It has been raining here in Alabama ever since before I left for New Hampshire almost a month ago. Not constantly, but there hasn’t been a break in the pattern in a while. It has rained every weekend for a month!!
I guess that is part of the reason I have been so depressed as of late. Little things bother me more when I am depressed. In actuality, maybe they aren’t so little.
I have noticed that our culture today is sliding down a slippery slope when it comes to what is appropriate for children to see and hear. Let me explain.
The other day I was watching one of the Nickelodeon channels with Emily. During the middle of a Saturday afternoon cartoon, all of the sudden an ad for Roseanne comes on. No big deal, right? The add featured little DJ uttering siting at the kitchen table. Out of the blue, he screams a curse word!
It’s ok that Roseanne has a show and that it is on later in the evening, but cursing during a commercial on a kid’s channel? I think that goes too far.
There are some of us that watch television with our kids and I can’t help but be surprised at some of the things that make it onto the air during a traditionally kid time of the day. How has this happened? When did it get to be that adult themes and languages were so important that my child needs to see them during her favorite show?
It’s not just commercials either. People in general don’t watch what they say in public places around children. It’s a shame. We have become so conditioned to hearing these words that we as adults don’t even notice them.
I hate it. Hate it! Hate it!!!
Kid’s are at the mercy of the world. It used to be that you rest assured that your children were safe and secure from these type of situations. Back then, people used discretion when speaking in the presence of women and children and television kept the cursing and innuendo confined to late night.
No more does this seem to be the case. The only place I feel safe from all of the ills of the world is when Emily and I are together, alone in the car. It’s there that we talk without distractions. I monitor what she watches at home so I do have control over the shows but again, not the commercials.
I feel angered and frustrated because there is nothing I can do to change this emerging pattern. Media programmers live to stretch the boundaries of acceptable language and behavior. History shows that. But to do this to children? Come on now!