I just see some value in a private consumer group like them in providing an alternative point of view to the public and actually having some influence.

Not to beat a dead horse, but take FCC complaints. If you didn’t read it by chance somewhere else would you know that the “enormous rise” in complaints last year was due to one group of people actively soliciting FCC complaints?

That’s my only point, really.

As demonstrated by the blogosphere and other alternative media’s affect on the impact of the Old Media, even though not all information dissiminated may be accurate, more information is better than none at all. People generally figure out what is bullshit for themselves.

It’s one thing if people tuned in and saw stuff and didn’t like it. But considering that 98.8% of the complaints the FCC gets are from one group of people, I’d have to say that most people aren’t getting offended.

And the idea of people complaining about something they didn’t even see on TV just infuriates me. Consumer groups are great, but agenda-driven morality police make me sick. That’s all the PTC really is.

And as I’ve said, I think Bozell does yoeman’s work over at the MRC. But let’s not kid ourselves about the PTC.

Vinny, you know I’m with you when it comes to the FCC and Congress over-regulating decency. But consumer watchdog groups like PTC are great tools for consumers to provide enough pressure on business to reduce the need for government regulation.

But they’re not just a bunch of folks being pissed about stuff. They actively solicit television clips, play them for people who haven’t seen them, and then urge people to write to the FCC and tell the FCC how offended they are.

Now, I’m no rocket scientist, but how can you geniuinely be offended by something you never saw?

They don’t care if you’re offended or not, they want volume, and they want everything that offends them off television.

I have no joy for hypocrites who hide behind protecting the children in order to zip past the first amendment.

Period.

Bozell’s group isn’t interested in helping other consumers make a choice; they’re interested in policing television for everyone and that’s bullshit. If they were only interested in telling people about choices and making educated decisions, they wouldn’t be accounting for 98.8% of the complaints the FCC receives, and they wouldn’t be airing the clips they find so offensive on their site so that people who haven’t even seen the show could play along and be offended too.

It’s bullshit and I don’t like it.

But the PTC is not the government. They are a consumer-based watchdog group that assists consumers in making sound decisions in purchasing goods and products.

The FCC regulating this would have been a different and much more disturbing story. The PTC expressing its analysis and opinion to the public helps keep consumer pressure rather than government regulatory pressure on the entertainment business. And that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.

But the PTC is not the government. They are a consumer-based watchdog group that assists consumers in making sound decisions in purchasing goods and products.

The FCC regulating this would have been a different and much more disturbing story. The PTC expressing its analysis and opinion to the public helps keep consumer pressure rather than government regulatory pressure on the entertainment business. And that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.

I have no joy for hypocrites who hide behind protecting the children in order to zip past the first amendment.

Period.

Bozell’s group isn’t interested in helping other consumers make a choice; they’re interested in policing television for everyone and that’s bullshit. If they were only interested in telling people about choices and making educated decisions, they wouldn’t be accounting for 98.8% of the complaints the FCC receives, and they wouldn’t be airing the clips they find so offensive on their site so that people who haven’t even seen the show could play along and be offended too.

It’s bullshit and I don’t like it.

But they’re not just a bunch of folks being pissed about stuff. They actively solicit television clips, play them for people who haven’t seen them, and then urge people to write to the FCC and tell the FCC how offended they are.

Now, I’m no rocket scientist, but how can you geniuinely be offended by something you never saw?

They don’t care if you’re offended or not, they want volume, and they want everything that offends them off television.

Vinny, you know I’m with you when it comes to the FCC and Congress over-regulating decency. But consumer watchdog groups like PTC are great tools for consumers to provide enough pressure on business to reduce the need for government regulation.

It’s one thing if people tuned in and saw stuff and didn’t like it. But considering that 98.8% of the complaints the FCC gets are from one group of people, I’d have to say that most people aren’t getting offended.

And the idea of people complaining about something they didn’t even see on TV just infuriates me. Consumer groups are great, but agenda-driven morality police make me sick. That’s all the PTC really is.

And as I’ve said, I think Bozell does yoeman’s work over at the MRC. But let’s not kid ourselves about the PTC.

As demonstrated by the blogosphere and other alternative media’s affect on the impact of the Old Media, even though not all information dissiminated may be accurate, more information is better than none at all. People generally figure out what is bullshit for themselves.

Not to beat a dead horse, but take FCC complaints. If you didn’t read it by chance somewhere else would you know that the “enormous rise” in complaints last year was due to one group of people actively soliciting FCC complaints?

That’s my only point, really.

I just see some value in a private consumer group like them in providing an alternative point of view to the public and actually having some influence.