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CULTURE

The Pornification Of A Generation

A new book traces the migration of porn culture from adult theaters to the mainstream—and asks what that means for kids.

By Jessica Bennett | NEWSWEEK

Published Oct 7, 2008

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Posted By: Jackson123 @ 10/18/2008 3:25:50 PM

Comment: I'[m sure that the situation is even worse than described, and I truly feel that it reflects the cause of the multitude of social problems that we are experiencing now, not to mention the economic ones. The "I don't really care about others" attitude that is prevelent, "I want what I want" I am personally embarrased by TV and printed images of females who's clevage is absolutely indecent and unnacceptable. These females have been misled by our society into thinking that it is alright to reveal all parts of their bodies for sensationalizm.
Posted By: marieannette @ 10/14/2008 8:37:34 PM

Comment: as social constraints and taboos fall away, so crumbles our sense
of dignity ans self-worth
Posted By: Pepi @ 10/13/2008 7:06:18 AM

Comment: Idiots! stop bickering and start thinking about our kids. I think porn should be legitimised abd then regulated for the benefit and well being of our children and society at large.
Posted By: clintoony @ 10/12/2008 2:54:27 PM

Comment: Jessica's just mad cuz she can't make the big bucks as a Fluffer.
Posted By: clintoony @ 10/12/2008 2:53:25 PM

Comment: What's your problem? I'll tell you. You're just mad because women get paid MUCH more to perform than Men do, you sexist pig.
Posted By: KrimiaRiver @ 10/12/2008 12:17:31 AM

Comment: Well, here's something all those experts didn't consider, though it might cause their heads to explode if they did: The most porn permissive societies are also those that are the most feminist (the West). The most anti-porn societies are those where women are the most oppressed and abused (Middle East, China, India, etc.).
In other words, welcome to the feminization of America, because this is what it looks like.
Posted By: KrimiaRiver @ 10/12/2008 12:15:15 AM

Comment: Well, here's something they didn't consider: The most porn permissive societies are also those that are the most feminist (the West). The most anti-porn societies are those where women are the most oppressed and abused (Middle East, China, India, etc.).
In other words, welcome to the feminization of America, because this is what it looks like.
Posted By: jhort @ 10/11/2008 11:56:22 PM

Comment: You can't blame it on Movie, TV, fashion or anything else. Those trends, story line and images are created because we as Americans buy into it. It's not the other way around. If it didn't sell it would be produced. Raise you children!
Posted By: jhort @ 10/11/2008 11:53:54 PM

Comment: It all comes back to parenting. Spend time with your children and set a proper example. We all know, including your teens, that these types of actions and porn star image is wrong. Perhaps your teens are not yet aware of the reprocussions of their actions. They live in the NOW and don't understand that later in life they won't be accepted by society for what they believe is cool. In the entire world there is not another nation that is so low class as the United States. It's a disgrace!!
Posted By: Kate*the*Great @ 10/11/2008 10:16:14 PM

Comment: This isn't anything new. The overt sexualization of our culture began with the movie industry and became prolific after WW2. Growing up in the same area as Madonna did, and being about the same age, I remember when she first burst onto the music scene. SHe rolled around in lingerie and was overtly sexual. This had not been done before. Soon after her popularity soared, little girls began the "mini" versions of her clothing, complete with ripped fishnets. So many people idolize Madonna, but I think a lot of blame belongs on her shoulders since her later videos were even more crass.
Posted By: bo-bob65 @ 10/11/2008 9:16:30 PM

Comment: The question has been asked about what effect the porn culture will have on our children and that's important. But has anyone considered what effect this "culture" has had on the esculating numbers of pedophiles and sexually based offences being perpetrated today. What happens when someone esculates from the porn fantasy to actually acting out those ideas in real life? Someone once said " it takes a village to raise a child." So why are we letting those pornographers opt out of being responsible members of the "village" by degrading and perverting sex, which God meant to be enjoyed by a man and a woman in the sanctity of the marriage commitment.
Posted By: pw1970 @ 10/11/2008 8:32:41 PM

Comment: MADD is useless... When I was in high school in the late 80's MADD and SADD were everywhere. I remember after the SADD meetings we'd all head to someone's house, usually an officer in the SADD club to party and drink. MADD and SADD simply make it TABOO and THUS make kids want to do it even more... For every one success created by MADD and SADD you drive 10 more to do because it's cool. So sorry, but if you look to MADD or SADD as inspriation you might as well hand your kid a 5th in the morning before school you ignorant sap... Ignorance is bliss Cajun Guidry... And you must be on Cloud 9...
Posted By: Cajun Guidry @ 10/11/2008 8:26:40 PM

Comment: When parents cannot say NO to a five-year old, problems have already begun. The makers of Bratz dolls are counting on parents to cave in, this is their business, this is the Almighty Dollar that will sell Mr.Scott's daughter's soul to the devil....without blinking an eye! It IS extremely tough to be parents today, but parents need to fight back, take a stand, FOR THEIR CHILDREN. Look at what the mothers of MADD did -look to them for inspiration and what can be accomplished when people start a revolution!
Posted By: pw1970 @ 10/11/2008 8:26:38 PM

Comment: Umm, the reason its hypersexualized in the our Country, the USA, is because the right wing christian Wachos for years have told CHILDREN how sex was evil, you can only do it in this situations, etc. etc. etc. Now as a Republican since I was 18 until this year, when I switched to Libertarian, the Dumocrats are even worst sleezoids, but that's a different discussion. The more you tell children is wrong, and not to do it the more you drive them to it... Instead we should embrace natural male/famale sexuality and nudity. That would make it seem more natural to children and they'd be less likely to do it out of spite against the nuts bag right wingers shouts... Its not rocket science, between the bastardization of sex and nudity by the right wingers and the forcefeeding homosexuality as 'normal,' its not by they was as if it were the species would be able to reproduce male/male and female/female, but they cannot so it's not natural... MORE COMMON SENSE and less RIGHT WING FOOKTARDS AND LEFTISTS COMMIE SOCIALISTS NUTBAG LIBERALS... Seriously... It's not rocket science...
Posted By: pw1970 @ 10/11/2008 8:26:24 PM

