Responsiblity or not on the History Channel.

[MsMusicRadio]

Last night, the History Channel ran two hours about the end of the world. I am reading blogs by parents wondering what to tell children who think they will die in less than two years. This stuff is presented in such a way it comes across as "fact". This channel seems to have multiple programs of "experts' pontificating on this. During the first Gulf War, so called experts compared Saddam to Mabus, the alleged third anti-Christ predicted by Nostradamus. If the world ends in about 18 months, there is really little time for Mabus or even The Rapture to occur. Seems like there is a contradiction here. I suggest that responsible cable companies move the History Channel to a pay tier if they have not done so already so parents will have some control over this fear mongering. This stuff is presented in such a matter that I can see how children would or could see it as factual news.

 

[Prais]

I suggest parents act like parents - and either explain what you believe or turn it OFF. iT'S WHAT YOU MAY CALL A "TEACHABLE MOMENT."

Have you discovered the on/off switch on the tv?

 

[MarcB]

I've heard a lot of the elderly think that the movies they show on SYFY are real.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

What about Orson Welles?

I am not advocating censorship. I think presenting what constitutes potential plots for horror movies as "facts that some experts believe" shoud be seen as irresponsible as showing cuts from X rated porn at 4PM on Disney.

 

[Prais]

Ms.,

Why not write the History Channel or send them an e-mail.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

I think I will. I thought everybody read this BOARD from the media :

 

[Prais]

Yea. Plenty here from Wannabee Wadio!

 

[anotherguyTN]

I can remember as a kid in a Baptist church hearing preachers that made it sound like Jesus was returning TONIGHT and being scared to death of it. Although I'm a Christian now and believe that Jesus will return at some point in time, I believe that using scare tactics and date setting for the end of the world is wrong, regardless of whether it's from the Bible, Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar, or whatever.

Even among Christians there are people who try to set themselves up as "prophecy experts" and are contionusly setting dates or time frames when they believe Jesus will return, only to be proven wrong every time, yet all they will do is to reset their predictions and people keep buying into their claims. In my view they're an embarassment to Christianity. Over time my views have changed from what I was taught in a lot of Baptist churches to what is called the Partial Preterist view, which believes that most or all Bible prophecies have been fulfilled except for the actual return of Jesus Christ.

It hasn't become an issue yet, but I won't let my daughter watch shows like this first of all because a lot of the "End of the World" shows on the History Channel are based on something other than Christian or Biblical teachings or valid scientific views, and even the ones that are supposed to based on the Bible are grossly misinterpreted. I believe all of these type shows should only be on in late night.

Even a lot of the Global Warming shows are guilty of using scare tactics to claim the end is coming. I was in Wal Mart yesterday and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was in a display of $3.00 and $4.00 DVDs. I think that pretty much shows what a lot of people think of it.  :

 

[Lazy J]

I can't say that I know too many kids who watch the History Channel. I might get concerned if this were on Nickelodeon or Disney. I think in general, the people who watch the History Channel don't need to have it explained to them.

 

[notalkallstatic]

Last night, the History Channel ran two hours about the end of the world.

Crap, I missed it. I love these shows.

If the world ends in about 18 months, there is really little time for Mabus or even The Rapture to occur.

Who says that we aren't going to die before the theoried "Rapture" actually happens. There is a higher possibility of us dieing by a meteor hitting the Earth before 2012 than the predicted events of 2012.

I suggest that responsible cable companies move the History Channel to a pay tier if they have not done so already so parents will have some control over this fear mongering. This stuff is presented in such a matter that I can see how children would or could see it as factual news.

I totally disagree with that statement. If a cable company does, what you suggested, I want all the news channels (including local channels, and PBS) moved to pay tier, because of their fear mongering, and the constant news about death.

Listen, because of parents not knowing how to be a parent, we now have V-Chips on TVs, and ratings for shows. What else do you want? We can't close our eyes and stick our heads in the sand from life or what could happen in the future.

If we had a disclaimer that airs at the beginning of each segment of a show on SyFy, History, or whatever announcing that this program is not based on true events, or is based on theories, people still wouldn't listen. If you need a reference to that, look up the TV movies: "The Day After" and "Special Bulletin."

 

[BRNout]

My main problem with the show wasn't the timing of it (10E/9C is late enough), it was the lack of editorial balance offered. Nostradamus' various predictions weren't always accurate and there has been a healthy debate among historians as to whether he was even trying to predict the future or was simply commenting on political issues of his day. The History Channel offered no skeptics to comment and treated Nostradamus' writings as gospel.

I'm not saying that the whole thing was bunk. The sad fact is that some trends - if left unchanged - do portend eventual disaster (of some sort). Then again, things may change and that potential future is averted. Unfortunately, there wasn't much balance in the doom and gloom offered up by this show. Let's just say that it wasn't conducive to sleep.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

From what I saw up until the 2012 thing became the rage, Nostradamous's scariest prediction was for the coming of the third Anti-Christ and WWIII. From last night's show, this is gone by the boards because the world will end in less than two years unless of course it ends by man made events like a nuclear war. Does this make any sense ? If so, just like NASA tries to debunk this stuff by asserting that the killer asteroid would be already visible, wouldn't "Mabus" be already known and gaining power? if "Mabus" is a Middle Eastern leader who loves the spotlight------who is this dude? Bin Laden is too secretive and Ahmajinadad doesn't really run Iran.

 

[Groove1670]

"In the end the internet will rise, the Ipod will rule, and HD will pass, the people will realize the end has come for.....radio" Our kids have told us that. They are not listening... or are they?