Is America too politically correct?

[michaelskis]

If you look at TV from the 60

[Pillsbury]

I'm not sure I totally agree---I mean we have shows like Family Guy, South Park, and The War at Home, et al. These shows often say things that, to me, are just outrageous. I'm not usually offended, but much of the jokes on these shows are nothing short of racist, homophobic, et al. I say that as a fan of South Park.

I think All in the Family was a great show, as was the Jeffersons, but compared to today's television, the Jeffersons was tame and All in the Family, to me, was not as offensive as Family Guy or South Park.

[michaelskis]

I'm not sure I totally agree---I mean we have shows like Family Guy, South Park, and The War at Home, et al. These shows often say things that, to me, are just outrageous. I'm not usually offended, but much of the jokes on these shows are nothing short of racist, homophobic, et al. I say that as a fan of South Park.

I think All in the Family was a great show, as was the Jeffersons, but compared to today's television, the Jeffersons was tame and All in the Family, to me, was not as offensive as Family Guy or South Park.

[monsoon]

You are comparing a period when there were basically 3 television channels to now where there are literally hundreds. As a result, broadcast Television of the 1970s was oriented towards more towards adults and since they controlled everything, they invested in quality programming that was often cutting edge. The Jeffersons, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Sanford and Son, and their associated spinoffs all came in the very eary 1970s and are still ranked as some of the best television of all time.

In the late 70s everyone got cable TV and all of the cable channels we have today were launched and people moved away from the broadcast networks. They in turn reduced the quality of their programming dramatically and it's rare today to see anything that even approaches the quality of the shows they had back in the day. It's mostly sports, reality shows, crap geared towards teenyboppers and watered down news that supports the corporations that own them now.

I will agree that almost 30 years of social conservatives (1980 on) controlling government has also had a dimming effect on what the broadcast networks can show over the air. It's a reflection of an America that is becoming almost childlike in its attitudes towards many things. I am always grateful to watch the BBC or listen to BBC Radio 1 as it reminds me of what it used to be like here.

[Pillsbury]

You are comparing a period when there were basically 3 television channels to now where there are literally hundreds. As a result, broadcast Television of the 1970s was oriented towards more towards adults and since they controlled everything, they invested in quality programming that was often cutting edge. The Jeffersons, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Sanford and Son, and their associated spinoffs all came in the very eary 1970s and are still ranked as some of the best television of all time.

[michaelskis]

Very much agreed. I think television of today attempts to shock people without really caring how it's done. I think t.v. shows of years past were attempting to shock people, but at the same time also trying to make them think about why they were shocked.

[Captain Worley]

The network execs probably wouldn't let it get on the air. The cable guys, no problem.

[Pillsbury]

I would agree with that.

Let me ask you this, could the script of what Archie Bunker said about minorities be aired on a new program today?

[monsoon]

It's interesting that nobody here has recognized that All in the Family was a parody of a bigot. This is my guess this is why you won't see it on TV these days. i.e. Our TV shows and audiences are much less sophisticated now in order to make ratings. It really doesn't have anything to do with being politically correct.

[Charlotteman]

Lately we've been watching reruns of the British TV comedy "Are You Being Served?". It can be hysterically funny, but the era in which it was created is clearly of another era. (late 1970s)

Every other joke is a candidate for sexual harrassment by today's standards. I assume sexy suggestive jokes at work were "okay" during that time, but certainly not today. Thank god for that. I find myself wincing at the suggestive remarks made by male staff to female staff.

This show would never be made today.

If politically correct means not finding sexual harrassment amusing....then I'll proudly carry the P.C. mantra:)

[dtown]

I dont really think TV is too PC. No one watches network TV, so they dont have good shows anymore. Cable chanels like comedy central have a lot of shows that arent PC, ie south park, mind of mencia.

I think that the nation as a whole, though, is too PC. You cant even say "garbage man" without offending someone- they want you to say "SANITATION ENGINEER".

[monsoon]

This show would never be made today.

[michaelskis]

In addition to TV differences, in the 60

[krazeeboi]

Another important distinction to make is that the 60's, 70's, and early 80's represented a very transitory time in our nation's history socially and politically, and the TV shows mentioned represented that. While we're not exactly a static culture contemporarily speaking, I don't think we in the middle of drastic ideological shifts as we were during that particular time period either.

