What do you think about the overuse of explicit material in the media, entertainment & advertisement industry?

Question

On billboards, in commercials, on the radio, the front cover of magazines on display in grocery stores. Do you think this is getting out of hand?
I have to do an awful lot of expaining to my 7 year old son. He shouldn't have to see that.

I'm no prude, but certain images should be accessible to adults only.

With your answer let me know whether or not you are a parent. I'm just curious.

I am talking about the things I have no control over.... like what we are subjected to after we walk out our front door. I don't have a problem with the human body, I have a problem with the way it is projected in the media, & entertainment & advertisement industry. Come on, you have to admit over the years it's gotten so much worse. We are bordering on perversion. It's all about selling a product, an image, or a name. I do what I can to raise my son as a respectful child. I can't blindfold him every time we leave the house.

To Wood_Vulture... It's funny how people assume things. I'm asking for an answer to my question, not an assumption on how you think I live my life.

Answer 1

I agree. It is insulting to our intelligence for the advertisers to come across like they think the only thing we can understand is some base animal-like exhibition.

Answer 2

Explicit as in... sex, violence, nudity, swearing, racial slurs?
I'll say my piece on each one:

1. Sex is the highest motivation humanity has. It's the underlying force that drives all of our achievements. It's also something people in dominant demographics like to see and/or think about.

2. Violence appeals to us because conflict is essential for progress in any endeavor, and a visual media like television and billboards can't easily express conflict in any but the simplest way: showing the most gruesome and/or athletically applied violence they can get away with.

3. The human form is a beautiful thing. I personally prefer the female form, and I've never understood why anybody has a problem with it. If your kid's taken a bath, they know that people have bodies under their clothes.

4. A lot of times, media is directed at the lowest common intellectual denominator, so swearing is a convenient, quick way to express that a character is greatly displeased... or that somebody just hit their thumb with a hammer. People swear. For media to claim otherwise would be laughable dishonesty.

5. I really don't like racism, but I think that when racial, homosexual, or any other topics that could cause unnecessary conflict or discomfort are brought out into the open, they strengthen society by bringing up an open dialogue. And in this day and age, racism is so stupid and outdated that it deserves to be laughed at. When we attach such a strong stigma to things like the N word, we give power where it isn't deserved.

And not to fall back on cliches, but if you don't like what your child is watching, you could always turn off the teevee and do something together. You know, something sociable? I have no children, but my parents often remind me that I was only a child once (and they say that REALLY happily).

Hope I helped.

Answer 3

Probably won't make you feel any better that lot of those are really aimed at teenagers and may be even younger kids. Its hard argument to make for control over those type of things because in most cases 'free speech' issue comes in and lawyers will more likely do better job at protect big corporation with money. States do have laws on type of businesses that can be run around schools and residential areas full of young kids. Every state is different, but I'm sure you can 'mail' your state law makers if you see something thats beyond common sense.

Answer 4

I agree, especially with the billboards. The one's I don't like are the anti abortion one's and adult billboards along the highway.

The adult billboards are all over the highway!
"eXXXotic GIRLS - Exit 15 - Downtown"
And they have a big picture of a girl or something. It's really inappropriate.

I think television isn't as bad, because there is lot's of ways to block explicit material and channels.

Answer 5

The word is "eye candy" and the concept is "Sex Sells". When we stop buying they will stop using it.