Should there be a TV and Internet censorship?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....EAL-TV-watershed.html

Have things gone too far now, and in this day and age of some children being allowed to stay-up way past the previous 'water shed' time of 9pm, should the time be later?

No mention as been made regarding the way some soaps attach their story-lines to sex and violence.

Emmerdale which was once a simply soap of quiet country folk, is now turning out rather too raunchy to be on our screens so early in the evenings.

Recent story lines have included sexual goings on in a car, qick escapes semi clad when the husband returns unexpectedly and continuous requests of "Shall we go upstairs" etc, etc?

Coro & Eastenders are no better.

[Bobbisox]

HI AOG I believe the watershed for soaps is to be looked into , I am sure I heard it last night on the News

[knowabit]

I don't let my kids watch the soaps. I record them and settle down to watch in peace once they are in bed!

[knowabit]

Not eastenders though - truly awful! Just Corrie and Emmerdale for me!

[Safiya]

I'm not sure how the internet could be censored. On youtube and other places for example if the content you click to view is deemed to be for over 18 all you have to do is click a link saying "yes i am over 18" anyone can click it.

[woofgang]

there are programs you can get that limit the websites that can be accessed.

[ChuckFickens]

Love how the newspapers try to highlight what they think is unacceptable to be shown on TV by printing pictures of what is unacceptable.

If it's that unacceptable don't print the pictures in your paper!

(not a anti daily mail comment, they all do it)

[Safiya]

oh I thought aog meant censorship on the internet itself rather than parental control type thing. My bad.

[ChuckFickens]

Also, the watershed is a bit of an outdated idea these days with so many people having sky+ or some other sort of PVR, or even the internet TV catchup services.

[Gromit]

It is impossible to censor the internet. No child ahould be left unsupervised on a computer unless parental controls have been set up.

As has already been said, the TV watershed is a bit of an outdated concept. Programmes after 9 o clock were deemed 'possibly unsuitable for children'. These days with hard drives, catch up tv and watch on demand, the old set time does not work. Maybe a symbol or cinema style rating should be used. More adult programming should not be banned. If all TV were to sanitised to be siutable for 12 year olds, then it would soon be very dull.

Finally, the TV companies filling early evening soaps with racey storylines in persuit of ratings should be deplored.

[woofgang]

I agree that the watershed is now unenforceable. It is (and always should have been IMO) up to parents to have half an ounce of sense and control what kids watch read etcet. I am also a bit puzzled about banning half dressed models on billboards...you do't even have to go to the beach these days...folk go shopping half dressed.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Maybe a symbol or cinema style rating should be used. ///

Maybe that could be an improvement on things, but on some adult series etc, a voice will announce that some scenes contain sexual images and violence, yet one never hears these warnings before soaps, except to say "if you are effected by any issues contained in the story line, ring 0801-..........".etc or words to that effect.

I notice that they will also give a warning about flashing lights before 'Has Britain Got Talent', maybe they should also include a warning about 'continuous high pitched screaming'.

'PARDON'?

[Kromovaracun]

I know this won't go down well, but I'm really not convinced that the kind of content you're talking about really damages kids in any significant way. In fact all kids ever seem to do is seek it out. I'm not saying there needs to be no limit - some stuff clearly isn't suitable - you clearly can't have kids casually watching pornography or extreme violence (or stuff of that ilk, you get what I mean) as it's disturbing by nature. But is "sexual goings on in a car, qick escapes semi clad when the husband returns unexpectedly and continuous requests of "Shall we go upstairs" etc, etc" really something that's too much for a kid to handle? Really? It seems to me to be the kind of stuff they talk about in playgrounds all the time. Playgrounds are second only to the internet regarding talk of casual filth and depravity.

[woofgang]

What age child are you talking about?

[Whickerman]

sticking a red triangle on the screen to warn of adult content drove up ratings for Ch4 some years back, definitely made any programmes with it showing a must-see for us as young teens...

As to changing the rules becausekids stay up late - what you're saying is that parents aren't eing parents o the state should be?

[Whickerman]

Being...So...

Sorry - my fingers aren't working!

[woofgang]

I agree it's totally the responsibility of the parents....just wondered how many 7, 8, 9 yo's you know who seek out casual filth and depravity.

[Kromovaracun]

@woofgang:

I don't really know, to be honest - it varies.

[grffindoor2011]

The watershead only really currently exists on terrestrial channels. An outdated concept pushed through by the devil (Mary Whitehouse). Many seem to think the watershead stops thing like hardcore pornography or four letter words. In the 70's, even having a couple chatting in bed was deemed to be watershead material.

Never do we want to go back to being controlled like this and by always using children as the reason why grown adults cannot watch a man holding a gun.

[mike11111]

I remember American shows of the 50s and 60s where bedroom scenes (non-sexual) always showed the husband and wife in twin beds!