Alabama public television didn't air gay wedding in 'Arthur'

[Rostavykhan]

I mean TBF it's Alabama, is anyone surprised that they'd do something this stupid?

I would make a better point, but...being Alabama is a good enough reason why it's wrong, really.

Imagine being so petty that you wouldn't air two gay fictional characters kissing, how is Alabama not a theocracy when the religious right have complete control of the government there?

They didn't even kiss in the episode. Watched the scene out of curiosity. It's not even made a big deal of in the particular episode, and Ratburn being gay wasn't even talked about. It's just a wedding scene where, at the end, two guys walk up to the altar, and then the episode ends like a minute later.

It's about as inoffensive as you can get, really.

[Diopolis]

Most people who are opposed to homosexuality don't like the idea of homosexuality being presented to children.

Why? It's not like they're showcasing hardcore porn, it's just two characters getting married. Also why the double standard of allowing straight couples but not gay couples?

....Because they're opposed to homosexuality? It's not complicated. They don't want drug use presented to children either.

[Gormwood]

Why? It's not like they're showcasing hardcore porn, it's just two characters getting married. Also why the double standard of allowing straight couples but not gay couples?

....Because they're opposed to homosexuality? It's not complicated. They don't want drug use presented to children either.

Comparing gay relationships to drug abuse...

[Neutraligon]

I mean TBF it's Alabama, is anyone surprised that they'd do something this stupid?

I would make a better point, but...being Alabama is a good enough reason why it's wrong, really.

Imagine being so petty that you wouldn't air two gay fictional characters kissing, how is Alabama not a theocracy when the religious right have complete control of the government there?

They didn't even kiss in the episode. Watched the scene out of curiosity. It's not even made a big deal of in the particular episode, and Ratburn being gay wasn't even talked about. It's just a wedding scene where, at the end, two guys walk up to the altar, and then the episode ends like a minute later.

It's about as inoffensive as you can get, really.

How surprising that a kids cartoon known for being very careful about how it portrays subjects manages to be very careful in how it portrays to men getting married.

[Rostavykhan]

Wish I could say I was surprised, but few things about this hell state surprise me anymore.

Literally, what is the point of showing homosexuality in children's cartoons?

Literally, what is the point of showing heterosexuality in children's cartoons?

What's the point of showing people in Children's cartoons?

[Neutraligon]

Why? It's not like they're showcasing hardcore porn, it's just two characters getting married. Also why the double standard of allowing straight couples but not gay couples?

....Because they're opposed to homosexuality? It's not complicated. They don't want drug use presented to children either.

Actually yes I do, because there are children watching who have parents who are drug addicts, who are alcoholic and who have to deal with that stuff every day. A good kids show acknowledges that and tries to show kids methods of coping with those facts of reality.

[Necroghastia]

Bend the knee to... what, exactly?

Liberal societal influences.

Which are bad... why?

[Maydona]

....Because they're opposed to homosexuality? It's not complicated. They don't want drug use presented to children either.

That doesn't answer my question though.

[Gormwood]

....Because they're opposed to homosexuality? It's not complicated. They don't want drug use presented to children either.

Actually yes I do, because there are children watching who have parents who are drug addicts, who are alcoholic and who have to deal with that stuff every day. A good kids show acknowledges that and tries to show kids methods of coping with those facts of reality.

One time Sesame Street did a test view of a divorce episode and the kids watching it cried apparently.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

And Alternative media gets facts wrong or otherwise reports on half truths creating echo chambers.

But that wasn't the question anyway, it was "Should a news network not air a piece of news that wouldn't go over well with there target audience?"

Yet by reporting only facts their fans support the mainstream media also creates echo chambers.

I'm also saying it's not a should because it's something they actively do, and APT is just doing the exact same thing they do.

It's not a good thing but as long as CNN censors anything that they know their fans don't like, and as long as Fox censors by omission things their fans don't like, why in the world do you think APT would be immune seeing how it's very tiny fish that could have their funding pulled by their state if their state gets mad at them.

