SWEARING ON CBBC ACCEPTABLE?

[Nancy123]

TV PROGRAM: Tracy Beaker Returns - Series 3, 4. Big Brother
AIRED ON THE CBBC CHANNEL AT 17:00 FRIDAY 20th January 2012.

Whilst I feel the behavior expressed by the children in this program by shouting at each other and the adults not very encouraging behavior for young viewers, I just about tolerate my 8 year old daughter watching this program.

However, 21 minutes into this particular episode there is a strong exchange of words between 2 brothers in a market location at the DVD stall. When one brother (Liam) asks " Why didn't you come forward or did you enjoy watching your brother being sent down" the other (Jack) replies "it made me feel sh*t!"

I couldn't believe swear words as strong as this were being written into the script of children's TV programs especially when aired at 5pm!!
As I was unsure that I heard correctly I watched the program again on the iPlayer and yes the "Sh*t" word was used.!!

This is totally unacceptable, is the BBC saying to our young children that to use such language in this form of vocabulary is acceptable?

I'd lose my job - or at least be severely disciplined - if I said 'shit' in the classroom / or within earshot of children and the headteacher / or to parents of children at school - so ( I know it didn't happen) WHY WOULD IT POSSIBLY BE APPROPRIATE IN ANY WAY TO SAY THE SAME WORD ON CHILDREN'S TV - come on please but I bet the people who think it's OK would be the first ones to line up if I was using it as a teacher at school.

Fine that it's a bigger kids programme. And I don't let ds watch it. Just surprised that there is language in it which isn't permitted in eastenders. But it appears there isn't. So that's ok.

Yes, if Eastenders can portray adult issues without swearing, why would a programme with " bigger kid" issues need to, not that they did anyway as it turned out.

This is a really odd thread.

The point is (duh!) not whether people swear or not.

Its a question of what people do in public. People make all kinds of jokes/swear etc in private that they would not repeat in public. e.g. in private I might swear at home because I can't find my shoes, but would I start swearing at the driver because a train was delayed. No, because we have different standards, and that includes TV as TV is public. Saying its part of "life" is like saying we should have sex in the street because thats part of life! Strange thread I agree with previous poster because of strange reasoning.

Though I suspect OP did hear "sick" rather than the other word as even with CBBC's desperate and cringe-making attempts to be "street and hip" at all times has not gone that far (yet) ...

YANBU. I am saddened by this. We accept this on childrens television where will we be in five years? Playground or not. Shit used on tv aimed at 8-10 Yr olds it's not appropriate plus thier younger sibs may well watch too. I'm sad that some on here think its ok

FFS

THERE WAS NO SWEARING

THE WORD WAS 'SICK'

I swear like a navvy, but NO WAY should swearing be allowed on a CBBC show.

I wouldn't want my 9yo to use it, and she watches TV with her little brothers.

Oh.

I'm sure that the BBC will put the OP straight when they read her complaint :)

On another note, I know that the children's programme makers are trying to engage with their audience by reflecting behavioural "norms", but really - do they have to? It just continues the downward spiral of behaviour, doesn't it? if the children see it on tv, then it becomes more acceptable (it happened on tv so it must be ok) and so it goes on. It would be nice to see a few more manners, and being reprimanded for bad behaviour. [old gimmer hat firmly on]

Does anyone read the shitting thread?

um, some of the more recent posts seem to have missed the bit where it's established that there was no swearing - the character says 'sick'.

No doubt there will be an outraged story in the Mail on Sunday, though, full of hefted bosoms. Odd how the Mail never points out their constant anti-Beeb bias is rather more to do with commercial rivalry than concern for the moral well-being of society. Or that their website doesn't exactly uphold the values of the printed Mail.

Cross post - not aimed at you Thumbs!

All reminds me of a few years ago when at the end of Show Me Show Me, the child saying "fluffy ducks" mumbled it so much it sounded v like "fucking ducks". Much angst on another forum at that time too. As if the BBC would let any swearing through the net on childrens' tv!

- I did wonder, Grubbalo!

Ha, that last post of yours made me smile - DS has been watching Dora the Explorer and there is some kind of thing in it called Foggy Fog. Except in the accent they use, and with DS's translation, it comes out of his mouth as Farky Fark (which sounds all too like Fucky Fuck, to be honest). I was shocked rigid the first time he said it but worked out eventually what it was meant to be!!

I used my first ever capital letters on this thread.

YANBU

ToothbrushThief

Who rattled your fucking cage? Tetchy much?

Jesus..

I didn't think shit could be aired on tv before 9pm? Or if it was then there should be a parental warning before the show stating that the show contains words that may not be suitable for younger viewers.

I do think that it's unacceptable and that if you're positive that it definitely was 'shit' that you heard you should complain to ofcom.

I'm not a huge fan of swearing and think in the context it was said in this show it was unnecessary, there's plenty of other words which could have been used.
Even if the show is aimed at teens does that make it ok? Is that the message we want to give to our teens?
I agree they all hear it anyway, as parents I'm sure we've all slipped up and sworn in front of them by accident, they hear it in school, in the street etc but it's just not needed on tv.

I think Tracey Beaker is a fab show - great characters and a really well written drama. I think it is a great role model for kids who do live in care homes too.
Actually it makes me cry sometimes it's that good and thought provoking.

I don't mind that they used the word "shit" in context of the drama, I think it's fairly mild really. I'm more upset when they have food fights, and wonder if they've had complaints on this before, as I think they've toned them down recently. Generally I do sometimes think they could tone down the shouty anger just a bit, especially as we watch before school in the morning.

Wonderful show though. Good on yer CBBC !
Possibly the best channel on the box !

Haha just read that the word used was actually 'sick'. That makes sense, didn't think the BBC would have allowed shit on pre-watershed, especially on a kid's programme.

Just watched it. I'm pretty sure if I'd have 'jsut' been watching it I wouldn't have noticed. But when watching it for the factor it seemed inappropraite.

However I just can't get wound up about it when I let DS (7) watch PG films with swearing in (think Mrs Doubtfire) and also he has watched some 12 films (HP,Jaws).

I just think how we raise our children is a bigger influence than one comment on the TV.