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'Skins': Does MTV go too far? Zap2it readers sound off
Thursday's (Jan. 21) news that the Parents Television Council (PTC) had stepped up their fight against MTV and its new series, "Skins," has definitely raised some issues for viewers.
While the PTC is asking the federal government to look into possible child pornography violations, MTV has publicly expressed its confidence that the depictions in their TVMA-rated new series will pass any government investigations and reflects the reality of teenage Americans, as well as common American community standards.
MTV's fight with the PTC raises several questions about censorship, parental responsibilities, and what we, as a country, deem to be inappropriate.
When Zap2it asked our readers if MTV's "Skins" goes too far, you touched on several of the points we mentioned above. Of course, we wouldn't expect any less from our opinonated, well-informed, TV and pop culture-literate readers!
In looking at the comments, Zap2it readers who feel that "Skins" doesn't go too far and/or don't support the PTC's efforts were double those of readers who do feel the show has crossed the line and that the PTC are right in their battle against MTV.
Here's what you're saying:
Note: Some comments have been edited for grammar and content.
"Skins" doesn't go too far and/ or I oppose the PTC's efforts
Meow Mix: Gawd. Apparently talking about drugs and alcohol on TV makes it 100 percent certain that children will use them. And apparently these so-called parents on the PTC have zero percent influence over what their children watch and learn.
If you're stupid enough to let TV be the provider of your child's morals, you don't deserve to be a parent.
Otherwise, leave TV shows alone. No one is forcing you or your children to watch these shows. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Idiots.
Alex: The MTV version of the show is TAME compared to the [British] original, and no one over there seems to care. Maybe, it's time for the U.S. to grow up a little. I remember a decade ago when MTV's 'Undressed' was going to destroy the world. Today, you could probably show it on Nickelodeon.
Stacee: If parents don't want their kids watching this stuff, they can full well set child controls or talk to their kids about the show. You know, do parent stuff? I don't get why Americans always assign parenting on everyone BESIDES the parents themselves.
Steven Anderson: Showing a 17-year-old boy naked from behind is child pornography?? Both indie and mainstream Hollywood has done 'worse' than that for decades now. Think of all the skinny-dipping scenes involving kids under 18. For example, even DISNEY has done it (in 'Pollyanna')...
We Americans are FAR too uptight when it comes to nudity on screen or in books (art photography, for example). The world pretty much laughed at us when we had the whole fiasco over Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' at the Super Bowl. A little artistic nudity isn't going to kill us, even if the person is under 18.
"Skins" goes too far and/ or I support the PTC's efforts
Rick: I think a lot of you are missing the point. I was under the impression that underage nudity/ sexual depiction is illegal. Doesn't really matter what you think should or shouldn't be shown. NAMBLA thinks you are a prude if you don't believe it's okay for a 40-year-old man to have sex with a 12-year-old boy. I guess 'prudeness' is in the eye of the beholder. I like to think that the PTC is a group of concerned mature adults who care about the development of our children as opposed to the pedophiles out there who complain that someone may take away their chance to watch kids have sex.
Disgusted: There is something sick about the producers of 'pornographic-type' shows like 'Skins' and so many more reality shows, movies, etc., etc., bad-mouthing, filthy mouths, etc, etc. Then, we wonder why there are so many pregnancies, promiscuity, etc., etc.? Kids and young people of today do not know what better morals is all about. Shame on you 'grown ups' or are you really 'grown ups.' Filth is what I call it as a mother trying to raise a decent youngster.
Nick: Went too far. It glorifies drug dealing, self-pleasure (which teens get bullied about) and teen sex. By the way, in the first episode Tony told Stan it was shameful he was still a virgin... WHAT???? Why is it shameful? It's NOT!
Timc: If everyone does it, does that make it right? If a neighborhood pervert gets some teens to have sex for the use of filming and showing others, many would be up in arms and want to send this guy to jail for a long time. But if MTV does it, it is considered cutting edge... Give me a break. If the 'children' who are in this are not supposed to be watching this then they are producing something that is WRONG.
