October 20, 2005
That's right. Annie fell asleep, and I'm tired of looking at schematics. I'm not reacting to an irritating trend (or two) that came up today.
A moron, I mean, a man called me today. He was soliciting, but given the No-Call plans in place, he couldn't call to solicit. He had to call to ask if someone else could call to solicit. I'm usually pretty good with folks who are doing this. My last wife worked for a while as a phone soliciter, and after listening to her stories, I've learned to be patient and accepting. They may not want to do it, but are just trying to keep a job. Then again, I'd find another job, just like my wife found another boyfriend...
Anyway, this poor putz started out on the wrong foot:
Let me stop right there for a moment. I'm not proud of it, but the guy hit such a nerve in the first few sentances that I believe my accent left me. I probably sounded more like an electronic voice given how sharply I ended each word. What the heck is up with marketing/societal expectations? I answered the phone. Where was the need to talk to the woman of the house, even if there were one? Aren't fathers as much involved in what is absorbed by their children? Is it really the societal norm that fathers are disconnected from their children, and mothers are completely in tune? If so, I very proudly know a lot of fathers that are not the norm. People need to stop suggesting to me that fathers are ineffectual parents or I may have to stop being polite to a heck of a lot more people.
Let's continue, shall we?
Bastard. I had to listen to him all that time, and I didn't even get to rant. I have bad news. Ranting here is not near as satisfying as it would have been to get into a debate with this jerk. Perhaps one of my three readers agrees with the 'gentleman'. So, I'll elaborate on where I stand. You don't have to agree. That's fine, because you don't raise my child.
I may have missed a few words of the conversation in my repeat above, but the gist of the conversation is that they were eventually going to ask me to help fund a group that would produce 'better' films for kids. He even went so far as to say at some point that, "we are not talking about censorship!" Granted, he wasn't. I found the foundation on line, and they seem to have good interests in mind. I'll save my rant on non-profit organizations for another time (you may have to ask). However, I can't help but think they have completely gone after the wrong thing. You don't need to push for better films or TV! You don't need to pool money together to fight Hollywood! Stop trying to take over a parent's role by making it easy! Parenting isn't easy, but it's rewarding. There is a very easy way to stop the media from making programs we don't want our children to watch: stop watching. Do I need to say it again? Stop watching.
Hollywood doesn't make these shows because they think it's a great thing to do. They make them, because the shows make money. The shows make money, because people watch them. If a show has no audience, it makes no money, and it goes away. We see advertising on a show that makes it look compelling. If you are reading this, you have access to the internet. Check the show out. If it looks like it might be wrong for kids, go see it first. How dare 'they' offer to take this responsibility over for parents. I'm an adult, and I freakin' loved 'South Park: the Movie.' I almost cried, I laughed so hard. Blame me for a sick sense of humor, but rest assured that my daughter will not see South Park when under my watch. That's the key. We are parents. We are guardians. We guard. No amount of money given to some organization is going to make me relax my watch on what my daughter can watch. First concept? Turn the damned TV off. When did it become a life right to watch TV?
We live in a (mostly) capitalist society. Love it. Hate it. It's ours. Money makes a difference in our lives, and we are supposed to earn it. Responsibility for our children is the last thing we can give up. Schools are not there to educate our kids and make them better people. TV certainly isn't. Parents are. Turn off the TV. There are over 6.5 billion people on this planet. Chances are that only a handful each year will do something in a day of the entire year that will have such a profound impact on the world that it would excuse neglecting their children. That person is not me. Is it you? If not, what are you doing with your time?
Eagle-eyed...
A moron, I mean, a man called me today. He was soliciting, but given the No-Call plans in place, he couldn't call to solicit. He had to call to ask if someone else could call to solicit. I'm usually pretty good with folks who are doing this. My last wife worked for a while as a phone soliciter, and after listening to her stories, I've learned to be patient and accepting. They may not want to do it, but are just trying to keep a job. Then again, I'd find another job, just like my wife found another boyfriend...
Anyway, this poor putz started out on the wrong foot:
Him: Hello, is Mrs. So-n-So there?
Me: No. She hasn't lived here in three and a half years.
