box. I spent it despising said box.
I think it was the legendary Vincent Price who once said something to the effect of Boredom is the eighth Deadly Sin. I think that\'s true. When you got nothing better to do, you don\'t fill that with anything better for you.
Anyway, television is degraded at times. Yes. It has some good traits. Yes again. Does it matter what crap is being filtered through that screen? Not really, because I got more important things to do than mince at an inanimate object.
The most intelligent show...hmm..can\'t say I know too many. FLCL is confusing, but I don\'t think that really counts as smart. I don\'t watch many crime dramas, where the most intelligent television seems to be. Mystery Science Theater was pretty clever. Funny as Hell too. Crank Yankers & South Park? I guess they\'re OKAY. They can be funny when they\'re not trying to be overbearingly offensive. My favorite South Park was when Cristopher Reaves regained strength from Stem Cells. It was pretty funny. Crank Yankers is funny sometimes, stupid at others (Mostly others).
True. The smart get smarter. The dumb get dumber. Too bad television has to reflect that as well. Shows that mean to have value are getting better at finding interesting subjects while shows centered around genitals (aka Jackass, Real World, Survivor). The people behind Jack Ass must have some gay issues to work out, because some how or the other they end up in something skimpy and/or something about their crotch. Hopefully they\'ll sustain enough damage not to reproduce. Whatever. My backs to the screen anyway. Computer at my house faces away from the television (thankfully).
As for God wiping out the Human race, not really. He gave them a second chance. He almost wiped out the race. Destroyed all those sinful people (those were the days...). Actually, in a strange observation, many cultures have their version of Noah\'s Ark, so I\'m wondering if God saved more than just Noah, to stop inbreeding.
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Ya know what? I play PS becuase there\'s smart people here. All the ppl in my age group (besides my fellow geeks) are idiots, or obsessed with fashion, or something else that seems very trivial to me. It\'s really sad how most of them say \"F* school\" and the like, TV is partly responsible, but really popular culture is. (I hear in France teens take their education seriously, the French Propaganda Machine must be very powerful :P)
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Actually, in a strange observation, many cultures have their version of Noah\'s Ark, so I\'m wondering if God saved more than just Noah, to stop inbreeding.
Well that\'s because the first half of the Old Testament was borrowed from other religions. Well not borrowed...evolved from other religions. Judaism started as a break away religion...much as Christianity did with Judaism. But again, a different discussion.
The point I have been trying to make is that just because someone watches a few hours of TV a day, doesn\'t mean that they are wasting their life. I mean if a person spends 5 hours a day in class, then works at night, I think they are entitled to crashiing on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV. Sure if someone wakes up at 3 in the afternoon and watches TV until they go to bed, they need some help. But if anyone watches less than 5 hours of TV a day, they are obviously doing something else with their life.
As far as music goes, MTV has little effect on me. I am a big supporter of the local punk band scene here in Savannah. In my opinion there haven\'t been any really good punk bands since the late 70s (Ramones, Sex Pistols, Generation X, Clash) Metal and rock has slowed down as well. Boy bands were just a creation to make money for big corporations. You think BSB and N\'sync would have made as big as they did if they were all over weight old guys? Don\'t think so.
South Park is great because they find ways to poke fun of society and still have it be funny as hell. Crank yankers is one of the worst shows on TV. FLCL is.....strange.
I hated school. I used to say F* school everyday. But I was going to an all boys military school, so it was very hard for me. I still do say F* that school.....god I hate that school.
I watch maybe anywhere between 6 to 10 hours of TV a day. I go to classes in the morning. I don\'t have a job yet but I am working on that. If I did my hours of TV would be cut in half. But that\'s a lot of TV a day. Am I a zombie? No. I listen to my own music, on occasion I will see some band on TV or here a song that I like. I invented my own sense of fashion, though my sister calls me a pretty boy, because I care about how I look. I still won\'t conform to mainstream fashion. Direct me to the Goodwill, give me 20 bucks and I will be in heaven.
