Comments on: Turner censors smoking toons http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:56:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Chris Noble http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2290 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:15:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2290 Yeah, but does anyone need these things deleted? See, I know what my kids watch on teevee, and I restrict it. I'm a parent, that's kinda the job. If a child sees smoking on a cartoon- or, god help us, Mamie- what's it going to do? Kill them? Warp them? Or am I just going to turn off the tube, and talk to them about it? This has happened to me with some of the stuff on "Rocky and Bullwinke", especially its depiction of Native Americans and Mexicans. I turned it off, explained why, and that was it. We don't need others to do our jobs for us. Yeah, but does anyone need these things deleted? See, I know what my kids watch on teevee, and I restrict it. I’m a parent, that’s kinda the job. If a child sees smoking on a cartoon- or, god help us, Mamie- what’s it going to do? Kill them? Warp them? Or am I just going to turn off the tube, and talk to them about it? This has happened to me with some of the stuff on “Rocky and Bullwinke”, especially its depiction of Native Americans and Mexicans. I turned it off, explained why, and that was it. We don’t need others to do our jobs for us.

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2288 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 22:50:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2288 Yes, but the regulatory pressure here comes because they're showing them as children's programmes. Nobody would bat an eyelid if it was airing in some sort of history-of-animation showcase. If they want to keep showing them as kids programmes - and they do - then they have to play by today's rules, and they can't just say "Oh yeah, but it was fine when it was made." Yes, but the regulatory pressure here comes because they’re showing them as children’s programmes. Nobody would bat an eyelid if it was airing in some sort of history-of-animation showcase. If they want to keep showing them as kids programmes - and they do - then they have to play by today’s rules, and they can’t just say “Oh yeah, but it was fine when it was made.”

]]> by: J.D. Lombardi http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2254 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:03:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2254 Paul, the problem is though...these cartoons (at least in the time that they were made) weren't made for children. They were played ahead of movies for the most part and were considered artistic achievements, however silly/childish they seem today. Paul, the problem is though…these cartoons (at least in the time that they were made) weren’t made for children. They were played ahead of movies for the most part and were considered artistic achievements, however silly/childish they seem today.

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2242 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:47:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2242 I have no problem with this at all. If you're going to have rules about the content of children's programmes, it seems perfectly sensible and consistent to say that repeats need to comply too. I have no problem with this at all. If you’re going to have rules about the content of children’s programmes, it seems perfectly sensible and consistent to say that repeats need to comply too.

]]> by: TeamSmithy http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2230 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:55:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2230 "As far as we can tell — and we really hope we’re right — the ban applies only in the UK" Yeah, it's alright for you, we get all the squirrel flu and censorship... “As far as we can tell — and we really hope we’re right — the ban applies only in the UK”

Yeah, it’s alright for you, we get all the squirrel flu and censorship…

]]> by: Pete Bangs http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2228 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 07:39:51 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2228 For stupidity like this the nanny state UK is trying hard to lead the world. Just because there's no boot stamping on a face doesn't mean 1984 didn't come true. Things are so pathetic here now even the HSE (Government Health and Safety department) says everything has gone too far. For stupidity like this the nanny state UK is trying hard to lead the world. Just because there’s no boot stamping on a face doesn’t mean 1984 didn’t come true.

Things are so pathetic here now even the HSE (Government Health and Safety department) says everything has gone too far.

]]> by: NVigneaux http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2210 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:45:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2210 The history books aren't too far away. Orwell was right. The history books aren’t too far away. Orwell was right.

]]> by: Scott Bieser http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2208 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:52:24 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2208 What we are seeing is a resurgance of the old "hygenics" movement from the 1910s and '20s, which brought us alcohol prohibition, and had been somewhat discredited by its association with the NAZI movement in the 1930s and '40s. They're back now, in force, twiddling with epidemiological science to make "second hand smoke" seem more dangerous than it is (look at the actual data rather than just the summaries and you'll get a very different picture), and passing public smoking bans hither and yon. There will always be those who can't stand seeing other people enjoying themselves, and this applies just as much to cartoons and other entertainment as it does to the real world. What we are seeing is a resurgance of the old “hygenics” movement from the 1910s and ’20s, which brought us alcohol prohibition, and had been somewhat discredited by its association with the NAZI movement in the 1930s and ’40s. They’re back now, in force, twiddling with epidemiological science to make “second hand smoke” seem more dangerous than it is (look at the actual data rather than just the summaries and you’ll get a very different picture), and passing public smoking bans hither and yon.

