RoR: Forum

This has got to be the stupidest goddamned government action I have seen in weeks.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) felt the Dalek episode showed "violence and cruelty as a way of dealing with problems."

Pacifist bastards! EX-TER-MI-NATE them!

Post 1

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:34am

I still can't get such stuff... It is almost as stupid as the US hysteria about nakedness and sexuality.

If you look at any news channel, you will sooner or later hear of death, dead due to war, or a psychopath, or a "nihilist" doctor.

I still believe parents should decide what their kids may or may not view, because it is not dependent on age, but rather on the level of adultness.
I wouldn't let my children see such things until they can prove me that they can take this with reason and understanding and not until they can't differ between reality and imagination.

Post 2

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 10:21am

Sometimes violence is the ethical option.� And besides, drilling into the casing of a Dalek is the moral equivilent of using a giant can-opener on an armored Knight. (Edit: Also assuming that the Knight is evil)
(Edited by Jason Kauppinen
on 5/16, 2:22pm)

Post 3

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 3:48pm

Um, whats wrong with rating a show?

I can see the problem when its enforced but just on principle, isn't this what we want?

We want to be able to know what our children watch so why isn't it reasonable for parents to be there to decide if their child should buy an R rated movie or TV show?

I'm not sure about the British here but in the US some stores see the reason behind that. Most major stores and chains have rules resticting the sale of R-rated material to minors that is STRONGER then US law.

And I don't like Dr. Who, I could never get past the nuances of British television. Maybe its cause I'm from the South but I have a hard enough time understanding someone from Jersey or NYC. When I went there, sometimes I would just stare at someone talking to me and not understand a word they're saying; I think "is this guy really talking English?", then I'd catch a word I understood and nod. But it went both ways as far as I could tell.

Post 4

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 4:12pm

Clarence,

The series, including the Dalek episode, is broadcast on BBC One, by far the most watched of the BBC's tv channels, at 7pm on Saturday evenings. The show is being marketed as a family drama and has consistently been getting viewing figures in the region of 8 million (in the UK that's very high for the time slot), so you can bet that hundreds of thousands of children younger than 12 already saw these scenes when the episode first went out. From what I can gather, the BBC was expecting the DVDs to get a PG rating, which indicates that some content might disturb younger children but doesn't place any legal restriction on retailers.

I do see a much more ominous problem here though - the BBFC weren't bothered by a psychopathic alien brutally killing hundreds of people, but did object to a heroic character responding to the situation in an extremely violent but contexually justified manner. I can't help but think they have their standards inside out...

MH

Post 5

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 8:41pm

"We are concerned about role models for children using the sort of tactics that Doctor Who used against the Dalek," a BBFC spokeswoman said.

Of course, the real irony is that the entire point of the episode in question is arguably that the Doctor's way of dealing with the Dalek was bad.

Post 6

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 12:36pm

Um, whats wrong with rating a show?

NOTHING, unless it is the Government that is doing the rating.

Post 7

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 12:54pm

OOPS, just learnt that:

The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body, which has exercised responsibilities over cinema since 1913, and over video since 1985.

so I take that last comment back If the BBFC really is what they say they are (independent and non-governmental) then all strength to them for asserting their judgement.

I have to add that it *is* my considered opinion that Dr. Who *should* be banned. It is infantile, unwatchable, incomprehensible sci-fi drivel of the worst kind, and only the likes of Star Trek can compete for the minds of the techno-nerds that get off on this junk.

I present as evidence any human being who ever watched this programme for more than two episodes. With the possible exception of esteemed SOLO noteworthies, who I have not had the pleasure of judging in person, Dr Who fans inevitably end up as sock and sandalled misfits filling in forms at local councils - 1980's Britain comes to mind as the gloomy hell hole society is doomed to become when Dr. Who is a fixture on national telly.

That this mindnumbingly boring show is coming back in such a big way is a terrible, terrible omen, with the only man likely to benefit being a certain Mr. Brown, the new hero in the UK's plummeting descent back into the depths of 1980-style, Dr. Who -induced socialism.

Post 8

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 1:17pm