Him: Oh. Well, I'm calling on behalf of (some crappy company looking for your money). I'm not asking for anything from you today, I'd just like to talk to the man or woman of the house.
Me: Ok, but you are off to a really bad start asking for my ex-wife.
Him: (Pause and then laugh as if I've said something funny - I didn't think I had.) Well, can I speak to the man of the house, then?
Me: You are! What can I do for you (irritation dripping from every word).
Him: Oh. I'm calling on behalf of Crap-Company. People are getting tired of Hollywood continuing to make movies that don't show family values, and have an increase of violence and other content that is not suitable for children. Would you agree?
Me: (I know where this is going.) Sure, what the heck.
Him: Well, we are calling parents and grandparents with children and grandchildren that are under the age of thirteen to talk about measures that we are taking to force Hollywood to produce movies that have more family values. Parents have to spend so much time monitoring TV and movies to make sure they are acceptable.
Let me stop right there for a moment. I'm not proud of it, but the guy hit such a nerve in the first few sentances that I believe my accent left me. I probably sounded more like an electronic voice given how sharply I ended each word. What the heck is up with marketing/societal expectations? I answered the phone. Where was the need to talk to the woman of the house, even if there were one? Aren't fathers as much involved in what is absorbed by their children? Is it really the societal norm that fathers are disconnected from their children, and mothers are completely in tune? If so, I very proudly know a lot of fathers that are not the norm. People need to stop suggesting to me that fathers are ineffectual parents or I may have to stop being polite to a heck of a lot more people.
Let's continue, shall we?
Him: ... We believe that we can all make a difference and push Hollywood to make the kind of movies that would be acceptable and portray good family values. As I've said, I'm not asking you for anything. I would just like your ok to have someone call you at an opportune time to talk about this some more. Would that be alright with you?
Me: Sure, but I don't think it will do you any good. I completely disagree with what you are suggesting. You seem to indicate
Him: Ok, thank you for your time. (Click.)
Bastard. I had to listen to him all that time, and I didn't even get to rant. I have bad news. Ranting here is not near as satisfying as it would have been to get into a debate with this jerk. Perhaps one of my three readers agrees with the 'gentleman'. So, I'll elaborate on where I stand. You don't have to agree. That's fine, because you don't raise my child.
I may have missed a few words of the conversation in my repeat above, but the gist of the conversation is that they were eventually going to ask me to help fund a group that would produce 'better' films for kids. He even went so far as to say at some point that, "we are not talking about censorship!" Granted, he wasn't. I found the foundation on line, and they seem to have good interests in mind. I'll save my rant on non-profit organizations for another time (you may have to ask). However, I can't help but think they have completely gone after the wrong thing. You don't need to push for better films or TV! You don't need to pool money together to fight Hollywood! Stop trying to take over a parent's role by making it easy! Parenting isn't easy, but it's rewarding. There is a very easy way to stop the media from making programs we don't want our children to watch: stop watching. Do I need to say it again? Stop watching.
Hollywood doesn't make these shows because they think it's a great thing to do. They make them, because the shows make money. The shows make money, because people watch them. If a show has no audience, it makes no money, and it goes away. We see advertising on a show that makes it look compelling. If you are reading this, you have access to the internet. Check the show out. If it looks like it might be wrong for kids, go see it first. How dare 'they' offer to take this responsibility over for parents. I'm an adult, and I freakin' loved 'South Park: the Movie.' I almost cried, I laughed so hard. Blame me for a sick sense of humor, but rest assured that my daughter will not see South Park when under my watch. That's the key. We are parents. We are guardians. We guard. No amount of money given to some organization is going to make me relax my watch on what my daughter can watch. First concept? Turn the damned TV off. When did it become a life right to watch TV?
We live in a (mostly) capitalist society. Love it. Hate it. It's ours. Money makes a difference in our lives, and we are supposed to earn it. Responsibility for our children is the last thing we can give up. Schools are not there to educate our kids and make them better people. TV certainly isn't. Parents are. Turn off the TV. There are over 6.5 billion people on this planet. Chances are that only a handful each year will do something in a day of the entire year that will have such a profound impact on the world that it would excuse neglecting their children. That person is not me. Is it you? If not, what are you doing with your time?
Eagle-eyed...