# Why is violence acceptable in American media but not nudity or swearing. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 5, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826 "2012-03-05T16:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/21 "2012-03-06T01:12:00Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Finally, you’re ignoring all the sex and nudity they do allow on TV and in movies. No kidding. The United States has a lot of problems at the present time, but nine-year-olds seeing an insufficient number of sex scenes on television is not one of them, in my humble opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/22 "2012-03-06T04:06:02Z")
Just finished watching Smash on prime time NBC. Nobody got punched or blown up, but I did see Katherine McPhee dance around intentionally seductively in a bra. > [@Marley23](#): > > I agree there’s no new ground to cover here, but who is “we?” The collective American public. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Really? There’s _nothing_ hypocritical about raising _moral_ objections to depictions of one perceived sin (sex) and ignoring that of another (murder)? :dubious: There’s a difference between a sin and a depiction of a sin. You have yet to demonstrate that there’s anything objectionable to a depiction of violence. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/23 "2012-03-06T04:09:43Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/24 "2012-03-06T06:48:10Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > There’s a difference between a sin and a depiction of a sin. You have yet to demonstrate that there’s anything objectionable to a depiction of violence. It’s all depiction, both the sex and the violence. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/25 "2012-03-06T16:50:50Z")
So is it the consensus on the straight dope that as far as the media is concerned all nudity = sex? If so, what that that say about intentional sex scenes where the actors are clothed being allowed on TV. Does that not imply sex? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/26 "2012-03-06T17:26:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So is it the consensus on the straight dope that as far as the media is concerned all nudity = sex? No, that’s the consensus of the Fundy wingnuts that the censorship is driven by. The media is only concerned with keeping the Fundies from bitching. The rest of us couldn’t care less about a naked butt-cheek, but the media don’t give two shits about us. It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. ---
**Author:** ![OldnCrinkly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OldnCrinkly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldnCrinkly)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/27 "2012-03-07T04:58:40Z")
I don’t know, it seems to me there’s about a million commercials on for limp dick meds. That’s a little unseemly to me. Why is okay to make all of these allusions to sex but not show a titty? That just seems silly. Personally, I think there is too much violence and sexual innuendo on regular broadcast tv. If you want to get the “good stuff” get cable. I can’t sit and watch Wheel of fricken Fortune with my kids without cialis and the next shoot em up movie commercials. That’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/28 "2012-03-07T16:39:57Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > No, that’s the consensus of the Fundy wingnuts that the censorship is driven by. > [@OldnCrinkly](#): > > Personally, I think there is too much violence and sexual innuendo on regular broadcast tv. If you want to get the “good stuff” get cable. Heh. Nice sequential posts. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/29 "2012-03-07T17:50:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I don’t think there is a GQ answer for this unless someone pulls out the Hays Code, but that still doesn’t account for everything. > > In American movies, violence seems to get a pass. I can go to movies or watch TV and see heads getting blown open and people impaled and it almost goes unnoticed. However, the use of the word “fuck” or “shit” will guaranty an R rating for an otherwise wholesome blood-and-guts extravaganza or bleeped out of a TV show before 11pm and most likely after 11pm as well. I think you’re grossly exaggerating. Movies that feature “heads getting blown up” and graphic images of people “getting impaled” are rated R, and when such movies are shown on TV, much of the graphic violence is edited out. You have a point, but you’re not helping your case. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/30 "2012-03-07T18:13:46Z")
> [@OldnCrinkly](#): > > I don’t know, it seems to me there’s about a million commercials on for limp dick meds. That’s a little unseemly to me. Why is okay to make all of these allusions to sex but not show a titty? That just seems silly. Because innuendo and allusion to sex doesn’t make the Fundy Baby Jesus cry. Only nekkid skin brings on the tears. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/31 "2012-03-07T21:06:13Z")
Because violence is something that kids do kinda experience, although not to the levels that are in a lot of movies and cartoons - can’t remember the last time I saw a real-life child run over by a steamroller. And it’s often an unavoidable part of the story, whereas usually sex can be hinted at without needing to show it. When the sex does need to be shown it often means that the film deals with adult relationships in a way that kids wouldn’t be interested in anyway. Some comedies are exceptions - the sex scenes in, say, the 40-year-old virgin are necessary for the story and TBH I wouldn’t be that bothered about a kid seeing them (and they don’t show that much in terms of nudity anyway). They’re not intended to turn the viewers on. > [@erislover](#): > > The problem with these kind of arguments is that I fear it would only lead people unreasonably inclined toward restricting sex and swear words to then also restrict violence, rather than permitting both, or flip-flopping on what is permissible. I don’t believe shielding kids from sex, swears, and violence is particularly beneficial. When they turn 18, suddenly they would be let loose onto a world which they haven’t even a passing familiarity with. If they are unable to see the horrors of war, how can we suggest they have reasonably chosen to join the military? If they are unable to inspect a loving relationship, how can we suggest they have reasonably chosen a mate? > > Thankfully, the prudes in our society have not made any particular headway on actually stopping actual young adults from access to these materials. It’s a little horrible to think how many might have learned about sex from internet porn rather than some other material which would more accurately portray relationships of various kinds (good and bad), but it is better than thinking the prudes have actually won just because they impose NC-17 on some movie. But it’s not like the guidelines are ‘no sex or swearing EVER until the movie is NC-17!’ 12-rated pictures (PG-13 in the US, I think) allow for more swearing and sexual scenes than U-rated films, for example. Though with swearing the rule can be a little ridiculous. I remember when the film Hope and Glory, a sweet film about a London kid in WWII, was released, the child star wasn’t allowed to see it because it had been designated a 15 film due to the word ‘fuck’ being uttered in it - by him. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/32 "2012-03-08T04:27:08Z")
