Posted by ThomasOMalley at 206.128.28.132 on February 26, 2004 at 15:13:44:
This whole charade is ridiculous to the point of exhaustion. In the wake of the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake “wardrobe malfunction,” the FCC is targeting any content they deem “indecent” as a clear knee-jerk reaction.
What I found obscene was how every single news organization in this country re-played the clip ad nauseum. If it was such an offensive trespass, why the heck did we see it on TV over and over again – at all hours of the day? Oh, because Janet’s breast is pixilated, it’s not offensive anymore? Look, if you were offended by the Janet/Justin event then: 1) Fine, that’s your opinion and you have a right to respond 2) You also must have tremendous occipital acuity because had I only seen the clip once, I wouldn’t have been able to tell if it was uncovered or not because of how fast they cut away from it.
So after the Super Bowl fiasco dies down a bit, the FCC turns its gaze back on Public Enemy #1: Howard Stern.
Fan of Stern’s or not, is there anybody in this country who isn’t aware of the content of Howard’s show? I think everybody is, judging by the abundance of copycat DJ’s across the land. See, people listen to Howard Stern. That’s why advertisers pay for air time and that’s why weaker, knock-off shock-jocks sprung up on radio stations everywhere (to far lesser degrees of success).
That being said, there is this thing called “freedom of choice,” which allows you – believe or not – to make up your own mind and (gasp) change the station! You mean to tell me that there are people that sit there, listen to the show and say, “Oh, hear that? That’s offensive to me!” Get a life, pal.
And who are these “impressionable youth” listening to Stern between 6 and 10 a.m.? Aren’t kids in school for at least half of that time? Last time I checked, 10-year-olds don’t make up the morning drive-time audience (And if they do, it’s because their folks are listening to Stern).
So Howard Stern can be offensive to some people? Stop the presses!
If I like his sense of humor, I want the right to tune in and have a laugh. I don’t want to be told by anyone, least of all the FCC what is “decent” and what is not. I can make up my own mind.