cui bono

Last week the Parent's Television Council requested CW Network affiliates to preempt the 9 November episode of Gossip Girl (http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2009/1104.asp). I find myself asking: "Why?" Never forget that the CW Network and it affiliates are businesses with a bottom line goal to make their stockholders money. If that includes showing programming that might not meet the standards of some, then so be it. I am not passing judgement on the decision one way or another, rather, I am simply stating the facts.

If I do not like a particular program I have the power to do this amazing thing called changing the channel. Or even better, I can turn off my television, which is something I realize I do not do often enough. No one is forcing me to watch a particular program. In fact, as far as I know, no one in this country is forcing anyone to watch a particular program.

Would I want to allow a child to see the program in question? Absolutely not. However, I do not believe it is right to allow a single group to censor a program simply because it does not meet with the group's approval.

My point is, I think the PTC could make better use of their time and resources by helping parents teach values to their children. That way, when objectionable material is broadcast, those children will be equipped to make an appropriate decision.

Removing a single episode of a television show from the airwaves does not remove all of the other sources of objectionable material, such as other television programs, the Internet, schools, etc. Preempting a program teaches children nothing. Actively teaching children how to distinguish the appropriate from the inappropriate trains them for life.