Remember The "Is MTV Ruining Out Kids" Thread? Tune Into TV Special Tonight On Fox.. (1 Viewer)

[Brian Bunn]

All those that posted in that thread a while back may be interested in the Fox TV special tonight (Thursday) at 9 PM ET intitled "Corruption of the American Child" hosted by Bill O'Reilly. It appears as though it will touch on much of what was discussed in that thread. And I think this line of discussion is well overdue and needs to be addressed. May be an interesting program. Check it out.

 

[MickeS]

Does anyone else see some irony in the fact that Fox is broadcasting this? The same network that gave is "Who wants to marry a millionaire?", "Temptation island", "Glutton bowl" and other role-model creating TV-programming...

/Mike

 

[BrianB]

That was *exactly* what I said to my wife after seeing a promo for it, Micke!

Although to be fair, ironic wasn't the word I used. It was more like *!@? hypocrites.

 

[Ike]

With a name like The Corruption of The American Child, you know what it already has to say. What more is there to say?

 

[Brian Bunn]

Yeah it may be somewhat "two-faced" of Fox in broadcasting this show after some of the programs they put on...that's for sure. But atleast try to withhold negative comments until after you see the program...if you see the program of course. The program may make for an interesting discussion. I would be interested in reading the comments of those that tune into the program tonight.

Then again we've been there done that...so maybe not. I still say it is a topic that needs to be addressed and I look forward to seeing a program on the topic on network TV.

 

[Kevin T]

i remember that thread you're mentioning...however, i don't remember the final verdict. so what was it?

is mtv ruining our kids?

or

are our kids ruining mtv?

kevin t

*i vote for the latter*

 

[Jack Briggs]

*sighs*

Kevin, there was no verdict reached. A preemptive strike prevented that.

MickeS hit it on the nail, though. The Fox network offering a program such as this is a brazen act of the kettle calling the midnight sky black.

Meanwhile, folks, there's an excellent edition of PBS's Frontline on tonight, this one focusing on the need for school testing.

I think I might watch that insted.

 

[Mike Broadman]

Watching Bill O'Reilly talk about this is like watching Al Sharpton talk about affirmative action or Pat Robertson about religion. You know what they're going to say, and, I'm sorry, but you'd be a little foolish to expect objectivity.

You'd get a better chance trying to get a member of HTF to defend open matte only releases.

Yes, I'm judging it without watching it. Sometimes, one can do that.

 

[Brian Bunn]

OK...forget I brought it up. I temporarily forgot that most here are not at all concerned with this issue and believe everything is A-OK. Damn...why did I even bring this up again. Stupid me.

Jack...go ahead and close the thread.

 

[Brian Bunn]

One more thing...say "pot kettle black" all you want, but FOX isn't broadcasting anything CLOSE to the stuff kids are seeing/hearing these days from other sources. To equate "Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire" and "Glutton Bowl" to what this program is concerned with that kids are seeing/hearing is not at all fair to FOX. Not even close. Sure, some of what FOX broadcasts isn't appropriate for children, but nothing near what this program was concerned with.

OK that's it...I realize most here just don't care about this issue. My mistake. Close it on up.

 

[brian a]

We all long for the utopian world that existed before television. We should hold the afgan taliban regime up as an example of the perfect world in which we could all live were we able to outlaw television and movies.

Don't forget that is wasn't long ago that the older generation was telling youngsters that the beach boys were going to be the downfall of civilization. I'm sure at some point cavemen were wondering what the world was comming to with all the kids watching fire all the time.

 

[CharlesD]

Does anyone else see some irony in the fact that Fox is broadcasting this?

No kidding! FOX (both broadcast and cable) is built on pandering to the worst in people. As an example since it took over the motor-sports cable outlet "The Speed Channel" its ads consist almost entirely of crashes... something that true race fans hate to see.

I did not watch the special as the idea of FOX moralizing is laughable on its face, and it is hosted by that pompous twit O'Reilly whose shameless and constant self-promotion makes me want to puke. He has not strayed nearly as far from his tabloid journalism roots as he would like people to think.

 

[Mike Broadman]

Brian, can you honestly tell me that the program was objective? (Yes, I did watch it out of morbid curiosity)

For example, when the woman representing the WWF said "we like what we do," a perfectly innocent and non-political statement, Bill repeated it with an ominous tone, trying to make it seem evil. I actually had to laugh at that.

And then there were the absurd statements like, "What about the kids who's parents are irresponsible and neglectful..." (paraphrasing). Yes, Bill, what about them? If those kids don't turn out well, Bill just stated why. His reasoning is like saying that a man with poor eating habbits who got shot in the head died from eating fried foods. Perspective, folks.

Brian, whatever your viewpoints, even you have to conceed that Bill O'Reiley isn't the most objective and comprehensive source of information.

And, btw, the sentiment that we all aren't as concerned as you about social issues is a little demeaning. Perhaps, one day, I can learn to be a great humanitarian like you.

 

[Travis D]

Well, first off I'd like to say that this is my first encounter with Bill O'Reilly. I'm 17 and I simply don't watch Fox News (not for any kind of political affiliation, just that I never have) and might I say that I found Bill to be the worst journalist I have ever seen. Not only did he not make ANY points at all, but then he has the guts to say this program gives the news "without spin."

You can throw you're Right-wing/Left-wing stuff out the window when it comes to him. I can see just about anyone being embarrased from this man if he was a member of your party. Basically he says this at an interview, "Hello.... I hate you and what you do..... What is your opinion on that?" His breed of "piss-off" journalism is akin to Jerry Springer and his "3 ring circus." Also, when he got the one person who wasn't a drooling moron from the music industry, Marilyn Manson, he only had him on for like 5 seconds before going back to the brain-numbingly deplorable couple of Insane Clown Posse.

