MTV.. dumbing down america one kid at a time

Only one of those women have implants too (that I can see) so nasty..

 

switch channels you silly bastard.

 

It looks like he/she has switched forums/usernames.

 

I haven't seen MTV since I was about 14. Saw the other week that it is showing some bizarre programmes along with it's bad music.

 

See that's what I'm trying to say, Its not MTV's music... It's just the shitty music of our times..

 

I think there is a plethora of good informative/entertaining TV in the UK and US.
Aside from personal taste (I happen to think Mad Men is shit) there is quality produced programmes.
It might be scattered all over the networks and you may need to do a little bit of looking, but it is there.

I'm not quite sure how it works in the US, but in the UK we have both commercial networks and non-commercial networks (BBC).
So, I don't think your argument works quite as well here.
I'm sure it works more in the US.

In the United Kingdom the term "public service broadcasting" (PSB) refers to broadcasting intended for the public benefit rather than for purely commercial concerns. The communications regulator Ofcom, requires that certain television and radio broadcasters fulfil certain requirements as part of their licence to broadcast. All of the BBC's television and radio stations have a public service remit, including those that broadcast digitally.

Additionally, all stations broadcast on terrestrial analogue television - the regional Channel 3 companies (the ITV Network), GMTV, Channel 4, S4C in Wales, and Five - are obliged to provide public service programming as they can be viewed freely almost anywhere nationwide.

The recently introduced 'third tier' of approaching 200 Community Radio services are also specifically recognised by Ofcom as being providers of public service broadcasting output, delivered under the terms of the Community Radio Order 2004. Commercial radio also has nominal public service obligations. However, the requirements imposed for commercial radio are generally fewer, normally requiring only a minimum level of news.

Is this the same in the US?
If TV networks do not have PSB...they can produce any kind of programmes they like.
They probably always have produced what ever they liked and probably always will.
They are there to service their shareholders/advertisers - you are right....and?

 

In the States, you have PBS - spiritual home of Sesame Street - and, of course, the Brits have the BBC, the poster child of public service TV. In the Netherlands, where I reside, there's something similar, but it's fractured into, like, 10 or more public sub-networks.

Historically, each of these catered to their own demographic (catholics, protestants, socialists, liberal intellectual) but then as the century ran its course, such distinctions lost relevance, particularly for the youth demographic, and because young people everywhere just love commercial television, as much as they despise the 'highbrow' fare of public broadcasting, some genius politician cum network executive figured, in the spirit of Free Market Mechanism inc, public television in the Netherlands should not strive to supplement, but rather compete with the commercial networks and adjust its format to draw in more of the youth demographic.

Of course none of these sub-networks had financial means even remotely approaching the budgets of commercial stations, resulting in the scores of quizzes for the mentally challenged, Master Chef ripoffs, and all-afternoon daily chat shows with boring and self-important Dutch micro-celebrities, which make up public television over here, today.

Now what's my point with this here primer on Dutch public TV? Obviously, I'm not impressed, qualitywise, but more generally, I'd argue the situation here is emblematic for the tremendous pressures, from within and without, so-called 'public institutions' are under to allow a bit of 'free market interplay' into its ad-free publicly funded enclave. As it is, public television, certainly in the Netherlands, only affirms the hegemony of corporate media, rather than challenging it.

Now I could go on about how add- and sensation-laden corporate media deal not in 'harmless entertainment' but, rather, in regressive distractions, fantasies of wealth, luxury and ego-fulfillment, in the face of a world going to hell. This, in an age in which a serious reality-check is most needed.

The corporations sponsoring commercial television have nothing to do with honest, hard-working companies trying to make a buck like the next guy, and everything with maintaining consumer capitalism's death-trance, in the face of worldwide social, economic and ecological catastrophe. Finally, to up the ante, I'd add that if you believe differently, if you think it's all exaggerated crypto-commie raving, then this is as sure a sign you'll ever get that you've drank the corporate Kool-Aid.

 

Please don't insult my intelligence when I have not insulted yours, It's a little patronising and arrogant.
However, I'll ignore your tone towards me and the condescending Kool-aid comment and try to work through what you have said, fairly.

