I'm old enough to remember when there was no rating system on movies. There was a time when Hollywood policed themselves as to content. Over time time greed overtook morality and things began to get a bit saucy. Yes, it was discovered that sex sells! Movies began to be made for the specific reason of making money, the content taking a back seat. The guidelines being followed at that time were the Hays code. It stated that no motion picture should lower the moral standards of those who see it. Films were to be acceptable and decent. That code fell to the wayside and was replaced in 1968 by the motion picture association of America. Now, there was no requirement to be acceptable or decent, you just got a warning about that content being in the film. Audience attendance was regulated by age groups, the system currently in use, although I'm not certain why, given the subject discussed in kindergarten these days.
I began to think about all of that when I saw this warning on a movie: contains sex, violence and smoking! Wait a minute now, people are smoking in this film, omg, that just isn't decent at all. People may be influenced by that, causing them to lower their moral standard. Hey sex, violence, and smoking? I couldn't help but think how stupid that is. Is that where we are really going to start drawing a line, on people smoking. Way back in 1965 cigarette packs had to include a warning. People kept right on smoking. Then in 1971 advertising for cigarettes on television was banned. People kept right on smoking. In 1997 the powers that be killed Joe Camel! People kept on smoking. In 1999 all billboard advertising for cigarettes was banned. People keep on smoking. Still, people are smoking. But, now we will include that warning about people smoking in films to prevent anyone from being influenced or triggered by that. Seeing someone smoking could surely have long lasting traumatic effects on someone, they should be warned! It may lower their moral standard.
Now any and all pharmaceuticals may be advertised. There is no restrictions on any of that, demand your doctor prescribe whatever miracle cure is being presented. Beer, hard tea, wine and liquor are all fine, advertise away, there is no danger of anyone lower their moral standard with any of that. Condoms and any number of birth control devices are advertised, no questioning moral standards on any of that. One product in particular urges you to "prep up." "Descovy" is that product. The instruction being use this product to avoid being infected with aids, engage in sexual acts with anyone at anytime without any concern at all. What is that moral standard? Just don't smoke any cigarettes afterward.
I know this is just a small thing, a passing thing as well, as it will eventually be removed from those warnings. I expect all warning will be removed at some point in the not too distant future. It's simply a matter of time and business. But I pay attention to what is going on around me and like most "senior" people comment upon the changes. It is the changing social character that is being observed. Expected behaviors and the standard morality does change slightly with each generation. It's a cycle like all others. Remember when businesses were generally closed on Sundays? Remember when people were polite? Remember when it was usual, and unexpected, for someone to tell you about their failures and shortcomings? Today they broadcast such things, write books about it, create fundraisers, and call themselves survivors! You are expected to respond with, me too.
I don't know, but it all just seems a bit silly to me. I was raised with the belief that the objective wasn't to recover, it was to never have screwed up in the first place. You certainly didn't brag about any of that. At best you would confide in your closest friend, family member or clergy about such things. It was rather a private thing. The motion picture industry began making films they felt were suitable for everyone. There was a code, the Hays code that was generally agreed upon as to what was moral and what was not. It expressly forbid scenes of violent murders. Today we have entire films dedicated to just that. But, we do warn you about films containing scenes of people smoking! Whew, at last some decency in film. Well, at least a warning about that, you can still pay for your ticket and indulge your more "base" urges and desires. Smoking sells.
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