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Tosh.0 and South Park?

Majora's Cat

How about that
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
NJ
Listed in the title I have two controversial shows. Now, parents seem to bash Comedy Central's two best-known TV shows a lot. Most believe it is pure filth, with no good coming from watching these programs. Really? Sure, swears ome up very often in both, and they emphasize suggestive themes. But I like to think of these shows as more mature. No, not mature because they're slighly inappropriate, but it takes some wit to actually understand them fully. I would say rather mature (or at least not dumb) audiences view these shows. Why in the world would I say that? Well, my friends, there is more to South Park than simply spouting swears here and there. You would have to be the dumbest person in the world to not understand that South Park is crammed with messages, some not so important, some rather intellectual. These morals are hinted throughout the episodes. South Park even bashed itself, saying that at least Family Guy isn't completely chock-full with messages. This was during an episode where Cartman was attempting to get Family Guy off the air, and stated that at least it wasn't full of morals - a hint towards South Park. If that isn't funny, I don't know what is. Before parents believe that South Park is redneck humor, they should at least watch the show (or not... considering it is rather vulgar). The point I'm trying to put across the table is that South Park is not totally mindless - the viewer must at least have some brains to comprehend what the morals in each episode are. As for Tosh.0, people must have a good understanding of the outside world. That sounds stupid, right? Well, you may have to know some things about society before you try understanding all of Daniel Tosh's wacky references. Even I don't understand some of the things he says because they are far too witty. Less, I understand that Daniel Tosh is not exactly a role model, but the show isn't half bad. The main concern for parents is the influecne it has on their children. I have seen no such influence to speak of, except for maybe the occasional conversation. Plus, parents usually don't get that their kids already understand everything the show is really about before ever watching it. What I mean is that most parents assume their kids are idiots, completely ideal, similar to that of a small child in an old movie during the holiday season. The child portrayed in such movies no longer exists. The common child that replaces the "ideal" one is slightly less well-behaved, but also smarter than the ideal child as portrayed in movies. Kids will already know and understand the adult themes in South Park and Tosh.0, so what's the use of parents trying to stop them from watching in the first place? Crude humor spreads through schools like wildfire at an early age, most kids learning from their older brothers and sisters. Shows like South Park and Tosh.0 are not to blame - instead, blame life itself, for it is impossible for a child to actually be "perfect".

What do you think? Are South Park and Tosh.0 the mindless gibberish that parents make it out to be?
 

Cel-Shaded Deku

Ha ha, charade you are!
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Location
Rapin' your churches, burnin' your women!
I don't know if you're right about them but if these morals are hidden within the shows then I can see why it would be hard for parents to see it.

Also, the natural spreading of crude humor is not a reason to let kids watch shows like South Park.
 

Hanyou

didn't build that
I'm a fan of South Park and have seen every episode.

With that said, I do not believe the show is appropriate for children and think parents should regulate the viewing of these programs. Some children are simply not prepared for the heavy themes, and could pick up on the wrong messages from the show. Furthermore, children should not be subjected to the overt sexual humor or language of the show.

It's sort of an unfair generalization to say all "parents" feel the same way--it is only some of the more vocal ones who say that it is mindless. That said, it is a mistake to assume that just because a piece of entertainment is appropriate for adults it is also appropriate to children. Intelligence is not the issue. Age-appropriateness is.

I don't know what Tosh is, so no comment on that.

What I mean is that most parents assume their kids are idiots, completely ideal, similar to that of a small child in an old movie during the holiday season. The child portrayed in such movies no longer exists. The common child that replaces the "ideal" one is slightly less well-behaved, but also smarter than the ideal child as portrayed in movies. Kids will already know and understand the adult themes in South Park and Tosh.0, so what's the use of parents trying to stop them from watching in the first place?

I remember quite clearly what it was like to be a child, and my friends and I were not exchanging jokes in the same vein as South Park. Just because you believe it to be inevitable that children will be exposed to certain material does not mean that parents should concede to the perceived cultural norms. When I have children, I plan on raising them the way I was raised.

I really dislike this argument. Children are not perfect, and they never will be, but parents should raise them properly and with their own values. Exposure to certain concepts is not inevitable. Even if it were, it is a major part of a parent's job to protect his or her child from improper worldly influences. Generally, those who make similar arguments (about sex, pornography, etc.) have no problem with children being exposed to these things. In that case, they should recuse themselves on matters that concern other peoples' children, as other parents may have distinct, more conservative values.

