Brain Fertilizer

According to a new FCC estimate obtained by Mediaweek, nearly all indecency complaints in 2003—99.8 percent—were filed by the Parents Television Council, an activist group.

This year, the trend has continued, and perhaps intensified.

Through early October, 99.9 percent of indecency complaints—aside from those concerning the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl halftime show broadcast on CBS— were brought by the PTC, according to the FCC analysis dated Oct. 1.

On the one hand, if 99.9% of the complaints are coming from an activist group, they probably don't represent anything like a mainstream view of what is appropriate, and I'm a little irritated that they would waste people's time and taxpayer's money in frivolous complaints.

On the other hand, however, what other choice do parents have if they'd like to resist the crassification of the airwaves? Things seem to always slide toward the least common denominator, i.e., someone who wants to see boobs during children's shows is eventually going to have their way unless the current trend is reversed...

But thinking it over further, I guess I'd prefer to see people stop watching television or boycott advertisers rather than using this method. I believe the free market of capitalism is a better method. More effective, more lasting, more fair, and less subject to manipulation and excess than 'govt control', which tends to just oil the squeaky wheel.

Okay, I'm against it.

This open thought process was brought to you by: "Brain Fertilizer: Dullness...Ready to Eat, Right From the Can!"