When you’re watching television, have you ever encountered a warning such as this: “This program contains violence, coarse language, nudity, and mature subject matter. It may not be suitable for all ages. Viewer discretion is advised”?

Of course, you have. It comes on just before almost every program. Even the news.

Since it comes on before almost every program, what is the point? Why not just post one warning on the TV itself (“The programs on this television contain…”) and be done with it? Why bother to warn people if the problems are so widespread that viewers should know by now what is coming anyway?

The answer is that this way the networks and streaming services don’t have to do anything to clean up the violence, coarse language, etc. It is much easier to just post the warning and not do anything else or even think about the harm they are doing. If you don’t like it, you can’t say you weren’t warned.

As a Christian, as a parent and grandparent, and as a citizen, I am concerned about this situation.

But as a writer, I am also concerned about something else. I think many TV programs (and movies too) should with a warning like this: “This program contains hackneyed script writing, unbelievable characters, stilted and hokey dialogue, derivative plots, predictable endings, overused clichés, token characters (blacks, gays, hypocritical Christians), woke propaganda, and a lot more that you are not going to enjoy. But you can’t say we didn’t warn you.”