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Lemme simplify that for you: Children can't consent. So the state has to protect them. One way to do that is by shielding them from things that hurt them. It

Lemme simplify that for you: Children can't consent. So the state has to protect them. One way to do that is by shielding them from things that hurt them. It happens that junk food hurts them, and a lot of the reason why they eat junk food is because of television ads. Since they can't consent and the state must protect them, we ought to limit advertising unhealthy things to kids.

mindcrime 13y ago
Children can't consent. So the state has to protect them. Or, ya know, their parents.
- doctorpangloss 13y ago
  Of course! I'm sure 99.9% of parents, if properly educated, would agree that an overweight or obese child is a bad thing. They might not know what to do about it, and TV ads might turn out to be more powerful than parent's routine meal planning. It might turn out that asking them to turn off the TV is impractical. Maybe telling them what to feed their kids is even worse. In terms of practical means to reduce obesity, most parents would not oppose limiting TV advertising to children. Besides, the state is parents. No big deal.
- harryh 13y ago
  Not Or. Also. We don't have to choose between the two.
- vidarh 13y ago
  A lot of the time, the measures the state needs to take to protect children includes protecting them from actions of parents that might very well be well-meaning, but just as clueless and easily manipulated by advertising as their children, but all to often even don't care. While I'm for reducing the power of the state, protection of children is not something society can abdicate from without severe negative effects.
  - mindcrime 13y ago
    I will admit that this is a tricky area. Children are people and people certainly can choose to come to the aid of someone else who is being abused or harmed. But dealing with children is somewhat special, since it is generally considered the parent's responsibility and prerogative to decide how to raise their children. Sadly I don't think there is any way to come to any real, objective answer on this issue. It is one, IMO, that will cause conflict as long as there are people.
whiddershins 13y ago
Yes but, for example, full fat yoghurt won't hurt them and wouldn't fit the guidelines. The guidelines stupidly and unscientifically advocate for lowfat milk products which leave all the potentially dangerous aspects of dairy while taking out the good stuff. If the problem is marketing to kids who can't consent, let's address that separately!
Jayschwa 13y ago
What does consent have to do with advertising? No transaction occurs.

mindcrime 13y ago

Children can't consent. So the state has to protect them. Or, ya know, their parents.

doctorpangloss 13y ago
Of course! I'm sure 99.9% of parents, if properly educated, would agree that an overweight or obese child is a bad thing. They might not know what to do about it, and TV ads might turn out to be more powerful than parent's routine meal planning. It might turn out that asking them to turn off the TV is impractical. Maybe telling them what to feed their kids is even worse. In terms of practical means to reduce obesity, most parents would not oppose limiting TV advertising to children. Besides, the state is parents. No big deal.
harryh 13y ago
Not Or. Also. We don't have to choose between the two.
vidarh 13y ago
A lot of the time, the measures the state needs to take to protect children includes protecting them from actions of parents that might very well be well-meaning, but just as clueless and easily manipulated by advertising as their children, but all to often even don't care. While I'm for reducing the power of the state, protection of children is not something society can abdicate from without severe negative effects.
- mindcrime 13y ago
  I will admit that this is a tricky area. Children are people and people certainly can choose to come to the aid of someone else who is being abused or harmed. But dealing with children is somewhat special, since it is generally considered the parent's responsibility and prerogative to decide how to raise their children. Sadly I don't think there is any way to come to any real, objective answer on this issue. It is one, IMO, that will cause conflict as long as there are people.

whiddershins 13y ago

Yes but, for example, full fat yoghurt won't hurt them and wouldn't fit the guidelines. The guidelines stupidly and unscientifically advocate for lowfat milk products which leave all the potentially dangerous aspects of dairy while taking out the good stuff. If the problem is marketing to kids who can't consent, let's address that separately!

Jayschwa 13y ago

What does consent have to do with advertising? No transaction occurs.