People may forbid themselves to see a thing not because it is disgusting or bad, but because it is too important or sacred. Sex is, or at least used to be, among these. Now, of course, a rather large segment of society cannot imagine anything being sacred (which is why they tend to wreck everything), and can barely manage to squeek out basic human respect. But at the very least, people often understand that sex is too important. Advertisers will go almost up to that wall but not cross it. Even Hollywood, in its eternal infantility, will usually at least treat the subject with considerable respect. There are some things we don’t show on television because it’s too perverse - beneath us. But Sex is something above the commonplace, and deserves extra respect. For the same reasons, many film- and movie-makers avoid going too sentimental, because the depiction must always fall short of real love and affection. Swearing, on the final hand, is commonplace and vulgar, and appears quite often. It’s just limited enough so that people don’t roll their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/33 "2012-03-08T19:31:34Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Because innuendo and allusion to sex doesn’t make the Fundy Baby Jesus cry. Only nekkid skin brings on the tears. It’s more a question of what gives Baby Jesus a hard-on. That does it. I’m going straight to Hell… ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/34 "2012-03-08T20:06:49Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > People may forbid themselves to see a thing not because it is disgusting or bad, but because it is too important or sacred. Sex is, or at least used to be, among these. Now, of course, a rather large segment of society cannot imagine anything being sacred (which is why they tend to wreck everything), and can barely manage to squeek out basic human respect. Well, sanctity is a purely imaginary concept. And I can think of any number of things that certain sanctity-obsessed people have wrecked or are trying to wreck. > [@](#): > > But at the very least, people often understand that sex is too important. Advertisers will go almost up to that wall but not cross it. Even Hollywood, in its eternal infantility, will usually at least treat the subject with considerable respect. There are some things we don’t show on television because it’s too perverse - beneath us. But Sex is something above the commonplace, and deserves extra respect. “Respect” is an extremely vague concept when it, or lack of it, is applied to anything other than a human person. You can’t humiliate an object or a concept. As for sex on TV, all sorts of sexual situations are depicted, but it’s _nudity_ that produces sexual arousal among the viewers, so that’s what’s kept off the screen. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/35 "2012-03-08T20:25:24Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > I know the FCC censors over the air programming, but I don’t understand why so many cable channels self-censor as well. Worried about losing their advertisers. It should be noted that movie ratings aren’t the (direct) result of conservative politics like TV but rather a byzantine power structure that Hollywood doesn’t want to lose profits trying to correct. ---
**Author:** ![DeathFighterEMS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DeathFighterEMS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeathFighterEMS)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/36 "2012-03-09T06:17:46Z")
Op,I think it’s at least partly because the people that are usually easily offended by sex and drugs and tattoos and f words (super religious southerners for example) are usually ok with violence such as Guns and war etc.(actually many of them seem to love guns etc.) no offense to any bible thumping southerners just trying to answer to the best of my knowledge. I also think there are a lot of insecure people in this country that don’t want there to be half naked women in movies because it makes them feel personally fat and gross. Which they have every right to feel, since many of them are. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/37 "2012-03-11T15:19:09Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Really? There’s _nothing_ hypocritical about raising _moral_ objections to depictions of one perceived sin (sex) and ignoring that of another (murder)? :dubious: Really? There’s _nothing_ hypocritical about raising _moral_ objections to depictions of one perceived sin (rape) and ignoring that of another (lying)? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/38 "2012-03-11T22:58:47Z")
How many people have murdered somebody over the course of their lives? How many people have committed adultery or used God’s name in vain in their lives? ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/39 "2012-03-11T23:06:35Z")
Several years ago, I recall _Schindlers List_ was to be broadcast uncut. At the time, I listened to talk radio which wasn’t completely controlled but Limbaugh and his clones. The outcry from the callers was that they would show a husband (Schindler) lovingly caressing his wifes breast in a scene. Showing a group of people being murdered, hey no problem. A loving, married couple showing that love is bad, violence of any sort is not. Another example of how religion poisons and perverts everything. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826/40 "2012-03-11T23:13:23Z")
> [@Cumberdale](#): > > Several years ago, I recall _Schindlers List_ was to be broadcast uncut. At the time, I listened to talk radio which wasn’t completely controlled but Limbaugh and his clones. The outcry from the callers was that they would show a husband (Schindler) lovingly caressing his wifes breast in a scene. Showing a group of people being murdered, hey no problem. > > A loving, married couple showing that love is bad, violence of any sort is not. > > Another example of how religion poisons and perverts everything. :rolleyes: Until the last line, you did not mention anything related to religion. How do you know if the callers were religious or not? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-violence-acceptable-in-american-media-but-not-nudity-or-swearing/614826.md?page=3)