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Originally Posted by ukturtle
The difference is, this gesture has a negative and rude meaning, one that a lot of people do find offensive. You have kids and then tell me you would be happy for them to see this and start copying this gesture.
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But people shouldn't find it offensive...it doesn't make sense. It's just words. Or finger gestures. Wars, crime and financial crises are happening throughout the world and people can really sit there and be concerned about this? People's human rights are being infringed upon, innocent people being brutally murdered and yet people are really concerned about someone sticking their middle finger up, I mean really?
If and when I have kids, I'll teach them not to swear or use 'rude' finger gestures in public, to teachers or in workplaces as that's the only real thing I can do. If I had a choice, and the rest of society didn't look down upon the use of swearing in the way they do now, as they shouldn't...then I wouldn't need to do that. I wish I wouldn't have to, but I will. But as they'd grow up and mature I'd relay the same beliefs that I have...that really, it's not that important, and that they should be more concerned about the world around them and some of the problems it and they may face, rather than how 'bad' the use of a few words actually are. Which, without me even teaching them, they'll probably learn and realise that themselves as they reach a certain age.
If it were in front of me...well, I have to say I wouldn't really care. If they said they hated me, or something pretty insulting...well that's a problem. But lifting their middle finger up? I don't think so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ukturtle
And another difference is, yes people may swear in the street etc., but you cannot control that. TV, however, is meant to be suitable for family viewing and is meant to be controlled.
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No, I'm sorry but I completely oppose censorship and control over TV networks.
I'm not entirely familiar with M.I.A's work (apart from that Paper Planes song), but I'm assuming she's not exactly a child friendly artist...and so as such, either the network should have made the decision not to have her perform, in the event of her perhaps doing something they don't agree with or want broadcasted, or...the parents of said children should have realised that again, perhaps the content may not have been suitable for their children, and, well...turned it off.
The responsibility to 'protect' children from content on TV lies with parents, not the broadcaster. There are plenty of ways in which to prevent your children from viewing things you don't want them to, it's pure laziness not to act on those options. Other adults shouldn't be denied the ability to watch whatever content they wish (unless it's illegal of course) at whatever time they like. That's a choice they should make, not a broadcaster, or, inadvertently, the parents who are seemingly so concerned about their children not seeing someone's middle finger.