Comment: Umm, the reason its hypersexualized in the our Country, the USA, is because the right wing christian Wachos for years have told CHILDREN how sex was evil, you can only do it in this situations, etc. etc. etc. Now as a Republican since I was 18 until this year, when I switched to Libertarian, the Dumocrats are even worst sleezoids, but that's a different discussion. The more you tell children is wrong, and not to do it the more you drive them to it... Instead we should embrace natural male/famale sexuality and nudity. That would make it seem more natural to children and they'd be less likely to do it out of spite against the nuts bag right wingers shouts... Its not rocket science, between the bastardization of sex and nudity by the right wingers and the forcefeeding homosexuality as 'normal,' its not by they was as if it were the species would be able to reproduce male/male and female/female, but they cannot so it's not natural... MORE COMMON SENSE and less RIGHT WING FOOKTARDS AND LEFTISTS COMMIE SOCIALISTS NUTBAG LIBERALS... Seriously... It's not rocket science...
Posted By: sana99 @ 10/11/2008 6:19:15 PM

Comment: PS. The person who talked about getting away from the unfair standards for men and women and ???god???. I totally applaud that aspect of modern life, a better and more even balance between the sexes is an excellent thing; though I would note that in having read the usual scriptures, I find that God has always recommended equal treatment between the sexes, especially as it relates to sex (in the Old Testament, the punishment for both men and women is identical, and God warns to make no favorites, in the New Testament, again the forgiveness for both is identical, and Jesus is angry about the unfair treatment of accusing a woman but not the man she was found with). Taking that into consideration, I would say that I have no idea what people were reading when they came up with the notion that things were ok for men but not for women, it certainly wasn???t ???scriptures.??? The unbalanced standard seems to be more related to the underlying foundations of the Greeks, Romans, and some Middle Eastern and European tribes, who had a history of a very low opinion of women, and very unfair and uneven treatment of women. God came talking out of Egypt and was VERY balanced about the sexes in sexual behavior, but the balance that God promoted was never instituted in most Middle Eastern or European societies, though it was verbally spoken, society did not uphold it or live by it. In reality, while people now are behaving not in accordance with Godly virtues, the sense of a more even balance between the social penalty for the behavior of two sexes is closer to Godly balance than it was two hundred years ago. (When women were penalized often dramatically, while no men were ever punished unless they treaded on another man???s foot in a manner of speaking)
Posted By: sana99 @ 10/11/2008 6:18:35 PM

Comment: I think its true that a certain degree of flexibility is a necessity and natural within humanity; that means that regardless of what the central values are there will be a certain amount of the things that people consider less than ideal (obsession with sex, etc.) What is really disturbing about this is how it seems to signify that the core ideals of how people behave or want to behave are violated before they are even able to reach adulthood. Obsession with sex results in a wide range of unnatural behaviors - often poor parenting (either through being thrust into single parenthood, or merely by someone who is more obsessed with taking part in the sex act than contributing or taking part in natural parenting) , lack of interest in learning (children obsessed with their appearances spend all their energy figuring out how to dress and interact with each other sexually rather than learning about the natural world, science, about economic factors, or about other things which if they were able to have the opportunity to be interested in them, the world would be a better place not only for them but also for future people), and unsatisfactory personal relationships (people obsessed with the image aspects of sex find it difficult to take part in or understand the deep bonding aspects of trusting sexual relations which involve love and flexibility and enjoyment of a partner as who they are and look like instead of being internally or externally critical of each other???s bodies???a kind of mutual physical (and emotional) trust which cannot develop when people are comparing each other to fantasy images)) Some people say that the obsession with sex is normal and natural - just a natural development to being ???unleashed??? from religion. Yet, when you look around in the animal kingdom, almost all animals are devoted parents, the exception usually being animals that can fend for themselves from birth. Birds are obsessed with sex, and yet you see both parent birds tending to the nest not until the male finds another more attractive one, but until the nestlings are fully grown. Eagles are obsessed with sex, they have elaborate courtship rituals which they perform every year even when they choose not to reproduce due to lack of resources, and yet even after a lifetime together they don???t leave for younger birds with different feathers OR perform those rituals for any other eagle they come across. Lions are obsessed with sex and yet you don???t see male lions intentionally abandoning their lionesses and cubs unless driven away. In humanity, this obsession with sex is leading to poor parenting and less focus on positive community features and that suggests that maybe our way of advertising our own technology to ourselves is developing an unnatural culture, which in violating the norms of nature will lead to long-term problems for our and our children???s psyche.
Posted By: katchow @ 10/11/2008 5:54:28 PM

Comment: As a woman in her mid-twenties, the only difference I see from my childhood and those described in this article is that we didn't have Bratz dolls. Instead we had massive articles about how Barbie was unrealistic and chauvinistic. Bratz are so impressive to kids, not because they are sexual, but because the features are large and freakish, and they are dressed in interesting and colorful ways. Little girls like bright colors and to dress dolls up in new ways, just because grown men get perverted thoughts about dolls does not make them sexual for little girls. In the same way that Barbie never made me want to be 8 feet tall with a horse neck. I think adult reactions to these dolls is more detrimental to children then the dolls themselves.

Also "In a survey of 244 high-school students... researchers ... found that those who frequently viewed talk shows and prime-time programs with sexualized content endorsed sexual stereotypes more strongly."
How is this a product of porn and not our popular culture just using PRIME TIME to reaffirm old stereotypes. We should not be blaming comfort with sexuality with main steam medias obsession with putting violence and sex together, we should be blaming mainstream media for showing sex in such a degrading and negative light.
- Posted By: pw1970 @ 10/11/2008 8:37:17 PM
  
  Comment: Good points Katchow...
Posted By: katchow @ 10/11/2008 5:52:26 PM

Comment: As a woman in her mid-twenties, the only difference I see from my childhood and those described in this article is that we didn't have Bratz dolls. Instead we had massive articles about how Barbie was unrealistic and chauvinistic. Bratz are so impressive to kids, not because they are sexual, but because the features are large and freakish, and they are dressed in interesting and colorful ways. Little girls like bright colors and to dress dolls up in new ways, just because grown men get perverted thoughts about dolls does not make them sexual for little girls. In the same way that Barbie never made me want to be 8 feet tall with a horse neck. I think adult reactions to these dolls is more detrimental to children then the dolls themselves.

