The SafeSurf rating system requires a bit more time spent deciphering it's complicated hierarchy of intent. So that a website depicting the naked tribes people of an indigenous tribe does not get the same rating as an airbrushed Playboy model posing provocatively. I get it and it makes perfect sense but what parents have the time or patience to decipher the SafeSurf complicated code for each site their child visits? I am sure it's a bit more user friendly but their site does little to assuage my concerns that this is far too complicated. Well thought out, yes, but user friendly? I do not think so.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
MPAA v SafeSurf
The MPAA ratings system is very intricate when it comes to designating the content but that is all done prior to the release of the movie and the viewer has only to be concerned with the 5 designated ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17.
The SafeSurf rating system requires a bit more time spent deciphering it's complicated hierarchy of intent. So that a website depicting the naked tribes people of an indigenous tribe does not get the same rating as an airbrushed Playboy model posing provocatively. I get it and it makes perfect sense but what parents have the time or patience to decipher the SafeSurf complicated code for each site their child visits? I am sure it's a bit more user friendly but their site does little to assuage my concerns that this is far too complicated. Well thought out, yes, but user friendly? I do not think so.
The SafeSurf rating system requires a bit more time spent deciphering it's complicated hierarchy of intent. So that a website depicting the naked tribes people of an indigenous tribe does not get the same rating as an airbrushed Playboy model posing provocatively. I get it and it makes perfect sense but what parents have the time or patience to decipher the SafeSurf complicated code for each site their child visits? I am sure it's a bit more user friendly but their site does little to assuage my concerns that this is far too complicated. Well thought out, yes, but user friendly? I do not think so.
Safe Surf - First Voluntary Website Ratings System
Safe Surf is a voluntary Internet Rating System that takes the MPAA ratings to an overwhelming and complicated level. SafeSurf's purposes it to protect children from indecent content while protecting 1st amendment rights.
Listed below is just the LISTING for the different ratings on the SafeSurf. (Retrieved from http://www.safesurf.com/ssplan.htm)
The SafeSurf SS~~ Rating Standard
Designed with input from thousands of parents and Net citizens to empower
each family to make informed decisions concerning accessibility of online content.
Copyright 1995 SafeSurf Organization. All Rights Reserved.
Section One: Adult Themes with Caution Levels
SS~~000. Age Range
1) All Ages
2) Older Children
3) Teens
4) Older Teens
5) Adult Supervision Recommended
6) Adults
7) Limited to Adults
8) Adults Only
9) Explicitly for Adults
Section One: Adult Themes with Caution Levels
SS~~001. Profanity
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of Slang
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied through the use of Slang
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, technical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited non-sexual expletives used in a artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Non-sexual expletives used in a artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Limited use of expletives and obscene gestures
7) Detailed Graphic
Casual use of expletives and obscene gestures.
8) Explicit Vulgarity
Heavy use of vulgar language and obscene gestures. Unsupervised Chat Rooms.
9) Explicit and Crude
Saturated with crude sexual references and gestures. Unsupervised Chat Rooms.
SS~~002. Heterosexual Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of metaphor
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not described) through the use of metaphor
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Descriptions of intimate sexual acts
7) Detailed Graphic
Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts
8) Explicitly Graphic or Inviting Participation
Explicit Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
9) Explicit and Crude or Explicitly Inviting Participation
Profane Graphic Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
SS~~003. Homosexual Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of metaphor
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not described) through the use of metaphor
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Descriptions of intimate sexual acts
7) Detailed Graphic
Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts
8) Explicitly Graphic or Inviting Participation
Explicit descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
9) Explicit and Crude or Explicitly Inviting Participation
Profane Graphic Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
SS~~004. Nudity
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of composition, lighting, shaping, revealing clothing, etc.
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not shown) through the use of composition, lighting, shaping or revealing clothing
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Classic works of art presented in public museums for family viewing
5) Graphic-Artistic
Artistically presented without full frontal nudity
6) Graphic
Artistically presented with frontal nudity
7) Detailed Graphic
Erotic frontal nudity
8) Explicit Vulgarity
Pornographic presentation, designed to appeal to prurient interests.
9) Explicit and Crude
Explicit pornographic presentation
SS~~005. Violence
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Inviting Participation in Graphic Interactive Format
9) Encouraging Personal Participation, Weapon Making
SS~~007. Intolerance - (Intolerance of another person's racial, religious, or gender backround)
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Literary
5) Graphic-Literary
6) Graphic Discussions
7) Endorsing Hatred
8) Endorsing Violent or Hateful Action
9) Advocating Violent or Hateful Action
SS~~008. Glorifying Drug Use
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Simulated Interactive Participation
9) Soliciting Personal Participation
SS~~009. Other Adult Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Explicit Vulgarity
9) Explicit and Crude
SS~~00A. Gambling
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Discussion
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic, Advertising
5) Graphic-Artistic, Advertising
6) Simulated Gambling
7) Real Life Gambling without Stakes
8) Encouraging Interactive Real Life Participation with Stakes
9) Providing Means with Stakes
Listed below is just the LISTING for the different ratings on the SafeSurf. (Retrieved from http://www.safesurf.com/ssplan.htm)
Designed with input from thousands of parents and Net citizens to empower
each family to make informed decisions concerning accessibility of online content.
