Is there too much sex and swearing on TV?
Do you think there is too much swearing and sex on TV and radio?
A BBC report says audiences are dismayed by the moral decline in programme standards and it's going to tighten its controls.
So is there too much swearing and sex on TV and radio?
You can read the BBC report's Key Findings below:
1. Where audiences are concerned about the area of taste and morality on
television as a whole, this is often connected with broader concerns about
falling standards in terms of quality and the over-reliance on reality
formats.
2. Standards of morality, values and behaviour in the media in particular are
not a top-of-mind issue for the majority of the public.
3. The BBC overall performs well in the audience's perceptions of standards
of morality, values and behaviour, compared to other channels and
broadcasters. The audience also has higher expectations of the BBC.
4. In general terms, the public do not want increased censorship or
regulation. The majority value the creativity of the BBC and accept that it
may sometimes lead to offending some people.
5. When prompted, a significant proportion of the audience have various
concerns about standards of morality, values and behaviour in the media
as a whole, including newspapers, magazines, broadcasting and online
content.
6. Strong language is an area of concern for some audiences; they
recognise when language is used for clear purpose or effect within a
programme - including comedy and entertainment - but dislike
'unnecessary' or excessive use.
7. In certain genres, the offensive potential of strong language can be
compounded when it is combined with apparently aggressive or bullying
behaviour. This reflects broader public concerns about aggression and
bullying within society as a whole.
8. There is little public consensus or agreement about what constitutes
offence: it means very different things to different sections of the audience.
9. The context in which potentially offensive content is placed is of
paramount importance to audiences, as are judgements of quality. Both
can make the difference between whether something is acceptable to
audiences or not.
10. Tone and intent can also make strong material acceptable: the 'twinkle in
the eye' of a performer and their skill in delivery can make the decisive
difference, even with potentially offensive material.
11. Age and socio-economic group go some way to describing who in the
audience is more likely to have concerns, but they do not tell the full story.
12. Younger audiences (11-15 year-olds) are uniquely self-selecting in their
choice of media content, through the web and magazines as well as
broadcast material. Though strongly drawn to more sexual content, some
express unease about the sexualised nature of the media world in which
they live and the pressure to 'grow up fast.'
13. Sexual content on television and radio was a matter of relatively low
concern for audiences. There was an expectation that the television
watershed should be respected, and content on radio appropriately
scheduled. There is no appetite for a watershed in radio.
14. Some respondents commented that the transfer of some successful series
from BBC Two may bring a somewhat 'edgier' tone to BBC One.
15. Respondents expressed few concerns about standards on BBC Radio.
However, of all the BBC's services, Radio 1 has the most divided
response in terms of morality, values and behaviour.
16. Audiences are conscious of the challenges presented by the growth of
online and on-demand content, but there is little awareness of the BBC's
'G for Guidance' systems, or understanding that iPlayer has a parent
password protection scheme which prevents children accessing adult
content.
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Comments
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Yes but that is only because it is now available to us all. Whatever age.
9 o'clock watersheds are a nonsense. TV programmes all over the schedule and I still smile when the bad words are unbleeped.
I swear, Harriet but not often when in company. The is also too much misery on our TV. eastenders- I only see the ends when waiting for the news but always look around for a rusty razor to do myself in - it depresses me so much. Fancy living life with constant grief. I couldn't imagine that sort of existence - honest I couldn't! lol
No duel, eh? I knew it. Diamond geezer my expletive ddeleted!
Newspaper guy is an allleged "wuss".
Subject: the return of blood diamonds - the return of blood diamonds
Anagram: Bad House enfold - tort Nimrod - SFO tort Hombre Dna Id - no duel
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we live in a very sexulised society sadly the images on telly and the ammount of swearing is unbelievable but worst of all is the so called role models for young girls the likes of katie price,kerry katona and before that jade goody this has been rammed down our throats for years now
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There's definitely been a decline in standards since I was a teenager (20 - 25yrs ago). When I was young, yes, we swore mildly and would overhear our parents swearing but it didn't enter our heads to swear at the "grown ups" or adopt a surly, rude attitude. Now it seems you can't pass a child in the streets without hearing profanity or be subject to rudeness, insolence and abuse and it seems to have developed in line with an increasing prevalence of foul language, sex and insolence in broadcasting and movies. Some will say that it is up to the parents to monitor and correct their offsprings viewing habits and behaviour and they would be to a large extent correct but, as Chubby Brown said at the top of the phone-in, "Not in my living room, thanks."
I used to poke fun at Mary Whitehouse with my mates when I was a teenager - calling her a busibody and all that - but I don't think there are any of us who retain even a smidgen of moral decency who don't now miss her.
What comics do and say in a theatre is one thing (Chubby Brown, Chris Rock, et al) but what they project into our homes (Ross/Brand, etc.) is an altogether different matter.
My opinion? We should take a few steps back, at least in regard to this issue, especially at the BBC - a public service broadcaster funded by public contributions in a manner almost of a tax.
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the big problem with telly and radio is the brainwashing that takes place where told what to think when only one side of the story is only put accross i think some of the presenters should be replaced with fresh blood there are far too many presenters sat in the comfort zone takeing liberties some of these mediocre presenters have 3-4 jobs its a classic case of if your face fits then bobs your uncle
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Get a grip, it,s always a minority of viewers that complain and never the majority, have people got nothing better to do than moan and complain about things most of us can deal with in a mature way, i,m more offended by things like the X Factor or Britains Got Talent than the odd swear word or a bit of sex on tv ! and as for Roy Chubby Browns opinion ! who cares what some moronic idiot like him thinks, to all the moaners out there SWITCH OFF OR SHUT UP!
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When I was young my mother told me that swearing was a sign of a limited vocabulary. Now I just say "Poor soul he/she has a limited vocabulary" and just feel sorry for them.
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Why no mention of the increase in the level of violence? I can ignore the swearing, dont mind the sexual content, as long as its in context (and loving) but where you used to get gunfights, and a few people getting their lights punched out, now it seems like the so called 'torture porn' is the norm. Not only do you have to know that someone is being hurt, you have to see it hurting. Horrible. I've lost count of the good dramas I have missed as I had to turn over because I can't stand the level of violence.
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Too much swearing, violence and sex on TV? Not really and, to tell the truth, I'm far more worried about the continuing blandifying and soapifying of everything by the BBC drama department due to department heads listening to the vocal minority.
Meanwhile, on the radio, we have to continue having to listen to politically correct tripe from Nicky Campbell and co who insist on using the terms 'People of Faith' and 'People of Colour'.
I want to know which faith - Christian? Islam? Jedi? - and which colour - White? Black? Green? - not these continual, patronising placations from Campbell and cohorts who seem to be more worried about not offending anyone or anything to the detriment or reasoned argument.
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we live in a very sexulised society sadly the images on telly and the ammount of swearing is unbelievable but worst of all is the so called role models for young girls the likes of katie price,kerry katona and before that jade goody this has been rammed down our throats for years now
Not only do you have to know that someone is being hurt, you have to see it hurting. Horrible. I've lost count of the good dramas I have missed as I had to turn over because I can't stand the level of violence.
tiffany
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