Zappers, who do you agree with?
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i watched some of the show and did not see anything wrong with it. it was watered down from the BBC version i watch,people need to grow up since this happens everywhere and as the fresh prince of bell air said--parents just dont understand...that its a show and theres a thing called channel block
Parents letting their kids watch anything on MTV already show they don't care what their kids watch on tv. Everything on that network is crap and mindless dribble kids don't need to watch in the first place. If you have cable/satellite, you have a block channel USE IT. And let people use their freedom to make a show about whatever they want. It's still America, right?
People really need to calm down. Even if this show and many others like it weren't on tv, teenagers would still be doing drugs, having sex and so many other things. This show depicts what really goes on in the teenage world, although some of it is kind of exaggerated, it's still the truth. The British show is way more explicit than the US version but people aren't getting all worked up over a little show. If you don't like it then don't watch it. It's that simple. If you don't want your children to watch it, then don't let them. You can shelter them all you want,but eventually they will be exposed to the real world. It's like you can't do anything in America without being criticized.
I've never watched Skins, nor plan to. So this is from my own opinion about TV & Parents in general.
As a parent of a 3 year old. I will not let her watch anything that I think would influence her. She hasn't gotten to the stage of watching things that could classify as a mature programming for her age.
If parents don't want their children watching shows like Skins, they should be parents, and not let them watch it. I know it's difficult for parents to do this, because chances are, your child will just go watch it some where else. That's when parents need to step in and talk to their kids about TV shows & Moivie's.
MTV is a cable channel. It doesn't pretend to be a child based network. MTV has been promoting sex, drugs and other non-children/teen things since the 80's. If your child is watching MTV, and you are unable to stop them, sit down and talk to them.
Don't fight against MTV for something they have been doing for years. Just makes you look like you can't talk to them about anything.
If your kids are getting influenced by these shows, for instance, getting pregnant & doing drugs. It usually means you've failed at actually talking to them, so they wouldn't get influenced by these shows. It's called, making them aware of the big bad world.
I just watched it and would say it's really pretty tame. I agree with the people who say Americans need to grow up about nudity. The Europeans are so much more advanced than the Puritans in the U.S.! Tell the PTC to just turn off their TV's and read a good book. Let the rest of us watch whatever we want to watch.
Its no over the air...you have to pay for cable...you dont want mtv cancel your cable or block that channel from your cable box!
I watched the British version today and yea now that I could see people being all pissy about. MTV version is super tame compared to the british version.
1) Anybody who says kids/teenagers aren't influenced by TV, movies, music, etc. is either a moron or a liar.
2) If it's against the law, they should be prosecuted.
The producer of the show has sexual assault charge... go figure.
Im neutral about PTC vs. MTV.
HOWEVER, I did watch the show and it sucked. it was weird and stupid. illegal or not, im still not watching.
Oh my...so a show who just shows how teenager people live are the devil incarnate and are harassed by hypocritical puritan PTC..just pathetic and ridiculous..hello teenagers have sex and use dugs it is just the so hard cold truth..granted it can be exagerated on tv or movies but seriously it is not the case with Skins american version..actually it is pretty tame maybe almost boring because too tame.
And seriously i totally LMAO by the total american hypocritical morality about sex, teenage sex or drugs whereas in this country you can buy a gun like that.
Tv shows are not for educate your children: it is your role parents ! And also the school's role.
I am almost disgusted by this ridiculous debate but at the end of the day i will just laugh at the idiocy of certain people.
p.s: yes some tv shows, movies can give you some generic moral speech about this or that but it is certainly their goal, actually you can learn soething when you watch some truths even if you don't like them..Teenagers without tv will learn about sex and DO IT ! Yes crazy, hein ? And for some use druggs they certainly don't need MTV for that. Stop being so naive scratch that so Dumb.