Cable, satellite next in line for indecency fines?

[AlecWest]

As a result science films were denied screenings in approximately 12 large-screen Imax cinemas.

12 screens out of 240 doesn't mean we're heading for the dark ages. It merely means that 12 communities have some growing up to do.

[Gregg]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

[MJPollard]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

And by that same token, I don't think anyone's been able to come up with any definitive proof that anything in any of the world's religious texts actually happened, thus it's all a wash no matter how you look at it.

[MOVIEGEEK]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

You're kidding...right?

[EvilWizardGlick]

As a result science films were denied screenings in approximately 12 large-screen Imax cinemas.

12 screens out of 240 doesn't mean we're heading for the dark ages. It merely means that 12 communities have some growing up to do.

If you don't take into account the push to teach Creationism, then no it does not seem like a dangerous trend.
But

Religious controversy has reportedly affected the distribution of educational films such as Cosmic Voyage, Galapagos and Volcanoes of the Deep Sea to Imax cinemas, some based within science museums.

While relatively few cinemas were involved, it was feared it could have a profound knock-on effect across the world because of the high cost of producing Imax films.

Carol Murray, spokeswoman for Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, said the museum's Imax cinema decided not to screen the Volcanoes movie after showing it to a sample audience.

In their written comments the audience made statements such as "I really hate it when the theory of evolution is presented as fact", and "I don't agree with their presentation of human existence".

"If it's not going to draw a crowd and it is going to create controversy, from a marketing standpoint I cannot make a recommendation [to show it]," Ms Murray said.

Now that is SCARY

[EvilWizardGlick]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

When?
Of course we all know that god is a crazy woman, why else would everything be so f*cked up?

[Gurm]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

Has it, really? We've observed it happening. I'm not saying God didn't create the universe - in fact I happen to think he/she/it did. However, in the past 400 years, the caucazoid brance of the human race has gotten on average quite a bit taller. That's "evolution", my friend. Whether you like it or not, it happens. We change. Everything changes.

"Mathematically disproven" is a stupid thing to say. You're referring of course to the typical "christian science" argument that the universe hasn't been around long enough for us to have evolved by chance - and you're right. Modern evolutionary models have big problems with the "old school" evolutionary theory. It's been refined quite a lot since the early 1900's. You should really have a read from a modern text.

But then again, why bother? Why bother learning modern science when you can argue so FORCEFULLY against 100 year old science?

[AlecWest]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

Who cares? We're not talking about showing IMAX films in public schools. We're talking about showing them at IMAX theaters ... where patrons have a choice to go ... or not go. I've yet to see a theater with gun-toting people outside, grabbing Creationists off the street and yelling, "You'd better get in there and watch this stuff or else."

Now ... if a public school plans a "field trip" to one of those theaters, then parents might have an issue with the school ... not the theater. But in most cases like that, such "field trips" are not mandatory and probably require parental consent as a prerequisite.

[AlecWest]

Religious controversy has reportedly affected the distribution of educational films such as Cosmic Voyage, Galapagos and Volcanoes of the Deep Sea to Imax cinemas, some based within science museums.

While relatively few cinemas were involved, it was feared it could have a profound knock-on effect across the world because of the high cost of producing Imax films.

Carol Murray, spokeswoman for Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, said the museum's Imax cinema decided not to screen the Volcanoes movie after showing it to a sample audience.

In their written comments the audience made statements such as "I really hate it when the theory of evolution is presented as fact", and "I don't agree with their presentation of human existence".

"If it's not going to draw a crowd and it is going to create controversy, from a marketing standpoint I cannot make a recommendation [to show it]," Ms Murray said.

Now that is SCARY

Actually, the really scary part is that theaters cowtow to these squeaky wheels. We're talking 12 screens out of 240 (1 out of 20). What we need are more theater owners with the cojones to tell this squeaky-wheel minority to take a hike.

Let them protest. Let them walk up and down the streets carrying placards. It's their right to do so. But ... show the film anyway.

