Parents' group derides V-Chip ads

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Hmm... What is already in place v what is proposed

Okay, let's look at what is already in place.

The US TV Rating System:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_Parental_Guidelines#United_States

Also in place is the V-Chip.

The V-Chip allows you to block all shows that has the specified rating.

There is only 2 problems with this system;

1. It is voluntary, although every broadcaster and 99% of the cable channels do rate everything except News and some other locally produced content. This can be easily fixed however by allowing the V Chip to block unrated shows.

2. Sometimes shows with a lower rating will contain some material that it wasn't rated on. These instances mostly revolve around shows that are live... EG; the Superbowl Janet-Jackson Wardrobe malfunction. There were also some "F-Bombs" (An exploitive that sounds like yuck but starts with F) in some of the awards shows.

3. Also note that Cable receivers have had the ability to lock out certain channels since the 80's. All satellite and cable companies allow a method to lock out channels.

With what they currently have the parents can block any content they find unsuitable for their children. I criticize the V-Chip, but for a very different reason. My criticism is that if parents would actually properly supervise their children the V-Chip would not be needed, including limiting children's TV watching to less than 3 hours and then only in a place that is supervised by the parents (Not in their rooms).

What they want instead of the V-Chip is one of two things.

1. They want to be able to pick what channels they get with cable and get a refund on the channels they don't want. Their reasoning is that they can boycott certain channels instead of purchasing a package thus their money won't go to support those channels and it creates a disincentive for the cable companies to offer those channels at all. This will could backfire. What they fail to realize is that there will be many customers without children who will choose not to have Nick, ABC Family, The religious channels, and other so called "child friendly" channels. The result could end up that their is less on TV that is appropriate for their children.

2. They want to impose the broadcast TV decency standards from 6 AM to 10 PM on all Cable channels. This could bankrupt the cable companies as one of the prime reasons why some people choose cable is because the shows don't conform to the same rules as the broadcasters. Several channels defiantly would have to go under this law as their content never conforms, and was never meant to conform Eg; The Playboy Channel, to these rules.

This is also very stupid because haven't theses people ever heard of the VCR or TiVo? The children could just record the shows at night and watch them during the day. They of course will point this out after they get the law passed and then will demand that the standard apply at all times (Their real goal).

Posted by: Edward Meyers   Posted on: 07/28/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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