Can multimedia truly be evil??

[Robinsegg]

Nobody's forcing you to pay for tv you don't want, you make the choice and that's it. If you mean spending money on cable/satellite then get over it, when you have 500 channels there's going to be programming that you don't like and you can change the channel, turn off the tv or not pay for cable/satellite.

But why have the channels bundled so that I have to buy MTV if I want Discovery Channel (for example)? Why can't I have an ala carte (even if it costs more, which would be ridiculous) and pay for only what I want? What's wrong with that?
Rachel

 

[TheMissus]

I think it's a great idea. I currently pay for the home shopping networks and sports channels that I never watch. It'd be wonderful if we could pick the channels that we get in our cable package, and only pay for what we would actually watch.

 

[marblehead]

But why have the channels bundled so that I have to buy MTV if I want Discovery Channel (for example)? Why can't I have an ala carte (even if it costs more, which would be ridiculous) and pay for only what I want? What's wrong with that?
Rachel

I see nothing wrong with that and I'm surprised it isn't already available. I might even be willing to go back to paying for tv if it were a decent price.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Some Christian groups object to a la carte programming because the number of people getting the 'christian channels' would drop.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901461.html

There are always alternatives, don't forget http://www.skyangel.com/

pps. linked from there is this
http://www.safetv.org/AboutUs.htm
if i didn't know better I'd think it was parody. (corollory of poes law?)

 

[ThatRobGuy]

They say that if you sow a thought, you reap an action. If you constantly watch South Park, which disrespects just about everything, it will affect your general attitude, like it or not.

Only if the satire goes over your head....

I love the show and think it's funny. If you understand the context of the show, then no...it will absolutely NOT affect your attitude toward anything....if someone's mind is simple enough to be completely revamped by a cartoon...then the show isn't the problem..the person just needs a check-up from the neck up.....Excuse my silly rhyme.

 

[Saeph]

No, what she's talking about is a sort of a la carte cable package, where you pick the channels you really want and know you'll watch, and pay only for them, and don't end up paying more for hundreds of channels you'll never watch. I would LOVE this. I don't bother with cable now because it's too expensive, but if I could pick even just five or six channels I'd watch frequently, and pay only for those, that'd be great.

I mixed it up - now I've got it.

Question, is the term 'woobie', 'moochie' or 'hun' dehumanising?

"A rose by any other name..."

No nickname is dehumanising as long as the one who calls you that way uses it in a positive manner.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Only if the satire goes over your head....

I love the show and think it's funny. If you understand the context of the show, then no...it will absolutely NOT affect your attitude toward anything....if someone's mind is simple enough to be completely revamped by a cartoon...then the show isn't the problem..the person just needs a check-up from the neck up.....Excuse my silly rhyme.

It has been proven ten times over that repeated, voluntary exposure to violent entertainment makes one more likely to engage in acts of violence. The more engrossing the entertainment, the most influence it has. Thus, we see that what we watch influences us. If it does not change our attitudes then all it does is reflect what is on our minds and in our spirits: in this case filth, mockery, disrespect, and venom, and arrogance.
Also, your point is lost on the fact that South Park is not satire. Satire is subtle, nuanced, and intelligent. Blatant, obvious ridicule on par with that experienced on the bus in the sixth grade is not satire. It is people deriding others in a vile and disgusting way. John Donne is satire. South Park is not.

 

[Spherical Time]

But why have the channels bundled so that I have to buy MTV if I want Discovery Channel (for example)? Why can't I have an ala carte (even if it costs more, which would be ridiculous) and pay for only what I want? What's wrong with that?
Rachel

Agreed, that would be very good. I probably couldn't afford an increase, but if I could, I'd get my channels a la carte.

 

[icbeckyc]

Some of you guys are going to laugh at this one.....I heard something yesterday that puzzled me.

For the last couple years my parents have been taking my 15 year old brother to a very conservative baptist church to receive brainwashing. When he got home from church the one week, he was telling me that they told him that watching the show South Park was evil, and also that his favorite band Slipknot was evil as well (I'm guessing because of the profanity). When they tell him these things, I make sure to balance him out with some common sense, and he's a pretty smart kid and can already start seeing through some of their lies.....Plus, he loves watching South Park with me .

Why do fundamentalists think that "bad" words can be harmful to listen to? They're just sounds like any other word. It just seems kind of silly to me.

I don't know about South Park being evil, but annoying as heck, oh definately. lol On the occassions I watch it by the time the 30 min. are over I am soo relieved.
Slipknot, Godsmack, Korn, I listen to all of these from time to time. I don't believe that because I listen to them or my DH and oldest DD listen to them we are going to end up somewhere that is really hot. But I don't sit and listen to it all day long, because I can feel that my mood slips and I can see how when my DH listens to it when he is in a really bad mood, it does get worse. I believe that what we see, and hear, effects our moods, and thoughts. I also believe that God expects us to keep our thoughts on him and I believe that it is hard to do if you focus your attention on things that are not of God. So some groups tend to go over board on this concept. I believe you as and individual have to keep your heart and mind focused on God and if you can do this and still listen to music like Slipknot then ok, but those that can shouldn't make it difficult for those that make that choice not to listen.

