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acroyearFrom Reuters:
Ok, so because on air television is so bad, we're going to further regulate cable.
Not counting the fact that 1) parents DO have the ability to restrict which channels can be watched, 2) parents DO already decide whether or not to have pay channels, and 3) parents can password protect pay-per-view as well. Finally, cable companies are mostly local (and satallite systems have local-aware capabilities) so they can already black-out content deemed inappropriate for the community obscenity standards (indecency is another issue, and is PROTECTED SPEECH YOU JACKASSES so KNOCK IT OFF). They use the same technology to enforce sports-related blackouts.
Its already all in there...and in addition, most digital set-top boxes are already V-Chip aware, so even if your TV doesn't have the V-Chip, the cable box can handle it for you.
Cable customers already know and have control over what they are and aren't getting, and the ultimate solution (ditch the cable) is always an option. On air broadcasts are the things out of people's control and solely in the hands of the networks and affiliates.
Besides, isn't McCain supposed to be solving our Intelligence crisis yet? Or is he part of the problem to begin with?
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Outraged by how salacious programs on radio and network television have become in recent months, lawmakers vowed on Wednesday to look at indecent shows on cable and satellite channels.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain urged cable and satellite companies to offer parents the ability to pick and choose what channels they get so they can protect their children from violence, sex and profanity, an idea that resonated with other lawmakers and regulators.
Ok, so because on air television is so bad, we're going to further regulate cable.
Not counting the fact that 1) parents DO have the ability to restrict which channels can be watched, 2) parents DO already decide whether or not to have pay channels, and 3) parents can password protect pay-per-view as well. Finally, cable companies are mostly local (and satallite systems have local-aware capabilities) so they can already black-out content deemed inappropriate for the community obscenity standards (indecency is another issue, and is PROTECTED SPEECH YOU JACKASSES so KNOCK IT OFF). They use the same technology to enforce sports-related blackouts.
Its already all in there...and in addition, most digital set-top boxes are already V-Chip aware, so even if your TV doesn't have the V-Chip, the cable box can handle it for you.
Cable customers already know and have control over what they are and aren't getting, and the ultimate solution (ditch the cable) is always an option. On air broadcasts are the things out of people's control and solely in the hands of the networks and affiliates.
Besides, isn't McCain supposed to be solving our Intelligence crisis yet? Or is he part of the problem to begin with?
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-11 12:22 pm (UTC)I know that in some areas, broadcast television is nearly non-existant. I have cousins who get exactly one broadcast station with decent reception. Certainly, going without TV and the info/entertainment it provides is an option. Or they can use a dish system, or (I'm not sure it's available there) cable.
You mention that there are a number of controls available for cable/dish systems. But how universal are they? Are they a feature that Comcast offers in this area, but maybe other companies/areas don't? We are in one of the most tech-advanced regions in the country, and not everybody has access to the features we "enjoy," and smaller non-Comcast companies may be less inclined to implement them without Congressional mandate. But like I said, I haven't researched this.
Personally, I'd like to think that parents should be sufficiently watchful of their kids, sufficiently responsible, sufficiently parent-like, to not need Congress to help them raise their kids. If the kids are watching porn, it's the parents' fault, not Congress'.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-11 09:36 pm (UTC)We already use it to screen out the pay per view channels and the sports channels for the most part (we do have a filter just for sports that we never watch. At least, I never watch).
I can't say anything for the smaller cable stations... And since I was without cable for 27 years of my life (my goodness, someone who wasn't raised on cable, go fig), I can't say what kinds of controls are on older systems. But any of the newer systems will have them, gratis.