Language on television.

[Aretelio]

I watch a good bit of TV. Everything from network shows, cable shows and shows on premium channels like HBO. The usage of language naturally differs on each of these channels because of FCC regulations and whatnot.

I've noticed that in the past five years or so, the cable channels like FX and AMC have become a bit more...free with their usage of swearing. Which I have to say I enjoy.

Now, I'm not saying that every show on television needs to have f-bombs and other foul language to be enjoyable, but there's something a bit more natural to the dialogue in some of the cable programs. Take The Walking Dead for example; in one of the recent episodes, Daryl and Rick were standing on a porch preparing to embark on mission when Shane approaches. Shane and Rick have some beef that they need to discuss, Daryl is aware of the beef and takes his leave by saying, "I'mna go take a piss."

If you're aware of the show and Daryl, you'd know his character would never say, "I gotta go pee," or "I have to go to the restroom."

Now take a crime drama on a national network, just pick one, there's a million. The police officer's language on those shows is so sanitized that it makes it difficult to relate to the character, which in turn, for me anyway, makes the show less enjoyable because I know cops simply don't speak like that.

I don't know. Just something I noticed. Thoughts?

[Alaris]

Personally, bad language is something people get used to, but good language also can get used to. I think the problem though is when you see people who you'd expect to be foul-mouthed, and are talking clean. A show has to be realistic or it breaks immersion.

My preference is clean language. I enjoy foul language is used well, which is a rarity these days.

Not that I watch TV much, so meh. I like a lot the Mentalist, and at least the main characters are clean.

[Aretelio]

Oh, believe me, I think there are shows out there that don't need bad language to be good. Shows like How I Met Your Mother or The Big Bang Theory wouldn't benefit from bad language, because that's not really their MO.

But say, shows like Archer...I love that show, but I think it'd be terrible without it's filthiness.

[Alaris]

I don't know Archer.

Also, I watched House a few times, I totally hate the show, in large part because the main character is a ... and that's supposed to be a good thing. I don't like it when people go around telling us that it's ok to be a ... if you are talented.

I much prefer positive role models like the Mentalist. Charming fun personality, he makes me laugh.

[Zayren]

Also, I watched House a few times, I totally hate the show, in large part because the main character is a genius and that's supposed to be a good thing. I don't like it when people go around telling us that it's ok to be a genius if you are talented.

I thought this was a really ironic post given the topic of the thread.

Also, I have literally no problems with any range of cleanliness or vulgarity. My two favorite shows are Avatar the Last Airbender and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Oh yeah and it's pretty funny where shows subvert the filter by saying other words. Like Adventure Time does it a lot where instead of saying a "BAD WORD" Finn will say something like mathematical or slamacow.

[RD]

Yeah, I'm with Zayren. I'm fine with either, but it depends on the situation. I've noticed more curses are not censored these days, which I don't really mind in the right context. It's fine if I'm watching Archer or South Park and it's not bleeped out, but it doesn't really have a place on Sesame Street.

I happen to be of the mind that parents should actually parent their children. Kids shouldn't be watching the kind of shows where curses or phrases like "I gotta piss" are being thrown around. And if they are, it's on the parent to teach them which words are appropriate and which are not.

[Aretelio]

Sound parenting not withstanding, I was merely stating my view in relation to how the dialogue just seems more natural in a given situation. And how it seems fake in others.

[RD]

Sound parenting not withstanding, I was merely stating my view in relation to how the dialogue just seems more natural in a given situation. And how it seems fake in others.

Didn't mean that as a slight to your parenting skills. I just meant in general I think it is up to the parent to decide what programs their children watch and instilling the fear of cursing in them.

[MixedVariety]

Didn't mean that as a slight to your parenting skills. I just meant in general I think it is up to the parent to decide what programs their children watch and instilling the fear of cursing in them.

I'm pretty sure Aret isn't a parent yet. As for parenting properly, I completely agree. I also think the media should try to keep obscene shows on later than say, 9:00 pm whenever possible.

A lot of words that were once considered vulgar and unacceptable have made their way into mainstream language. I don't think you can keep children from ever hearing them, so the idea is to make sure, as a parent, that they know when to use those words and when not to...and the best way to do that is by example. Hopefully if you don't swear around your kids, or at least very sparingly, that will trump what they learn elsewhere. At least, that's the idea.

Vulgarity and swearing has its place--movies and shows about violence and sexual situations would be silly if they were fluffed down to appear other than what they are.

[bearsfwd]

I'm all for more language being used. Obviously, as stated, it shouldn't be unnecessarily thrown in just because. But if it's part of the character, like Daryl from The Walking Dead, it shouldn't be filtered or frowned upon.

But, unfortunately, there are those parents out there that think that the best way to parent their children is to get all bad things off of TV, instead of using the parental filters that are on TVs for a reason. So, until these very parents learn to take care of their kinds themselves instead of affecting everybody with their BS, it'll never happen. I would love to watch movies on TV that are for the most part uncut/unedited (when not on a movie channel).