FCC Levies Record Indecency Fine 577
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "The FCC proposed a record $3.6 million fine against a single TV show, penalizing CBS and its affiliates for an episode of 'Without a Trace' that suggested a teenage sexual orgy, in the first batch of indecency fines proposed in more than a year, the Wall Street Journal reports. 'Overall, the FCC's action didn't provide a broad sweeping vision for broadcasters about what is appropriate for television,' the WSJ says. 'Notably, the FCC backed away from an effort to impose higher fines by holding all network affiliates responsible for a broadcast, instead of just the stations that had been flagged by a viewer in a complaint.'"
My opinion. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Informative)
"Orgy has several meanings, including "a drunken revelry", a religious rite involving ecstatic dancing, an "unrestrained indulgence" (for example, "an orgy of destruction"), or group sexual activity."
Link to clip (Score:5, Informative)
Here is a link to the clip in question.
You can decide for yourself if it constitutes a "teenage orgy" or not
What I don't Understand (Score:5, Informative)
South Park had it right: "Just remember what the MPAA says: Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words!"
Re:USA: the land of the free? (Score:5, Informative)
Because people aren't complaining to the FCC about it. If enough people did, they'd get slapped with fines too. It's the squeeky wheel syndrome: the FCC isn't going to do anything on its own, becuause if they're not receiving complaints, viewers must think it's OK.
Re:Logic go backwards (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Logic go backwards (Score:5, Informative)
Just saw this (Score:4, Informative)
And btw, I love when the southpark movie is shown after 1:30 PM occasionally. There's nothing like hearing, "you butt fucking uncle fucker" to celebrate our nation's tolerance on "foul" language.
The Show Aired at 9:00 (Score:5, Informative)
Re: Hypocrisy (Score:3, Informative)
Most of these complaints come from groups who literally sit around watching television all day with pen in hand to keep score of the scenes that offend them. IIRC, 95% of the FCC's complaints come from one small organization.
I suppose if those people want to waste their lives that way it's their business, but what's sad is that the FCC feels beholden to them.
Re:What I don't Understand (Score:2, Informative)
FCC quotes [fcc.gov]:
"Obscenity" is legally equivalent to passing the Miller test, which this show obviously doesn't. When considering something under the Miller test, it must be taken as an entire work. You can't pull one clip out of context from a 45 minute long show and declare it obscene.Re:Logic go backwards (Score:5, Informative)
http://penusa.org/go/programs/action-alert/241/4/
http://www.slate.com/id/2095398 [slate.com]
I know that those articles are kind of dated. With Howard Stern off terrestrial radio, a lot of the censorship talk has quieted a bit in the last year, but I do believe that if this administration had its druthers, you'd see an end to free speech in any broadcast medium, whether it be radio, satellite, cable, or even (and this would be neigh impossible, but "they" would still love to see it) the Internet. It's a scary prospect, but we citiznes just need to keep our eye on the ball and stop getting upset when a boobie accidentally flashes on the screen.
Re:sex is immoral (Score:3, Informative)
Almost no one. Libertarians [lp.org] are the only party that actually believes in restoring all of the rights republicans and democrats stole long ago (and continue to steal). Libertarians are the only group that believes in the philosophy of liberty [free-market.net] and don't waver from its principles when facing difficult scenarios.
Re:sex is immoral (Score:3, Informative)
False.
There's a rather large chunk of the world not covered by those exemptions who aren't "Arab". Like, say, China, South America and half of Africa. Not to mention a substantial proportion of those who _are_ covered by the exceptions don't have "blond hair and blue eyes".
Re:Which is more indecent? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What I don't Understand (Score:4, Informative)
Here is a story mentioning the New Years and 9pm [semissourian.com] time info. "... the FCC requires that no indecent programs be aired between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m."
Here is another story [medialifemagazine.com] stating the same thing and more details. "The Dec. 31 episode was actually a rerun, but the PTC's complaint the first time around wasn't addressed because it fell under CBS parent Viacom's $3.5 million deal with the FCC to clear up all indecency fines. The PTC's latest complaint is on behalf of viewers in the Central and Mountain time zones, because on the East Coast the show aired at 10 p.m., within the FCC's 10 p.m.-6 a.m. window of relaxed indecency standards."
Re:sex is immoral (Score:4, Informative)
I'm sure they were so offended by that clip because they were actually aroused by the idea, and this caused a bit of double think, which turned it into sexual repression. Maybe they were jealous they didnt think of it when they were kids?
Heres the clip of the 'teen orgy' [parentstv.org] that won CBS this fine.
If they decide to block direct linking to the video, go to "parents tv" [parentstv.org]. The link to the video will be in the middle of the page inside the little box saying something like WARNING TAKE CAUTION
This way, you can not only view the clip, but see how over-the-top upset they were about it. we also have the added benefit of sucking their bandwidth dry.
Any organization willing to focus so much time trying to decide what I, as an adult, get to watch on TV in the name of protecting THEIR children, makes me a bit nervous.
I saw the clip on the Parentstv bla bla website (Score:2, Informative)
But what was REALLY funny was the write up of what the clip was going to contain!
and I quote
"
- A teenaged girl wearing just a bra and panties is sitting astride the lap of a teenaged boy kissing him while another girl in just a bra and panties fondles them both. The first girl is also shown making sexual bump and grind motions.
- Two other teenaged girls are sitting on either side of a teenaged boy, fondling him while another group of teens smoking pot and drinking beer watch them from the sofa on the other side of the room.
- A shirtless teenaged boy starts to remove his pants
- A teenaged girl with her back to the camera appears to be wearing nothing but panties. She appears to be sitting astride a teenaged boy kissing him while another girl in just a bra and panties fondles them both.
- There is a quick shot of a pile of naked flesh, mostly arms and legs, though obviously belonging to multiple teens. "
I mean shit this was like a ten second clip, they must have been watching it like a thousand times!! Playing, then pausing to really take in the scene.. I'll bet you a hundred bucks whoever did that had to go jerk off like 10 times before finishing..
Anyway I hope they do get fined, if nothing else just because it reinforces all our fun negative stereotypes about americans
Re:Link to clip (Score:3, Informative)