I agree with you. It is not just ABC Family that has this problem, but many of the networks and “so-called educational” programming designated for children. I remember the days when watching TGIF on ABC 7 was great. The commercials were not offensive and no one left home on Fridays because of those shows. Once they changed those shows, people left home on Fridays. Those shows (Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Step by Step) all portrayed family settings (mother, father and siblings). Then it was the Saturday morning cartoons. This was precisely what Walt Disney (the person) was all about, the family.
When I converse about this topic with friends, I always say, “If Walt Disney were alive today, he would be absolutely disgusted over the content on stations like ESPN (hot-dog eating contest, which shows gluttony, etc.), ABC 7, ABC Family, etc. Walt Disney (the person) was all about family. He loved focusing on families. That was part of why Walt Disney World in Orlando and Disney Land in California was created. They are family-oriented theme-park destinations. Expensive yes, but that was not because of Walt, but they are family-oriented and families can share fun times together.
Unfortunately, the commercial system is all about the money, not family. Remember, it was internet pornography that jumpstarted the success of the internet. It just goes to show you how hard it is to keep what one man wanted for a very long time. Not impossible, just highly unlikely. Now, ABC has shows such as “Desperate Housewives.” I abhor this show. Walt Disney would turn over in his grave if he knew this sort of programming was overtaking the airwaves and becoming the number one primetime show. We went from TGIF and family values to Desperate housewives and housewives with no jobs who crave for sex when their partners are away from the home for the day. It was bad enough having the daily soap operas, which was only sex and sadness in the afternoon. Then, there is Greg’s Anatomy, in which doctors are “bumping each other” every other show. Relationships between the doctors causing unnecessary strain on the friendships of those 5 or so doctors. All of those doctors have issues.
Then, there is the issue that you posed from the ABC Family channel. It is sad that we cannot even watch “educational programs” with our children. Let me go a step further with the ratings system in entertainment movies (G, PG, PG-13, NC-17, R). If you notice, most of your horror movies are PG-13. Those sorts of movies that are PG-13 is all about a wider audience and increasing revenue. Again, it is all about the money. I have seen PG-13 movies that really should be R, because of the content that even the storylines do not really want to tell you. Then, there are R-rated movies that should not be rated R. The motives of both the entertainment and commercial system are hidden from the general public. They will never tell you what their motive is with the rating system, either on TV or in the movies.
From what I have seen now, Comcast-on-demand is very good for kids. They have the kids section that has many educational programs that run all day long and can watch them as many times as you want when you want. New shows are added to the list as the days and months go by. There are no commercials at all. There is a wide selection of shows that kids can watch. They tell you the duration of the show and the episode.
It also just goes to show you that man is not to be trusted, even when they have the best of intentions. Whether it is political or commercial. Plus, we are all imperfect. There are a few scriptures that come to mind. Here are some of them…
Jeremiah 10:23: “I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” Since all mankind is imperfect, why should we trust in them to rate things for us? Those movie raters are just like us, except the amount of money made. Truly, we need a higher source that is the best judge.
Proverbs 22:3: “Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself, but the inexperienced have passed along and must suffer the penalty.” Why not look at these programs without our children and first see how inappropriate the content is before sitting our children in front of the TV.
Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?” Again, money is the essential goal of these people behind the ratings and the content shown on TV. Their hearts are scheming how to maximize money. Remember, all of these networks are competing with each other.
1 Corinthians 7:31: “the scene of this world is changing.” There was a time where we did not have to worry about “educational programs” for our children because they were simply that, “educational.” Things have changed and so have the people who run these networks.
In the Jeremiah 10:23 paragraph, I mentioned about a higher source that should be our judge instead of man filling us with filth. Who is it? Psalm 83:18 says “that people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.” Yes, Jehovah God is the one who we should look to for guidance. Why?
Deuteronomy 32:4: “The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; Righteous and upright is he.”
Psalm 19:7: “The law of Jehovah is perfect, bringing back the soul. The reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy, making the inexperienced one wise.”
Numbers 23:18: “God is not a man that he should tell lies.” Unlike man, Jehovah God does not lie. In fact, it is impossible for him to lie. (Hebrews 6:18). The scriptures were inspired of God for teaching, reproving, for setting things straight. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Therefore, what movie rating should we be watching? P-48.
Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.”
Yes, by watching programs demonstrating these characteristics will we not have to worry about the bad content that is looming even in our children’s programs. The scene of this world is truly changing and the programs and its commercials are not going to get better, so constantly be on guard. Be shrewd. Be tactful. Be well.