Programmed Promiscuity

Study finds nonmarital sex a prime-time staple

America's prime-time television broadcasters favor adultery and nonmarital sex over traditional family values, according to a parents group that marshals federal indecency complaints.

Mentions of nonmarital sex outnumbered references to marital sex by nearly 3 to 1, while scenes depicting or implying nonmarital sex overwhelmed those of marital sex by nearly 4 to 1, the Parents Television Council concluded in a survey released Tuesday.

Across all of the major broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, CW, Fox and NBC — references to adultery outnumbered references to marital sex by 2 to 1, the report found. The ratio of marital sex references to sex between unmarried partners was at its highest, at nearly 4 to 1, during the "family hour" between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

source

Sex sells. But why does it have to be adulterous? Can't we have wholesome depictions of sex, preferably within the context of marriage, but at the very least a long-term, committed relationship? Does it somehow get boring if the sex isn't the result of some illicit on-the-sly rendezvous? Do we really need to add all the extra drama to keep it edgy?



[edit on 17-8-2008 by Icarus Rising]

I always say;"Be the Change that you want to happen."
Simply trying to get others to change their behaviour because you feel it goes against your own understandings of said behaviour constructs. Will never actually make those change their own behaviours at all.
If you see visual, auditory and aural information in the media around you in your current time and space that conflicts with your own understanding. Refuse then to let it keep dictating its own set of datum on your own in-built understandings and stop watching it and instead, spend some quality time with those that are with you in your life that you have a kindred association with.


[edit on 17-8-2008 by Epsillion70]

My Granny doesn't play no games. My Mom and Dad teach us kids to cooperate. My sis is about to have her baby though her hubby is unemployed and my brother is overseas.

Our lives are already hard enough. We dont need no more problems no thanks.

Acting careless and silly just makes things worse. I get real mad at the teevee because it teaches carelessness and sillyness and stupidity.

When I have my own place Im not having a teevee to tell my kids to be stupid.



sarc

I remember when I was a child (37 atm) I used to watch the brady Bunch and...turn my head when they kissed goodnight at the end of the show

and prior to that, I Love Lucy which still ran in reruns... they slept in seperate beds

Now... it's a constant bombardment of sex.

personally violence in the media gets alot of attention... I don't see violence as a threat, it might condition a person to tolerate it easier, and that's not so bad considering it happens and could be considered a coping mechanism

But where violence is concerned, acting out on something violently in a society has direct negative consequences, every kid that has ever had a fight knows this... there are negative immeadiate consequences, it takes a person who is... mentally ill and can not distinguish reality vs fantasy to be influenced to actually copy what that see on TV...and sure that happens but...not to the bulk of people...

Sex however has immeadiate pleasurable consequences and, will be acted on... I think this is a far more serious topic than violence, it ...desensitizes people and I don't think that's a very good thing.

It was ...nice to grow up free of caring about sex... in time no matter what you will drift there and a period of innocence for children should be respected... you after all never get to be a child again...

Honewstly sex is great, but it really is a major distraction from higher pursuits in life, time consuming, drama generating and... for a few decades ...just dominates so much of our lives...

so I don't understand...pushing sex at children, it was for me...good years not having those complications...



and ...

I really don't understand Viagra... I think it is a relief to at a later time in life not be so...preoccupied...and an even bigger relief for poor old ladies who surely don;t want to see on a daily basis...Grandpa all wrinkly and in the throes of rotting...coming at her with a boner...

It should be a time for...holding each other and exploring deeper pleasures in a relationship... after a few decades of constant sex... not a time of... Lubricant mixed with buirsitus creams... I mean, gosh... ack

reply to post by Epsillion70


In addition, I like to bring the issues to light and get them out in the open for discussion and greater discernment. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledgeing there is a problem to begin with.

I'm aware the situation exists, and when an opportunity like this comes up to focus some attention on it, and expose it for the detrimental influence I do believe it is, I am more than happy to oblige.

I'm not trying to be combative or judgmental, and I think the questions I posed in the opening point right at the core values and moral imperatives at stake.

Sex sells. Scientists have even come out with evidence saying that we naturally crave sex so its okay right? Kind of like its okay that we crave food so its okay to be morbidly obese? We are taught that everybody likes sex so if you don't you are abnormal.

Only freaks don't sleep around or christians. The worst stereotypes come to people who don't like sex or refuse to watch people having sex. Its sad that even in rated pg-13 movies there are breasts randomly flying and sex scenes that don't make sense. Sex is fine. Sex is natural. But sex is not everything and shouldn't be displayed like a game of chess in the media.

But what moral and value imperatives are you trying to guage from and in what context?
What type of definitive value can you place on the idea of "wholesome Sex " persa.
The point I am trying to say is that to make a gestalt idea of the concept of "Sex" being defined in a "wholesome"way in a Society as a clearly defined way.
Can be "murky" and ambiguous in itself as an idea because of one individuals perceptions of what "wholesome" is from anothers experience of it can be a great contrast and variance in itself as each idividuals experience is completely different even in the one society. Which then means the type of morals and values is at variance to.
Hence you get the issue of supposedly, "society interpreted" sane individuals inflicting violent, harmful and at times deadly physical acts upon other sane Society individuals with no self-regulation and then no thought of consequences and no compunction whatsoever.

