Regarding the FCC censorship....

[1stdeadeye]

I dont know how your bussing goes, but here, its K-4 on one bus (i dont think they are listening to offensive rap cd's or howard stern)

the other bus is 5-8 (8th graders might, but then again, kids are exposed to our world, they cant be sheltered forever, if its brought into the house, then the parent can stop it)

And then 9-12 (those kids can handle those themes, and prolly know more about those terms than howard himself)

My son goes to a private school. THe bus is K-8. By the time he is in high school, I would have no problem listening to what he wants. While in 2nd grade, I'll decide!

As for the obscene CDs, Those are purchased, not broad cast! Big difference!

If you deem it indecent, turn it off... There are some that WANT to listen to it, and THAT is why howard is making his money

If you want to go watch porn, you do.

If you want to go listen to Howard Stern, you do.

If you find those things offensive, you simply stay away.

Swearing should be bleeped, and fined if not, but most of the scenarios discussed on Howard Stern show are WAY over kid's heads

Its this simple... The govt shouldnt try and eliminate our entertainment.


Your example is invalid! Broadcast is just that. Sent out over the public airwaves. Porn isn't broadcast, it is purchased. Entertainment can be anything you want when purchased, not broadcast!

(and if you think the radio is that bad, they can get pictures on the internet, your AOL parental settings can be bypassed)

That is why my kids are only allowed on the internet when I am with them!

[FactsOfLife]

i hate him with a passion, but just because some people in high places disagree with what he does, doesnt mean that he shouldnt be heard by the people (morons) who like him.

where are opie and anthony now?

Absolutely it does.

Apparently Howard isn't smart enough to understand that by repeatedly breaking the law, he would put his career in jeapardy.

This country exists because of the rule of law. It has certain rules that we as a society live by.

When you break those rules, you pay the price.

[RoadDawg]

Howard is a smart guy for doing so little. He's created a fan base that just loves his show. Yes he can go a bit far but that's Howard. It's expected with that guy. EVERYONE knows this too. If people didn't like this kind of stuff, he wouldn't be on the air anymore. Fact is he's #1 in a lot of the area's he's broadcasting at. In L.A he's #1 in the morning slot. Tom Leykis is #1 in his spot in the afternoon/Evening. Both of those guys are nationally known and are good at what they do. Why is that... because people like them. They listen to hear what these guys have to say and do. As Howard has said. He would have no problem following the book that the FCC gives them to follow if they made it absolutely clear as to what the line is. According to Howard (I haven't read these books so I don't know how clear they are) they are very broad and unclear. Also what is wrong with talking about bodily functions? We all do it. Why hide it? Yes some of it's gross but it happens. It's no different then what I hear on local rap stations. I hear cursing that is bleeped but several songs are VERY vulgar and those aren't.

I understand people wanting to shield their kids from this kind of stuff. Believe me though that conversations like what Howard talks about go on in schools at recess. I know this cause not too long ago I was there and having conversations about pooping, peeing, farting, burping and sexual thoughts. This was 11+ years ago. In 4th grade I cursed so much, I started making up combonations of curse words. I stopped this by Junior High when I got threatened by some skaters (knives were involved on their part) and I realized it wasn't the way to go. Did my parents even know about my cussing... no. Why cause I didn't do it at home. I was smart enough to not do it cause I knew my parents wouldn't like that type of talk. (I also grew up in a very Mormon city) Your kids will hear this type of conversations without you being there. Not much you can do to stop it either. Fining someone up the wazoo for describing bodily functions isn't the way to go. Get the gang bangers that shoot up neighborhoods and Crack Heads that hang out at schools to find their next target off the streets. Airwaves have nothing to do with how this society is turning out. It might be public domain but so are the streets. Teach your kids right and wrong and no matter what they listen to and they'll do good. (Kinda off in left field I know but I'm venting)

[vf-xx]

Ok, I personally don't like Howard Stern. I don't listen to him. I'm also not a parent yet, but my siblings are much younger than me and I did help raise them some.

I work in my University's library. It's considered a 'public' library in that non-students can and do use the facilities. As with most current libraries there are a large number of public access computers with internet access. Hence this jumped out at me.

If you want to go watch porn, you do.

If you want to go listen to Howard Stern, you do.

If you find those things offensive, you simply stay away.

In a sense this is true. However you don't go look at porn in my library. I'll kick you out. We are a public domain and children of all ages are in the building at any given time. Porn is a regulated industry therefore I help continue the regulation by preventing public displays thereof.

Public access is greatly different from private access.
Rabbitears TV = Public
Cable = private
Library = public
Home = private

What you do in your own home, so long as it doesn't effect me, I could care less. What you do in public is a different story.

Radio and TV are Public Domain and need to be regulated as such. Especially since we HAVE become the society of the lowest common denominator.

Cable and XM are private domain as they are encrypted and purchased to use. These require less regulation because the viewer is actively purchasing the service and should be aware of it's contents.

Yes we're still going to have idiot parents who don't watch their kids, but that's not the issue here really. We expect to be able to go out in public and not be disturbed by certian things. Then agian this is also the reason that I want to make an EMP device that'll blow out your speakers if you're playing your music so damn loud that I can hear it three cars away with my windows closed!!! ARG!!!!

