OPRAH show indecent???

[momof2inPA]

I didn't say the show was appropriate for children, it wasn't. But how else do you tell the parents what "some" teens are doing/ saying without using their terms. I don't think that you can interpret the words themselves as dirty, only the context they are used (which would be sexually explicit on Stern) in or their definitions.

 

[Beauty]

Kids need to learn all of this from their parents! People need to wake up and realize that this IS HAPPENING!!! It is happening to all kinds of different children from all types of different home lifes. The first step, that we as parents need to do is be open and honest with our children about EVERYTHING and the consequenses of everything!!

Oprah did not just make these words up, they have been going around for quite a while and you would be surprised what your kids know. Personally I would like to be the one to tell my child about all of this, not another child at school and not Oprah.

I was one of those kids in school from a super family with super upbringing, money, everything going for me and guess who ended up pregnant??? Don't ever say not my child because you could be dead wrong!! Educate them while they are young enough to make the right choices and will listen to what you have to say.

 

[MosMom]

I don't doubt they exist. I doubt that they are widespread and I doubt Oprah did her show just to inform parents. I think she did it to shock people and get ratings.

I don't think children should watch Oprah either but I think LOTS of them do. I don't think many children listen to Howard Stern.

I also agree parents should have frank conversations about sex with their kids but that won't happen in most families.

My point was, Oprah's intentions with her show weren't pure. She is in it for the ratings just as Stern is.

 

[Beauty]

Oh I don't doubt that Oprah was out for both ratings and education, she is in that business.

But I think you would be a bit surprised at how wide spread the common knowledge of those words are. NOT TO US as parents but to OUR KIDS.

I had the opportunity just this afternoon when I picked J.C. up to ask his 8th grade "big sister". She is such a sweet girl and we have known her since she was little. Anyway I simply said Kim, whats a Rainbow?

She got all giggly and shaking her head as did her friend with her. THEY KNEW, without a doubt they knew! Now these are girls who I would definatly not think are sexually active yet, I could be wrong but I honestly don't think so, but they KNOW and if they KNOW and are the smart, good girls well then you know the ones that aren't so good don't know. Oh and I definatly don't live in a metro area.

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by teh fish
I do believe that the point was not about innappropriateness for children, but for the FCC's double standard when it comes to who they punish.

Exactly. If Oprah can dicuss it on tv, then all broadcasters should be able to openly use these terms, etc.

 

[janette]

I watched this show with my 12yo DD. I don't think I'd have wanted her to watch it on her own but we were able to discuss it and while the subject matter was tough some of the kids they talked to were the age of my DD. I would have never thought to talk to her about some of this stuff. That doesn't mean it's not out there. If she hadn't heard some of the terms I'd rather her hear it on an Oprah show with me than from classmates.

The numbers of kids sexually active is higher than ever, it was a pretty scary show. I want my girls to have the knowledge they need and to know that if they have a question they can come to me.

 

[LScot]

I hardly think Oprah is in it for shock value.

I'm not saying the owman doesn't want to make money. I just don't think she would stoop to Stern's tactics to make money. I think she certainly does try to use her show to educate people. I know a lot of people don't care for her for many reasons. Personally, I think the woman has a big heart and genuinely cares for others.

 

[Beauty]

I agree Brenda, although ratings do certainly play a role, Oprah has more money then she can ever use.

I also think she cares about people. I also think she needs to introduce topics like this that NEED ADDRESSING!!!!

I think its an insult to put Oprah in the same sentence as Howard Stern who is in it for nothing but SHOCK VALUE and who is just nasty in my opinion.

 

[judi]

If you are going to fine Howard then you also need to fine anyone else who is doing the same type of thing. I happen to like the Stern show and when he tried to play parts of the Oprah show on his show, he wasn't allowed to. Yes, Howard Stern is a shock jock, if you don't like him you don't have to listen to him. I don't want the govt. telling me what I can or cannot watch or listen to. Time will tell what will happen with this story.

 

[Beauty]

I agree with free speech but the context in which Howard Stern uses the words ""OH BABY PLEASE GIVE ME.....""" and the way Oprah is trying to educate about what is WRONG in America and how we need to teach and talk with our kids early on about such things are two VERY VERY VERY Different Contexts.

Besides Oprah has the money to pay the fine and it will be worth it. Then again we don't exactly live in a fair society and Oprah might be just a teensy bit more respected than Stern.

