Soft Porn = Television in 2002

[Forest Sage]

HOLY COW!
I just have to rant for a little while.
I was dog sitting yesterday and I had an opportunity to watch some tv, and I must say I've been detached from the kind of pseudo life perspective that tv provides. I don't think it is JUST ME, but there is a hell of alot more blatant sexual content on tv these days. It's only been a few years, I disconnected when my son was a baby, but even the average commercial now features ass shots and deep throat kissing and variations on the theme. It was a real eye opener for me, and it's NO BLOODY WONDER that so many people out there have unrealistic expectations from life and even their sex partners!!!
So if I'm a prude, so be it. Believe me I was practically raised by Ernie and Bert, and my "coming of age" was punctuated by about 50 000 music videos. I am fortunate that at least I've always had an innate critical sense about me, but what about people who can't decipher tv reality from the reality that happens when you turn it off? The people who don't know how many ways they've been manipulated?
Even my beloved MuchMusic (Canadian MTV) is like "Playboy Light" where, I daresay, sexual objectification of the TEENAGE BODY is not only accepted, but rewarded. Now that I am a mother of a boy I am much more aware of how the MALE is equally sexualized.
I am so angry and sad that there is so much of this shit floating around in medialand and people totally buy into it, albeit sometimes unknowingly.
Rant Endeth.

[daylily]

I haven't watched TV in nearly a year, so while I can't comment on what's on lately. I was totally disturbed by the values the TV was delivering to my children which is why I took it away. I remember one day, a few years ago when I walked in on my husband on a Sunday afternoon, took one look at the TV screen and said "OMG, you're watching PORN?!" and he said "No, it's just MTV."

[Jish]

Our cable company was in the middle of a switch and for a weekend we got several of the movie channels including HBO. I have no desire to have them on a regular basis, but I've heard so much about "Sex in the City" that when I saw that it was on in was interested to see what all the hype was about. I caught the last five minutes of the program and I was totally disgusted. In that five minutes I was shown several full frontal nudity shots of Kim Cattrel (sp?) and nearly full nudity of the naked man she was with. It could have been full nudity of him too, I'm not sure because the phone rang and I looked away to answer. It was pretty darn close as I looked away. The acting was absolutely terrible!!! I couldn't believe that THAT was the show that has won so many awards and has inspired so many fashion trends (yuck on the clothing:yuck .) It was shown during the so called "family hour" in the evening. I realize that it's cable, but uugh! I'm guessing that there are a bunch of highly hormonal teenagers who "enjoy" (if you get my drift) this show every week as they watch their televisions in their bedrooms. I wonder if their parents know what they are watching.

I agree that television is going into the crapper as a whole, and often the commercials are as bad or worse as the shows. What are those Dentine Ice, or Uncle Bens rice bowls commercials trying to sell. It's so hard to tell since all they show you are scantily clad beautiful people in a seduction ritual. I always feel like I need to take a shower after I see those.

[daylily]

LOL about the Uncle Ben's rice bowl ads! I remember those from when we had a TV. Our 18 year old nephew lived with us then, and I would be so embarrassed if one of those ads came on when he was in the room. Not to mention trying to distract my kids from them.

[Forest Sage]

The Dentyne Ice ad was one of the ones that bothered me so much, at least I think it was for Dentyne Ice. Is that the laundromat one where the girl is totally being harrassed? I must have seen that one 15 times.
I remember the other ads too for Dentyne Ice and they all feature kissing, ususally one of the "kissers" is caught off guard.
Sends mixed messages.

[tracijean]

I am neither teenage nor a boy, but I thoroughly enjoy Sex and the City. I like to see naked people on my tv from time to time! It's a fun show, in my opinion, totally fluffy but pleasant.

I am sick of these ridiculous shows like "Temptation Island" where a bunch of young folks go out and expose themselves and act a fool on national tv... there are so many of these now. All the dating ones.. it's awful. Thank God I'm married, elsewise I might end up searching for my future mate on CBS, flashing my thong.... heh

xo
t

[Vigggg]

it's the violence that gets me

i am much more shocked and offended by the violence that permeates every form of entertainment. the message that i am afraid of my dear son getting is that sex is taboo but violence is okay, i mean, what does that message say about sex when yo put them together? sorry, this has bugged me for awhile now, rant over

[Mayasmama98]

I love Sex and the City too...I just got finished watching the first season on DVD...hilarious!!

I don't get cable, so don't really have much to rant about. I'm too broke....I'd be pretty happy to see any exciting TV right now since they only kind I see has lines in it...

Love,
Christi

[Forest Sage]

Oh my everyone, I feel like a major hypocrite now! Beth, I must admit, I am also a HUGE fan of Sex and the City. It wasn't always that way. My sister used to have a bit of a thing for Mr. John Corbett ("Aiden") so when she went away on vacation she asked me if I would tape the show for her (during a free cable promotional thing). So I did, and I was repelled by it at first. I thought the acting was bad too. But it grew on me, and I realized that the writing is terrific and it's just soooo juicy I couldn't resist. It is hilarious and it is very cool to watch the episodes that deal with things never before explored on tv. The difference between SATC and porn is that most porn is poorly produced and badly written, to say the least. Who watches porn for the story anyways? :LOL Unlike porn, it's my guess that most SATC fans watch it because they love the characters and the stories. The sex is a plus, but if there were no sex scenes, I would still love it.
However, whether or not something is pornographic is completely subjective. That's not to say that I don't think SATC is pornographic. There is graphic sex and nudity, so I do consider it pornographic.
Regular cable where I live airs SATC only on Bravo, a specialty channel, on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight and 1 a.m. Strictly intended for adult viewing.
I rent the videos too, but so far I haven't been able to find the 3rd season in video. As for the 4th, I still can't believe Miranda has a baby!!!
I miss it so much!