T O P I C R E V I E W
LilBlueSmurf
Member # 1207
posted 08-11-2001 05:38 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-08-01/New_York_Now/Movies/a-120230.asp Okie what i'm getting from this is that it's okay for the MPAA to allow "kids" to see sex on TV (well sort of ... body parts are missing, but it's obvious), but it's not okay for them to run ads for condoms ... which are really an essential part of safer sex. So the message they're sending is that it's okay for us to know about sex, but whatever you do, don't let us do it safely ... *scratches head*
Any thoughts?
--------------------Hollie West *~Scarleteen Advocate~*
I have this nagging fear that everyone is out to make me paranoid. ~ Anonymous
Beppie
Member # 94
posted 08-11-2001 06:07 PM
That certainly sounds highly irresponsible to me. I think that a large part of the reason that a lot of kids are lax with latex is because they get a message from the media that it's not necessary. Even though they don't say it overtly, the sex that you see on TV and in movies is often disturbingly condom-free.
DC_WillowFan
Member # 631
posted 08-13-2001 04:44 PM
that sounds as typical tv.Well, I must say that I have rarely seen any condoms in movies where sex was present. Although, American Pie had some scenes with comdons. Even in porn movies I've seen condoms, but for most I must agree that they show us sex without the most important aspect: safety. They might show pregnancy safety but none for STD/STI.
guess there's some work to do in that field...
David
------------------ - I hope I shall be able to confide in you completely, as I have never been able to do in anyone before, and I hope that you will be a great support and comfort to me.
Anne Frank to her journal (1929-1945)
Dzuunmod
Member # 226
posted 08-14-2001 07:54 AM
If you wanna see jaw-dropping dangerous activity, watch Queer as Folk. I watch the American version which is on Showtime in the U.S. and Showcase here in Canada.Every show features, oh, I would guess at least four sex scenes, and I can only recall one where condoms were mentioned. Also, drug use is rampant, with the characters on the episode that aired here last night drinking in a car speeding down the highway, and the driver smoking a joint during a little pit stop.
------------------ "...we're all thinking the same thing/let's not settle for satisfaction/we are women and men of action/let's stop clapping let's start doing/a dream for the teens and in-betweens and twenties yet unseen" -Braid
blackbird
Member # 4159
posted 08-15-2001 01:24 PM
American Pie 2, the subject movie of the article is rated R which means that children under 17 are not supposed to be seeing it without adult supervision.As for sex scenes on tv, I feel like those people still seem to think that children can't figure it out. I remember seeing scences like that as a child and we couldn't figure out what was going in it really, so that censoring did it's job. Along with the disregard of a lot of people to talk about sex education (as per another thread), condoms fall into that also where it seems like some people just don't want to talk about it. I tend to be a bit open talking about sex, but that's because I understand that the majority of the human race does it, even if purely for survival..so why try to hide it?
------------------ "I can't die. Something tells me the people of earth are going to need me." --Rueben
blackbird's blog
[This message has been edited by blackbird (edited 08-15-2001).]
LilBlueSmurf
Member # 1207
posted 08-15-2001 01:30 PM
I'm not sure, but I don't think it's rated R here.
Etch
Member # 182
posted 08-15-2001 05:22 PM
American Pie is R rated... i know cuz my bro had to sneak in when he was 16, and there was way too much nudity for pg-13.I think one of the reasons that TV and movies dont like to show the use of condoms is because it disrupts the love scene. When you watch soap operas you always see the two people involved just flowing into sex. Condoms arent "romantic" and so they arent shown. I know soaps arent aimed at kids but i know when i was young i would come home and watch them with mom, or just on my own. And when my bro got hurt and had to stay home he watched about 4 hours of soaps a day at age 9.
I have actually seen more safety used in porno films (prolly because they actually are having sex) then i have in anything else. The scary thing is that the first time i watched a porno flick as a kid i had to keep rewinding cuz i had no clue what is was on the guy but I eventually figured it out.