 

[quatona]

But why have the channels bundled so that I have to buy MTV if I want Discovery Channel (for example)? Why can't I have an ala carte (even if it costs more, which would be ridiculous) and pay for only what I want? What's wrong with that?
Rachel

I think installing the technology for customizing the offer would consume a lot of money, which I would not be willing to pay just because you want it.
So expect this to cost you a lot more.
This stuff is in the air. Do you have any suggestions how to manage this practically:
"No availability of programs with naked skin for robinsegg.
No availability of programs with christian propaganda for quatona.
No country music programs for X.
etc."?

 

[Spherical Time]

I think installing the technology for customizing the offer would consume a lot of money, which I would not be willing to pay just because you want it.
So expect this to cost you a lot more.
This stuff is in the air. Do you have any suggestions how to manage this practically:
"No availability of programs with naked skin for robinsegg.
No availability of programs with christian propaganda for quatona.
No country music programs for X.
etc."?

I'm X, in the example above, incidentally.

I just wanted to point out that these companies already have the technology to do this. It's the same technology that allows someone to purchase HBO or Showtime. My satalite receiver can also group channels by subject matter, and my old cable tranciever could do the same thing. Instead of groups of channels though, you're just selecting individual channels by the individual numbers.

 

[quatona]

I'm X, in the example above, incidentally.

I just wanted to point out that these companies already have the technology to do this. It's the same technology that allows someone to purchase HBO or Showtime. My satalite receiver can also group channels by subject matter, and my old cable tranciever could do the same thing. Instead of groups of channels though, you're just selecting individual channels by the individual numbers.

Thanks for the correction.
I personally don´t have a TV, and I am not sure I completely understand how this works. What does that mean "my satellite receiver can.."? Who or what makes it do it? You, by programming it, or the TV companies, or who?

 

[vitodabona]

Thanks for the correction.
I personally don´t have a TV, and I am not sure I completely understand how this works. What does that mean "my satellite receiver can.."? Who or what makes it do it? You, by programming it, or the TV companies, or who?

All satellite/digital cable boxes have an addressable access card in them they can be programmed to give you access to channels. Although the access tends to be by tiers or groups of channels, this could most likely be changed to go on a by channel basis.

 

[quatona]

All satellite/digital cable boxes have an addressable access card in them they can be programmed to give you access to channels. Although the access tends to be by tiers or groups of channels, this could most likely be changed to go on a by channel basis.

I see. Thanks!

 

[Timyone]

Some of you guys are going to laugh at this one.....I heard something yesterday that puzzled me.

For the last couple years my parents have been taking my 15 year old brother to a very conservative baptist church to receive brainwashing. When he got home from church the one week, he was telling me that they told him that watching the show South Park was evil, and also that his favorite band Slipknot was evil as well (I'm guessing because of the profanity). When they tell him these things, I make sure to balance him out with some common sense, and he's a pretty smart kid and can already start seeing through some of their lies.....Plus, he loves watching South Park with me .

Why do fundamentalists think that "bad" words can be harmful to listen to? They're just sounds like any other word. It just seems kind of silly to me.

i reckon people should skip slipknot as a band, well teenagers at least, things like their people equal s##t t shirts etc are pretty depressing for kids all ready depressed.
and south park is alot of swearing etc, even thow it is pretty funny, i guess it depends how old he is. but id say stay away from the slipknot. theres christian metal etc, check some of that out

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Also, your point is lost on the fact that South Park is not satire. Satire is subtle, nuanced, and intelligent. Blatant, obvious ridicule on par with that experienced on the bus in the sixth grade is not satire. It is people deriding others in a vile and disgusting way. John Donne is satire. South Park is not.

sat‧ire  /ˈsæt

aɪər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sat-ahyuh

r] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1.the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.

​

I believe it is. If you look beyond the "bad" words in the show, the message of every episode is satiracle.

 

[KarateCowboy]

sat‧ire  /ˈsæt

aɪər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sat-ahyuh

r] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1.the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.




I believe it is. If you look beyond the "bad" words in the show, the message of every episode is satiracle.

Yeah, that's the laymen's definition. I was thinking more along the lines of artful literature, where there are higher standards. By that standard just making fun of someone is 'satire'.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Yeah, that's the laymen's definition. I was thinking more along the lines of artful literature, where there are higher standards. By that standard just making fun of someone is 'satire'.

That's really what satire is...making fun of ideas and events by acting or re-enacting them out.

Look at Animal Farm or 1984...both expressed dissent with certain ideas by acting them out. South Park has a different theme every week, and the ideas are made fun of by acting them out.