PUBLIC OPINION > It's Still Not OK to Curse on TV
SodaHead TV
2012/01/13 22:00:00
"Modern Family" dropped a bomb on its network this season -- an f-bomb, in fact -- although it hasn't aired yet. It was tough work, but the creators convinced ABC to let them air a scene in which Lily Tucker-Pritchett, a four-year-old character just learning to talk, uses the f-word. Apparently viewers will not be able to hear the word, though they aren't clear on what that means or why it was controversial for the network, but it brings up an interesting issue. We asked SodaHeads how they feel about cursing on TV.
Is It OK to Curse on TV?
53% Say #%&@ No!
Well, we wondered why the topic was such a big deal for ABC, and now we know why. More than half of respondents really do have a problem with swearing, and when it comes to ratings it's better safe than sorry. That's also probably why they opted to make the word inaudible, or indiscernible, or whatever they did. A lot of commenters didn't actually have much of a problem with swearing in general, but family shows are the gray area. HBO? No problem. Late night? Maybe. "Modern Family"? Now you're pushing it.
Darn Kids and Their Swearing and... Techno Parties...
What a shocker! Young people are fine with it. There was an enormous gap around age 35. 67% of younger voters were cool with swearing on TV, while only 28% of older voters felt the same -- a difference of 39%. Does this mean swearing isn't a big deal anymore, or do people just "see the light" at 35? We'll check back in a decade.
Parents Get Protective
Maybe it wasn't just the age thing that had an impact. We found a similar difference between parents and voters without kids. 64% of voters without kids were fine with swearing on TV -- very close to the under 35 group. Only 32% of parents did, which was actually a little more than the over 35 group.
Atheists Aren't Bothered at All
Yes, atheists are extremely comfortable with swearing on TV. An overwhelming 86% threw in for it, compared to 76% of agnostics and 29% of Christians. An interesting observation: When we compared religion to politics, atheists and conservatives took similarly extreme stances; Christians and liberals were more moderate. The proportions were almost exactly the same, but on different sides of the fence.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about swearing on TV. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
-
U-Dog 2012/01/15 03:23:09
+9A little cussing on TV would not be seen as such a huge deal if the moral authoritarians in govt had not prohibited it and made it so taboo in the first place. TV should be a natural reflection of society and individuals and parents should be free to tune out what they don't deem appropriate.
And of course not on childrens TV
Isn't that how it is supposed to work? Free speech otherwise?
people should seriously not make a big deal out of it.
Its harder when she goes to her friends or babysitters of course, but that's where direct communication with other parents and my kid comes in.
There's a novel concept out there; being a parent to your kids and actually monitoring what they watch for inappropriate content.