Also "In a survey of 244 high-school students... researchers ... found that those who frequently viewed talk shows and prime-time programs with sexualized content endorsed sexual stereotypes more strongly."
How is this a product of porn and not our popular culture just using PRIME TIME to reaffirm old stereotypes. We should not be blaming comfort with sexuality with main steam medias obsession with putting violence and sex together, we should be blaming mainstream media for showing sex in such a degrading and negative light.
I only have
Posted By: jrinella @ 10/11/2008 5:49:20 PM

Comment: Brings to mind the famous youtube video of what looks to be an attractive, adult female dancing in a school girl costume infront of her webcam until Daddy comes in shocked and screaming at his 15 year old daughter for acting in such a way. It's sad, but girls only mold to what they think will get them the most attention with men.
Posted By: jrinella @ 10/11/2008 5:46:44 PM

Comment: Brings to mind the video of what looks like a grown, attractive woman dancing in a school girl outfit infront of her webcam until daddy walks in in shock that his 15 year old is acting that way.
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:41 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:40 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:39 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:39 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:38 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:36 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:31:35 PM

Comment: And bratz dolls do not dress any more provocatively then Barbie. They have a passion for fashion, not sex. If you have watched any of the cartoons or the movie, you would see that they are about being true to themselves and resisting peer pressure. I'm not that far from being a teenager, and I remember that if my mom told me -not- to wear something, I wanted to wear it more. I personally think that instead of worrying about what your teenager is wearing, you should teach them that even if they want to dress sexy they should do it because it makes -them- feel good, not because they want guys/girls to look at them. Teach your child moral values, and then no matter what they see they'll know that it's just music or movies. Teach them that sex is okay. it's not some dirty taboo thing, and maybe we won't have so many screwed up people like in previous generations. Y'know, like serial killers and rapists? There aren't near as many today as there was thirty or even ten years ago, because there isn't as much repression. And, pull the stick out of your butts, the whole group of you. Geez
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:09:49 PM

Comment: Axe shower gel is targeted towards college age people, by what I understand in the commercials.

And, I personally would rather see a teen girl in a corset, fishnets and "stripper heals" then wearing that play boy bunny symbol that is so popular.
Posted By: Mrs.Jessie.Ford @ 10/11/2008 5:07:00 PM

Comment: I'd just like to say that "axe" body gel, from what I understand from the commercials, are marketed towards college age men, not teens.

But what I think we need to do away with isn't the corsets and "stripper heals" I'd much rather see my teen daughter in something like that then that stupid play boy symbool.
Posted By: Jeremiadist @ 10/11/2008 5:04:13 PM

Comment: Really, everything that used to signify dissent and rebellion and "freedom" - punk rock, porn, whatever you care to mention - has now just become a way for us to spend money and remain in a drugged coma while the finance sector rapes us and the planet. (As I've been saying for a while at http://tcsf.blogdrive.com/ )
Posted By: Jeremiadist @ 10/11/2008 5:03:02 PM

Comment: Really, everything that used to signify dissent and rebellion and "freedom" - punk rock, porn, whatever you care to mention - has now just become a way for us to spend money and remain in a drugged coma while the finance sector rapes us and the planet. (As I've been saying for a while at http://tcsf.blogdrive.com/ )
Posted By: ZaCloud @ 10/11/2008 3:56:33 PM

Comment: I'm 25 and I've been fussing about sexuality in media since I was a teen. It had influenced me into behaviors that I otherwise would not have dabbled in until I was much older. But also, since our culture has become so obsessed with sex, it raises people's hormonal levels... And that actually influences the hormones of children born from high-hormone parents. Studies show that the amount of certain hormones produced more highly by parents, will be produced more highly by default (and with greater capacity) in the children they bear. This is apparent in the traits of black foxes that were being domesticated for fur harvesting. As generations of "tame" animals began to develop from lives spent in safety and not using much adrenaline, their offspring were born with less adrenaline capacity, and because adrenaline genes are linked to pigmentation, they would be born with more and more white splotches and markings.

The case is the same with children, except the opposite extreme, where parents have far more sex than in the old days (before contraception), or get aroused a lot, or just plain think about sex a lot due to being constantly bombarded and convinced that it's normal to be OBSESSED with sex. Now we see children starting puberty far too early. The average age when I was a kid was 12-15, with the period able to start as late as 18 and still be considered normal. Now the average age of puberty is 8-12. They barely get time to be children before they have to start worrying about adult physical, physiological, and psychological problems in everyday life. That is sad. Taking away their childhood innocence is society-level child abuse. It's an arrestable offense to show lewd content to children ("Corruption of a minor"), and yet our common media does this all the time. This definitely needs to be looked into.

Bedroom acts should stay in the bedroom. ...Or at least out of the open. It's a private, intimate act anyway. It shouldn't be demonized, but it shouldn't be cheapened either, which is what the media is doing to it. And it DEFINITELY should be left out of kids' lives until they're far more ready for it. After all, if this open, obsessively lewd behavior they see currently is what "responsible adults" do, then as teens they of course feel they can be just as "responsible"! What right have we to call ourselves adults, if we can't even show discipline and responsibility for this one thing?
Posted By: sparkly @ 10/11/2008 3:55:24 PM

Comment: Miso Hawny - FilthyRichmond.com
Posted By: Queens Knight @ 10/11/2008 3:18:29 PM

Comment: I have my own theories on this and other related issues concerning society in general, not just for the kids. Are we, and generations before us, the ones responsible for these "looks", and why do have to associate high heels and fish nets with porn and prostitution. Most women will not leave the bedroom without putting on their make-up and padded bras. Most women wear high heels. I, personally, have five grand-daughters. And I would give them Bratz dolls if they wanted them. I have a room set aside in my home for the kids, and in that room is not only toys they bring from their own homes, but also toys we buy for them, which includes Bratz. In my opinion, how "the look" is viewed is how we teach our children. If we teach them that only "hookers" wear high heels, then they will relate that. If we teach them to be themselves, and the rights and wrongs of issues like prostitution, then it will be up to them as they grow to whether high heels are acceptable or not.. I also have a grand-son who asks me why parents worry about a girls virginity and not a boys. My answer to him was there should be no difference, but he is right, some parents to see it the way he discribed. Is the author of this article the same way? We always seem to see others in a negative way that maybe we shouldn't. Like these kids who fancy the gothic look. Some of these kids are descent kids, but a lot of our society can't see past what they wear and what color they paint their fingernails. Give our kids a break, buy her the Bratz, and teach her values that doesn't stereo-type a fashion or "look". And, I will add, as they grow up, kids do make mistakes.
Posted By: eggplantdog @ 10/11/2008 3:07:11 PM