You see. I\'m not a zomb, asshole, or degraded, yet I watch a hell of a lot of TV. Actually I don\'t think I realized how much I watched until now. Will I stop? No. It\'s not hurting me, I\'m still the same person I always was. If TV takes hold of a person\'s life, it is their fault.[/COLOR]
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i haven\'t read all of the posts, cause this has blown up, but i\'d like to say my previous idea about fantasyfiend has changed I have to say he\'s a far stronger man than I because risk of pregnancy and desease just isn\'t enough to detur me from sex. I just use condoms...and prayer.
I worry about how I look alot...so much i don\'t want to messup on whats in fashion for me so my cusin helps me out. I buy a new pair of shoes every month, it would be everyday if i could manage it into my budget(i don\'t make enough money yet) I stay G-ed up with everything from Phat Pharm to FUBU, but occasionaly I pimp it out with some brown milk leather or a jean suit.
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But then again, thats 6 to 10 less hours you have...
But that\'s what you want to do with your time. Personally, I just don\'t watch TV because of the time it takes and that theres more fun stuff I could be doing.
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But it doesn\'t control my life. If a friend calls me up and wants to hang out, I\'ll turn off the TV and go. Or if I have schoolwork to do I\'ll turn it off and get to work. But if I don\'t find anything better to do I watch TV.
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hmm fantasy, just saw the thread, dont visist the plaza much, i completly agree, it seems barberic in my mind but thats there matter not mine, i just found out a day or two ago my cable had been unhooked for a month, but i really dont care except for peridical animes i want to watch i have dvd\'s and kazza what else need i to see the decent things.
but i wont slander them if they want to see that thats there thing, its kinda like my views on school \"clicks\" and all, but thats another thread of a story =).
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Like I said, Aender, it\'s not up to me to judge what you do with your time, especially if I don\'t know what you do with your time. I\'m just saying what I do.
Some shows are just great, like Simpsons and South Park. My brother and I download these ones on our computers. It works out great, you always have a choice as to which one you are watching.
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I havnt stopped to read ALL the posts but most of them. And i find that this is more of a \"What is Morally Correct in the Eyes of the World\" discussion. People define morals based on what they are taught to think is right and wrong or what they have aquired from experiance. Most people base morals on religion while others base it on independent studies. Basically what is RIGHT and what is Wrong? Only you can decide what is morally acceptable and what isn\'t.
I agree murder is wrong, only because it causes harm to another person. But screaming at the top of your lungs telling someone to Die is OK. Your not causing harm to anyone, just expressing yourself verbally. Everyone is entitled to oppinions and free expression. This applies to television as well. If the majority didn\'t want it, it wouldn\'t be there. Therefore the shows mentioned starting this thread are not hurting anyone, only a way to express intrest in the views of the people.
Why watch Soap Opras when you can come to the PS board and find a bit of Drama here and there ^^.
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Originally posted by Fantasyfiend
A bad life is better than no life at all.
I had no original intention to touch this thread...but I have to say something. I do not believe in the term \"you have no life\". EVERYONE that has a body, a brain, a beating heart, a soul and spirit, has a life. It doesnt matter whether their life is as simple as watching tv all day, begging for change in a dirty allyway, or working on the latest life changing invention of the century! It\'s a life, no matter how small, how \"pathetic\" (which is solely your opinion) it is, it is still a life...
You would probably think someone who lives in a cheap apartment, comes home from work and watches tv and plays video games then goes to sleep, has a pretty stupid life. But maybe you should think about it a bit more. Maybe thats all that person wanted out of his/her life, nothing big to brag about, nothing great and grand, just a practicle and simple life that they might be happy with. And as has been stated in previous posts, doing watever you want is only wrong when it interferes with anothers free will, as they have the same rights.
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thank you princess for saying it. Some people just dont want to be elite and search for a grand standing in life.
all life is equaly valueable to god... only society places classes on everything