Why are people so gung ho on marriage as defined by the state anyway? All it is doing is putting the state (not god) as the head of your household.

When you want a divorce, it isn't god you pay your $$ to is it? It isn't god who dictates who gets what, when where and how you will see your babies, who pays who what, and on and on...

Is sex more wholesome just because you have sold your love to the state for a little security? RIDICULOUS!

If you are an adult, you should be intelligent enough to define your love with another consenting adult on your terms... whatever that implies.

1. Want multiple partners? If all parties are fine with this, who are you to declare this as immoral?

2. Want to live with one person and have a family without selling the rights to set conditions of your partnership to the state? Good for you and smart move!!! Who declared this immoral? How does a piece of paper that is a contract btw the state and the couple giving the state the ultimate power over the relationship a sign that you are moral and under god's protection?

3. How is having a desire to fulfill an urge and doing so with a consenting partner in a NSA (no strings attached) kind of deal worthy of being considered wrong? TWO WORDS.....

I-T I-S-N-T! only in your mind is it wrong, but that doesn't make it wrong for anyone else.

How about this....... I think signing your love away to the state is not only wrong, but idiotic and a sign that you care more about security rather than your partner as a person who should be free to leave should he/she god forbid decide he's/she's had enough of your arse w/out having to appeal to the state to get away from you.

Marriage is a scam and the use of it to throw around your moral bs is more evil than me going to a consenting friend for a fun night of bow chica bow bow w/ no strings attached.

I'd tell you what to do with your marriage is moral agenda except that I have probably broken enough T&C Rules for the day.

So instead, the next time I am having a hot passionate night of no string attached sex, I'll be sure to make it extra immoral so I am contributing my part to giving all the moral junkies something to continue bitching about.


[edit on 19-8-2008 by justamomma]

reply to post by Epsillion70


That's just a long winded way of saying there is no overriding imperative on behavior as long as it is consensual.

We are seeing the consequences of this amorality unfold around us in society today. I'm sure this contributes to why, amongst teen girls, 25% have STDs. Record abortions, unwed mothers, foster kids. Way to go.

reply to post by justamomma


Funny how angry some people are about all the fun they're supposedly having. I'm not challenging your lifestyle, I'm challenging the portrayal in the media magnifying and glorifying sex outside of marriage. I believe sex is defined within the context of marriage, and abstinence is the healthy choice without.

reply to post by Icarus Rising


It's not even the sex outside marriage...it's the everyone sleeping with everyone that is so disgusting, not to mention unnecessary. If there's a show where there are 4 girls and 3 guys in the cast, everyone will have slept with everyone of the opposite sex by the time the series ends. For example, Friends, 90210, Melrose Place, the OC, The Hills just to name a few.

It's not the presence or absense of marriage that makes the sex depicted on tv unwholesome; it's the promiscuity, as the OP said.

OP I agree that what you described is very present in the media, and very damaging as a whole.

However on the other side of the coin there is a very strong push in our society to completely stymy man's sexual drives.

The confliction of these two very powerful outlooks is more unhealthy than either of them alone.

I wish our society could come to view sexual urges as a natural part of human biology without attatching excess moral sigma to them, and would also take into account the nuts-and-bolts realities of sex instead of portraying it simpy as an act of pleasure.

I see too many people who are trapped in the virgin-or-the-whore syndrome, and beleive that they have to either be absoluely celibate or absolutely slutty. We need to have a healthy medium.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
reply to post by Epsillion70

 

That's just a long winded way of saying there is no overriding imperative on behavior as long as it is consensual.

We are seeing the consequences of this amorality unfold around us in society today. I'm sure this contributes to why, amongst teen girls, 25% have STDs. Record abortions, unwed mothers, foster kids. Way to go.

reply to post by justamomma

 

Funny how angry some people are about all the fun they're supposedly having. I'm not challenging your lifestyle, I'm challenging the portrayal in the media magnifying and glorifying sex outside of marriage. I believe sex is defined within the context of marriage, and abstinence is the healthy choice without.

Dont get me wrong here. I am a firm believer in the understanding that sex is simply a bodily desire that in the end conflicts with the Spirit and mind as a spiritual objective to seeing a higher level of understanding and knowing.
Hence then when one desires the urge to be with another body they are simply acting on the level of bodily wants and needs and therefore disengages the Mind and spirit of their total being. This is even so for those who claim that "Sex Magic" is a spiritual act in itself.
The issue I am trying to get a across is that what we CHOOSE to watch on TV and how we Choose to view our fellow Human beings is simply a reflection of our own inner self- projected.
So one who sees the need to implament a moral high ground of true and right ethical values upon another, is simply again projecting their own insecurities upon another.
Because one who is powerful, strong and well defined in and of their own beliefs and understandings sees that there is no need to defend or protect themselves as that would contradict themselves to begin with. Because only weakness needs defence because it knows it is weak.