Comment: No surprise form a culture that has continually moved away from God - all things move in a downward spiral when that happens. The answer is repentance from sin and turning back to God. Nothing else will solve it.
- Posted By: katchow @ 10/11/2008 5:59:40 PM
  
  Comment: Yes, because no religious cultures in history have had prostitution, sexual abuse, rape, or creation myths that vilify women.
Posted By: clarita @ 10/11/2008 2:22:20 PM

Comment: Follow the money; it's all about what sells more products. If we want to change this cultural attitude sex has to move from being dirty, rebellious, and kinky--to something natural and human, no big deal. It means letting everyone know you don't have to "buy" a perfect outward persona in order to be happy sexually, but be a comfortable, balanced human being. As a child, I felt the media telling me that fat, ugly, less than perfect people (the ugly step-sisters) would never have a partner in life: from Disney to Hefner, it's all about selling products. Somebody once left a Playboy in my mother's beauty shop and business went up so much (women asking for color, waxing, etc.) that my mother got a subscription to boost business. Women couldn't tear themselves away from the centerfolds; they wanted to know what the "competition" had to offer...then tried to copy it.
Posted By: L.D.S. @ 10/11/2008 2:15:10 PM

Comment: I'm no virgin, I have sex whenever I want, and people do NOT look at me weird
I'm one of the few who knows what's it like at this age, and no it's not that great
This is what this "pop culture" is doing to today's youth, it's giving sex so much importance that it doesn't deserve
I'm not obsessed with sex, there's nothing wrong with having sex once in a while as long as you do it with a person you love and care about, but becoming a slut and sleeping with everyone you see it's not good, however you look at it
I find true happiness, whenever I drive, I live cars and being obsessed with cars is more moral then being obsessed with sex
Posted By: L.D.S. @ 10/11/2008 1:56:01 PM

Comment: This generation has been raised in the wrong way, not 90 but 100% of the boys and 99% of the girls I know are totally obsessed with sex
Blame it on movies, blame it on dolls, whatever, it's the parents' fault
It's because of the way that parents raise their kids today. I blame the whole 'divorce theory' that today's families are adopting
If two people have kids, they shouldn't divorce, no matter the situation because that is gonna reflect too much on the kids growing up
Parents should communicate with their kids about everything
I'm 15, I'm not obsessed with sex, and neither me nor my family are religious, so all that can prevent this is a sane mind
Spoiling kids it's no good, they'll end up being whores (sorry for the profanity) and will ruin their life
The fault is on the parents who let this happen, they can prevent their kids from watching explicit content so easily, but people nowadays just don't care anymore, all they look into is "now" but no one thinks in long-term
Posted By: elevate @ 10/11/2008 1:55:43 PM

Comment: I appreciate so much the concern you have for this generation, there is no doubt that pornography is a cancer in our society all arround the world, and we may not be able to heal all peolple infected by this cancer, but through these kind of books and/or news I bet more than one soul will be touched and that's were the difference is beeing made. Thank you for taking the time in writing such helpful notes.
Posted By: J.B.G. @ 10/11/2008 12:30:18 PM

Comment: -70% of the women/girls who give birth are on some kind of public assistance. We have a culture of "no accountability". I have discussed with many females, who should be responsible for birthcontrol men or women. And most of the women I have talked to believe the man should be responsible. I can't beleive it!!!!! If I was the one that could become pregnant and end up giving birth and raising a child by myself I would be very sure that I would not "accidentally " become pregnant. The responsibility that came out of the women's libertion movement has been lost somewhere along the road. Ladies you are waisting your chances that the women before you handed down. They developed their brains and had dreams. It seems now the next generations have stopped developing their brains and are quite happy just using their "brainstems". There was once a time when the women/girls brought out what was best in a man. Now it appears the men are now bringing out the worst in women. Have some respect for yourselves. Don't let men have the last laugh. I'm not just ripping on women. I would need more room and time to rip on men.
Posted By: J.B.G. @ 10/11/2008 12:27:26 PM

Comment: -70% of the women/girls who give birth are on some kind of public assistance. We have a culture of "no accountability". I have discussed with many females, who should be responsible for birthcontrol men or women. And most of the women I have talked to believe the man should be responsible. I can't beleive it!!!!! If I was the one that could become pregnant and end up giving birth and raising a child by myself I would be very sure that I would not "accidentally " become pregnant. The responsibility that came out of the women's libertion movement has been lost somewhere along the road. Ladies you are waisting your chances that the women before you handed down. They developed their brains and had dreams. It seems now the next generations have stopped developing their brains and are quite happy just using their "brainstems". There was once a time when the women/girls brought out what was best in a man. Now it appears the men are now bringing out the worst in women. Have some respect for yourselves. Don't let men have the last laugh. I'm not just ripping on women. I would need more room and time to rip on men.
Posted By: Ntom2113 @ 10/11/2008 11:57:16 AM

Comment: this is very sad....even I as a teenager myself see this. I am sixteen and I am happy that I am not a victim of this, however I hear my friends talk about pornos and sex and other things all the time. People look at me weird because I am not like them. I just don't think sex at my age is right, Porn is a massive sin (since I am a christian) and even if I am not a strong devoted christian I do my best to atleast stick with morals and standards.
- Posted By: elevate @ 10/11/2008 2:05:13 PM
  
  Comment: Ntom2113
  Keep on doing your best in avoiding all immorality, it will only guide you to destruction, you are one of the few who's not inffected with this cancer and u don't wanna be one. People look at u weird because they don't know what you know, theres no doubt you will find TRUE HAPPINESS through your efforts!
Posted By: BunnyHerder @ 10/11/2008 11:45:42 AM

Comment: As a single parent of an almost-teenager, I figured out long ago that you have to instill your feelings about certain things at an early age and keep on repeating your views whenever the subject comes up.

I found out that my opinion meant more than all the media bombardment when she told me that she told a boy who was pursuing her that she was too young to do stupid stuff and that she had better things to do with her life. The young "man" had asked her to "make out" and maybe "experiment". She's not quite 13 and the boy is 15.

