The State of Modern Television Shows + Media

One of the things that I find somewhat disheartening is how a lot of TV shows have degraded to a standard of allowing some very inappropriate content on shows that are deemed acceptable for many. Some things that would have been outright off-limits for TV shows are now the common norm.

Worlds that were regarded to as vulgarity and were not allowed in TV shows are now commonplace in a majority of primetime shows. For example, a (thankfully quickly cancelled) show was called "Don't trust the B- in Apartment 23". I'll give you a guess as to what word that was. And no, it's not Bacon.

Another tough topic is the category of Sexual Content in shows. A lot of shows will not even talk about a Godly plan for sex after marriage. In fact, the media's norm is that you're a "failure" if you didn't lose your virginity in high school or college. In one show, a guy brags about bedding over 200 women, and revels in the fact that he has no feelings for them.

I am a proud virgin, and intend on waiting until I am married to share that intimate relation. However, with how the media interprets sex and relationships, it's difficult to see people who think the same...

I will admit, I watch more TV than I should. I enjoy some shows that are guilty of what I'm mentioning, and I do enjoy them. However, just comparing it to TV shows from the past, it is a difficult realization to how corrupt and twisted this world has gotten.

If there is consolation in this decline, it is the fact that it was prophesied. This decline and fast track to chaos is mentioned to be before the Rapture and Tribulation. It is going to get worse before it gets better. All we can do is pray that people will come to Christ before it's too late.

What are your thoughts on TV and the Media?

man, great to hear of your commitment to wait until marriage. this might not be the answer you are looking for, but we cannot let t.v and the media ( I could do pages of rants against it) tell us how to live. lie, cheat, backstab to get ahead. sleep around. be gay. all these things are sin, but are portrayed as " normal". great that a young person like yourself sees through all the lies.

I watch so very little television anymore. It's sad, and, honestly, I miss it. But I simply cannot tolerate the content of most shows anymore. In fact, it is difficult to even watch a football or baseball game on TV anymore due to the commercials. Some commercials are offensive and vulgar, too.

I think the overarching motive of the movie and television industry from its inception in the early 20th century has been to denigrate our culture/society. Keep making that sin seem more and more attractive/normal so that people will spend more and more money where the industry wants it spent: on their products.

I basically don't participate any longer. I watch Downton Abbey, some news, and sporting events, and that about it.

I echo gb9's statements, however, and I applaud you for bucking society and sticking to God's truth. I was a virgin on my wedding day, even though I was considered a "freak" even back then!

i had my cable tv shut off about 5 years ago..2 much mindless drivel and too many copycat channels all showing the same program at once.. not 2 mention it's also 2 much $$$ for my budget. I have a dvd player and some movies.. and I watch Youtube..

No cable here either. Netflix and amazon are all we need.

I enjoy watching TV. Surprised? Why? If one is SELECTIVE, there are many very entertaining shows to choose from.

I enjoy the Nature shows...............and various others. There is the series "Wild........" China, Alaska, Russia, West.......etc. that is very good. There is one show called Monster Fish which I enjoy, and there is a show from the UK called Wheeler Dealers that I watch. Some of the News Shows I enjoy simply to be sure I am aware of what is going on in my Country.

Can't think of all of them now, but there are quite a few that a Christian can watch and enjoy doing so.

Or, maybe, that's just me. BTW: I like to record them, so I can fast forward through the commercials.

There are a few well known mainstream shows I watch that do contain some language that turns me off...........but I simply mute the TV and put on the Captions option...........takes care of that.

Anyway, if the Channels that claim to be Christian TV would actually put some effort into producing and airing Christian shows instead of 24/7/365 "send me your money" shows, this problem would be resolved. But, now, again, that may just be me.

I've only been regenerate for 17 months and I've removed the TV's from my house completely (with 2 boys ages 5 & 12, I was really worried about kicking the babysitter out at first). At this point I can't even watch the news anymore. There's maybe 10 minutes of repeating the same thing every other channel says on current world events, the rest is just letting us know about what Beyoncé and Lady Gaga are doing, or wearing, or saying, and then sports. As far as the other “programming” I agree, and what’s right and wrong has become completely subjective, and to be honest I thought it was “harmless” before being made a new creature. Just keep your eye’s pointed in His direction and you can’t go wrong. I also commend you for waiting to be married, that is quite a testimony to have these days, and I hope my 2 sons choose to do the same.

TV does seem to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The content is at best questionable unless I'm watching hallmark, old movies or history. The commercials that one sees now would have been considered porn when I was a kid. It's like the internet-nuetral but could be deadly.

History shows are awesome.....The Mob, all the various documentaries about wars and such.......oh and "Chuck" love "Chuck".

The bar seems to be constantly raised in pop culture. If you can garner a lot of attention, you're "successful" in the limelight, which seems to push a lot of people into blurring the line between producing something original and producing something risque. Blueorchidjd (a user here) alluded to noticing this in music, too, and I think it's pretty darn prevalent there also.

I unplugged my cable box quite some time ago and lean on Netflix, mostly for documentaries and a select few shows, like BBC's Sherlock series, or for catching up on shows I never watched, or started to watch, but didn't finish. Apart from how bad the programs themselves have become, I just cannot STAND commercials. Nearly all of them seem like a flagrant insult to people's intelligence (some more than others ).

Last night I was watching NCIS on TV, a show which at Christmas actually mentioned the name of Jesus in a positive way. I thought maybe navy values were coming out, and I promised to support such a show.

Last night, the show was about some gay sailor getting killed, how it affected his "husband" and how the guy got some high level medal for valour.

Now I have nothing against a sailor getting a medal, regardless of his sexual orientation, if he went above and beyond the call of duty. But this was such an obvious example of gay pandering, it made me quite sick. Plus, at the end, it seemed to glorify all gay military, as if they deserved it more.

So a bit of a rant, and that show is off my list.

Sadly, even the nature shows, which are quite beautiful and informative, seem to always manage to get a word in about the "evolution" of the plants or animals. And some of the other shows are just representations of the evil in humans. Well, I agree we are sinful, but Jesus is never presented as the solution for sin.

As for the ads, I record my shows, then fast forward through the ads. Saves time and frustration.

I really do need to do something about not watching TV. I just can't remember the last time I saw something worthwhile. I do read a lot, and study. And of course, there is on-line time. I guess I am just better off finding some new ministries, and walking away from modern culture.

Which sadly, will leave me out of touch with modern culture, and the ability to talk to others in a way that they will understand in order to present Christ! Fortunately, I am not in control, and God can use me in spite of my deficits, and not just that I am not watching TV.

PS I really don't watch much TV anymore. I've just had to eliminate the majority of shows as being too far from my Christians values and beliefs.