There will always be those who can’t stand seeing other people enjoying themselves, and this applies just as much to cartoons and other entertainment as it does to the real world.

]]> by: J.D. Lombardi http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2185 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:25:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2185 When did the parents (who most likely loved this same crap when they were little) grow up and totally fall out of touch though? That is something that boggles my mind. If you enjoyed these same characters as a child why are they so bad for your child? When did the parents (who most likely loved this same crap when they were little) grow up and totally fall out of touch though? That is something that boggles my mind. If you enjoyed these same characters as a child why are they so bad for your child?

]]> by: Matt M. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2176 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 17:17:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2176 "Most kids", Kat Kan. My own kids love them, but I imagine them (and your kids) to be the exception rather than the rule. Or maybe cartoon violence is more universal than I give it credit for... “Most kids”, Kat Kan. My own kids love them, but I imagine them (and your kids) to be the exception rather than the rule. Or maybe cartoon violence is more universal than I give it credit for…

]]> by: Kat Kan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2174 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:43:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2174 Urm, my son is 11 years old and thinks the Tom & Jerry cartoons are hilarious. He's loved them since he can remember. My older son, now 23, used to also watch the old Tom & Jerry cartoons since he was 3 years old and he loved them, too. Connie Willis wrote a science fiction short story published years ago, in which a near-future school cuts all offending passages out of a Shakespeare play, and maybe two lines are all that remain. We've been on that slippery slope for a while now ... Urm, my son is 11 years old and thinks the Tom & Jerry cartoons are hilarious. He’s loved them since he can remember. My older son, now 23, used to also watch the old Tom & Jerry cartoons since he was 3 years old and he loved them, too.

Connie Willis wrote a science fiction short story published years ago, in which a near-future school cuts all offending passages out of a Shakespeare play, and maybe two lines are all that remain. We’ve been on that slippery slope for a while now …

]]> by: Ben http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2171 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:15:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2171 First they removed that black "mammy" character, then trimmed out the violence, and now they're getting rid of smoking scenes--these poor cartoons are gonna wind up with a running time of about 15 seconds... First they removed that black “mammy” character, then trimmed out the violence, and now they’re getting rid of smoking scenes–these poor cartoons are gonna wind up with a running time of about 15 seconds…

]]> by: J.D. Lombardi http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2170 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:11:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2170 lol isn't Turner also the guy who had the brainiac idea of colorizing classic old movies on one of his channels? lol isn’t Turner also the guy who had the brainiac idea of colorizing classic old movies on one of his channels?

]]> by: Matt M. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2168 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:03:35 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2168 Sure, most kids would, but most parents remember and can identify Tom and Jerry. This is PR on Turner's part, not "protecting the children." Sure, most kids would, but most parents remember and can identify Tom and Jerry. This is PR on Turner’s part, not “protecting the children.”

]]> by: Joe Lawler http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2166 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:45:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2166 I mostly find this silly because very few children would be interested in these cartoons. Most kids today would probably be put to sleep by a Tom & Jerry cartoon. I mostly find this silly because very few children would be interested in these cartoons. Most kids today would probably be put to sleep by a Tom & Jerry cartoon.

]]> by: J.D. Lombardi http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2163 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:32:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/turner-censors-smoking-toons/#comment-2163 Doesn't surprise me. This is right in line with the removal of the "Jasper" episodes of Tom & Jerry...remember the ones with the mammy in them? When was the last time ya saw one of those? Did you know that the current edition of Disney's Fantasia that is all over on DVD is edited so that you can't see "unsavory" characters that were originally in it? It saddens me that people are so goddamn sensitive about crap like this these days. Are we to simply clense all of the world's past simply because it isn't up to snuff with today's standards? Heaven forbid we tell future generations WHY things were the way they were in the old days of animation, etc... Doesn’t surprise me. This is right in line with the removal of the “Jasper” episodes of Tom & Jerry…remember the ones with the mammy in them? When was the last time ya saw one of those?

Did you know that the current edition of Disney’s Fantasia that is all over on DVD is edited so that you can’t see “unsavory” characters that were originally in it?

It saddens me that people are so goddamn sensitive about crap like this these days. Are we to simply clense all of the world’s past simply because it isn’t up to snuff with today’s standards? Heaven forbid we tell future generations WHY things were the way they were in the old days of animation, etc…

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