Tuesday, May 09, 2006

The unwritten TV content warnings

The television ratings in Australia consist of written and verbal warnings before programs that contain the following subjects:
  • Language
  • Violence
  • Sex
  • Drug Use
  • Other, including:
  • Adult Themes
  • Medical Procedures
  • Supernatural Themes
  • Horror
  • Nudity

Fair that you should warn people when these things are coming up. But where is the warning for the more mundane, and potentially subversive subjects? Content such as:

  • Religious Agendas
  • Political Agendas
  • Paid comments
  • Paid product placement
Perhaps it is the stations who are free to view such issues as 'free speech' if they so desire, and decide to broadcast them or not. It's easy enough to tell if something is an infomercial parading as a legitimate broadcast, but what of the easily offended christians, catholics, anglicans, buddhists, and islamics who can so simply and easily be inflamed by religious comment that is at odds to their own, be it wrong or right? Or the staunch republican who sits seething silently in their home after seeing a political interview that covers items of monarchy and mother country? Or the pro-choicer that switches on their television to hear an anti-abortionist spouting their own views without equal rebuttal?

I'm glad I dont have a television at the moment.

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