She came home last night asking to be home-schooled because she heard girls in her class talking about having sex with their stepfathers and it scared her. A while back, she came home crying because her best friend told her that the father paid the older sister to strip in front of him. OMG!!!!

Welcome to the REAL source of the scary stuff! It isn't the dolls you blame because they are only a symptom. This kind of crap was going on long before those ugly dolls came out (and, yes--they are UGLY. My daughter prefers American Girl dolls). I grew up as an Army brat and you DON'T want to know the stuff that we saw in quarters 30+ years ago!
Posted By: fuzznewtons1982 @ 10/11/2008 11:40:30 AM

Comment: It makes me so sad that the measure of a teen's worth is now put on how willing he/she is to do sexually explicit things. Not only is there pressure for sex, but now the rule is you have to be willing to do a lot more than just that. How interesting that girls who are shown pornographis images are more likely to become submissive adults. That seems to nullify one of the major reasons for the feminist movement. And to have males believe that women are only sex objects is horrendous. But, if that is what we feed our children then that is the consequence. I worked with a woman who let her five-year old daughter sing along to Fergie's "My Hump" song, in public. That was really disturbing, and to think that she is letting her young child become some sort of fantasy for child molesters makes me very upset.
Posted By: t4mm @ 10/11/2008 10:22:08 AM

Comment: i just feel bad for the girls who are going to turn 25 and wake up and realize what they've let themselves become. the real 'women' that men look at are not the fantasy images out there. a real man will be interested in a woman for her beauty but more so for her natural power. if you think you can become a woman by acting slutty, think again.
Posted By: bobblues4ever @ 10/11/2008 10:18:00 AM

Comment: There is no need for unwanted pregnancy with Plan B , the over the counter hormone pill that works up to 4-5 days after sex to prevent pregnancy. No need for abortion. This should be common knowledge.....No excuse for either abortions or pregnancy any more....
Posted By: bobblues4ever @ 10/11/2008 10:16:56 AM

Comment: There is no need for unwanted pregnancy with Plan B , the over the counter hormone pill that works up to 4-5 days after sex to prevent pregnancy. No need for abortion. This should be common knowledge.....No excuse for either abortions or pregnancy any more....
Posted By: OH SNAP power rangers @ 10/11/2008 9:40:43 AM

Comment: bratz piss me off. but they are very sexual and teens have been sluts for the longest time i saw a bunch of 9 year olds in playboy hats and shirts and mini skirts. as for teen preagnantcy. i blame that on poor sex eduation. being 15 myself everyone has pretty much told dont have sex or ull get AIDs and die the end. and that PSI bull *** about talk to ur bf/gf about doing something differnt other then sex. geez were going to do it anyways its like our mom telling us not to put our hand on the hot stove but we do it anyways and we end up burned. which is where teen pregnantcy; the after burn. i mean least they can do is teach us about condoms and so on insted of trying to scare us out of doing it.
Posted By: OH SNAP power rangers @ 10/11/2008 9:40:20 AM

Comment: bratz piss me off. but they are very sexual and teens have been sluts for the longest time i saw a bunch of 9 year olds in playboy hats and shirts and mini skirts. as for teen preagnantcy. i blame that on poor sex eduation. being 15 myself everyone has pretty much told dont have sex or ull get AIDs and die the end. and that PSI bull *** about talk to ur bf/gf about doing something differnt other then sex. geez were going to do it anyways its like our mom telling us not to put our hand on the hot stove but we do it anyways and we end up burned. which is where teen pregnantcy; the after burn. i mean least they can do is teach us about condoms and so on insted of trying to scare us out of doing it.
Posted By: wfankhauser @ 10/11/2008 9:08:18 AM

Comment: Being a 21 year old male I honestly have the hardest time telling weather a girl is 14 or 18. That scares me because statutory is no freakin' joke. And asking to see a girls ID is kind of turn off, but I guess I had ebtter cover my own ass than look like a total turd.
Posted By: wfankhauser @ 10/11/2008 9:05:44 AM

Comment: A sex crazed youth?!?!?!?! Jesus, hormones have nothing to do with that!
- Posted By: jtm236 @ 10/11/2008 1:40:57 PM
  
  Comment: All generations of teens have had hormones, I wonder what makes the most recent generation so different...
Posted By: Chococat @ 10/11/2008 8:48:14 AM

Comment: I'm so glad other people realize how these images are plaguing America's youth. Every time I see a child with a Bratz doll, I cringe at the sight of the doll's overdone makeup and skimpy clothing. What kind of influence is that supposed to have on a child? There is absolutely no positive message sent through Bratz dolls and the like, and children need to have good messages sent to them. These images in popular culture are demoralizing this generation, and the big businesses behind them seem to only care about how much money they make off of the kids who buy their products. It's a huge problem. Where can kids find role models nowadays? Certainly not in magazines or on the television. I am dedicating my life to solve this problem. When I go to college next year, I'm going to study the media's affects on children so I can create a television production company that will produce good and wholesome material for children. Thank you so much to the author of this article for making others aware of this horrible problem in society. Let's hope we can all do something to fix it.
Posted By: Chococat @ 10/11/2008 8:47:56 AM

Comment: I'm so glad other people realize how these images are plaguing America's youth. Every time I see a child with a Bratz doll, I cringe at the sight of the doll's overdone makeup and skimpy clothing. What kind of influence is that supposed to have on a child? There is absolutely no positive message sent through Bratz dolls and the like, and children need to have good messages sent to them. These images in popular culture are demoralizing this generation, and the big businesses behind them seem to only care about how much money they make off of the kids who buy their products. It's a huge problem. Where can kids find role models nowadays? Certainly not in magazines or on the television. I am dedicating my life to solve this problem. When I go to college next year, I'm going to study the media's affects on children so I can create a television production company that will produce good and wholesome material for children. Thank you so much to the author of this article for making others aware of this horrible problem in society. Let's hope we can all do something to fix it.
Posted By: TheMike @ 10/11/2008 4:18:00 AM

Comment: lol @ proverb . Just use common sense and be a critical thinker and you shall do well. And remember one more thing..... religions are dangerous.. but they do offer one good thing.... a sort of training of ethics... and you should choose which are right for you and keep those close to your heart. Ignore all the rest of idiotic stories about spaceships and magical hands impregnating women... good luck
Posted By: TheMike @ 10/11/2008 4:16:30 AM