Copyright 1995 SafeSurf Organization. All Rights Reserved.
Section One: Adult Themes with Caution Levels
SS~~000. Age Range
1) All Ages
2) Older Children
3) Teens
4) Older Teens
5) Adult Supervision Recommended
6) Adults
7) Limited to Adults
8) Adults Only
9) Explicitly for Adults
Section One: Adult Themes with Caution Levels
SS~~001. Profanity
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of Slang
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied through the use of Slang
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, technical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited non-sexual expletives used in a artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Non-sexual expletives used in a artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Limited use of expletives and obscene gestures
7) Detailed Graphic
Casual use of expletives and obscene gestures.
8) Explicit Vulgarity
Heavy use of vulgar language and obscene gestures. Unsupervised Chat Rooms.
9) Explicit and Crude
Saturated with crude sexual references and gestures. Unsupervised Chat Rooms.
SS~~002. Heterosexual Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of metaphor
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not described) through the use of metaphor
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Descriptions of intimate sexual acts
7) Detailed Graphic
Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts
8) Explicitly Graphic or Inviting Participation
Explicit Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
9) Explicit and Crude or Explicitly Inviting Participation
Profane Graphic Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
SS~~003. Homosexual Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of metaphor
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not described) through the use of metaphor
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Limited metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
5) Graphic-Artistic
Metaphoric descriptions used in an artistic fashion
6) Graphic
Descriptions of intimate sexual acts
7) Detailed Graphic
Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts
8) Explicitly Graphic or Inviting Participation
Explicit descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
9) Explicit and Crude or Explicitly Inviting Participation
Profane Graphic Descriptions of intimate details of sexual acts designed to arouse. Inviting interactive sexual participation. Unsupervised Sexual Chat Rooms or Newsgroups.
SS~~004. Nudity
1) Subtle Innuendo
Subtly Implied through the use of composition, lighting, shaping, revealing clothing, etc.
2) Explicit Innuendo
Explicitly implied (not shown) through the use of composition, lighting, shaping or revealing clothing
3) Technical Reference
Dictionary, encyclopedic, news, medical references
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
Classic works of art presented in public museums for family viewing
5) Graphic-Artistic
Artistically presented without full frontal nudity
6) Graphic
Artistically presented with frontal nudity
7) Detailed Graphic
Erotic frontal nudity
8) Explicit Vulgarity
Pornographic presentation, designed to appeal to prurient interests.
9) Explicit and Crude
Explicit pornographic presentation
SS~~005. Violence
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Inviting Participation in Graphic Interactive Format
9) Encouraging Personal Participation, Weapon Making
SS~~007. Intolerance - (Intolerance of another person's racial, religious, or gender backround)
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Literary
5) Graphic-Literary
6) Graphic Discussions
7) Endorsing Hatred
8) Endorsing Violent or Hateful Action
9) Advocating Violent or Hateful Action
SS~~008. Glorifying Drug Use
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Simulated Interactive Participation
9) Soliciting Personal Participation
SS~~009. Other Adult Themes
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Reference
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic
5) Graphic-Artistic
6) Graphic
7) Detailed Graphic
8) Explicit Vulgarity
9) Explicit and Crude
SS~~00A. Gambling
1) Subtle Innuendo
2) Explicit Innuendo
3) Technical Discussion
4) Non-Graphic-Artistic, Advertising
5) Graphic-Artistic, Advertising
6) Simulated Gambling
7) Real Life Gambling without Stakes
8) Encouraging Interactive Real Life Participation with Stakes
9) Providing Means with Stakes
This Film is Not Yet Rated Trailer (WARNING: Explicit -albeit animated- Content)
We can see how the intricacies of the Movie rating system has become more complicated over the last 40+ years.
The MPAA Ratings Yesterday and Today
" Today’s voluntary movie rating system is aimed at giving
parents the information they need to decide whether a film is appropriate for
their family.
The current rating system emerged in 1968, when MPAA
chairman Jack Valenti replaced the earlier moral censorship guidelines, known
as the Hays Code, with a revolutionary new parent-focused rating system. While
the Hays Code authorized a movie for distribution based on whether it was
deemed “moral” according to an exhaustive list of rules, the current movie
rating system was born out of the simple notion that the movie industry wouldn’t
approve or disapprove what audiences should see, but instead would focus on
“freeing the screen” and educating parents to help them make movie-going
decisions for their family. The current Classification & Ratings
Administration (CARA), with a rating board made up of an independent group of
parents, gives advance cautionary warnings to families about a movie’s content.
CARA’s mission is to afford parents the tools they need to make informed
decisions about what their children watch.
The introduction of the PG-13 rating in 1984 expanded the
scope of the rating system. Not intended to be tied to any specific age, the
rating is a stronger note of caution suggesting to parents to further
investigate the content of the motion picture before allowing their children to
see it.
Through these changes, our mission remains the same: to
inform parents about the content of the many great movies released every year.
In doing so, we hope to provide parents with a useful social service, while
allowing filmmakers to connect meaningfully with appropriate audiences." (Retrieved from http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/ratings-history)
The ratings in 1970:
Current Ratings according to the MPAA. (Retrieved from http://www.mpaa.org/Resources/e2f7189e-7316-4f71-9583-50aa4def53e3.pdf)
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