At
this point it seems pretty clear that Janet Jackson had every intention of
pulling this stunt at the Super Bowl. The question is, what should be done?
Based on the reaction there seems to be 3 basic views:
- Have the FCC impose a huge fine on whoever is responsible including MTV
and CBS.
- Outraged viewers to push pressure on Viacom to punish those responsible.
- Lighten up, it's a bear breast. Get over it.
The first option comes with lots of potential issues with it. First, the FCC
has the right under law to fine those who put things that are so indecent as to
offend the majority of people in the community. It's intentionally vague and
I tend not to favor this sort of thing. It's not the government's job to decide
what's decent or not. I just don't feel comfortable with the government
censoring things. That said, everyone knows that network TV isn't supposed to
show frontal nudity or say any of the 5 big swear words. The broadcast networks
use of the airwaves is predicated on having agreed to government regulations on
what those airwaves will be used for.
The second option is the option I favor. Viacom (owners of CBS and MTV)
should conduct a very public investigation into this and figure out whether
Jackson was doing this as a publicity stunt. If so, it should take very public
action appropriate to its findings. Angry viewers should keep the pressure on. I
see right-wingers ticked off at organizations like MoveOn.org but at least the
radical left is organizing behind the things they feel strongly about. The
"moral majority" needs to get off its rear end and do the same thing on that
kind of scale too.
The last option I just find patently offensive. The people who really need to
lighten up are those who find contemporary American culture too restrictive. It
is the way it is, grow up and deal with it. The vast majority of Americans have
decency expectations of what will show up on network TV. This was the Super Bowl
for crying out loud. Millions of children were watching it. The left-wingers of
the world always argue "Parents need to do a better job keeping an eye on what
their children are watching." Fine. Then the networks need to keep their side
too and ensure things that are rated G (or the TV equivalent) are of that
standard.
I believe that the free market will resolve this. Janet Jackson's career will
probably be harmed considerably by this. I think it was gratuitous and foolish.