That Carl's Jr. Ad

I've mentioned before that we don't do TV here. So, I guess it comes as no surprise that I haven't seen Paris Hilton's Carl's Jr. commercial. Actually, I'm so behind the times I'm still trying to figure out how that girl got popular and famous in the first place. Weird.

But I digress.

I was reading at a friend's blog about some thoughts on the way this situation is being handled. I've seen the conservative Christian mom types urging people to make calls and send emails and do whatever they can to protest this terrible commercial. I've heard about guys at the fire station watching the commercial every chance they can (which, since there are no Carl's Jr. places around here, I guess is only on shows that are talking about the big controversy. In other words, they never would have seen it if a big stink hadn't been made.). Then I read an article that struck me as more close to my own sentiments. The basic gist of it was that by everyone getting their knickers in a twist and creating so much hype around this issue, the conservative outrage has played right into the hands of the baddycats (as my friend Sooz calls 'em), and that energy would be better put to use either buying or not buying stuff from Carl's Jr. to show how you feel. Obviously, ads like this will continue if they are lucrative for the business they represent, and will cease if they cause sales to decrease. So, vote with your pocketbook, America. (and we are, which is why sex is used to sell everything, folks)

As I observe the movement to protest this ad, I am wondering what I'm missing. I mean, aren't there a zillion sexy ads on TV all the time, selling everything from soft drinks to soap? Aren't there commercial previews for all sorts of racy movies and TV shows, usually full of the sexiest, most outrageous, or most shocking tidbits? Basically, isn't it true that most of what is on TV, cable, and satellite, is constantly dotted with stuff that we don't want our children to see?

If you're so distressed about TV commercials, why do you expose your children to them at all?

Commercials are great influencers. They foster greed, discontentment, materialism, unhealthy lifestyles, sex, crude behavior, and more. So, even with Paris and her garden hose, were you thinking everything was ok up until this point? If you and your family have been tuning in to TV, then I assume the answer is yes. Or at least not an emphatic no.

I guess I'm lacking in sympathy here since we do without TV quite nicely. I know that not every family would want to or would even feel they were able to do so. But, really, if you are so concerned about not having your kids exposed to smutty stuff, why are you having TV-watching as a part of your life? Do you feel that a steady diet of those images and messages is a good choice for yourself?

I realize that some kids just don't have parental supervision and so maybe we are supposed to try to get smutty commercials off TV for their sake. But, frankly, any kid who is left with a TV and no supervision is a kid who will see stuff that kids shouldn't be exposed to. One way or another, it will happen.

I appreciate the idea that without trying to stem the tide, so to speak, that commercials will just get worse and worse. But, um, isn't that what we're seeing all the time? When have we seen any sort of reduction in violence, sex, or bad language in TV or movies? I think never.

To me, the problem is so much wider than the scope of this one commercial. The only answer I can see is for families that are truly concerned about these issues to put their money and lifestyles where their mouth is: stop watching TV, only watch TV under very carefully controlled situations (which a lot of people tell themselves they do, but they really don't), or get something like Sky Angel as an alternative. I guess TiVo can also be a good tool, and also whatever that thing is that somehow blocks out bad words...?

So, no protest letters for me. I'll vote with my lifestyle choices (in other words, my real values), thanks.