Please keep in mind, I was a child in the 1990's and a young teen (and therefore, still a child) post-2000. Things haven't changed that much.
 
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linkman8

True and Noble
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Location
United States of America
I don't know if you're right about them but if these morals are hidden within the shows then I can see why it would be hard for parents to see it.
Yes, I'm sure South Park has morals hidden in it somewhere underneath the blatant racism, sexism, violence, profanity, and religious descrimination.

And saying that kids will eventually learn about sex, violence, etc anyway is a horrible argument. By that logic, we should be violating children because, heck, they'll do it some day anyway.
 

Kybyrian

Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Location
Amherst, MA
Gender
Didn't I already answer this one?
The thing about these shows is that they don't intend them to ruin the minds of kids, but rather intend them as a form of comedy, obviously. Some people have crude senses of humor. They hope that the people who watch them aren't going to go out and grind people's parents up and put them into chili and force them to eat it as a way of getting back at them. The wrong people watch it. There just is no way to stop them from watching it, but that doesn't mean that the people who make the shows are bad. It's not their intention to ruin the world or anything. Kids have to realize for themselves that this stuff should not be taken seriously. Only the idiots recreate this. It's a sad time, though, when you can say that that happens to be a majority of the world.

I enjoy both shows quite thoroughly, and I know none of it is to be taken seriously. Tosh.0 is a little different considers the sexism and all of that, but South Park, I know shouldn't be taken seriously. Half of the stuff on Tosh.0 shouldn't be taken seriously, either. Too many people do, and they are just idiots. It all had to start somewhere, though. The idiots were bound to act stupid anyway... but I see what you're saying. No need to speed up the process, you know?

I watch both shows and don't intend to stop watching them. Tosh.0 is hilarious as is South Park. I suppose I have a rather crude sense of humor, you may say, but regardless they are funny. I'm not one of the idiots that most of our population is made up of that will go out and start recreating everything that I saw on Tosh.0 or South Park.
 

Hanyou

didn't build that
Yes, I'm sure South Park has morals hidden in it somewhere underneath the blatant racism, sexism, violence, profanity, and religious descrimination.

Please explain.

If anything, South Park forwards several anti-racist messages, I have never seen a single instance of sexism on the show, and there is absolutely no religious discrimination whatsoever. Yes, the show is pretty offensive to anyone of any religious faith, but that's not discrimination--that's equal treatment. In the "Go, God, Go" episode, Trey and Matt even berated aggressive atheists for their behavior. No one is safe.

There is violence and profanity. Can't argue with that. There is also some pretty blatant sexual content. This is precisely why the show is not appropriate for children, and competent parents who dislike the show will restrict their children from watching it. There is nothing wrong with South Park existing. There is also nothing wrong with parents restricting their child's TV-watching habits.

I have no idea what episodes of South Park you have seen, but you do not seem to have picked up on any of the subtlety or the messages. I am a Christian who especially despises misogyny. The show doesn't offend me. There are a couple of episodes that make me uncomfortable and I skip over them, but overall it is not racist, etc. I don't see how you could argue that.

And saying that kids will eventually learn about sex, violence, etc anyway is a horrible argument. By that logic, we should be violating children because, heck, they'll do it some day anyway.

I agree with you here. Bad things happen in the world. Does that mean we should allow them to continue?

Whether children telling crude jokes is "bad" or not is up for debate and a question probably best left to individual parents, but just because it is the norm doesn't mean it is justifiable that all children be exposed to this sort of humor.
 

TheGreen

is climbin' in yo windows
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Location
San Antonio
I find a lot of value in these shows.
Comedy is the reason that people watch these shows and something that people like is easy to keep on tv.
I happen to think that lewd humor is hilarious. While watching Tosh.0 I usually laugh hardest when Tosh is naked and blurred, or really when anyone is blurred. It's especially funny because even though they have to blur something more than once an episode I'm never expecting it which is awesome.
I think I've seen nearly every episode and ya, I wouldn't let my kids watch it, but we're exposed to that stuff anyway. I mean, we have teh interwebs, amirite?

As for South Park, I don't think that cursing is all that bad. They just go for outrageous not necessarily vulgar or anything.

If kids aren't allowed to watch it, it should be because they are immature and unable to judge when they should repeat or emulate these things and when to be polite. That's my policy on it. I can curse up a storm, especially when I'm drinking, but I don't talk or behave the same way in front my teachers or anything...
 

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