And the way that the media does treat safer sex is as a joke. The guy always has problems getting the condom on (or out of the wrapper) or they are using them as baloons or whatever. Its sad
Pixie69
Member # 406
posted 08-15-2001 11:34 PM
That drives me crazy. Whenever I see a movie/read a book that makes it clear they're having safe sex, I'll write a letter to whoever saying how much I appreciate that and I hope that they continue to do that in their movies/books. I think it really is important to show things like that. Back in the day when I watched Passions (it's a soap, I admit), this girl was trying to seduce this guy wih magic pretending to be his girlfriend...and the guy disapears for like 5 minutes and comes back saying he wants safe sex and blah blah blah because he wasn't ready to bring a child into the world. It was cool that he said that, however, he must have had the condoms in a safe deposit box or something ------------------ Brittany Scarleteen Advocate
This person is a natural product. The slight variations in color and texture enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.
blackbird
Member # 4159
posted 08-15-2001 11:49 PM
Etch..the use of condoms in porn flicks is definitely on the rise. A lot of it has to do with the increase awareness of STD breakouts. I saw this documentary on porn stars quite some time ago and it was rather alarming at how many of the porn stars they interviewed turned out having AIDS or any other STD. With that line of work, they didn't even know who had given it to them or how many people they had infected. One girl in particular was going off the entire episode about how much she loved doing porn until the very last segment where they brought up STDs and she burst into tears because she had tested positive for HIV, again, not knowing where she had gotten it from. But it's very good that more porn companies are starting to enforce the use of condoms in their films, even if it is more for the safety of their employees. ------------------ "I can't die. Something tells me the people of earth are going to need me." --Rueben
blackbird's blog
Milke
Member # 961
posted 08-16-2001 08:56 AM
http://www.rockymusic.org/archive/wav/gory-bedroom.wav And http://www.rockymusic.org/archive/RHS/euro-condom.jpg From http://www.rockymusic.org It's instantly made clear that the incidents portrayed here are sexual, if just by the condom use, proving that they could be a really effective media tool if used right. And if it means anything, these are from a production of the Rocky Horror Show that's ten years old . If they could get with the times then, why can't everyone else now?
Dzuunmod
Member # 226
posted 08-16-2001 09:14 AM
You're right Smurf, here in Montreal, American Pie 2 has a 13+ rating.
KittenGoddess
Member # 1679
posted 08-16-2001 06:27 PM
I do think it's sad that on tv and in the movies nobody really talks about it. But then it's also interesting how fast, and with how little discussion everybody just jumps into bed with everybody else. Like somehow sex is so much more important than everything else in life. And mostly forget about safer sex, why in the world would you want to do that?It would be really cool if the media would start taking up the safer sex banner if they're going to try selling sex to everyone. I mean, everybody knows what a condom is, but nobody's ever heard of a dental dam. And if all of a sudden the term "dental dam" started being used on tv, then at least it would get the word out.
~KittenGoddess
------------------"Not everything in this magical world is quite what it seems"
"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together!"
Bobolink
Member # 1386
posted 08-16-2001 08:17 PM
A few years ago, you would seldom see a film or television actor buckle up a car seat belt. Then the car safety people got on Hollywood's back and now almost every actor practices "safe car". Perhaps a little pressure on the entertainment industry for safe sex would be in order.------------------ We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
- Albert Einstein
Phizzin
Member # 5248
posted 09-10-2001 04:30 PM
If you have ever watched the MTV "drama" called Undressed, you would notice that condoms are mentioned EVERY time they initiate a sexual scene.And I think that's extremely important..
------------------PhiZZin Note to self: Do not do a politician under any circumstances. Ever.
KittenGoddess
Member # 1679
posted 09-10-2001 04:54 PM
I've seen Undressed before, and while they do mention condoms, I don't know that I'd really get all my safer sex advice from there. They never mention the need to be careful during dry sex...it seems like everybody on there just goes at it wearing nothing but their underwear and doesn't seem to notice the need for a few more layers. I don't remember them talking specifically about using condoms for oral sex (although it's been a while since I've seen the show, so I could be off the mark on that one), and I know I've never heard them mention a dental dam, or anything about performing oral sex safely on a woman...I guess that overall I felt like they kinda did a half-way job with that...which is practically as dangerous as not talking about it at all. It brings up issues but doesn't follow through the entire way. I'm afraid this might lead teens who are just using condoms for intercourse for the most part to think they're really safe.
~KittenGoddess
------------------"Not everything in this magical world is quite what it seems"
"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together!"
[This message has been edited by KittenGoddess (edited 09-10-2001).]
