On the surface, I applaud the effort. I am all for any kind of rating or informational resources for parents to monitor what their kids are doing. I think parents that let their kid keep the internet or a phone in their room are morons. I think not nearly enough parents involve themselves in their children's daily lives and I do actually think it is a primary cause to most of today's social problems.
That said, where I draw the line is when these well meaning retards try to influence what I choose to watch. PTC proudly displays a quote from Time saying they are the national clearing house, and arbiter of, decency. Setting aside the arguments about who decides what decency standards are, Im okay with half that statement. National Clearing House. Again, good for them for setting up a resource. But, arbiter of? They can blow me. They shouldnt have the authority to decide dick... (to those a little confused at this point, Im using the dictionary definition of arbiter. To which you can get up off your lazy ass, reach over, and look it up yourself if youre curious.)
After this bold boast, they then tell us about their numbers showing 75% of the 1,505 adults they surveyed want tighter enforcement of government rules on broadcast content, particularly when children are most likely watching; 60% want indecency standards extended to cable TV; etc. Lets take that one point at a time.
First, just to get it out of the way... turn off your fucking TV if you dont want to see something... and, I dont know, try being a parent and making your kid do something. Yeah, he might go to Jonnys house to watch something, but he might go to Jonnys house to get a blow-job, too. I suggest getting to know Jonny and his parents a little better before you let him wander over there.
Secondly, cable TV differs in one very significant way than regular TV. You pay for it. You choose to have cable TV. If you dont want to watch it, dont buy it (in addition to the channel changing thing. Oh by the way, doesnt every TV come with parent controls now to screen out certain rated shows? Mine does and I bought it about ten years ago.)
And thats what I hate... when people like this get agenda. You got a rating system (because youre too lazy to monitor what your kids watch), you got TVs with censor chips in them (because youre too lazy to watch your own kid), and you got resources on the internet (like PTC) that tells you how to think and helps do your parenting for you. And you still want more.
I would be much more vocal about my okayness with ratings and resources if your true agenda wasnt squishing TV down to the point my only choices were sitting down to watch 50s reruns, Joan of Arcadia, or the fucking Michael Landon channel.
By the way, there are 300,000,000 (thats 300 million) people in this country. That 1,505 people are .05% of the population. Not 5% or .5%. Point zero five percent. That means if I had 3,000 dollars or people, youd have a penny (technically a penny and a half).
I bet if we tried really hard, we could find 1,505 on this site that would say they wanted less government enforcement of TV decency laws (feel free to send them here... you know how long I leave these things up).
Anyway, now to the point. On one part of the PTC website, they describe both the best and worst shows of any given TV week. Foxs Family Guy has made the recent lists twice. I didnt think a Family Guy episode could be any funnier until I read this straight up description of it meant to warn parents about it's content. Pay particular attention to the description of what Steve does to Stewie in the second-to-last paragraph. Ive seen that episode and its not nearly as funny as reading about it in Bowlings article:
Worst TV Show of the Week
Family Guy
By Aubree Bowling
In spite of the few animated sitcoms fashioned for adults on prime time television, cartoons, to most peoples minds, still equal childrens programming. So a thirty-minute animated program that features a traditional family unit of mom, dad, son, daughter, baby son and talking dog looks on the surface to be a show for kids, or at least a family sitcom, but Foxs Family Guy is decidedly not for families. The show is hands-down one of the most obscene series ever to air on network TV and Fox is proudly bringing it back to its schedule this spring with new episodes. In the meantime, they are airing some repeats on Sunday evenings that are best forgotten.
On Sunday, January 16, a rerun from August 8, 2001 entitled And the Weiner Is was aired at 9:30 ET/8:30 CT on Fox. The episode revolved around the father of the family, Peter, being overcome with jealousy when he discovers that his son Chris has larger genitals than he. The entire episode surrounded this absurd and disturbing premise, making it the PTCs hands down choice for Worst of the Week.
In one scene, Peter is trying to have sex with his wife, Lois, and cant perform because his mind is on his sons genitals. Peter blames Loiss genes, saying: Thanks to you our son has a huge wang. Then Peter shows Lois Chriss penis and Lois exclaims: Oh my, no wonder hes always slouching!
Later, Peter tries to pretend that he too has large genitals by putting his infant son, Stewie, inside his pants, to make a large bulge. When Lois tells Peter that his behavior is sick, Peter says its okay because Stewie is outside his underwear. Later Peter tries to compensate again by buying a large car and he simulates a sex act by driving the car into a tunnel that is animated in a way that suggests intercourse.
The episode is full of graphic talk and innuendo. Parents should help their children avoid this degrading television series and protect them from the innocence-shattering topics and themes purveyed each week on Family Guy.
Funny shit, Maynard.
Yes, I have a broad variety of interests, reflected in my groups list