There was a time ....

[John Bartley [OP]]

... when comedy was created from words, word timing and a unique perspective on everyday events, and without violence or sex.

Ive been watching the classics channel on ExpressVu and the shows are hilarious ! No blood, no guts, no sex, just situational humour supported by clever dialogue .... awesome !!!

[callee]

... when comedy was created from words, word timing and a unique perspective on everyday events, and without violence or sex.

Ive been watching the classics channel on ExpressVu and the shows are hilarious ! No blood, no guts, no sex, just situational humour supported by clever dialogue .... awesome !!!

Now, to support your point, i'd tell you to go google the video of the comedian comparing and contrasting the lyrics to "baby it's cold outside" with those from "WAP"

To play devil's advocate against your point,

I think that for all of recorded human history both sex and violence have been central mainstays of both our entertainment and our comedy. Infact, it used to be live! We all know of the gladiator games in classical rome, and i've actually studied some of the live sex shows that were staged in ancient corinth - they involved women and well endowed statues! And anyone who has studied the middle ages will know that their comedy was significantly based on bodily functions, with excrement playing a star role.

I think you're falling for a little bit of the "golden age" fallacy, where our memory exagerates the virtues of one period while forgetting its vices. The golden era of television you are thinking of did feature less sex and violence, but that's not because society at that time was more pure or virtuous, but rather was simply because the strict television codes of the time mandated it. In other words, the code made TV reflect a false view of society.

And while sex and violence may have been lacking, TV of that period did have plenty of other things - such as casual racism and sexism - which modern TV has managed to largely get rid of. So in those ways, modern TV is actually better.

I know that if I had to choose (and not that I am actually facing such a false dilemma, but if I was...) between letting my kids watch a tv show with sex and letting them watch one with racism, i'd choose the sex every time.

[Doug G]

I recall reading an article over a decade ago on censurship in Canada vs the US. Here we restricted violent content while in the US they resticted sexual content. They would show someone getting shot in the head but were afraid to show a boob.

[Randy in Calgary]

I recall reading an article over a decade ago on censurship in Canada vs the US. Here we restricted violent content while in the US they resticted sexual content. They would show someone getting shot in the head but were afraid to show a boob.

Not surprising given the different extent that religion factors into the respective societies.

[callee]

Not surprising given the different extent that religion factors into the respective societies.

Not sure I follow - are you saying american christianity anti-sex but pro-violence?

And i'm not sure I accept the premise Doug mentions anyway - in my experience, there's just as few boobs on canadian TV as American.

If anything, we're both anti-sex, while we are also anti-violence. The american permissivenes for violence would probably stem from the same conflagration of factors that led to their excessive permissivenes with guns. I don't think you can blame their religion for either, given that the same religion has not had the same results in other countries.

[Randy in Calgary]

Not sure I follow - are you saying american christianity anti-sex but pro-violence?

And i'm not sure I accept the premise Doug mentions anyway - in my experience, there's just as few boobs on canadian TV as American.

If anything, we're both anti-sex, while we are also anti-violence. The american permissivenes for violence would probably stem from the same conflagration of factors that led to their excessive permissivenes with guns. I don't think you can blame their religion for either, given that the same religion has not had the same results in other countries.

I meant that religion influences US policy more than in Canada. Hence the sexual hangups but ready acceptance of violence.

[callee]

I meant that religion influences US policy more than in Canada. Hence the sexual hangups but ready acceptance of violence.

I agree that religion does influence us policy more than in canada.
but i'm still not sure that one of the signs of that influence is an increase in sexual hang-ups. Maybe it's because i'm in prudish ontario and you are not, but in my experience canada is just as sexually hung up as america.

[Doug G]

My recollection was from a report over a decade ago which, as I recall, said in TV shows shown both in Canada and the US, different scenes were deleted by censors. In the Canadian broadcasts, the deleted scenes were primarily due to violent content while the deleted scenes in the US were primarily due to sexual content, not necessarily boobs.

[callee]

My recollection was from a report over a decade ago which, as I recall, said in TV shows shown both in Canada and the US, different scenes were deleted by censors. In the Canadian broadcasts, the deleted scenes were primarily due to violent content while the deleted scenes in the US were primarily due to sexual content, not necessarily boobs.

Well, it may be a case of age, as in our respective ages. A quick googling didn't find much, but this article says that canadian standards have been inconsistant over the years:
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/..._b_3028069/amp

[John Bartley [OP]]

Now, to support your point, i'd tell you to go goo.......................... ally facing such a false dilemma, but if I was...) between letting my kids watch a tv show with sex and letting them watch one with racism, i'd choose the sex every time.

I don't disagree with anything you've said, and all these points can be argued in any direction.

I guess my point is that if it's presented in a "suggested" way, rather than shoved in my face, then "I" get to choose how I see it .... innocently or in full adult mode. We get so much full adult reality mode on TV these days that it's really nice to watch some shows that aren't.

It's the same reason that I prefer watching english language drama shows from the UK and Europe ..... they are full adult, but the content seems more designed to make us think about it rather than have it shoved in our face. Sadly, that seems to be changing.

Anyway .... give me the innocent version any day .... please.

[Bowtie66]

I think I'll stick with The Littlest Hobo reruns on CTV Although just like every show on today including watching How It's Made on discovery with my son, have to fast forward through every commercial break because it seems like over 75% of the commercials are inapproriate for anyone especially children

[Doug G]

Well, it may be a case of age, as in our respective ages. A quick googling didn't find much, but this article says that canadian standards have been inconsistant over the years:
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/..._b_3028069/amp

Here's a quote from that article that says the same thing as I recall the report I remember from decade(s) ago.

"Significantly, it has often seemed as though nudity is more permissable than violence (in contrast to the American cliche). More than a few CBC movies over the years have included the occasional nude scene, while I've seen some theatrical movies on commercial TV edited for violence, but not always for skin."

[FrankC]

At least they are getting rid of those "polarizing" M&M characters.
https://globalnews.ca/news/9430091/m...-maya-rudolph/

[timberframe]

At least they are getting rid of those "polarizing" M&M characters.
https://globalnews.ca/news/9430091/m...-maya-rudolph/

Yes, if only Pink Floyd would get rid of their ultra woke and polarizing rainbow symbol!

[Randy in Calgary]

Yes, if only Pink Floyd would get rid of their ultra woke and polarizing rainbow symbol!

Funny. Just recently bought a new music streamer (mainly to get gapless playback on TIDAL). Of course the album I chose to test it was Dark Side of the Moon. It played like it should with no gaps between tracks. This feature is surprisingly difficult to get with streaming music. Not all devices provide it. $130 bucks well spent. I highly recommend the WiiM Mini if anyone is looking for an excellent network streamer. I also bought a new DAC. SMSL D300. Excellent.

Apologies for the hijack. I'm just pumped about my new audio setup. I'll be quiet now.