Remember this is a state that just passed an extreme abortion ban, you really think that if they didn't choose too they could cut APT's funding to whatever quarters they find in the state capital's vending machine?

What? Yes they do indeed create echo chambers but not from reporting facts. By reporting facts they are creating an educated populace who knows how to treat society's ills. By bending the truth and sharing unfair biases they create echo chambers.

Alternative media just says things to give there audience confirmation bias and push there ideology slowly more and more extreme.

So, by saying no they shouldn't [ air a piece of news that wouldn't go over well with there target audience] you are saying that APT should air the episode?

With any small amount of luck APT will keep it up and not bend the knee.

Spoopy scary kids cartoon gay rats.

And Alternative media gets facts wrong or otherwise reports on half truths creating echo chambers.

But that wasn't the question anyway, it was "Should a news network not air a peace of news that wouldn't go over well with there target audience?"

An interesting tidbit: The FCC almost didn’t renew APT’s broadcast license in the 70s for doing exactly that. It didn’t matter that news about the war could be found elsewhere, APT refusing to air it was still deemed censorship.

Not surprising.

[Neutraligon]

Actually yes I do, because there are children watching who have parents who are drug addicts, who are alcoholic and who have to deal with that stuff every day. A good kids show acknowledges that and tries to show kids methods of coping with those facts of reality.

One time Sesame Street did a test view of a divorce episode and the kids watching it cried apparently.

I believe that particular episode was not shown, instead they had a different divorce episode that was much better received. Sesame street had an HIV positive character, a character with an eating disorder (cookie monster), had an episode dealing with responses to to traumatic events (a fire) and the fear that comes from that event, an episode dealing with death, added Mr. Snuffleupagus to convince kids to tell the truth even if adults don't believe or listen (this was to help kids talk about abuse to adults), and other rather controversial episodes throughout its existence.

Oh and look at that they are adding another muppet who is in foster care.

[Highever]

Liberal societal influences.

Which are bad... why?

Something something degeneration something something victim complex.

[Ethel mermania]

The BBC would like to apologize for the following sause

Alabama Public Television (APT) has refused to broadcast a cartoon which shows a same-sex wedding.

The first episode of the 22nd series of children's programme Arthur features the character Mr Ratburn marrying his partner, Patrick.

But APT instead ran an old episode, and announced it had no plans to show the premiere.

Programming director Mike McKenzie said broadcasting it would break parents' trust in the network.

In a statement, Mr McKenzie said "parents trust that their children can watch APT without their supervision", and that children "younger than the 'target' audience" might watch without parental knowledge.

Show creator WGBH and broadcaster PBS reportedly alerted local stations in April about the episode, and Mr McKenzie said this was when they decided not to air the show.

US cartoon's gay wedding praised
Arthur is a joint Canadian/American series which debuted in 1996 about an eight-year-old anthropomorphic aardvark named Arthur Read and his friends, who live in the fictional Elwood City.

APT previously refused to broadcast a 2005 episode of the series which depicted Buster, a rabbit, visiting a girl who had two mothers.

Substitute teacher Misty Souder told news website AL.com that she and her daughter were disappointed the episode did not run and had contacted the network about it.

"I never thought I'd be going to battle for a gay rat wedding, but here we are," she said.

A 2018 Gallup poll showed 46% of people in Alabama identified as conservative, second only to Mississippi among all 50 states.

Earlier in May, Alabama passed a law banning abortions even in cases of rape and incest, the latest US state to restrict access to abortions.

Really? Alabama really? You had nothing else to do other then ban a gay wedding episode?

Rather a stupid thing to go off on. And an authoritarian ban too.

You would expect this from Russia or China but a state in the US?

Really?

What say you NSG? Should the gay rat wedding be allowed to air in Alabama?

Its allowed to air, the local PBS station choose not to air it. You want to force them too?

Hyberbole is best bowl I suppose.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

The BBC would like to apologize for the following sause



Really? Alabama really? You had nothing else to do other then ban a gay wedding episode?