[Brak]

Absolutely it does.

Apparently Howard isn't smart enough to understand that by repeatedly breaking the law, he would put his career in jeapardy.

This country exists because of the rule of law. It has certain rules that we as a society live by.

When you break those rules, you pay the price.

this country also exists because of a fundamental principle called freedom, and i dont think that should be taken away from him, no matter how much of a moron he is. could you give me some examples of the laws that he broke?

[1stdeadeye]

this country also exists because of a fundamental principle called freedom, and i dont think that should be taken away from him, no matter how much of a moron he is. could you give me some examples of the laws that he broke?

Wrong argument here buddy! If it's free speech, why is he being paid?

It is commercial speech!

[RoadDawg]

Larry Flynt got off on freedom of speech with his Hustler magazine cartoons. Only difference is you buy one and not the other, yet in many places I can get them off the street vendors. Why should it matter if you have to pay for whatever it is? Just because something is privately owned doesn't mean it's free from restrictions. Whatever you do in your house might be private but it's still regulated by the local law enforcement. Once again if people didn't like to listen to it, he wouldn't be on air. He is Infinity/Viacom's broadcasting jewel. Which is the reason they are fighting for him. As long as he stays on, he makes money for the companies.

If this definatly goes through, what prevents the FCC from targeting music next (radio broadcasts)? After all the Beatles sing about drugs, just about any band from the 60's- present has drug reference somewhere along the line. Do those get banned as well? Or do we make exceptions for them?

Edited out analogy to keep the thread clean.

[vf-xx]

If this definatly goes through, what prevents the FCC from targeting music next? After all the Beatles sing about drugs, just about any band from the 60's- present has drug reference somewhere along the line. Do those get banned as well? Or do we make exceptions for them?

You're missing the distinction being drawn here. Will those songs get edited on the radio? Probably not, but it wouldn't bother me if they did. I'd just go buy a cd and listen to it on my own.

I have no problems if Mr. Stern wants to tape his show and sell it. With the explicit lyrics label (or something simliar) you could get the whole show unedited and enjoy it to your hearts content.

Your hooker anaolgy doesn't fit here. Wrong context. We're talking specifically about the regulation of audio and visual BROADCAST mediums.

[vf-xx]

this country also exists because of a fundamental principle called freedom, and i dont think that should be taken away from him, no matter how much of a moron he is. could you give me some examples of the laws that he broke?

He's perfectly free do to whatever he likes in private. Soon as he takes it public for profit he's open to regulation.

[behemoth]

Meh,

Yes, Porn is payed for and is private, but you can deffinatly get it broadcasted (go open up winamp and go to webtv)

I understand where your coming from 1stdeadeye. My little sister is in 1st grade, and i wouldnt want her listening to that, nor would my parents

But the thing is. they broadcast certian things at certian times.

Does your son wake up in the morning and turn on his radio to howard stern? i dont think so...if you think about it, the only people that are listening to howard is adults on their way to work.

Kids during that time, are either in school already, or getting ready for school.

Some busses dont allow CD players or radios, but others do.

Alls im saying is, i dont know one kid (8th grade or under) that carries a radio around in the morning, its usually an eminem cd

[than205]

Some nice reading from a long time ago as spoken by a very smart dude...
Mr. Frank Zappa

http://uweb.superlink.net/~jdandrea/shrg99-529/p52.html

[Tron]

Sorry if this was already posted but I didn't read through half of the tripe posted in here. If you are to lazy to watch your children or teach them properly then that is your fault.

[FactsOfLife]

Sorry if this was already posted but I didn't read through half of the tripe posted in here. If you are to lazy to watch your children or teach them properly then that is your fault.

And if we don't hold dirtbags like Stern accountable to the rules of broadcasting that's OUR fault.

[TheDuelist]

The problem with this situation is it is based on "community standards." I don't know if any of you have heard of Bubba the Love Sponge. He is a shock jock that broadcast from the Tampa area and was very successful doing it. He was rated number one for several years and even gave Stern a run for his money. I say was because Clear Channel fired him after he was fined by the FCC for a broadcast. Understand now that he had been on the air at the same station for over 8 years with only a couple of incidences to report. All of a sudden a single individual from the Jacksonville area makes it his lifes mission to rid the airwaves of Bubba's show and manages to get his complaint heard by the FCC. A single complaint was filed from a broadcast 3 years ago lasting all of 12 minutes.

12 minutes.

So for all the days that Bubba broadcast from 6-10 every weekday morning only 12 minutes from 3 years ago were deemed offensive and he was fined $755,000 and subsequently lost hs job. All this done by a single individual and without the possibility to effectively appeal the decision.

I don't think the problem is the regulation. The problem is there is no clear definiton of community standards. How does one person define a "community." Is it right that one person has that much power? I don't think so. I don't want a single person telling me what I can or cannot listen to on the radio. What about the hundres of thousands of listeners in all the other markets that listened to Bubba's show? As listeners we can't appeal the the FCC to stop what they are doing. The chair of the FCC is an appointed postion not an elected one so in essence we have to shut up and take it while the damage is being done.

I don't agree with everything I hear on the radio and when I find something I don't like I change the station. Its that simple. If its regulation you want, then its regulation your going to get and then you have to ask yourself "Where is it going to stop?"