P.S. When I was managing the Northgate Twin Cinema in Portland, I had two snack-bar employees who refused to work during the showing of Monty Python's "Life Of Brian." They were fundamentalists who believed the film "made fun of Jesus Christ." I tried to explain to them that the film was not making fun of Jesus, it was making fun of the historical period in which Jesus lived. In any event, they (and their church buddies) were outside holding up signs during the four weeks the film ran. And I did nothing to stop the protestors from lawfully protesting the film (even though I thought they were nut cases). But, by golly, I showed that film anyway. And that's what the IMAX theater managers should do, too.

[EvilWizardGlick]

Actually, the really scary part is that theaters cowtow to these squeaky wheels. We're talking 12 screens out of 240 (1 out of 20). What we need are more theater owners with the cojones to tell this squeaky-wheel minority to take a hike.

Let them protest. Let them walk up and down the streets carrying placards. It's their right to do so. But ... show the film anyway.

P.S. When I was managing the Northgate Twin Cinema in Portland, I had two snack-bar employees who refused to work during the showing of Monty Python's "Life Of Brian." They were fundamentalists who believed the film "made fun of Jesus Christ." I tried to explain to them that the film was not making fun of Jesus, it was making fun of the historical period in which Jesus lived. In any event, they (and their church buddies) were outside holding up signs during the four weeks the film ran. And I did nothing to stop the protestors from lawfully protesting the film (even though I thought they were nut cases). But, by golly, I showed that film anyway. And that's what the IMAX theater managers should do, too.

That was part of the point I was making. The other two were the fact that ideology will negatively impact future IMAX production, and SCIENCE museums are NOT showing these IMAX films.

Ever see the Father Ted episode where they are protesting a Passion of Christ like film? Very funny, if you get a chance check it out.

[EvilWizardGlick]

By the way the theory of evolution is still theory and long time ago has been mathematically proven to be a complete nonsense.

Has it, really? We've observed it happening. I'm not saying God didn't create the universe - in fact I happen to think he/she/it did. However, in the past 400 years, the caucazoid brance of the human race has gotten on average quite a bit taller. That's "evolution", my friend. Whether you like it or not, it happens. We change. Everything changes.

"Mathematically disproven" is a stupid thing to say. You're referring of course to the typical "christian science" argument that the universe hasn't been around long enough for us to have evolved by chance - and you're right. Modern evolutionary models have big problems with the "old school" evolutionary theory. It's been refined quite a lot since the early 1900's. You should really have a read from a modern text.

But then again, why bother? Why bother learning modern science when you can argue so FORCEFULLY against 100 year old science?

Mar 21 1843

According to Biblical crackpot William Miller, Christ would return sometime in the year following this day in 1843. After Jesus failed to appear by the next March, Miller claimed it was the result of an arithmetic error and recalculated the deadline to be October 22, 1844. The Lord was AWOL on that date also.


http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/religion/william-miller/
In the 20th century, an offshoot of the Seventh-Day Adventists updated Miller's prophecy by claiming a Biblical ETA of April 22, 1959. (Yahweh's bastard child was a no-show yet again.) This group, calling itself the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, broke into two pieces in the resulting schism. One product of this fission decided to call themselves the Branch Davidians.

[AlecWest]

That was part of the point I was making. The other two were the fact that ideology will negatively impact future IMAX production, and SCIENCE museums are NOT showing these IMAX films.

Ideology won't negatively impact future IMAX productions. IMAX's submission to it will. As I said, we need more theater owners and managers with "backbone" to stand up to these turkeys.

[burgman]

Dont get your shorts in a knot over this as hbo and other bigtime companies will stand up to the fcc not like the spineless fm stations.

[oldfart13]

V-Chip technology comes from Canada but I don't know anyone who has ever activated it. Sorta like setups for their DVD players...all set to show everything...

[Nilfennasion]

Has it, really? We've observed it happening. I'm not saying God didn't create the universe - in fact I happen to think he/she/it did. However, in the past 400 years, the caucazoid brance of the human race has gotten on average quite a bit taller. That's "evolution", my friend. Whether you like it or not, it happens. We change. Everything changes.