However, I think a case could possibly be made that in some cases, we may be too politically correct, just not based on TV shows.

[MadVlad]

I was watching Hex on BBC tonight. Great show, had some swearing but who cares. I never saw the problem with some swearing and mild nudity during prime time. Oh wait, all our children will become pimps and strippers.... my bad.

[kayman]

One thing I have a pet peeve about with today's society is the obsession with violence. Not just regular violence, but gore and graphic violence. However, if you show a nipple, i.e. Janet Jackson and the 2004 Super Bowl, oh you are hithen and a very bad example to children. I would rather see an exposed female breast than somebody decapitated or dismembered. And people wonder why we live in a more dangerous society nowadays.

[Charlotteman]

I think everyone is forgetting about the Jerry Springer Show, which is indeed shown on regular TV. If you haven't seen it in a while, check it out sometime. The show probably couldn't have gotten away with half the stuff it does, even ten years ago. And none of it is P.C. either.

The studio audience taunts and jeers the guests on stage calling them "fat" and "wh*re" and "ugly" and worse.......When someone admits they are a drunk, the studio audience erupts in cheering.

This show makes Archie Bunker look like Norman Lear. The estimated viewership is 5 million plus a day. So not all current TV shows are P.C., and there is definitely a market for un-P.C. shows.

[monsoon]

In that particular case, I think that was a lack of having any common sense. There has always been an expected decorum that one is expected to at least follow at certain events and flashing titties at a televised ball game or any ball game where which is supposed to be a community/family event is not one of them. They compounded the problem by taking the typical approach of refusing responsibility for their actions by calling the incident a "wardrobe malfunction". If they had just said, "you know, we made a mistake and we are sorry" I think it would have ended fast.

It's this lack of respect for others in this regard that cause the resulting backlashes which bring on the resultant PC behavior.

In regards to BBC programming, I've been watching Torchwood (SciFi spinoff of Dr. Who) and I don't possibly see how that should could be put on TV in the United States. (maybe on a cable channel with serious editing) The outcry from certain quarters would just be deafening.

[dtown]

I hate those groups like that, the ones who want to make TV sterile. Who cares if they hear a swear word on TV? Just because a kid sees a boob on TV or hears a swear word is going to ake them devil worshiping crime lord like everyone seem to think it will. If you dont want your kids to see it, buy a TV with that V-Chip thing and block the channel.

Its funny, the dont care if you put "Saving Provate Ryan", the bloodiest movie i have ever seen, on TV; as long as they bleep out all the swear words, they dont care if they show people getting their guts blown out by a machine gun.

To me it seems like that screw a child up worse than seeing light nudity or hearing a few swear words.

[dgreco]

I just think we are trying to make up for gendered racial social and cultural inequalities, but in a capitalist structures inequality is natural. We may treat others wrong, but it is a natural system... unless we want to be communist or socialist .. But I do think we are to PC, because of the inequalities.

*great example is Title IX

[Spartan]

I just want to know what manholes aren't called personholes. As a man, I am offended by this injustice.

[Cadeho]

I hate those groups like that, the ones who want to make TV sterile. Who cares if they hear a swear word on TV? Just because a kid sees a boob on TV or hears a swear word is going to ake them devil worshiping crime lord like everyone seem to think it will. If you dont want your kids to see it, buy a TV with that V-Chip thing and block the channel.

Its funny, the dont care if you put "Saving Provate Ryan", the bloodiest movie i have ever seen, on TV; as long as they bleep out all the swear words, they dont care if they show people getting their guts blown out by a machine gun.

To me it seems like that screw a child up worse than seeing light nudity or hearing a few swear words.

[dgreco]

They've aired Saving Private Ryan on ABC I think twice uncut and uncensored. Some dramas have let some words go uncensored.

But hey, maybe we should bring back Hi, Honey I'm Home.

[Pillsbury]

They've aired Saving Private Ryan on ABC I think twice uncut and uncensored. Some dramas have let some words go uncensored.

But hey, maybe we should bring back Hi, Honey I'm Home.

[MadVlad]

I've found that Sirius Sattelite radio is much better radio for the same reasons that cable TV is better than network TV: no FCC regualtions. Anytime the government has a sya in what we see and hear, it's a bad thing....