Comment: lol @ proverb . Just use common sense and be a critical thinker and you shall do well. And remember one more thing..... religions are dangerous.. but they do offer one good thing.... a sort of training of ethics... and you should choose which are right for you and keep those close to your heart. Ignore all the rest of idiotic stories about spaceships and magical hands impregnating women... good luck
Posted By: batt @ 10/11/2008 3:56:40 AM

Comment: Appropriate is the new word, and it means what's relative. Perhaps its all OK.
Posted By: qartha @ 10/10/2008 4:29:38 AM

Comment: Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21)
Posted By: qartha @ 10/10/2008 4:24:15 AM

Comment: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law (Proverb 29:18)
Posted By: qartha @ 10/10/2008 4:22:35 AM

Comment: Thousands of years ago God warned the Israelites through Solomon, "WHEN THERE IS NO REVELATION, PEOPLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT. BUT HAPPY IS HE WHO KEEPS THE LAW" (Proverb 29:18)
Posted By: GeorgeFarahat @ 10/09/2008 10:22:55 PM

Comment: Pornography is the oldest industry in history! It was kept in control throughout history. However, in our relativist postmodern society, we lost the meaning of absolute value. No more moral values and no more Christian faith in public- pornography is one of those illnesses that grow like cancer when you forget what is an absolute moral value and the real dignity of the human person.
George
Posted By: GeorgeFarahat @ 10/09/2008 10:20:38 PM

Comment: Pornography is the oldest industry in history! It was kept in control throughout history. However, in our relativist postmodern society, we lost the meaning of absolute value. No more moral values - pornography is one of those illnesses that grow like cancer when you forget what is an absolute moral value.
George
Posted By: susanr48 @ 10/09/2008 8:55:07 PM

Comment: In response to philco and in response to the article in general - Pornography has become an accepted part of our culture. I am a secularist, and I have no problem understanding why pornography is wrong - it is plain wrong for the sex act to be viewed by other persons - and what is more wrong is the acceptance of this "viewing," not just by Hollywood, but by everyone who allows it to be beamed into his or her home on Home Box Office and the other pay channels- when we do that we are increasing the profits of the pornography industry, and saying it's okay for our large, publicly traded national corporations to be engaged in distributing and profiting from porn. There's a mainstream movie comnig out this week, advertised everywhere, in which the running gag is about making a bad porn movie - as if that's just an everyday, okay topic. No wonder our children get pregnant. The acceptance of pornography has devalued our society, and is shameful. "We" who think like this need to find a way to protest against the mainstream corporations who are shamelessly making profits from this industry and from this intrusion into our everyday language, television, toys, etc. What say you guys - how do we fight back?
- Posted By: philco @ 10/09/2008 9:12:37 PM
  
  Comment: Hi susanr48. A well drafted response. Very thoughtful. Yes, we both agree that pornography is wrong. But as a secualrist, on what basis do you make that value judgment? As a secularist what is the basis for your usage of value-loaded words like' shameful' and 'devalued'? I do not doubt one bit that you, like so many other secularists who still have a shred of decency in them remaining, that you have no trouble finding (correctly) that pornography is wrong, but WHY is it wrong? In a very ironic sense those who support and promote pornography are correct when they make appeal to 'freedom' when they attempt to justify their porn. They are merely living consistently within the secularist (non-religious) worldview. The natural conclusion of a worldview without objective morality is 'anything goes' - including pornography of all kinds. As a secularist you need to accept this. Or better yet...consider that there is a moral standard outside of you and me and bigger than both of us. With respect....
Posted By: philco @ 10/09/2008 7:15:24 PM

Comment: It is always interesting and sometimes amusing to observe how the secular mind (as opposed to a person of religious faith) attempts in vain to wrestle with the morality of porn or the permisiveness of our sex culture in general. While religious faith and the morality that it espouses are often dismissed by the secualrists as 'foolish' or 'backward' or 'repressive' or 'imaginary' (or worse!) objective moral standards do exist and they provide clear answers to navigate through the moral problems of our culture. More importantly, these moral guidelines stand the test of time. On the other hand the secular mind has fought long and hard to 'liberate' us from the so-called evil constraints of Christianity, then they wonder why our world is so screwed up. Then they have to take flying leaps of reason and stretch to explain why porn, or anything else in our world is wrong.
Posted By: foxfamily238 @ 10/09/2008 3:14:00 PM

Comment: Very well written! This article should be heralded on the FRONT PAGE of msn. Of course, msn is as liberal and left as they can get.
Posted By: sieg6529 @ 10/09/2008 10:59:29 AM

Comment: Imaginary deities aside, it is not healthy for people to consider pornographic sex as normal. I have no problems with "teh pronz", but fantasy must be kept separate from reality. Who's job is that? The parent(s). If you can't take the time to teach your kids the difference between fantasy and reality, be ready for a lot of problems.
Posted By: lizrudolph @ 10/09/2008 9:24:54 AM

Comment: First of all I thought your article was awesome!! Our children and teens are being brainwashed to think porn is normal. The innocence of a child is being changed by the perverse minds of our day. Yes- it is a parents responsibility to teach their children right from wrong. It is not the responsibility of the media to teach "sex education". I thought the comment that stated, "you can't make morals into laws" obviously does not know what he/she is talking about. A moral is a simple statement such as, "you shall not kill". Morality and laws go hand in hand.
Posted By: cheesy16 @ 10/09/2008 2:14:13 AM

Comment: Comment: Ill tell you something.. There are people here who are mocking God (the lord jesus christ). He intends sex to be wonderful and special between husband and wife.... My god does not hate sex, but he hates the perversion that man has done with it. What positive thing have you seen people having sex before marriage? Or people doing whatever the they want with their sexuality. Ill tell you...kids are hurt , only have one parent., or not having any parents... they grow up confused and living the way they want, because there parents and selfish people dont know any better. People lack GOD!!! If anyone ever read the bible they can see that god blesses sex with your partner... not with many or with the same sex.... you cant make kids with two men or two women... the fact that your here is because the relationship with a man and woman. God knew all that can happen when we take matters into our own hands. What he wants does not harm us but only helps us.... you know you can always try it, your willing to try everything else.... and if you cant its cause you want to remain being selfish and not thinking of others only yourself. Before you judge god read his word, it should not bother you... and again if it does im sorry, i pray for you that you may heal and if anyone has hurt you or let you down that you can forgive them. " If today your hear his voice, harden not your hearts" PSALM 95: 7-8
- Posted By: fareal @ 10/11/2008 4:53:20 PM
  
