It’s finally happened — the Parents Television Council has complained that TV shows such as Family Guy and The Playboy Club are too inappropriate for the eyes and ears of small children. The report, released on Tuesday and entitled “Cartoons Are No Laughing Matter: Sex, Drugs and Profanity on Primetime Animated Programs,” enumerated instances of vulgarity in shows ranging from Disney Channel programs to Adult Swim.
Overt sexuality and foul language were the main offences, with 377 instances of sexual inappropriateness being recorded in the report along with 565 questionalble vocabulary choices.
At this point in our lives, we’re all aware that cartoons like Family Guy and The Simpsons are also enjoyed by adults for a reason. They’re crude but, come on — they’re hilarious. And the remarkable thing about children is they (for the most part) lack the worldy education that is required to notice when a show might overstep the bounds of propriety. In other words, they’ll laugh at the parts of the shows that are geared for them, and overlook the parts that might make their parents squirm on the couch next to them.
Growing up, I don’t remember ever noticing Family Guy‘s crude sense of humor. Stewie cracked me up, and I remember being confused as to why my parents tried to forbid me from watching the show. As a seasoned university student, though, I can kind of see where they’re coming from. But that’s what makes those shows so enduringly popular. You enjoy some aspects as a child, and the same aspects and more as an adult. Plus, you get the thrill of watching something slightly risque as a child.
These cartoons have been around for years and the world and its children have survived. I see no reason to complain. For more details, check out The Huffington Post.
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