Awhile back, my dad and I had a conversation about censorship. Long conversation shortened, after listening to some conservative guy on the radio, my dad felt censorship on tv was acceptable. Astounded I would disagree, AFTER I agreed with dad and Mr. Conservative that tv had lots of crap on it, I told my dad that my tv already had a censorship button on it-it's called the On/Off switch. And if for some reason I am unable to turn off the tv (because it has a certain hypnotic quality that helps me waste time) my back up is the channel changer. I will agree there are many opportunities to watch things I consider vile, deragatory, and absolutely degrading. But funny, on my tv, those things never seem to happen. My tv doesn't have to much sex, nor to much violence, so why would I be concerned about government censorship? Or rephrased-why would I want someone else, the governement, deciding what I should and should not watch?
So every Christmas I am privy to read or hear on the news the following conversation, that I have re-created in the interest of space:
Interviewer: So ma'am/sir, are you afraid that Christmas is to comercial?
Person: Oh absolutely! It is disgusting the way people go all out. Like they have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
Interviewer: I see you have the latest, most expensive toy out there. This is for a relative? Niece? Son?
Person: Oh yeah, for my kids. They will love it.
Interviewer: But you were concerned about commercialism? Do you think this contributes?
Person: It's not my fault. Everybody out there insists on buying these big gifts and then my kids expect it. Besides, the kids really want it-what are you goin to do?
I honestly don't mind people watching the worst that tv has to offer, and I don't mind that some people seem to have the goal of spending so much money they seem to out spend Santa Claus. But what I don't want to hear is people bitching about it! If you spend enough on the holiday to outfit a third world nation, I don't want to hear how Christmas is going down the tubes!!! If you watch couples trying to cheat on each other on a desert island, don't tell me tv has nothing but sex on it!
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But golly gee, if I don't do what everyone else does, then I won't be like everyone else, how will I know what to do? Why I should I have to think for myself when the government can do it for me...?! I totally agree with your sentiments of course. Self censorship is why we don't own a TV and don't miss it, we watch most movies before we let our kids see them, and I know that I will never be responsible enough to have satelite TV if we ever did get a TV again. When will people wake up and realize that they too can take control of their own lives by not doing things just because everyone else does? If people would not spend so much/watch the junk they put on TV/ eat the food they call junk/ it would not be there. Actions speak louder than words!
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