  Comment: Well said! It's a sad reality that our morals and values are all screwed up and it's all of our faults. We do need to repent and turn back to God so He can heal our land. We've done it our way and look where it has gotten us. All you have to do is turn on the television, radio or computer to find out.
Posted By: mstibbs @ 10/09/2008 1:41:24 AM

Comment: So people are finally getting a clue. As a modern feminist I recall how women demanded the right to expressing their sexuality openly. I cautioned, at the time that no matter the subject it would eventually permiate society and, of course, the broader it spreads the cheaper it becomes. So women's sexuality has been trashed and is now trashy.
Posted By: mstibbs @ 10/09/2008 1:36:13 AM

Comment: Well, well, well. People are finally getting a clue. This phenomenon is the outgrowth of the "sexual revolution." No matter the subject, it will permiate society eventually. As a modern feminist I recall women demanding the right to express their sexuality openly in the early '70s. Some of us cautioned at the time that overt sexuality would eventually infect all of society and result in the cheapening of same.
Posted By: Silentmajority @ 10/09/2008 1:27:07 AM

Comment: Porn is better than hypocritical MSM, such as NEWSWEEK.
Posted By: shanep @ 10/09/2008 12:38:19 AM

Comment: I know this is a tad off topic, but if moral values are supposed to degrade before the "second coming" why are all these religious people so bent out of shape? I mean what is the great battle of good vs. evil ... without the evil? Some of us are just destined for it I suppose! ;)
Posted By: shanep @ 10/09/2008 12:33:38 AM

Comment: Enter Your Comment
Posted By: wadebeck @ 10/08/2008 8:39:40 PM

Comment: Before we had our safe communities, before there were laws, knowledge of science and medicine, young children saw the worst society could offer. Unfortunately, those stories were never told, or if they were, obliterated from the record books. Sacrifices of young children were commonplace in both continents. Even the bible makes reference to this. We have much evidence of the same in central America from the not so distant past. Ancient wars, that had no "rules" as we expect these days, separated mother from child, husband from wife; plagues left children of all ages to bear witness to all kinds of sick and dying people. I could go on and on about how in many ways, kids do have it better than they ever did. But when you focus on one small problem to where it overinflates into something it shouldn't be, it is easy to lose sight of the real problems. Did kids of this generation deal with the Great Depression? Ask an old-timer how it was growing up in such conditions. Countries even in this day and age have young kids working in sweatshops, as Soldiers, living among AIDS, etc. Just keep things in perspective, that's all.
- Posted By: shanep @ 10/09/2008 12:41:00 AM
  
  Comment: Thanks for that wadebeck. I agree 100%.
Posted By: InTheMachine @ 10/08/2008 2:18:05 PM

Comment: The amount of expression is equal to the amount of repression. I agree that the media is oversexed, but the media is oversexed because sex sells, and sex will sell as long as it retains its aura of taboo and mystique. We have "hooker" dolls for young girls, but you still can't show a nipple on TV. Pret-teens are dressing provocatively, but abstinence-only education is still being pushed in schools. Corporations LOVE this dichotomy. They are making a killing off of it. Tempt with sex, then associate it with a product. Sex will continue to have a death grip on our culture until we bring it out of the shadows and into the light of day. Take a person and deny him food for a month, then associate anything you want him to do with images of delicious meals, and he will do whatever you want. Sex is just another part of life. When we are satisfied and at peace with our own sexuality, sexual marketing will have little effect on us,
Posted By: joetraderny @ 10/08/2008 12:28:23 PM

Comment: with balls"; it is near cooperstown....

women who don't want to be treated as hookers still act, dress, and behave as hookers....southern girls are much hotter so I am not really tempted, and the tight clothes just looks like a sausage in casing....anyway, somebody starving won't differentiate....southern girls while wearing less clothes because it is hot as ()^ still have more self-respect...at least back in the day......(not too far back)....whatever.....git r dun...maybe I will be single again who knows??? then I probably will be out of touch...the gross old single guy at the bar ...anyway....if mccain/palin get in, women won't have any rights and guys can just club and drag em like in mccain's times....which once again will be awesome from one perspective but not so much from another....there are pros/cons to everything....

the very SAD thing is other countries which outperform us actually have uniforms and even separate schools for girls/guys to (shock) focus on learning.....we are all a bunch of dumb inbred hicks.....nothing shocks me anymore.....not even a backwards dum *()^ running for VP with sexed up preggie teens who says even rape incest does not allow any abortion...about as backwards as you can get and yet perhaps still represents some of the electorate in this cesspool...

that the VP debate was a tie???? except for style (what???) points to the fact most people must have cotton between their ears...when moms themselves dress like hookers to get attention and most people end up getting divorced anyway....what is the whole *)^) @^%( point of anything really?????? there is none....

I used to watch nip and tuck and wish everyday I could come in have coffee and bank somebody up against the conference table while having a conversation with somebody else....I am STILL working on it......oh well......as long as it is the boss it is fine.....what a )&@ joke of a country and free market capitalist society and a democracy.....pretty soon we will get shocked if you try to do it doggy style or are "alternative"..you can impregnate as many teens as you want in "missionary" position only....
Posted By: joetraderny @ 10/08/2008 12:27:43 PM

Comment: when I go to they gym, recently, one girl had a shift saying "help me find my g spot" "c u m" something and one girl had on a thong right in front of my on the stair climber...it was awesome while also being a sad commentary, this was at a college, yesterday a guy from a frat had a shirt saying "don't be a p u s s y, GET p u s s y" on the front of his shirt in large letters..once again, awesome, but also inappropriate, and most likely unfortunately misleading....otherwise, I will join, and the girl never let me help her find her g spot either...so a bummer in both cases.....beer ads act like jessica biel will do me if I drink bud or whatever.....but the thong was nice....when I tried to rip it off with me teeth remarkably I got slapped.....one time when I commented on the fact that a girl had a hole in her shorts and I could actually see her vagina, which was true, her boyfriend wasn't amused...I am able to hold my own, I guess I am young AND out of touch apparently at the same time, because you don't have to disrespect to GET LAID, but you do have to respect yourself to GET AHEAD or so I was thought and I have never had any problem getting laid, have never worn these shirts, as a rule I don't like displaying ads for other groups except for races which I have participated in, my local brewery has a shirt "beer with balls"; it is near cooperstown....