I can further that by telling you that evolution happens every single day of every single week. It is the reason why vaccines against one strain of the flu virus become completely ineffective the next season, or even in the same season when multiple strains are doing the rounds. All this really proves, of course, is that evolution is not reasonably subject to dispute.

Of course, you don't really need a theory of evolution to disprove that a wise and all-powerful boogyman created the world as we know it. The rambling lunatics who try to hold guns to our heads to hear only their side, while claiming we are doing it to them, are all the proof we really need.

[SatStorm]

Do you know that NBC may pay a penalty, because aired the ...open ceremony of last years' olympics? Some Americans said that the Ceremony was blasphemous or something...
It sure is scary to be on USA those days...

BTW: All those of you "dreaming" imigrate to Eastern European Countries, better think twice: What became "European Union", soon or later safers! It takes about 18 - 20 years to turn the prices and the local economy of each "new" E.U. country to the average of European Union.
Do you know what the "average" of European Union means? Same paneuropean prices for all the goodies, but local salaries, taxes, education system, helth system, etc...

Today our salaries here in Greece are about the same the last 7 years, when the cost of life rised about 400%! The "euro" switch from our local currencies I have to say was the vestle to destroy our economy in a global (country) but also personal level.

In short terms, if you want to imigrate, better choose a center Africa country. At least they gonna stay "as is" for more than 50 years to come (full of AIDS, Cevil Wars, etc)

[Gurm]

I can't believe ANYONE pays a fine. The FCC has no regulatory powers - it's an advisory body only.

What happens if you don't pay the fine? There are no "FCC Officers" who will show up and shut you down! *sigh*

[Gregg]

OK, evolution is happening, but humans do not evolve from monkeys and the thing that was mathematically proven was that life is not born from dead/inorganic/ matter.
Other than that this whole story /more to come very soon!/ sucks big time.

[BJ_M]

I can't believe ANYONE pays a fine. The FCC has no regulatory powers - it's an advisory body only.

What happens if you don't pay the fine? There are no "FCC Officers" who will show up and shut you down! *sigh*

they will not renew your lic if you do not pay

[Gurm]

I can't believe ANYONE pays a fine. The FCC has no regulatory powers - it's an advisory body only.

What happens if you don't pay the fine? There are no "FCC Officers" who will show up and shut you down! *sigh*

they will not renew your lic if you do not pay

Oh, I understand how it actually works. But they have no power to enforce licenses, either! Go look up their charter. If you broadcast without an FCC license, you will get in trouble - but you shouldn't, since they were never granted the power to regulate.

[BJ_M]

they do - on behalf of the military an law enforcement or something ..

they can yank a lic (and have done so) and shut a radio or tv down ...


also almost ANYthing that can transmit needs to be lic by fcc , like all electronics, phones, garage door openers , walky talkys etc etc ....

[Nilfennasion]

I'm confused. How does mathematics, a process that essentially involves counting, have any application in proving how life begins/progresses, which is essentially a process involving chemicals? And by the way, the statement that Humans evolved/whatever from monkeys was made up by the creationists in an attempt to discredit evolution through distortion. Although I do sometimes believe that the idea there is a trace of monkey or other ape-like being in us all can be easily proven with one look at a photo of David Schwimmer.

Having said all that, the FCC sounds like one of those bodies that has outlived its usefulness in many senses of the word. I don't know exactly how it works, but the regulatory bodies here actually count how many complaints or requests they get before they start changing the rules or fining stations. Considering how big the American market is, the behaviour of commercial entertainment entities there can only be described as over-cautious, in my opinion.

[EvilWizardGlick]

OK, evolution is happening, but humans do not evolve from monkeys and the thing that was mathematically proven was that life is not born from dead/inorganic/ matter.
Other than that this whole story /more to come very soon!/ sucks big time.

Already you are wrong, we share a COMMON ANCESTOR.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
Text version
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/textindex.shtml

That is Evolution explained by REAL scientists. It should clear up all your misunderstanding and confusion about the complexities involved in science.
That is if you can put down whatever oogabooga tract you are skimming and take the time to THOROUGHLY read the pages.

[BJ_M]

this is getting off topic and very close to a religion issue ..

no more evolution discussion (in this vein)