Rather a stupid thing to go off on. And an authoritarian ban too.

You would expect this from Russia or China but a state in the US?

Really?

What say you NSG? Should the gay rat wedding be allowed to air in Alabama?

Its allowed to air, the local PBS station choose not to air it. You want to force them too?

Hyberbole is best bowl I suppose.

I expect them to honor there agreement with the public, the public provides funding, they show the art and don't censor it by omission.

Also edited op to remove the word 'ban'.

Which are bad... why?

Something something degeneration something something victim complex.

"Ebil stinky liebreals!" - Right wing echo chambers, probably.

[Napkizemlja]

To balance it out Arthur should have an episode that is anti-SSM. I'm sure if NY or Cali refused to air that episode, OP would likewise be against it.

[Highever]

To balance it out Arthur should have an episode that is anti-SSM. I'm sure if NY or Cali refused to air that episode, OP would likewise be against it.

And why would we want to show kids it's okay to be bigots and hateful exactly?

[Napkizemlja]

To balance it out Arthur should have an episode that is anti-SSM. I'm sure if NY or Cali refused to air that episode, OP would likewise be against it.

And why would we want to show kids it's okay to be bigots and hateful exactly?

Who said anything about hate? Also it's to balance things out, make sure the same standard is being kept.

[Rostavykhan]

And why would we want to show kids it's okay to be bigots and hateful exactly?

Who said anything about hate? Also it's to balance things out, make sure the same standard is being kept.

By the same logic, because Arthur had an episode that was meant to represent 9/11 and how everyone deals with trauma differently, then it should have an episode portraying Islamic Terrorism and the fight against American imperialism to balance things out.

[Gormwood]

And why would we want to show kids it's okay to be bigots and hateful exactly?

Who said anything about hate? Also it's to balance things out, make sure the same standard is being kept.

So how can you show anti-SSM views on a children's cartoon without delving into bigotry and stereotypes?

[Highever]

And why would we want to show kids it's okay to be bigots and hateful exactly?

Who said anything about hate? Also it's to balance things out, make sure the same standard is being kept.

Yes clearly there would be no bigotry to be found in presenting an anti gay mesaage.

[Highever]

Who said anything about hate? Also it's to balance things out, make sure the same standard is being kept.

By the same logic, because Arthur had an episode that was meant to represent 9/11 and how everyone deals with trauma differently, then it should have an episode portraying Islamic Terrorism and the fight against American imperialism to balance things out.

Honestly....I am morbidly curious to see that now.

[Rostavykhan]

By the same logic, because Arthur had an episode that was meant to represent 9/11 and how everyone deals with trauma differently, then it should have an episode portraying Islamic Terrorism and the fight against American imperialism to balance things out.

Honestly....I am morbidly curious to see that now.

ngl Buster is the type of dude to be a 9/11 truther.

[The Lone Alliance]

What? Yes they do indeed create echo chambers but not from reporting facts. By reporting facts they are creating an educated populace who knows how to treat society's ills.

Except they don't always report the facts, some facts mysteriously disappear or aren't reported on, why? Because some facts, if allowed to be promoted would actively increase society's ills.

It's a constant give and take between the media protecting some facts from the public eye, supposedly in the interest of protecting social cohesion, but also because such facts would hurt the ideologies the media sides with. For years the media covered up police violence or at least downgraded it.

For years all these little facts would slip through the cracks and no one would ever report on it, but now with alternative media those pesky facts find an audience, usually a tainted audience that only deliver the facts that support their ideology.

Alternative media just says things to give there audience confirmation bias and push there ideology slowly more and more extreme.

The regular media does that too, in fact all media does that, we're still dealing with Confirmation bias related fallout from the Mueller report not giving the media what their audience wanted.

[Jack Thomas Lang]

This isn't censorship and there's nothing wrong with ATP's choice.

[Kowani]

What I’m getting from this is fuck Alabama.