Brett Hauptmann, Sales representative, Redmond

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"I don't think they really do. I think it's up to parents and whomever's watching to decide what's appropriate... I think that the networks feel like they're under the gun or the government will force something... Parents need to take a more active role and not just set their kids in front of the tube to kill time."

Andrew Steiner, 9th grader, Redmond

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"No, because I think that it's the parent's job to monitor what kids watch. I think that what's on TV isn't really that bad. If it was like Showtime, then it's a different story. Parents have to order that -- you have to be 18 -- and a little kid couldn't do that... But there's a thing on Saturdays at midnight that's a free look -- parents might not know about it and it shows stuff you usually have to order... There's lots of good stuff on KOMO on Fridays -- "Family Matters" is good for kids. It teaches them lessons, like not to do drugs... I'd limit some of the violence on TV because it's starting to get worse..."

Andy Sirokman, 9th grader, Kirkland

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"No. TV shows are different. They don't allow a lot of stuff on TV that they do in movies... I was listening to some radio guy and he was talking about some chip that goes into the TV to censor stuff, and he was saying that there's never going to be any such thing because we're not that technology-oriented... I don't think we even need something like that. If parents don't want their kids to watch, they should watch what their kids are watching... But I still don't think TV's all that bad as opposed to some things like HBO where you're paying for the violence and language and sexual stuff."

Dorothy Rozzell, Homemaker, Kirkland

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"I believe they need a rating system, but I'm not sure how they go about determining it. It needs to be a little stricter than the movies. The movies are too lenient -- I think PG-13s are more like PG-17s... I have a 5 year-old grandchild and she has seen more stuff than probably my 14 year-old because we don't watch much TV. We have a large selection of feature films for families, and we limit our daughter. The TV doesn't come into play until everything else is done... Parents should just turn the TV off. That example is the greatest thing they can set. There's so much else to do... I think there's good stuff on TV if you pick through it -- Channel 9 has some wonderful stuff."

Leo A. Kriston, Retired R&D researcher, Kirkland

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"I heartily agree. Yes, they should, especially for the children and the teenagers. It's a parental question, and a two-way question, because parents can just look at the TV guide. But the more knowledge the better... I disagree with the chip thing -- it should be strictly a parental deal. The elders are on their own."

Susan Seymour, At-home mother, Kirkland

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"It's a complex question. I don't think it would hurt because for people who don't take the time to investigate programs prior to viewing, it would be a quick way to screen them... I personally think that people should restrict or limit viewing particularly when there are small children in the house, but that's a personal issue... My husband and I stopped watching TV when our son, Zachary, was born. We wanted more quality time with him. And I think I was also concerned that even though he's quite small -- he's three months old -- the violence, and the noise, could influence him... I thought it would be harder to give up the TV than it was. But I found that the time has been very rewarding... If I was struggling with a teenager, I'd just pull the plug."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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