Why have a rating system for TV shows if the commercials are worse for kids than the show itself?

Question

I'm getting a little tired of tuning into a programme that is rated 14+ and seeing strong sexual content in commercials, ads for R rated movies, and irresponsible alcohol use in commercials, too.

I saw beer commercials during "The Simpsons" that depict stealing beer and girls flashing their chests at a guy for a male body spray ad and a scarey ad for "The Omen". This is a cartoon, where kids are likely to be watching at 9 p.m.!

When I tune in "Sex and the City" and there's a "Please Drink Responsibly" whiskey ad with nothing but wooden kegs in it, which is appropriate, but my guess is that kids don't have as much interest in this show.

These shows both have a 14+ rating, but kids are far more likey to watch "The Simpsons" than "Sex in the City". So the advertising content should match this 14+ rating, right? If the age of consent is a minimum of 18, what sort of message does this send to our youth?

A little like blaming the victim, right? I realize that the show is meant for 14+ (meaning teens 14 and OVER).....BUT teens for that age, it is ILLEGAL for them to purchase and consume alcohol until at least the age of 18, right? Older even in most states.

I know that kids are very savvy, and that alcohol use is in the Simpsons show itself, but Barney, Homer and Moe are far more accurate in their portrayal of alcoholism than the glorification in beer commercials of perfect giggly blondes and studly rugged dudes. I know you're not that naive, either!

Would it be such a big deal to ensure that the content, ALL content, even the ads, are appropriate for 14 year olds?

And I doubt may 14 year olds are watching Dora the Explorerer, but maybe they are. Spongebob is big, so why not?

By the way, if the wooden keg "Please Drink Responsibly" ad was aired during the Simpsons, it would be far more appropriate than the others because it isn't nearly as graphic.

Answer 1

I wondered the same thing when I seen the pizza hut, with Jessica Simpson enticing a young boy, When Madonna danced with a young boy in a video people were complaining, neither of these were selling alcohol. My 5 year old gran daughter informed me she had E.D. while watching the ad airing during a children's show. I think they should be program appropriate also.

Answer 2

The Simpsons is rated TV14 for a reason. It is considered a cartoon, but it is nothing like Dora the Explorer or Spongebob. The things on the Simpsons should NOT be watched by kids. The Simpsons shows violence, sexual humor, and lots of other inappropriate things for children. Parents should know that though shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Futurama are cartoons, they are not targeted to kids.

Cartoon Network(a KID'S channel) has an entire block of adult(not porn) cartoons called "Adult Swim" every night except Fridays. They even warn the viewers that the shows are not meant for the little ones. Parents are responsible for what their children watch. Just b/c u see a cartoon on doesn't mean your child should be watching that show.

TV14 means that u should be at least fourteen or OVER to watch the show. MANY adults and teens watch The Simpsons so it isn't suprising to see those commercials. Lots of teens watch R rated movies. In fact, I'm thinking of seeing Borat on the weekend.

I watched the Simpsons when i wasn't even 14(more like 11 or 12, along with other kids in my class) but none of us really cared about the rating. Anyway, I've never watched Sex and the City so I don't know much about it. You probably see the "Drink Responsibly" commercial because they think people watching the show are more likely to be clubbing? *shrugs* I'm not sure about that. My point is:
Don't blame the tv raters. We should be glad to have ratings in the first place. It's the parents responsibility to protect their children from certain TV programs.

Answer 3

Sorry, but kids are more aware of these sorts of things than you think. Sure, it's hypocritical and inefficient, but the ratings systems have to satisfy not only the parents, but the entire audience as well as the broadcasters.

Really, this isn't anything to fret about and besides, if you're upset about kids being exposed to commercials during The Simpsons, why should those kids be viewing The Simpsons in your viewpoint anyway. Don't be naive and say its just a cartoon now, after all, so is Family Guy and South Park and Drawn Together.

Answer 4

VERY GOOD POINT! The best order of business for the kiddies is just buy DVDs or VHS programs you have control over. No risqué commercials and you know what's being pumped into your kid's brain.

Answer 5

i might say a great form of the shows on MTV, yet I detest even watching the categorised commercials for that stupid TiLA TEQUILA tutor. total skanks & losers. ALL pretend. it particularly isn't any secret that everybody on that tutor is a suffering actor.

Answer 6

I' with you babe ,it is out of control