In wake of SKS: censorship/moral responsibility?

Hi all, I'm new to the debate mansion. Good to be here..

I have been following the recent debates surrounding Sach Ka Saamna, where some people are arguing that a show like this should not air at all. I am going to disregard that view as totally reactionary, but I will consider the following view put forth by Smriti Irani that such shows should not be on prime time because kids could watch it. I don't know if I agree, but I think it is an arguable point.

I assume many of us would be against either absolute freedom of speech or downright moral censorship. So where is that "in between" space for you?

Do you think that TV programs should consider their moral responsibilities in society? If so, to what extent, and what parameters would you suggest? Where should we draw the line? A good argument that has been raised is that SKS is not doing anything all that different from Saas-Bahu shows, some of which are regressive and promote superstition and sexism, and show women as totally dependent on men and restricted by a billion traditions. On the other hand, I have also seen some people argue that shows like Agle Janam are vlalourizing "immoral" anti-marriage behaviour (I disagree).

Or do you think that the responsibility should rest entirely with the viewership? I have a hard time agreeing with this because I don't think any of us are capable of making a totally free choice. We consume what is made available, and what is popular. We may make intelligent conclusions based on what we see, but to some extent, are we not influenced by and disciplined by what we watch? I have heard some women comment that they don't watch Saas-Bahu shows in front of their mother-in-law because it gives them a complex! This is just a silly example, but I'm trying to point out how these things may subconsciously influence people by bombarding them with images of what is acceptable and unacceptable morally.

Please discuss.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is this new show about?

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

Excuse my ignorance, but what is this new show about?

^^^^ Thanks.

Oh, its a rip-off of Moment of Truth? I hated that show, but its a freakin' reality show. You don't agree with the principles it supports, don't go on it, don't watch it. Plus, its all pretty fake anyways, I think. People have nothing better to do than play silly games in their lives, some mastermind somewhere decided to make money off of it. Big deal.

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

^^^^ Thanks.

Oh, its a rip-off of Moment of Truth? I hated that show, but its a freakin' reality show. You don't agree with the principles it supports, don't go on it, don't watch it. Plus, its all pretty fake anyways, I think. People have nothing better to do than play silly games in their lives, some mastermind somewhere decided to make money off of it. Big deal.

Polygraph tests are not 100% reliable. There are ways to beat polygraphs too. So there never is really any assurance if a person lied or told the truth. Anywho, if you get money for just blabbing the truth - who would not be game. I mean no real intelligence, thought process required. No need to sing like a banshee or dance like a drunk monkey. Just answer questions about your own life. Easy peasy...


Btw what sort of questions do they ask...as in what is too personal? Like whats the furthest base you have been etc. I'm not bothered to watch any videos. I've seen that Lady Gaga clip and that Miley Cyrus pole dance plastered over the internet and need a moral break.

Well the debate clip I watched which showed Smriti Irani, Rajeev Khandelwal (the show's host) et al debate this topic, they were talking about how a father was answering questions about affairs and such in front of his kids.

The format of the show is that your family/friends are also there, and they can press a buzzer at any time if they want you to not answer a particular question, and that flips the question.

I only watched one episode, where a contestant basically fried her mother indirectly because all her answers were about how her mother had supposedly let her down. Her mom was there and had to keep providing explanations that her daughter was misguided. The whole thing was like a public airing/therapy session. Oh well, I suppose that's the drama that people watch reality show for, they are almost all like public therapy and the emotional unrobing of a person. Maybe we are a sick society that we get pleasure out of that! 😕

Anyway, Smriti Irani kept arguing that when movies have a censor board, so should television shows. Then she said it should not air on prime time. Others were arguing that Smriti's shows are also bad for the public. Rajeev had some good arguments about why the show doesn't need to be censored and that the audience can decide.

I just think this brings up an interesting question of whether there should be parameters about what is shown on TV -- not just like no nudity or swearing, but stuff like the harmful messages passed on to viewers through a lot of Saas-Bahu shows. Whenever people argue that, no, viewers are intelligent enough to choose, it makes me cringe a little bit, frankly. It's like we are saying, look, X% of Indian women are ignorant, and let them remain ignorant, and let them keep watching this, and we'll keep gaining TRPs and selling ads. Shouldn't entertainment have some standards? That's what prompted this debate question for me.

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

^^^^ Thanks.

Oh, its a rip-off of Moment of Truth? I hated that show, but its a freakin' reality show. You don't agree with the principles it supports, don't go on it, don't watch it. Plus, its all pretty fake anyways, I think. People have nothing better to do than play silly games in their lives, some mastermind somewhere decided to make money off of it. Big deal.

Actually, the American version is itself a licensed adaptation of the Colombian show Nada ms que la verdad. And this Indian show is similarly another licensed adaptation (and there are many across the world).

@topic: hey these contestants know exactly what they are getting themselves into and willingly subject themselves to this, all for the money. Who are we to object? We are in it for the drama and they are in it for the money. 😆

I'd rather decide for myself what I want to watch rather than some censor board do it for me. I think tv desi tv shows should have a proper rating system for our convenience but they shouldn't outright ban stuff. As long as everything is sorted out in terms of ratings and timeslots, I'd be happy.

well i havent watched th show, just heard about it. and as far as i know its time has been changed to 11 pm now.
as far as entertainment factor is concerned , no doubt they r entertaining. we do like to keep an eye on whats happening in our neighbours life, and this is like a broader version of gossiping.

i heard there was a lady to whom many personal questions were asked as to if she felt like having an affair or not and something like that, and i can imagine what the consequences would have been.
i feel there r some secrets never revealed.

and this show is also basically based on the truth the person knows not what is the actual truth so i dont find any thing wrong in that. but then certains are better not asked in public.