 

[Mouse Man]

It does not matter if Oprah used this content for shock value or not. The point is that if Oprah has the freedom to use these terms, so should Stern-- or anyone else on the radio or tv. If you fine one person, you fine every person. The double standard is ridiculous! The FCC is gradually taking away our freedom of speech, as well as our freedom of choice. You can't say that it is ok to talk about these things because it is "education". If you think it is ok that your 11 year old hears this from Oprah, then it is also ok to hear the talk on Stern. Oprah airs at 4:00 pm! I know plenty of kids home alone at that time. If they caught the Oprah show unsupervised, weren't they harmed? How would their parents even know?

 

[Beauty]

Yes the double standard is ridiculous, I agree with you on that but what I am saying is that we live in a world of double standards. No matter how wrong or right it is, the fact is that Oprah is well respected and Stern is not. That makes a difference, it shouldn't, but it does.

I have a 12 year old son and unless I sat on him he would NEVER watch Oprah of his own free will.....LOL! I am glad to know about all of this though because it is definatly something that we need to have a discussion about.

My son would probably find Howard Stern funny if he were to see him, especially at the age he is now with hormones raging and if that brought on more questions then the more the better. I want him to be well aware of EVERYTHING that is out there and while he will listen to us as parents I want to talk to him about it all!

My only point is that the way Oprah handled it was out of respect and to educate us as parents on what could possibly be going on with our children. Howard would applaud it all and join in!! I personally think it would be better for Oprah to just pay the silly fine and be above all the controversy. What she did and that show was something that needs to be seen and addressed.

 

[MosMom]

When did talking to your kids about sex become a new topic that Oprah needed to reach us with? Teens have been having sex forever. I don't need Oprah to tell me what a rainbow party is to know that my daughter will be exposed to sex as a teenager. If parents would have frank conversations about sex with their kids, a girl would know oral sex is sex. We have parents trying to BAN sex ed so they can give their own watered down version instead or give nothing at all. That is the problem.

If you have taught your kids the ins and outs of sex. The good and the ugly. You have open conversations about it, you don't need to know what is specifically out there. Sex is sex. My kids may still have sex but they will know the truth about it. My daughter won't believe some smooth talking punk who tells her that oral sex isn't really sex or that they don't need a condom. We've gone beyond the days of abstaining. I will stress that casual sex isn't good but I will not be blind when she is involved in a steady relationship, they will probably have sex. If they use condoms, I am actually okay with that (in a way). I just want her to have self respect and know that only she is in control of her sexuality.

However, we are not religious and I don't see abstaining as something she needs to do by order of religion.

As far as Oprah goes, let's just say we agree to disagree. She isn't even close to Howard Stern as far as content but I don't believe her intentions are totally pure.

 

[Beauty]

I do see your point, but I also wonder how many parents out there are BLIND to the goings on of teenagers. When I was a teenager (wayyyyy back in the 80s...LOL) oral sex wasn't talked about much. Now don't get me wrong we KNEW what it was but I never heard of a Rainbow Party. Then you just had sex or you didn't. I think she may have opened the eyes of a few parents out there who don't have a clue things like this go on.

No I don't believe her motives are all 100% pure but in her mind I think if she can boost the ratings and talk about something that needs talking about then thats good.

We are religious and I definatly don't believe my son to be perfect. Whether or not he chooses to have sex at an early age I don't know yet. I just want him to know what ""COULD"" happen and the choices that he has. I want him to know about condoms and know that diseases are out there. Heck I have been with the same man since 9th grade and yes we did have sex before marriage which resulted in my son. He needs to know that and see all the difficulties we went through having him so young. It is ultimatly going to be his choice but I want him to know the consequences.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Originally posted by Mouse Man
It does not matter if Oprah used this content for shock value or not. The point is that if Oprah has the freedom to use these terms, so should Stern-- or anyone else on the radio or tv. If you fine one person, you fine every person. The double standard is ridiculous! The FCC is gradually taking away our freedom of speech, as well as our freedom of choice. You can't say that it is ok to talk about these things because it is "education". If you think it is ok that your 11 year old hears this from Oprah, then it is also ok to hear the talk on Stern. Oprah airs at 4:00 pm! I know plenty of kids home alone at that time. If they caught the Oprah show unsupervised, weren't they harmed? How would their parents even know?