Originally posted by Icarus RisingFunny how angry some people are about all the fun they're supposedly having. I'm not challenging your lifestyle, I'm challenging the portrayal in the media magnifying and glorifying sex outside of marriage. I believe sex is defined within the context of marriage, and abstinence is the healthy choice without.

I wouldn't say I am angry so much as annoyed. I mean, they are catering to what the majority want and apparently you are not in the majority.

If you don't like it why not just turn it off. If they catered to the minority they would lose not only viewers, but $$ as well.

While I see your point, I am not so lofty in my views that I would expect the majority to cater to suit my views and it is that type of attitude, the moral "things should be centered to fit what I deem appropriate" that annoys me.

Don't like it, don't watch it.

[edit on 19-8-2008 by justamomma]

reply to post by Epsillion70


Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to implement anything but the opportunity to share my opinion on a subject that matters to me. I am not trying to tell anybody else what to do, I am stating my thoughts on the matter. People on this side of the Cross have a moral compass built in, so no one needs tell another what is right or wrong. I agree the Spirit is at war with the flesh in all things.

i]reply to post by justamomma


I don't watch it. I am aware of the issue, and I am exercising my right to speak out about it. I'm curious if this is really what people want to see.

You are assuming a lofty moral attitude from me. The "holier than thou" schtick. I am simply concerned about others as myself, and the effect their choices have on their futures. I don't intend to impose or pass judgment, but to offer helpful information and suggest healthy alternatives.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
reply to post by Epsillion70

 

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to implement anything but the opportunity to share my opinion on a subject that matters to me. I am not trying to tell anybody else what to do, I am stating my thoughts on the matter. People on this side of the Cross have a moral compass built in, so no one needs tell another what is right or wrong. I agree the Spirit is at war with the flesh in all things.

reply to post by Icarus Rising


Fair enough. Equal entertainment is what you are wanting then? Because there are programs that fit your guidelines, well I am assuming.. since I don't watch TV. There have been up until at least a year ago. I am betting I could find some.

I guess I am trying to understand your point. You want these things and come on.. they DO exist, so are you wanting equal amounts of programs to fit your guidelines or all programs to fit your guidelines?

Since there are at the VERY least SOME programs that fit, I guess I took it that you were upset that they didn't ALL fit your guidelines. Maybe your point could be better understood if you could expand on this. ~ Thanks

So they're trying to make you greedy and they're trying to make you horny.

How about trying to make you aggressive, envious, grasping, lazy and self-obsessed?

'TV is Shaitan's box'. An ex-adman once told me that. Before he became a Muslim fundamentalist and swathed his wife in black, he used to make TV commercials in Hong Kong and Australia.

He told me the Taliban crucified TV sets in Afghanistan. Hung them up on poles and shot then to shards with their AK-47s. He told me this with glee.

He was nuts, of course.

But - I'm an ex-adman myself, and I tell you, he's right. TV is Shaitan's box. They have the Seven Deadly Sins in there.

Mind you, the Seven Deadly Sins are everywhere.

Like you said, sex sells. But do you want the same boring sex, of the man and the woman he married ten years ago? Hell no! We want the hot 20 year olds who just can't keep their hands off eachother!

Fortunately I don't watch much TV anyway.

Originally posted by sarcastic

My Granny doesn't play no games. My Mom and Dad teach us kids to cooperate. My sis is about to have her baby though her hubby is unemployed and my brother is overseas.

Our lives are already hard enough. We dont need no more problems no thanks.

Acting careless and silly just makes things worse. I get real mad at the teevee because it teaches carelessness and sillyness and stupidity.

When I have my own place Im not having a teevee to tell my kids to be stupid.



sarc

the tv does not teach anything, it is there to get eyeballs on the commercials to sell you a product. the programming is what it is so a viewer will stay on the one channel long enough to see the commercials. the T.V. is a business, and if you educate your children young enough about this fact as i did with mine, they will watch with a well-informed grasp of the truth. all children should be taught how they are being marketed to in every line of communication and the motives behind it.

reply to post by justamomma


There were several things about the article that stood out to me. The overall ratio of references to sex was overwhelmingly skewed to nonmarital. In addition,

The ratio of marital sex references to sex between unmarried partners was at its highest, at nearly 4 to 1, during the "family hour" between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

In instances where sex between married couples is discussed or depicted, it is almost always in a negative light, according to the study.

the ratio was highest during "family hour", and marital sex was cast in a negative light.

I'm not upset, I'm concerned about the message imparted and portrayed by these depictions of or references to sexual activity. Do our viewing habits shape, or reflect, or both shape and reflect, our preferences? Are these preference portrayals purposeful, and if so, what motivates the perpetrators? Outside of greed, is there some control mechanism in play, is there a distraction from more pressing issues going on via libido stimulation? Are they trying to cause problems in people's lives by enouraging promiscuity, risky behavior, adultery, and fornication?

reply to post by Johnmike


Though amusing, your comment gets right to the heart of the matter. What is the source of this preference? Is it media driven? Where is it written that a woman becomes boring and undesirable once she becomes your wife? The same goes for husbands. How does a genius who can do no wrong suddenly become a lazy retard? He gets married!

I believe these stereotypes are destructive, if not deliberate.


[edit on 21-8-2008 by Icarus Rising]