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A rather popular Youtube influencer is currently facing backlash over his extremely crude and crass comment in the show India Got Latent and this backlash is reverberating even in the parliament.  Not only the joke was in an extremely bad taste, it had other judges literally ROFL thumping the desk at the absurd passed off as hilarity.

I remember penning this piece in Deccan Herald way back in 2008.  There was a talk show then with a discussion revolving around,  ‘How much is too much?”  I had written this piece then. I realize that nothing much has changed when all people want to do is to shock  the audience for short-term publicity or TRPs.  Reality shows like Roadies and Splitsvilla were popular then and viewed by most young.

I am copying the same article here for most shows thrive on shocking the audience:

Recently, there was a talk show on a news channel, “How much is Too Much?” It showcased a celebrity’s rather public death and the need for the present generation to go public on matters which are private. There were naturally two or more voices of dissent with no conclusive evidence either way as it is essentially a very subjective issue.

Recently, my colleagues and I went for a picnic to celebrate the end of another successful academic year. As I was filling my water bottle from a crowded dispenser,  I overheard a young man commenting that the ‘use and throw cups,’ provided were of such poor quality that it resembled a condom.

Can I be slotted as a prude, because I found the comment crude and poor taste? Maybe, I am. Being into teaching, I have been a witness on the changing equation and what is considered decent and for public consumption in the discussion among students.

I agree that many of the unacceptable terms have become more acceptable and we teachers have learned to take certain terms and actions without batting our eyelids. Yet, there is need for a certain modicum of restraint in the use of words and gestures keeping in mind the company we keep or the situation we are in.  The young man making the rather unnecessary comparison was in his twenties and the children who were around the dispenser were in their teens.

Exposure to Media.

Some of the youth today are remarkably unaware of this particular social niceties. The need to display independence both in mind and action seems to transcend what is socially acceptable or pleasant.  They cannot be wholly blamed as they are constantly bombarded with the new age media.

The media vies with one another in airing many a moment in the lives of celebrities, which technically should be slotted in the ‘private life’ section.  One need not necessarily wear one’s heart on the sleeve simply to advertise the relationship.  Most of the news far exceeds the ‘public-private divide.’  We have some leading newspaper that seemed to thrive only of celebrity lifestyle. Nothing else seems to be very important for them. I think youngsters know more about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s relationship woes rather than the economic recession.

What would be the future of the community if  we mouth obscenities, use gestures to show our displeasure for the sake of being considered “independent’ and ” cool”? Whenever we discuss the definition of morality, obscenity and the likes we skirt the actual issue.  When we consider burping, scratching our armpits or picking our noses in public as socially unacceptable, we must also avoid words and gestures that aim to shock, surprise or raise an eyebrow or two.

Making Money

The advertisements of today aim to shock its viewers and are replete with sexual innuendos. The creative heads seem to be going in for ‘in your face’ advertising over subtlety. It is same with reality shows. Most of the contestants and judges spew obscenities and receive them with equal pleasure and they get paid for it!

Look at the TRP of these shows. It is evident that these shows are  avidly watched by many youngsters.  These young hate to listen to criticism from their parents or teachers, but are willing to go to any extent to see someone being literally ripped apart or to take the bashing from the judges with aplomb!

Many of us have become blasé about things that were once considered sacrosanct. One of the producers of reality show claimed that whatever he portrayed was what was actually happening in society.  Unfortunately, the fine line between the right and wrong, the acceptable and unacceptable is getting blurred. I notice a lot of adults sprinkling their conversation with four-letter words and spew the choicest vocabulary when they get angry. It is then natural for children to emulate the adults. With the onslaught of social media and reality shows, the line between morality and depravity is narrowing.

Society as a whole needs to awaken to ensure that we neither dish-out nor imbibe such unacceptable fare in the name of entertainment and freedom.

 

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.