I totally agree! DS is grown up and can make his own decision but I want him to have the right to decide which radio or TV show he listens to or watches. I don't want people like Powell telling me what I can listen to! Annmarie

 

[macs4us]

I listen to Howard when I go up to OC/LA (since he is not on in San Diego anymore ). These letters sound like they are from Stern listeners. Man, some of them are funny!!!

Yes, I saw this show. Definitely a good thing for parents to watch with their teen. I agree that parents should be responsible for what their kids watch and listen to - not the government. Gee, the next thing you know they will be trying to ban things like smoking in your own car... (Oh, and I am not a smoker - I just disagree with the premise.)

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Originally posted by Mouse Man
Oprah airs at 4:00 pm! I know plenty of kids home alone at that time. If they caught the Oprah show unsupervised, weren't they harmed? How would their parents even know?

Exactly! The FCC uses the argument that they are protecting the children. Most Stern haters want him off because they are afraid their children might hear him. More children are available to watch Oprah than they are to listen to Stern. Kids are in school during Stern. There was a greater chance of my daughter watching the Oprah show, which was pretty graphic, than there was of her listening to the Stern show. She's watched Oprah before. Oprah often has some of her favorite celebrities on. She wants nothing to do with the Stern show because he doesn't play music. Talk radio is pretty boring for kids.

Sorry, if you are going to "clean up the airwaves", clean everyone up, even Oprah.

 

[disykat]

Oral sex was not talked about when I was a teen either. I would not have known that it was getting very common among even otherwise not sexually active kids. It probably would not have been an issue I would have addressed with my kids if not for the Oprah show. I think education has its place and is very different from joking about the same subjects.

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by wvjules
You're kidding about this, right? I know several teenagers that can have intelligent conversations about many different subjects.

I was being sarcastic, and I know you are familiar with that.


Many teenagers are quite intelligent and can hold their own in any conversation. This wasn't about the intelligence of children, but Oprah, ratings or not, bringing an important subject to the forefront.
There are a lot of parents that don't talk to their kids, and maybe because of this show, parents may have felt more comfortable bringing the subject up with their children.
Oprah is respected and people do follow what she says and does. I hope it started some conversations.

As far as the FCC and the fines. If the FCC is going to fine Stern, then yes, they need to fine Oprah too. True Oprah is more respected and did the show in a more intelligent and respectful way, but the fines aren't supposed to be about who is more respected. It's supposed to be about words, phrases and subjects they don't want on the air. Fine, either fine both, or don't fine either.

I personally don't like Stern. But I think he has every right to be on the air on whatever stations will have him.

 

[auntie]

You may think you are "going" to have frank discussions about sex with your teenage daughter...tha's great..usually when your kids are about 9 you think that they are going to come to you and you are going to be this cool parent and have this open relationship where you share everything. "sex is sex" and kids have been dealing with sex forever. Maybe you're be right. However...most teens just don't want to talk to their parents about his. I mean honestly....did you want to talk to your parents abou this stuff. As a parent it is my repsonsibility to address the issues with my daughter(17) and pass along way before 17 our family values...now matter how uncomfortable it may make her.. and that's what's been done...but I also need to be aware...of what she deals with on a daily basis in her school and social life..what is common knowledge to them is not to me. I've seen to many parents who just get into that old..."well when I was a kid" thing. Well Hello...you aren't the kid anymore...and sorry your not the teenager..but you are the older one now..and you need to get a real feel for what they deal with and not right if off to some right of passage that everyone goes through...because there is a very real chance your kid may not make it through.I felt the program educated. There are LOTS of kids who knew exactly what she was talking about...that's why the program was on...kids know...and us clueless parents who think it's the same deal as it always has been need a kick in the pants. Now ...I don't wouldn't want my 3 year old watching it..but I also wouldn't want a 3 year old or 10 year old for that matter watching some of the soaps on TV. I think the difference between Oprah and Stern is that Stern contributes to the raunchy..everything goes atttitude that these kids deal with. He is one of the ramifications of folks looking the other way. It is a bit of a difference between someone ...(even if ratings are involved) presenting a show that educates...and someone who asks to see a guests breasts...because he wants to. What value to anyone is in that..it's pure shock. I don't always agree with Oprah..but I do think her company presents issues to inform or even to debate. If it were just the money...lets face it ,she could have walked away years and years ago. The woman has more money than I would ever hope to see in a 100 lifetimes.