i found these doodlines from my notes on ethics and law…..don’t get me wrong, i think this class is fascinating – but sometimes my mind wanders…
why are parents exempt from indecency violations? FCC v. Pacifica – sure radio is an un-invited presence – but parents lay down the law in private homes. My parents didn’t need the FCC, Congress, or the Supreme Court to legislate what we could watch, as I was growing up. We had weekend trips to On-The-Go Video to check out family-friendly movies. I kept my feet planted in the children’s section. I was a big fan of Shelly Duvall’s “Faerie Tale Theatre”. My brother and I knew what we could watch. My parents were in charge.
Shouldn’t we hold all parents responsible for what their kids are exposed to? I don’t care if you’re working two jobs, you can’t find a babysitter, and want to watch an especially titillating episode of Sex and the City. As a parent, you have the simple, effective power of control on the clicker and the box. Don’t let TV or radio run you over. Turn it off – switch the channel.
Kids are human beings…..and other weak justifications for permissive parenting. No, ultimately – you, as a parent, decide what rights that kids has (outside of abuse, education, life, and death – don’t mess with those things). Even permissive parenting can be accompanied by role model behavior. Kids are impressionable human beings – mocking birds. So don’t be surprised if you’re kids had developed an appetite for raunchy programming. Ask yourself – who flipped the channel? Who left it on? Don’t blame the station for pandering to all interests, not just children….after all….most people figure the parents had their children’s best interest at heart.
I guess I’m a bit frustrated with the whole FCC indecency blow-up, because of what I saw happen to my little nephews in San Diego. Sweet boys, really – but they think I’m more strict than their mom. I won’t let them curse in front of me….I hear them muttering that their mom lets them do it. When I visit their house, I won’t let them watch rated R movies – apparently another point their mother and I deviate on.
I also remember hearing one of them yelling “Fuck” during my lola’s funeral. I was pissed. Thankfully, somebody got the kid out of the sanctuary, before I had some more “strict” words with him. I think he wasn’t on his ADD meds that day.
I don’t understand why they had to wait to the point that kid needs to be doped up in order to have good manners. It doesn’t make sense to me and I guess its because I’m not familiar with the condition. However, I had a few computer students in my html class with ADD. Nobody bothered to tell me, the html teacher, that some of the parents had this bright idea to take their kids off the meds for the summer. To give them a break. I adapted the course material a bit and I was impressed that these students were able to focus enough to create their webpages. I have a feeling that a stronger parental presence and authority may be more effective than the meds.
Then again….I knew one kid in elementary school. Victor. Could keep his mouth shut. His mom signed a waver form to the principal – allowing her to do whatever it takes to keep Victor in line. This was third grade. The teacher and the principal gave him an ultimatum – if he can’t be quiet for one school day – they promised to duct tape his mouth shut. Well, he beeped, sometime that afternoon. Like the roadrunner. The principal followed through with the promise. We saw Victor the next day, with silver duct tape wrapped from cheek to cheek. Some students laughed. I think there were others who felt like me. This was too extreme and too cruel.
I wonder what happened to Victor.
I wonder what will happen to my little nephews.
“duct” tape