Study: Use of profanity increasing on TV
09-23-03 | 02:39 PM
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Study: Use of profanity increasing on TV
Fu¢k yeah!
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/0....ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/0....ap/index.html
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Television is cussing up an increasingly blue streak, according to a study of the major broadcast networks.
"During the 2002-2003 season, the broadcast networks attempted to rewrite the book on language standards for television," the Parents Television Council, a watchdog group, said in a report released Monday.
The council said it studied all primetime entertainment series from a two-week period in 1998, 2000 and 2002 and found a jump in profanity on "virtually every network" and in every time slot.
The group called on the TV industry to "get serious about reducing the flood of vulgarity. ... Barring that, the FCC needs to get serious about enforcing broadcast decency laws," the group said of the Federal Communications Commission.
The study examined ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB and UPN.
During the so-called "family hour," from 8-9 p.m., foul language increased by 94.8 percent between 1998 and 2002, the study found. It rose by 109 percent during the 9 p.m. hour in the same period.
The smallest increase, 38.7 percent, occurred during the last hour of primetime, 10-11 p.m., when young children are least likely to be in the audience, the council said.
The group noted what it called "minor" improvements.
Foul language in the 8 p.m. hour on Fox fell 25 percent in the study period. But the study found profanity rose 75 percent during the 9 p.m. hour on Fox.
On ABC, offensive language decreased by 17 percent in the study period, mostly because of improvements during the latter two primetime hours. But profanity was up by 61.7 percent during the family hour, the study found.
An ABC spokesman Monday said the network had not seen the report and declined comment. A Fox spokesman declined comment.
In a similar, earlier study, the PTC found that sexual content on TV was less frequent but more explicit.
"During the 2002-2003 season, the broadcast networks attempted to rewrite the book on language standards for television," the Parents Television Council, a watchdog group, said in a report released Monday.
The council said it studied all primetime entertainment series from a two-week period in 1998, 2000 and 2002 and found a jump in profanity on "virtually every network" and in every time slot.
The group called on the TV industry to "get serious about reducing the flood of vulgarity. ... Barring that, the FCC needs to get serious about enforcing broadcast decency laws," the group said of the Federal Communications Commission.
The study examined ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB and UPN.
During the so-called "family hour," from 8-9 p.m., foul language increased by 94.8 percent between 1998 and 2002, the study found. It rose by 109 percent during the 9 p.m. hour in the same period.
The smallest increase, 38.7 percent, occurred during the last hour of primetime, 10-11 p.m., when young children are least likely to be in the audience, the council said.
The group noted what it called "minor" improvements.
Foul language in the 8 p.m. hour on Fox fell 25 percent in the study period. But the study found profanity rose 75 percent during the 9 p.m. hour on Fox.
On ABC, offensive language decreased by 17 percent in the study period, mostly because of improvements during the latter two primetime hours. But profanity was up by 61.7 percent during the family hour, the study found.
An ABC spokesman Monday said the network had not seen the report and declined comment. A Fox spokesman declined comment.
In a similar, earlier study, the PTC found that sexual content on TV was less frequent but more explicit.
09-23-03 | 07:23 PM
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Yeah, getting offended by certain words has always seemed to me to be incredibly immature. I just can't even begin to comprehend why fu*k, shit, bitch and all these other words are so horribly wrong? Look, I can't type out fu*k but we all know exactly what the word is. It's mind-numbingly stupid. I'll be glad when the day comes that shows like Sopranos can be shown on regular tv with no censorship. We have V-Chips and such things now so there is no excuse. If you don't want your kids to see these things, take 5 minutes out of your day and figure out how to use that V-chip. Why do we have to watch watered down crap becasue some people might be lazy parents?
09-23-03 | 10:34 PM
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Because a lot of North Americans lump sex and nudity together, and lump sex and immorality together. Nudity has the POTENTIAL to be sexual, and sex has the POTENTIAL to be immoral. They don't see the difference between a rape scene and someone getting out of the shower.
I think after 10pm, anything goes. As it should be. Sopranos aired here at 10pm on network TV uncut, and there was no fuss because kids were in bed, and there were plenty of warnings.
I just find it so funny when you guys air a movie like Starship Troopers, cut out all the naughty words and bare breasts, but leave in the guys getting ripped apart and set on fire.
Because that's less offensive.
I think after 10pm, anything goes. As it should be. Sopranos aired here at 10pm on network TV uncut, and there was no fuss because kids were in bed, and there were plenty of warnings.
I just find it so funny when you guys air a movie like Starship Troopers, cut out all the naughty words and bare breasts, but leave in the guys getting ripped apart and set on fire.
Because that's less offensive.
09-24-03 | 12:07 AM
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
People's standards are easing up on it. if the american public didn't get decensitized(sp) then we would still have standards to where you couldn't show anything above the ankle along thelines of leg flashes. 
we still hold some standards to nudity of course. I'm sure in about 5 years give or take, we will see some nudity on tv.
we still hold some standards to nudity of course. I'm sure in about 5 years give or take, we will see some nudity on tv.
09-24-03 | 12:37 AM
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seriously whats the big deal about swear words? south park had it right - if we just let shit become a normal word, it will quickly lose its 'taboo'-ness. these words are bad because most people just accept them as bad.
look at words like damn and bitch. years ago they were HORRIBLE words...now everyone says them all the time. its no big deal. shit is slowly approaching that status. i assume f*** will within 5-10 years.
let kids hear and say these words. all we have to do is make them not-bad-things-to-say. soon they will say it less and it wont even be a big deal.
look at words like damn and bitch. years ago they were HORRIBLE words...now everyone says them all the time. its no big deal. shit is slowly approaching that status. i assume f*** will within 5-10 years.
let kids hear and say these words. all we have to do is make them not-bad-things-to-say. soon they will say it less and it wont even be a big deal.
