Continuing from the previous blog below from Olga Y., in class, the questions, “what should be censored” and “who can choose the censors” became an outbreak discussion in class. The question still remains, what SHOULD be censored? Of course, we as humans should automatically know and have a conscious of what needs to be censored. Censorship varies from many ages, places and time. For parents, I am sure sex and violence are surveyed to be censored from all kids shows and definitely a lot of evening shows when their children comes home from school.
Do we honestly lack censorship as much as we think we do? How do we adults verify violence? How do we know that little kids are not viewing that we, as adults, see as non-violence as violence? There is a article by Amy Benfer, in 2001 about banning censorship, she states a compelling study that she thought was fascinating to her; “When researchers asks young adults what media content they remember seeing as a child – either sexually or violent – that had a harmful or traumatic or disturbing effect. In the category of violence, you get answers like “Little House on the Prairie” and “The wizards of Oz.” It was’t what you would expect.”
So this can lead us to another question: Do sex and violence protect our children or do they prevent our kids from learning the critical thinking skills necessary for the democratic society?
Duriing our class discussion about what should be censored and who should be able to make the decision about censorship I didn't really get a chance to state my opinion, as I think was the case for more than just me. So to begin, I want to thank you guys for posting a blog about it so that we can post our opinions.
ReplyDeleteI have always believed that censorship is something a parent hilds the responsibility for. If I think that my teenage daughter, who has hit puberty and is wondering what her body is doing, should not be seeing music videos where there are naked women dancing around, then I have the right to keep her from watching them. I feel that if a parent has not taken the steps to keep their children not only protected but INFORMED about things like sex and violence then it's their own fault when the child, or teen does something negative. I have studied and done other school reports on how violence and sex in the media are the causes of things like young, unwanted pregnancies, and violent acts by minors. No matter what studies I read I always believed that if a parent or guardian or some responsible adult had stepped in the boy who shot and killed a police officer while listening to a NWA song may not have pulled the trigger; and the girl who dressed like a video ho might have kept her clothes on and respected herself more.
Basically, I think that parents, especially those who had babies in the baby boom of last year, have the right to censor things that they do not want their children to see. In addition to that, I think that those parents have the very important job of informing their children of the deceptions of the media. When they're children become of age (for exaample, when a girl starts her period or when a boy has his first erection) their parent or guardian or someone who loves them needs to have the sex talk with them. When it comes to violence I think that young children need to be coached through their television watching years, so when they start watching tv and understanding what they're seeing, a parent should be telling them that what they are seeing is not real.
All of my opinions come from the fact that while censorship does have a definite definition, everyone has a different definition of what should be censored. Furthermore, the question of who should make the decision as to what should be censored in the media has somewhat already been answered. The FCC makes those decisions but if parents think that they made a wrong decision then the parent can chose to correct it. Then they cannot say that the media did anything wrong.
I agree with PrivateGray21. I believe that it lies in the parents hands to censor what their children are watching. There are things that I don't let my kids watch, actually a lot they can't watch. My kids are still pretty young, but when my oldest daughter gets old enough to know a little more about what really goes on in the media, then I will sit her down and let her know what the media portrays, and at the same time teach her values and about respecting herself. My son is 2 and I avoid watching anything with any violence or sex, as he is in a stage of learning and immitates a lot of what he sees. I don't want him to think that violence and guns are okay, so I'm extra careful with what I watch around him. Violence is real, it's not just something that's only on tv or in movies, and so is teen pregnancy and diseases, that's why me, as a parent have to protect my children in any ways possible.
ReplyDeleteI think that the primary responsibility does lie with the parents. They set the standards and rules of conduct for their children. However, this can only be controlled to a certain degree. Parents aren't with their children 24 hours a day, so it's impossible to monitor everything. I think with a strong foundation and moral compass, most people grow up to be productive, law-abiding citizens.Besides, theres's no definite evidence to support a link between censorship and impact it has on youth.
ReplyDeleteThe question is an obvious one. Who decides? Whoever doing the deciding has everyone at their mercy to share there likes and dislikes. Sure, there are censoring activities all around us. It could be that we are so use to the parameters set that we can't see them anymore.
ReplyDeleteSo, why should we censor anything? It's my believe that no one should be censored when it comes the viewing and listening. Instead, there so be guidance provided.
In the case of parenting the kid should also have a wide latitude it what they watch or listen to. The parent should only be there for correct guidance, besides you can't be omnipotent. Playing the prison warden isn't really a part of guidance. Basically, whatever it is that we're trying to hide or snuff out become the very thing that becomes our interest. Now tell me if it did't happen to you when someone tried to keep something from you, it only served to make you determined to know what they're hiding.
i believe that keeping kids from reality such as homosexuality, sex, drugs is bad for them. Things have changed and kids need to know the meaning of such things. If when watching a show with your child something inapropraite comes up instead of blinding them talk to them about it so they wont be ignorant.
ReplyDeleteAfter a class discussion we had a couple weeks ago, it made me start to think that maybe censorship isn't the main big deal we made it out to be.
ReplyDeleteI too believe that it is up to the parents to decide what their young children can or cannot watch. I also believe that censoring too much stuff is harmful. We live in a society that is far different from when my parents were around or when your parents were around. No matter when or where or how the kids learn about sex or violence and other things in life they will have to find out about it sooner or later.
I thought that study you brought up was quite interesting. I have never heard about something like that before.