So the "I'm a celebrity..." series progresses, people have been evicted and yet another reality TV programme dominates the daily press... Generally I am quite vocal in my distaste of these kinds of broadcast - but I will take my hat off to Jonny Rotten who, last night, managed to get the most offensive phrase in the english language into a 3 minutes live broadcast!!! Quality!! Who said punk was dead?!!

What I really wanted opinions on though, is censorship.

The Americans are going insane cos Janet Jackson flashed her breast on stage, whilst we brits (famously uptight) only need publish a small apology in a newspaper for the most offensive word in our language being used live whilost kids are up!!

I'd rather live in the UK... You??

Censorship is one of those tricky areas. People say we need censorship to protect the youth of today...to be honest Ive learnt a few new swear words from the youth of today!
They all write in to Points of View and Right to Reply and other such programmes complaining about the language on TV before the watershed when you can hear much more colourful language on public transport at any time of the day mostly emminating from the mouths of babes :loopy:

censorship doesnt really work. there will always be kids sneaking into 18 rated films or because half of children nowadays have TVs in their rooms, stay up and watch adult films on Channel 5. There will always be someone or something to offend people.

Bet Mary Whithouse is turning in her grave!

Its easy to say you're against censorship, but if you think it through, it is more neccessary than you might imagine.

Would you like to be faced with a billboard sized picture of a 12 inch penis everyday on the way to work?

How about a bit of animal sex? Or someone curling out a cleavleland steamer into a dixie cup?

I do hate the fact that other people have the say-so on what I am allowed to see, but I also know that a complete lack of censorship would be a terrible thing.

Imagine sitting at tea with your granny while Pat Butcher and Janine go at it on the living room floor in Eastenders' first incestuous lesbian love romp storyline...

Shouldnt happen should it.

Originally posted by Agent Dan
I'd rather live in the UK... You??

I think the level of censorship in the UK is about right.
We have the 9 o'clock watershed, and these days we have warnings before a programme starts if there is going to be bad language/nudity/sex/extreme voilence etc.

As for Johnny Rotten - what did they expect? He's done just what they wanted him to do...be a little outrageous, get them loads of publicity, and up the viewing figures. Result!

As adults with the use of DVDs and video recorders we can pretty much watch what we want, when we want. Most censorship I guess is aimed at protecting the young, but other forms of censorship (possibly self censorship?) are just a matter of good taste. Personally, I don't want to be confronted with "Pat Butcher and Janine going at it" when I'm eating my tea!![1]

Nomme

[1] Or any other time for that matter. Urgh!

There are different forms of censorship. The UK is still quite bad in some respects (e.g. Jame Bond films still get censored here where they don't in Europe and for silly things too).

In my view, if I go to the James Bond film, or buy it I should be able to get it uncensored.

Public decency is another matter, taking the billboard example. There I am not making a choice. The same could be said of the Janet Jackson episode. Whilst Johnny Rotten comes under the you are daft if you didn't expect it heading.

Context can make a difference, but I for one am glad to live somewhere where a breast in itself is not considered a cause for a national enquiry. The JJ event was staged and a bit silly, but not obscene by any level.

JR was not staged, but expected so fairs fair there.

Neither was really out of order, but similarly I wouldn't be surprised if both has disqualified themselves from presenting Blue Peter.

Originally posted by jackthedog
Its easy to say you're against censorship, but if you think it through, it is more neccessary than you might imagine.

Would you like to be faced with a billboard sized picture of a 12 inch penis everyday on the way to work?



Well it would make a change, we are face with women's breasts on billboards so why not have some men showing bits off for a change! :thumbsup:

Joking aside the watershed is 9 o'clock and there are warnings before most live shows and pre-recorded shows so if someone gets offended by it, then they shouldn't watch it, they were warned after all. As for kids seeing it, the watershed is there for a purpose and parents should be responsible for making sure their kids don't see it. If parents let their young kids have TV in their bedrooms then, in my opinion that is bad parenting.

What makes me laugh is, the celebrities have already sworn using the f word and ant and dec said it was ok as it was after the watershed. Last night the c word was used and everyone makes a huge fuss about it. They are all swear words at the end of the day, why is one worse than the other? Now all they've done is create a load of publicity and got everyone repeating the phrase!

Originally posted by Foxxx
What makes me laugh is, the celebrities have already sworn using the f word and ant and dec said it was ok as it was after the watershed. Last night the c word was used and everyone makes a huge fuss about it. They are all swear words at the end of the day, why is one worse than the other?

A good point. There appears to be a lack of consistency in censorship. My personal perference would be to ban all swearing at all times. Why? Because although Foxxx makes reference to children watching after the 'watershed' (ho ho), my opinion is that if the parents can't be bothered to bring their children up properly, then sooner or later the state will!

People say we need censorship to protect the youth of today...Ya..... Those crap video games they are playing (Killing,etc) isnt doing anything is it?? -- They need to take that garbage away from them!!!!!!!!!!

Censorship has gotton INSANE and its all because of the youth of today learning bad things... THE VIDEO GAMES ARE 1/2 THE FIGHT!!!!!! -- NOTHING BUT FIGHTING GARBAGE,HATE,EVIL......

I used to love going into an arcade during the 80s!!!!!!

MOST ARCADES ARE FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT TRASH GAMES TODAY!!!!!! -- ITS SICKENING