09-24-03 | 05:28 AM
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Alright, I'll be the sole voice against profanity on TV. You want it then get pay cable.
You can't stop kids from learning these words off the street but why do we need it broadcast on TV? When I was a kid, I prefered innocence. Why do kids have to learn profanity, rape, and other adult issues from TV? Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids. It's no surprise that kids are doing drugs, dressing like hos, and having sex at an early age. And, no, I do not have any kids.
You can't stop kids from learning these words off the street but why do we need it broadcast on TV? When I was a kid, I prefered innocence. Why do kids have to learn profanity, rape, and other adult issues from TV? Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids. It's no surprise that kids are doing drugs, dressing like hos, and having sex at an early age. And, no, I do not have any kids.
09-24-03 | 08:50 AM
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Originally posted by big whoppa
Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids.
Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids.
09-24-03 | 08:59 AM
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From: Un-Happy Valley, PA
I agree that the curse words are taboo based on historical treatment of the words themselves. Unfortunately, if we make use of such words commonplace and acceptable, other new taboo words will come along and replace the current crop.
Look, kids will go out of their way to seem cool, hip and cutting edge. They will constantly use vulgarity, in whatever form, for the shock value it causes.
However, as an adult I personally do not see the need for the use of shock language in family hour viewing programs. I have no problem with such language in later viewing times in shows/situations where the language used adds value/meaning to the situation being portrayed. To just use vulgarity for the sake of using it alone is meaningless.
Look, kids will go out of their way to seem cool, hip and cutting edge. They will constantly use vulgarity, in whatever form, for the shock value it causes.
However, as an adult I personally do not see the need for the use of shock language in family hour viewing programs. I have no problem with such language in later viewing times in shows/situations where the language used adds value/meaning to the situation being portrayed. To just use vulgarity for the sake of using it alone is meaningless.
09-24-03 | 09:15 AM
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i'm surprised that nip tuck hasn't gotten into trouble over content (rear nudity, tons of sex, brief female nudity in the pilot), and lots of swearing. surprised that advertisers didn't pull out early.
09-24-03 | 10:57 AM
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Originally posted by wlmowery
However, as an adult I personally do not see the need for the use of shock language in family hour viewing programs. I have no problem with such language in later viewing times in shows/situations where the language used adds value/meaning to the situation being portrayed. To just use vulgarity for the sake of using it alone is meaningless.
However, as an adult I personally do not see the need for the use of shock language in family hour viewing programs. I have no problem with such language in later viewing times in shows/situations where the language used adds value/meaning to the situation being portrayed. To just use vulgarity for the sake of using it alone is meaningless.
09-24-03 | 11:21 AM
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
The evening news is far more violent and potentially damaging to children's psyche than any network show.
I've been hearing this "TV is warping children" all my life...it's a nice excuse for irresponsible parents.
I've been hearing this "TV is warping children" all my life...it's a nice excuse for irresponsible parents.
09-24-03 | 11:28 AM
#19
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Originally posted by big whoppa
Alright, I'll be the sole voice against profanity on TV. You want it then get pay cable.
Alright, I'll be the sole voice against profanity on TV. You want it then get pay cable.
Or *gasp* tell kids what they can and can't watch, and occasionally keep an eye on them.
Now, as long as my stepson doesn't find out that he can watch a 'live tv' show currently being recorded without entering the code, things will be ok!
09-24-03 | 11:34 AM
#20
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Originally posted by big whoppa
Alright, I'll be the sole voice against profanity on TV. You want it then get pay cable.
You can't stop kids from learning these words off the street but why do we need it broadcast on TV? When I was a kid, I prefered innocence. Why do kids have to learn profanity, rape, and other adult issues from TV? Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids. It's no surprise that kids are doing drugs, dressing like hos, and having sex at an early age. And, no, I do not have any kids.
Alright, I'll be the sole voice against profanity on TV. You want it then get pay cable.
You can't stop kids from learning these words off the street but why do we need it broadcast on TV? When I was a kid, I prefered innocence. Why do kids have to learn profanity, rape, and other adult issues from TV? Loss of innocence is a sad state of affairs for kids. It's no surprise that kids are doing drugs, dressing like hos, and having sex at an early age. And, no, I do not have any kids.
And the whole "family hour" of television watching is a joke anyway.
09-24-03 | 11:48 AM
#21
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
i'm surprised that nip tuck hasn't gotten into trouble over content (rear nudity, tons of sex, brief female nudity in the pilot), and lots of swearing. surprised that advertisers didn't pull out early.
i'm surprised that nip tuck hasn't gotten into trouble over content (rear nudity, tons of sex, brief female nudity in the pilot), and lots of swearing. surprised that advertisers didn't pull out early.
09-24-03 | 12:03 PM
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I'm surprised friends got away with saying "no shit" in the season finale right in the family hour (as with tons of sex related jokes), and unlike for chicago hope, they didn't even advertise for it.
09-24-03 | 12:46 PM
#23
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
I'm surprised friends got away with saying "no shit" in the season finale right in the family hour (as with tons of sex related jokes), and unlike for chicago hope, they didn't even advertise for it.
I'm surprised friends got away with saying "no shit" in the season finale right in the family hour (as with tons of sex related jokes), and unlike for chicago hope, they didn't even advertise for it.
09-24-03 | 02:13 PM
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
I'm surprised friends got away with saying "no shit" in the season finale
I'm surprised friends got away with saying "no shit" in the season finale