Delicate sensibilities

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Drago

Drago

Legendary Member
Location
Suburban Poshshire
A thought occurs.

I was watching a film on Channel 5 last night. When the film started, and when the film resumed after every ad break, there was a spoken warning advising us of extreme violence and offensive language,

Now, this was doubtless done with good intentions to protect the sensibilities of delicate souls. However, I found it had the opposite effect - it made me think "brutal violence and bad language, eh? I'm in!"

This got me thinking even more. At an overt level it's a warning, but is it secretly worded and nuanced to actually draw people in and thus raise viewing figures?

What effect do these warnings have on you?
 
M

Markymark

Guest
They are not making a moral case to decrease viewers. If that were the case they wouldn't show it. It is purely as a warning that some viewers may find it offensive. A reasonable service to alert people.
 
ianrauk

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
The classic case of similar was when the PMRC (Parents Resource Music centre) in the States successfully lobbied the government to add warning stickers to music albums. Of course, the stickers where then seen as a badge of honour by many kids which meant that albums that were deemed to be a bit naughty with naughty words and/or imagery (W.A.SP, Madonna and even Sheena Easton were listed) and were stickered saw huge rise in sales.
 
U

ufkacbln

Guest
Markymark said:
Not sure there's many kids buying Sheena Easton as a badge of honour.
Click to expand...

A few years ago I bought my teenage niece an album for her Birthday:

71PTku9z0BL._SY355_.jpg



It became a bit of a cult hit at her school.....
 
U

ufkacbln

Guest
Slightly different from the original post, but bear with me....

I think that part of this is "responsible" broadcasting

Many years ago we were involved in negotiations for the charity we worked with to be part of.a plot line in EastEnders to promote the work we did.

The end of the programme would have a "If you are interested in further information... message"

(in the end we did Challenge Anneka)

They still do this with some story lines and the "If you have been affected by..." message may be the cause of seeking help so is appropriate and beneficial.


However this does lose its effect when the most trivial issues get the message


Which comes back to the OP

There are some programmes that warrant a warning (a bit like a film rating) but on the other hand if used too often then becomes useless

When Judge Judy, the Police reality shows or similar gets a warning about violence and antisocial behaviour then it goes a little too far perhaps
 
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