My friend with four teenagers decided it was time to be more careful with the television and movie content to which his family was exposed. After thorough and diligent research, he purchased a device that directed all media inputs through a content filter before the signal went to the TV. It was the perfect resolution enabling him to cut out bad language and sex scenes allowing his kids to enjoy some safe viewing family time.
With confidence he set the parameters in the device that would skip racy scenes and utilized the enhanced closed caption feature that substituted vulgar words with acceptable ones. He was excited at the opportunity to watch a few great movies that were previously off limits. He took his son out and rented some action packed “R” rated movies and gathered the family for movie night.
Well, as you can imagine, I would not be writing this story if all had ended well. Apparently, my friend was unaware of his initial set up blunder. What ended up happening was quite embarrassing. Once the movie started, he immediately heard and saw scrolling across the bottom of his screen all the four letter words he was trying to avoid. What a family memory he made that night!
The moral of the story is obvious: Make sure your internal and external settings are correct, or you may end up with a room full of big eyes and dropped jaws. What this story also brings to mind is a Sunday School song from long ago. I can’t get the tune out of my head. Here, let me stick it in your mind too.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see; Oh, be careful little eyes what you see;
For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh, be careful little ears what you hear; Oh, be careful little ears what you hear;
For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little ears what you hear.
Blessings,
Wes