Him trapping Jack Vallinti (sp?) was something to be ashamed about as well. At the moment Jack is making the most well rounded of his aired responses, Fox is showing video tape of American Pie and Ben Stiller whackin it in Something About Mary. Thus taking the viewers attention away from Vallinti and focusing on "shock material".

Forget the kids! (not really) Is this what passes for a series of interviews on Fox News regularly?!?!? I hope to God not!

EDIT: Mike, let's watch the personal attacks. I don't mean to be offensive, but do we really want this thread shut down?

 

[Brian Bunn]

I specifically said THIS issue Mike...please don't generalize my comments. It is obvious that most here don't care much about THIS issue because they do not see a problem. Which, I say again, just amazes me.

As far as being objective, having those directly involved with some of the very objectionable material that is being blasted at kids on the program to explain their opinions is atleast making the effort to be objective. They were invited in to tell their side. Isn't that an attempt at being objective? Then the viewer can make up his own mind which side he is on. Sure, O'Reilly sides one way, but his quests brought in the opposing viewpoint.

Of course I side with O'Reilly...how objective can you be when this stuff that is being targeted at kids is so blatantly (to use the title of the program) corrupting our kids? Which, of course, is the problem. Many (most?) do not think this stuff is corrupting/negatively influencing kids.

But, hey...I respect everyone's opinion. However much I may disagree.

Really Jack, close the thread. I really never intended to go down this road again. Just wanted to bring up the program on FOX thinking that some may be interested. That's all.

 

[Todd Hochard]

I can't help but wonder if this is, ultimately, a re-run of material that first appeared in the 50's, right after Elvis.

I think there are many bad influences out there on kids- not the least of which is their (inadequate) parents. After all, like hard-core drugs, would this sort of thing exist if there were not a demand for it?

Sometimes O'Reilly makes some good points. His self-aggrandizing drowned that out in this segment.

Todd

(And, yes, I do think there is something wrong with much contemporary music. As such, I don't listen to it.)

 

[Ike]

Bill O'Riley is indeed one of the worst "journalists" out there.
I saw a chunk of the show, and the things that got grouped together and passed over with speed implicated them with the whole. So, it shows normal, regular porn, then quickly talks about the porn that disguises it's name so that kids stumble onto it (for, as the woman says, to bring up a generation of "sexual predators" ), to child pornography. It's grouping normal porn with child porn. They are seperate issues!
Brian,
Could someone have disagreed with you without you saying that we don't care, that we think "everything is A-OK?" Why start a thread if you are going to ask a mod to close it as soon as a discussion starts up that you don't like?

 

[Mike Broadman]

Having the people on the show is not enough to make it subjective. It was obviously severely edited- and not just for time, but for context. Bill took neutral statements, like "it's not my responsibility," and colored them to make them same sinister. When any of the guests were actually given a minute to say anything, they were able to start to make some kind of point, until Bill drowned them out and cut the interview.
I'm not getting into the whole "media effect on kids" issue. We've done that. I'm now talking about how to critically analyze a presentation without coloring it- it is possible to be objective. Me personally, I think everyone on the show were jackasses (I know, that last sentiment was subjective ), so I can criticise them all equally.
Insane Clown Posse: they looked, acted, and sounded like idiots. I'm sorry, but they're just fools- which is why I find it funny that they're considered so "threatening." Kids understand that, including the ones that like them. Yes, there may be a few who don't get the joke- but isn't that true with anything, like all those kids who jumped off buildings trying to fly like Superman. Picking an argument with them is like debating Rainman.
Marilyn Manson: you gotta admit, the guy, in conversation, is respectful, considerate, and intelligent. He explained himself well (given the paltry amount of time he had), and O'Reilly just ignored any of his valid points.
Opie & Anthony: They really made Opie look bad, with the slow motion shots of him holding up the polaroids of the naked chicks. Anthony was spot-on and honest: no, it's not their responsiblity, and he didn't BS around it. Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with that sentiment.
Unlike the other things on the show, O&A is something I know about, as I listen to the show. It is most definitely an adult-oriented, evening rush hour show. Kids should not be listening, period. Opie brought up "faithful listeners," which is important: those who listen regularly understand how they exaggerate and mock the things they discuss. Kids may not, but it's not for them.
McMahan: She also said, point blank, that the show isn't for kids. It's also accompanied by plenty of warnings (don't try this at home, etc).
Another example of falsely representing info: they said that internet porn has gone up 1000%. So? All interntet usage has gone up astronomically in the past few years- including research, educational uses, pirating, on-line dating, and yes, porn. So the "statistic" is useless.
All I'm saying is that this issue is important, but nonsense like this program doesn't help matters; neither does O'Reilly's interviewing technique of belittling his guests without giving them a chance to make a point. I can't take anyone seriously whose arguments consist of "Come on, I can't believe you think that" and, my favorite, "there are no two sides of the issue." Thanks Bill, I thought I had a brain. I guess I should be grateful to him for telling me what to think, instead.
Sorry, I know it's ranting, but people who do nothing but yell out there little opinions and agendas for a living really bother me, especially those who pretend it's more than that.

 

[Travis D]

Spot-on Mike! Also, I don't now if you noticed, but I think they mentioned FOX like 1 time. Smells to me.
Oh well, it's still ironic that the show aired after FOX's "Postmortem".

 

[Joseph S]

I find it laughable that Fox would even promote a show like this. They are doing more than their fair share of attempting to "ruin our kids." (based on their unproven theory)

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