Toon Zone Talkback - NY Times on Banned Abortion-Themed "Family Guy" Episode

Toon Zone Talkback - NY Times on Banned Abortion-Themed "Family Guy" Episode

I thought this exchange was interesting:




I think the assessment that people are getting dumber can't be countered by the fact that people are more aware of science of politics. Yes, people know about DNA, and more and more people are getting into politics today.

But the fact is people do not want to confront conflict. They don't want to have a scientific conversation about abortion. They'd rather just deny any debate exists (both pro and anti abortion camps). People don't want to listen to political facts any more. They'd rather join an emotionally based political movement like the Tea Party than a policy based one like the Republican party. I don't mean to take political sides here, or come down on either side of abortion? but I do think, like Seth pointed out, that people are more and more willing to jump on a band wagon rather than have an informed debate.

Yes, things like the internet have almost unlimited power for education, but when every "fact" is one Google search away, people tend to leave it at that. They see what the number one result is on Google, and take only that away. When every question can seemingly be answered in a few seconds, people start to turn away from the kind of research or debate that originally came to the conclusions they're searching for.
 
Hasn't South Park been doing this kind off stuff for years now? If I'm offended by anything, it's Macfarlane's delusion that he's some kinda iconoclastic visionary rather then a shameless trend chaser who can't tell the difference between actual humour and incessant pop culture references.
 
Typical arrogance. It's amusing how Seth makes a blanket statement about the country at large over what TV executives did.

That said, I do agree that a show like House probably would have gotten away with a subject matter like this. I don't believe that TV networks are generally very consistent about these things at all. Shoot, this stuff didn't make sense back when the Weinstein episode was an issue.
 
I just watched the episode, and I find it very informative. When it comes down to it, it's a matter of choice, and that choice should be up to the woman alone, it is her body after all.
That episode was really tame too. I guess the network didn't want to confront the issue or have people complain, which they likely will even if they haven't seen it.
 
it's 2010 and the fact that this is still an issue shows how we haven't really come all that far intellectually. technologically, yes, we're very advanced. but the collective attitude of most americans hasn't. we're still closeted and i definitely agree with seth that a lot of americans are getting dumber and dumber. idiots raising idiots is what's going on. doing what i do for a living, it's just mind-blowing how incredibly stupid people are. as soon as something pops up that doesn't agree with someone's beliefs or has the potential to offend, it gets shot down. i think hugh hefner said that we need controversy to move forward. i agree. we can't keep shutting things out. we have to put it out there to generate discussion and education no matter how offensive it may be. with today's morally loose and sexually liberal society, there's no way an abortion episode would be as harmful as anyone's making it out to be.

fox should grow a pair. but if this is nothing more than a tactic to generate dvd sales, i can't fault them for that either. they'd just be exploiting that very stupidity seth is talking about. there's a reason we're in a recession and i don't blame the banks.
 
First things first, I don't know why you (or Seth MacFarlene himself disappointing enough) feel the need to blame the general public for this episode not airing. Fact of the matter is, it's FOX that decided to censor the episode themselves. They didn't do so because of public complaints.

Also, let's not forget that other shows both from decades past such as Maude and today like Law and Order: SVU have had abortion as a subject, and both aired fine.

And I may not know what it is you do for a living, and I don't mean to sound confrontaional, but to me; saying things like "Americans are getting dumber and dumber" and "idiots raising idiots" sounds itself like a very ignorant and arrogant thing to say. :(
 
and fox is deciding not to air it because? you know the reason just as well as i do, excluding if it's a dvd sales ploy. and people won't admit it but the truth is the truth. seth's statement was spot on. look around at what's been going on the last 2 years. who do you think created that? it's just a small example of a bigger problem. women get abortions and have always gotten abortions since the beginning of time and will continue to do so til the end of time. stifling the issue doesn't resolve it. putting it right in people's face and generating critical discussion can help people come to terms with it. and i'm gonna watch that episode tomorrow to see what the hoopla is about. and i'll bet a million bucks it's nothing worth the fuss. i still think fox really just wants some dvd money.
 
Nah, FOX does seem to have a problem with abortion jokes. Peter's whole run about the one-handed abortionist was cut down on the network airing of "Stewie Kills Lois" and in the DVD commentary is was explained FOX had a problem with how many times abortion was said.
 
This is such a great post.

It's unfortunate that Seth laid a trap for himself in the way he spoke, unless he did it on purpose to draw the ire of the usual groups for fun and profit.

Contrary to Seth's statement, America IS getting smarter. But unfortunately at the same time, many Americans have developed a higher level of emotional-based response to replace intellectual-based response, and that causes kneejerk reactions to a statement like Seth's, which was technically correct but impossible to interpret as intended until one reads it with a calm disposition and an open mind. Which won't be the case for most Americans, because America is getting dumber.
 
Which is it? :confused: I'm sorry, but you seriously contradicted yourself here.

Also, to go back to what I said before, it was FOX that banned the episode, not the American public. Why are a few people here blaming them? As I also said before, other shows have had abortion as a subject without much controversy.

And of course people have an emotional reaction to this, because it's an emotional issue. I won't go into if abortion is right or wrong, because this isn't for politics. But either side have good reason for what they feel about this, some personal and some by a moral proxy. There's no easy answer to this.

Again, to call other people dumb or idiots over this is an ignorant generalization.
 
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