Eclipse
Member # 2254
posted 09-10-2001 07:15 PM
In one of my psychology classes last year we talked about a soap opera that was specifically designed around safer sex. It was in Spanish, I believe it was aired in Mexico and ran for 9 months, but I don't remember the name. I think it was partially funded *as* a public service, and it was concurrent with a research project (that demonstrated that it was, in fact, *very* effective).I'm not sure about the name of the show or the researchers though. Anyone else heard of this?
Daisyluv
Member # 446
posted 09-15-2001 11:39 PM
I'm one of the members of the trashy novels fan club and right now the one i'm reading has scenes where they talk about and use condoms. That totally shocked me and i think its great. ------------------ (\_/) (='.'=) (")_(") Daisy
Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Lee
Member # 381
posted 09-18-2001 02:42 AM
My main thought is that it shouldn't matter. If someone needs to see a condom on TV to know what one is and when and how it should be used then they're pretty pathetic. Sex education is a personal responsibility. It is up to each of us to make sure we find out the facts. Waiting for someone else to come along and spoon feed us, whether it be our parents, our teachers, or especially TV commericals, is utterly irresponsible. That being said I think it is just as irresponsible for condom commercials to be banned. To encourage ignorance is a crime. To deny someone information based on the false claim that they cannot use that information responsibly is also a crime. The good thing is, no one can do this to you without your consent.
Lee
sapphirecat
Member # 5317
posted 09-18-2001 08:16 AM
quote: Originally posted by Lee:My main thought is that it shouldn't matter. If someone needs to see a condom on TV to know what one is and when and how it should be used then they're pretty pathetic. Sex education is a personal responsibility. It is up to each of us to make sure we find out the facts. Waiting for someone else to come along and spoon feed us, whether it be our parents, our teachers, or especially TV commericals, is utterly irresponsible. That being said I think it is just as irresponsible for condom commercials to be banned. To encourage ignorance is a crime. To deny someone information based on the false claim that they cannot use that information responsibly is also a crime. The good thing is, no one can do this to you without your consent.
Lee
I'd have to disagree. Go to your local Quality Markets or Wal*Mart or whatever, and take a good look at the magazine rack. You will find plenty of magazines just dripping with sex--check out this month's In Style or Cosmopolitan. Whether you purchase the magazine or not, those messages are still there, month after month. Pick one; open it up. Notice how many ads look more like they're advertising pornography if you cover up the product name.
I don't have TV, so I can't speak for that. However, if one is constantly surrounded by a message, one tends to pick it up whether one wants to or is aware of it or not. How many children in an abusive family come to think that hitting people is an expression of love?
Also, given that parents are legally responsible for their children, I believe that the parents have some responsibility to inform their child that the media are basically on crack when it comes to realism. I don't believe sex education is the sole responsibility of the child, just as education in general (and especially about moral issues) is not the sole responsibility of the child.
------------------ -- Sapphire Cat
Condense soup, not books!
Lee
Member # 381
posted 09-21-2001 02:36 PM
The main question here is, are you responsible for yourself or are the media, movies, newspapers, your parents, your teachers, etc. responsible for you? Since you're clearly not an infant the correct answer is that you're responsible for yourself whether you like it or not.Lee
sapphirecat
Member # 5317
posted 09-21-2001 10:50 PM
quote: Originally posted by Lee:The main question here is, are you responsible for yourself or are the media, movies, newspapers, your parents, your teachers, etc. responsible for you? An infant does not become an adult at the beginning of childhood. IMO, until a certain point of maturity (which is not defined by age), the child needs to be nurtured--preferably by parents and teachers, who at least care about the child's welfare. The media are just trying to sell things. Let's also look at a reduction to absurdity: surely you aren't proposing that all children be cast into the streets as responsible for themselves.
------------------ -- Sapphire Cat
Condense soup, not books!
I don't use the term "straight". It implies its opposite is "crooked".
Lee
Member # 381
posted 09-25-2001 10:53 PM
Holding someone responsible for themself isn't the same thing as casting them into the street. I at least would like to think that this nurturing you speak of would involve teaching someone to be responsible for themself instead of relying on other people to tell them what to do or what they need to know. Ignorance of important facts that exists because someone does not take the time and effort to educate themself is nothing short of incompetence. Nurturing should be that which helps to create competence, but even where such nurturing is lacking it is ultimately the responsibility of each of us to shape ourselves and sucessfully navigate the perils of life.