women who don't want to be treated as hookers still act, dress, and behave as hookers....southern girls are much hotter so I am not really tempted, and the tight clothes just looks like a sausage in casing....anyway, somebody starving won't differentiate....southern girls while wearing less clothes because it is hot as ()^ still have more self-respect...at least back in the day......(not too far back)....whatever.....git r dun...maybe I will be single again who knows??? then I probably will be out of touch...the gross old single guy at the bar ...anyway....if mccain/palin get in, women won't have any rights and guys can just club and drag em like in mccain's times....which once again will be awesome from one perspective but not so much from another....there are pros/cons to everything....
Posted By: Albert M. @ 10/08/2008 11:52:07 AM

Comment: There should not be a liberal/conservative or Democrat/Republican split on this issue. I do not advocate legal restrictions - they would be found unconstitutional and even measures found legal like the "war on drugs" were ineffective.where the behavior is popular. What needs to happen is simply that the American people need to let it be known they will not tolerate this garbage from corporate America. Both those on the creative end in the advertising field (who tend to be Dems) and their big business employers (who tend to be GOP) need to know we will not buy any of their products if they promote this assualt on the self-image of the nation's children. Networks need to be told that we will avoid programs that do the same. The use of such elements as public disapproval and even "shame" is far more effective than censorship. The recent turn against smoking in public is a prime example. Again, this is not an issue that either party has a monopoly on - both have been in bed with the producers of "pedophile chic."
Posted By: ohiomamacita @ 10/08/2008 11:02:57 AM

Comment: I agree that our children are far too exposed to toys and clothes with sexual overtones. We need to preserve their innocence throughout their childhood. It is wrong when young girls are dressed as mini-hookers. At high school dances, kids are dancing in far too sexual ways and adults are just standing by and letting it happen. We become part of this problem if we stand by and do nothing.
Posted By: ohiomamacita @ 10/08/2008 10:58:27 AM

Comment: I agree with the author -- our young children are assaulted by toys and clothes that are meant to convey sexuality. Yes, sex is a healthy, normal part of life (and in my strong opinion, part of a healthy marriage), but our girls don't need to be dressed up like little prostitutes. This past week at the high school homecoming dance, kids were grinding each other instead of dancing in a fun, clean manner. This behavior is not acceptable and we as parents shouldn't tolerate it.
Posted By: rjones @ 10/08/2008 8:48:31 AM

Comment: Wow. I can't believe how many people posting here are 100% in favor of pornography! Even the parents here are making excuses why allowing their daughters to dress like whores in public is perfectly ok with them. Is this a sick society or what?
Even though I'm an Atheist, I'll still use the pharase, "God help this country" because it's obvious we can't help ourselves.
- Posted By: religion_is_a_scam @ 10/08/2008 5:50:50 PM
  
  Comment: THATS BECAUSE PARENTS ARE TOO BUSY TRYING TO GET RIICH AND LIVE THIS PHONY LIFESTYLE THAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN OVER THEIR HEADS WITH CREDIT DEBT
Posted By: wildfyre @ 10/08/2008 8:09:48 AM

Comment: I wonder if the author investigated or even cared about the root causes of "pornography itself? Unhealthy and puritanical attitudes toward sexuality are what causes the "porn culture" to be so pervasive. People have always thought and fantasized about the "forbidden." When sexual activities are treated as dark and dirty then it is natural that "upstanding" members of society will not want other people to know about their needs and fantasies. Thus pornography... Porn gives people a private outlet for urges that they cannot take part in for real for fear of ostracism or censure. However, if sexuality in a wide variety of consensual forms was treated as normal and beautiful, the need for porn would likely decrease greatly. Our society needs to get over the idea that sex is dirty. Now I'm not saying that people should be able to "go at it on the subway during rush hour", because there are societal interests in propriety. The thrust of protecting children as regards to sex should be concentrated on shielding them from sexual behaviours because they are simply not mature enough to understand them, not because the behaviour is dirty or somehow unnatural.

I don't remember who said it, but perhaps the people railing against pornography and knowledge of sexuality in general would do well to remember this quote... "Knowledge of a thing gives you power over that thing! Ignorance leaves you powerless and at it's mercy!"
Posted By: whosoever08 @ 10/08/2008 7:41:24 AM

Comment: The Apostle Paul said in so many words..." I'm free to do everything, but, everthing may not be beneficial to me."
Personally as I look around not only this country but the world at large...I see "our moral compass" pointing in the wrong direction. It has become like the GPS that tells you to turn turn left at the next intersection not knowing it is a one-way street going the wrong way or worse yet, a street with a railroad track!
Posted By: commonsensetoday @ 10/08/2008 7:27:08 AM

Comment: This is not so hard to fix in my household with children, girls and boys, from 19 to 5. We don't watch TV unless there is something very worthwhile going on. Turn off the TV. Don't bring literature into your home that contains the filth. This is not making them live in a bubble. It is making an active choice as to what you listen to and watch. Make sure your children understand who they are and where they came from. Give them a sense of self worth. Don't make yourself part of the confusing sexuality problem by how you dress, act, speak. It is okay to tell your kids "No, this is not a decent way to dress or act." It is imperative we explain to them that they are of value and not to let anyone degrade them. Yes, kids have a lot of darkness to wade through on their way to adulthood, but if they have a good, solid base they will be strong enough to do it. Now as for the parents and role models of these children.... how about looking at ourselves. If we want better for our kids than this we have to be active in showing them a better way and alternatives to filling their minds with such valueless culture. Get off the couch, away from the computer, youtube, etc., get informed and make a difference. The only thing that drives this sexual culture this is that we spend our money on it. If filth quits being supported, it will be gone.
Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 10/08/2008 5:26:08 AM

Comment: I thought the USA is a free country. Free to do anything.
Posted By: motleyhar @ 10/08/2008 4:54:55 AM

Comment: Give me a break, can we get over ourselves here? "orgy" is one word while "apple pie" is, clearly, two. Typically searching for one word yields more resul