TV Parental Guidlines Monitoring Board - Accountable to no one?

They're back and flexing their entertainment muscle all in our faces!   The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board continues to oversee ratings of TV shows with an authoritative, take it or leave it attitude.  Despite glaring evidence that many TV shows are not accurately being rated, they march on as the public cannot scrutinize or question their decisions.

I recently sent in a comment that episode 7 of "Special Ops: Lioness" should have been give a descriptor of "S" for explicit sexual situations do to an extended same sex intimate scene between two females.  The episode was given a " TV-MA" rating with the descriptors of coarse language and violence.  There was no mention of the same sex sexual activity that would be thrust out at the public in a "surprise, surprise, gotcha fashion".  Of course the Monitoring Board, consisting of 18 representatives of the Entertainment industry, ranging from Hulu, CBS, and the Parent Teachers Association, did not respond to my complaint.  Why?  Because they have that arrogant "don't question us" attitude that the American public has come to tolerate.  Also, they really do not care what people think about their deliberations.  It's our industry and you should be privileged that we are creating trashy scenes in TV shows for you to watch!"

The issues are the same I have mentioned in the past 2 years. Bring more clarity to the ratings so viewers, like myself, who don't want to see certain depictions in their home will not waste time watching the shows.  A rating should be a warning label on the content of a show or movie.  The rating system is not accurate when it comes to scenes of intimate sexual activity.  Or modify the rating MA to include language that it may involve scenes of intimate sexual activities.  Is that asking too much?

Children and teenagers are already exposed to illicit materials via the internet.  Can we at least have more internal controls in the entertainment industry?

The Construction Business - A monopoly for White Males??

 I was walking by a construction site in the Wellen Park area of North Port, Florida.  It is a growing area, with homes priced $400,000.  At other construction sites that involved building homes, I had noticed work crews comprised of mostly Hispanic workers.  This site was different.  The construction work appeared to be focused on clearing the vacant land and laying drainage/sewage pipes and possible electrical connections.  But, at this site I noticed an absence of minority representation.  Several miles away there is a project involving the widening of a road.  A 6 mile 52 million dollar project.  At that site the only minority worker I saw was a black man given the task of holding a sign to stop and slow traffic.  There were no visible workers operating the machinery that requires specialized skills.

I photographed the name of the construction company doing the work at Wellen Park.  After locating a point of contact, I wrote them via email asking was there a path by which minorities could get a foot in the door with their company, Phillips and Jordan.  The company prides itself on being owned by a European American female.  The response I received was to receive email notifications of the job openings within the company.  But, most of the jobs involved foreman or jobs requiring specialized skills.  Only 1-3 involved entry level type positions.  I wrote them again last week, pointing out the high requirements of the open positions and asked again was there a program designed to allow minorities or other disadvantaged people to build a career for themselves in the construction business?  My point being that one opportunity could change the lives of a family that for generations been stuck in a cycle of poverty or hopelessness.  I have yet to receive a response to my second inquiry.

The construction business has long been monopolized by white males.  Drive to any construction site and observe who works there.  Note the European American flavor to the workers on site?  So why is this industry monopolized by European American workers?  Are black and other minorities excluded from getting a foot in the door on purpose?  If so, racism still does exist.

The News in 2023

Step back and evaluate the value and quality of items shown on the local or national news.  Ask yourself this question.  How did the information you were just shown via the news improve your life?  Did it educate you?  Did it inform you in a critical area important to the success of you and your family?  Did it inspire you to positive action?  Or was it just entertainment?

Realize that the stories presented to you were decided upon by a relatively small group of people.  That group decided that you would only be shown the stories they chose.  No one asked you what you wanted to see.  No one cares about what you need to see to improve your life.  A small group of people decide what you should value and what you should watch.  How does that make you feel?  Are you delighted by the stories shown to you on the evening news?  Don't you wonder what was left out from the selection?  What criteria are they going by to decide what stories you absolutely have to see on the news?

Most "news" stories will deal with violent acts by individuals.  The more individuals killed or injured the greater likelihood that the story will be presented first.  That is unless the subject(s) of the news story is about a group of people who do not have "favored" status.  The greater the public notoriety of the person, the greater the chance the "news" will feature them.

Try this.  When each news story comes up, write down the type of story it is.  Violence/murder could be one heading.  Shooting/death could be another heading.  If the story is about a person, write down what the person did to warrant the attention.  Keep that self log the entire week, then review it to identify if there is a consistent theme/trend as to what type of stories are pushed out at you.

How did all the stories you watch make you feel?  Sad? Disgusted? Scared? Angry?  Whatever you felt is what the small group of people who selected the stories want you to feel.  They seek to get an emotion from you.  Note that some news stations end the news with a "feel good" story.  It's likely the most positive story of the day.  Maybe the stories are rolled out that way so you leave watching the news with a positive attitude? It helps ensure you will return the next day to wade through all the violent stories to reach the positive story.  Your emotions are being played with in the manner the positive story is always last.

You need to expect more from the news you watch.  First, ask how are the stories chosen?  What is the criteria used to select the stories that make the cut?  Demand that the news be used to educate you on an issue.  Give you the chance to decide an issue based on hearing both sides of an issue presented on the news.  Contact the news stations to let them know which stories had no redeeming value.  What is the  value of telling you that someone has been shot and killed?

The news needs to tell us the following things: 1.  Is the water we drink safe.  2.  Is bad weather approaching your community?  3.  Is a criminal on the loose who presents danger to the public?  3.  Are there recalls on food or other items?  4.  Where are the traffic problems in the city?  5.  Is there a world event going on that may endanger our country?  6.  Is there a man made or natural crisis brewing that endangers the public?  7. Has a cure been found for some diseases or sickness?  Add any other category in your community that fits "a need to know".  Six to 8 items daily that we need to know about.  What follows after that is simply entertainment filler.  Stories designed to occupy the time and thoughts of a willing public.  The stories about entertainers and celebrities is useless.  Filler material to fit our human pyramid of idols.

Start asking your TV station to give you the news we all need to know.  Let them keep the trashy material to themselves.  Finally, ask for the names and phone numbers of the people who are approving the stories that are pushed out to you everyday.