I'm sure you have a fair point regarding Dutch TV, if a little melodramatic and with, it seems, masses of your own prejudices.
A brief look at some of the programming on Netherlands TV tell me it is terrible.
Too many rip-offs, foreign made programmes and generally programmes that are too long and just seem designed to fill a whole afternoon.

Now that I have read your second post It seems you are transferring your opinions of your TV to the wider world.
It just does not work like that, imho.
Ok, so your TV is terrible and, perhaps, all the things you say.
That does not mean it is the same here.
I would agree a prime e.g of your point is US TV, though.

To be fair to America, you mention an American programme as something you are looking forward too.
So they are capable of making good TV and I would say some of the Best TV is from America (and obviously the UK).
But, there is also a high level of dross too.
If you mindlessly watch TV everyday and don't pick and choose what you watch, then you only have your self to blame wouldn't you say?
For e.g if you were only to watch MTV then you are hardly going to gain everything TV has to offer, and if it dumbs you down, that's your fault.

I would say your TV is years behind the UK's, both in terms of originality and in terms of having a good public service remit (like the BBC).
It seems to have a lot to learn.
You will have to tell me if I am being unfair.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure what you want on TV and the type of day to day programming you want.
Like I have said, and I'm sure to a certain degree this is true in your country too, there are some good entertaining/informative TV out there if you care to look.
It just seems TV has fractured so much you have to look harder

At the end of the day, you could be right...but if there are well crafted, informative and intelligent programmes out there...I'm not that concerned with any so-called agendas.
Anyway, It's not really that healthy to assume TV has to give you everything: Spiritually, emotionally, intellectually etc etc etc.
Perhaps we ask too much of it.

 

At least Beavis and Butthead are coming back on.

 

I think most people that choose to watch mtv are pretty fuckin stupid to begin with

 

What type of TV do you like? or are you one of those types that doesn't watch TV?

 

pretty much, that or I turn it on then 5 minutes later turn it off because of all the stupidity and subliminal ads and propaganda that encourages people to be dicks towards eachother

I like a couple of cartoons, not including family guy, that's about it

 

nobody even watches mtv anymore...

 

Fair enough.

There are some great programmes on TV, though.
I generally look at the TV guide and decide what I'm going to watch.
There is nothing worse - but I am guilty of it sometimes - as turning the TV on and your eyes glazing over watching what ever is being pumped out.

If somebody is watching MTV morning noon and night, there definitely is something wrong with them and it will dumb them down, no doubt.
But how many people actually do that?
MTV is about entertainment and there is nothing wrong with watching a bit of entertainment from time to time...however mindless it might be.

If you are not really wishing to get anything out of TV, then TV obviously isn't for you.

 

Most channels, including MTV are moronic because of the invasion of reality shows that happened in late 90's and early 2000's. Remember when TLC had non-reality shows that were informative? I can't! Now at least 70% of the shows are nothing but stupid reality shows about people that no one cares about.

 

It all just makes me want to read "A Brave New World" once again.

:cheers2:

 

My god yes... My girlfriend forces me to watch mtv when I can't think of anything to do... Oh my god.

The real world.. It's all so very fake. It's all just trying to amplify very petty issues into gigantic fucking emotional escapades toward a spiraling pool of idiocracy.

God... Jersey Shore, Although this one is actually pretty entertaining... I can see past all of the bullshit and see the underlying pain these people go through. Alcoholism, public scrutiny, stereroid abuse...

I mean... I find them really entertaining because It makes you feel connected to these people in a weird way.... even though you'll never meet or see them... the emotional struggles kind of trigger the empathy valve in your mind and you start to actually believe in some of this crap until it's turned off.

Don't watch it... Tremendous waste of your life.

 

"I find TV to be tremendously educational. When someone turns one on I go into another room and read," Groucho Marx

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

I think people that watch MTV and then come here to bitch about it are insane.


You might as well stick your tongue in a fan and come here to tell me how bad it hurts

 

Excellent