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Subject: Sex on Television
I saw an article yesterday that sex on TV programming increased yet again. Today was a column in our local paper with some good info found in the study that didn't make the buz headlines.
Is there to much sex on TV? And is it being protrayed more responcibly?
More sex on TV but it's treated more responsibly, study finds
By MELANIE McFARLAND
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER TELEVISION CRITIC
In TV land, sometimes men and women express their feelings for one another in that, you know, special way.
The post-Super Bowl episode of ABC's "Alias" is a good example. When Sydney was assigned to snuggle up to a bad guy, she got the job done by slinking into the room in a couple of bra and panty sets. Next to a recent episode of Fox's "Fastlane," that's nothing. There, a cop's undercover work required her to lock lips with a girl in a hot tub.
All in a day's work, all in a night or two's viewing. Both occurring right around the time families finished nibbling their last bites of dinner. Yes, it is annoying, particularly to parents whose concerns about TV's ever-increasing fascination with the nasty during the family viewing hour have been met with more sex scenes.
While a Kaiser Family Foundation study titled "Sex on TV 3: Content and Context," released this week, justified those complaints, it also distinguished between gratuitous titillation illustrated in the examples above and responsible treatments of sex.
During the 2001-2002 television season, Kaiser's researchers surveyed a random sample of more than 1,100 shows culled from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and KTLA, the WB affiliate in Los Angeles, as well as cable channels Lifetime, TNT, USA and HBO. Soaps, newsmagazines, reality shows, movies, sitcoms and dramas were all part of the mix.
The biennial study found that two-thirds of all shows include some sexual content, and intercourse was either depicted or implied in 14 percent of shows, an increase from 10 percent four years ago. Among the top-20 shows popular with teenagers, sex was broached in eight out of 10 episodes, and one in five alluded to, or depicted, sex scenes.
But with the increased presence of sex on television comes responsible treatment of the topic. One in four shows containing intercourse-related content balanced it with a safer sex message, which is nearly double the rate found four years ago.
"I really do think that makes a difference in helping to normalize safer sex and better decision making," said Vicky Rideout, a Kaiser Family Foundation executive who oversaw the study. "I do think it is an interesting time for young people trying to make sane decisions about their personal life, because the risks of sex have never been greater."
From a producer's perspective, though, the risk is that being responsible will result in a wrong turn into preachy, "very special episode" territory, the classic viewer turnoff.
Writers are becoming more skilled at weaving these messages into plot lines with tricks such as having characters mention condoms, or at the very least including a glimpse of the wrapper in a scene. On the other end of the spectrum, a character's sexual escapades and mistakes can become a major turning in the plot.
Incorporating safe-sex messages may be simple on shows such as NBC's "ER," where the consequences of risky sex have been mined frequently over the years. (The study cited an episode in which Dr. Carter breaks it to a patient that he's contracted HIV.) But on shows that get viewers used to sex as a comedic fling as opposed to a serious decision, having a character materialize a sobering statistic out of nowhere can ruin the flow.
On "Fastlane," one would not expect to see Billie pause mid-forbidden smooch to give a lecture about dental dams. However, on a melodramatic show such as "Boston Public," a little hand-wringing from a student facing an unplanned pregnancy fits right in.
Where shows involved teen characters, a third included references to safe sex. And 45 percent of favorite programming among teens included some safer-sex content, along with references to sex. That included characters discussing abstinence, condom usage, the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy.
This news may be somewhat reassuring for parents worrying about what information they'll pick up from such a powerful influence as TV. But you must remember, sex on TV is not going to decrease between now and the next study. If anything, the offerings on the current landscape are a pretty good indication that it will rise. Do not expect prime-time television to adjust to your demands. Adjust your television set instead.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I thought this would be funny here ;) Since the Onion is part of the "media"...
Mommy Having Sleepover
GALESBURG, IL—Five days after Daddy's disappearance, Mommy hosted "Uncle" Rick at a sleepover, 5-year-old Hannah Dalton reported Monday. "They drank a lot of that special soda for grownups, and they watched movies," Hannah said. "And later, they must have told ghost stories, because I heard them both moaning and screaming." The morning after the sleepover, a departing Rick permitted Hannah to eat as much Count Chocula as she wanted, as long as she did not wake Mommy.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I love the Onion, just the headlines are enought to make me snort. ;D
Quoting:
I thought this would be funny here ;) Since the Onion is part of the "media"...
Mommy Having Sleepover
GALESBURG, IL—Five days after Daddy's disappearance, Mommy hosted "Uncle" Rick at a sleepover, 5-year-old Hannah Dalton reported Monday. "They drank a lot of that special soda for grownups, and they watched movies," Hannah said. "And later, they must have told ghost stories, because I heard them both moaning and screaming." The morning after the sleepover, a departing Rick permitted Hannah to eat as much Count Chocula as she wanted, as long as she did not wake Mommy.
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Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
I thought this would be funny here ;)
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This is not the place to post funny things. Amiright, moderators?
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
This is not the place to post funny things. Amiright, moderators?
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God I'm such an idiot. Why did I even post this? I should probably think before doing dumb stuff like this from now on.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
God I'm such an idiot. Why did I even post this? I should probably think before doing dumb stuff like this from now on.
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To the fake X: In case you don't know it, our IPs are logged. I bet you have a different IP than I do.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I'm not a moderator but I think that this board is removed from all humor or attempts at humor. No laughing allowed from this section of the board up. >:(
Ha Ha! Jus' jokin'! ;D
Immitation X is a JERK! >:(
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
What, no humor?
But this thread is about sex and my post was about sex...how can that be wrong? ???
And you can argue that my little post was a sex situation in a sitcom setting ;)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
Yeap, the one X has a different one.
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It's true, but I still thought it was funny ;D Good job, "Fake X"...I love a guest with a sense of humor ;D
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Does X mark the spot? ;)
Cat
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
To the fake X: In case you don't know it, our IPs are logged. I bet you have a different IP than I do.End Quote
The one X is a different poster.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
This is not the place to post funny things. Amiright, moderators?End Quote
Absolutely. ;D
P.S. Funny things can be posted as long as the Forum Guidelines are followed. ;)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Oh, by the way, it is possible to use proxies. Each proxy will have a different IP. Doing this, you can post under several names. You just have to remember which name goes with which proxy.
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
Oh, by the way, it is possible to use proxies. Each proxy will have a different IP. Doing this, you can post under several names. You just have to remember which name goes with which proxy.End Quote
Not entirely effective, sorry to say. ;D Oops! I... mean :-[
;)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I'm sorry to butt in, but is this thread about sex in general, sex on TV, sex in the media, or X being a buttpirate? ::)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
I'm sorry to butt in, but is this thread about sex in general, sex on TV, sex in the media, or X being a buttpirate? ::)
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Relax, RC. We have up to 20 pages we can use up! ;D
Ok, X. No more off topic posting - deal? :)
I think there's too much darn sex on regular TV. It should be limited to the few channels on cable and that's it. If you had no sex on TV regularly, you wouldn't have to worry about giving positive messages about contraception or any messages at all in reference to the subject. The subject wouldn't be an issue thrown in teen's faces everyday and night. I can see how it can be frustrating to a prepubescent mind and to parents who don't want to worry about what their children catch a glimpse of on TV as they change the channels.
That's my opinion. :)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Here is my 2 pennies on this subject.
I think there is to much sex on TV and I am shocked at times with what I see and hear. I'm a pretty socially liberal guy, under 40 no children, no religion to shape my values so no good reason to stand on a soapbox and start preaching other than I'm offended more by the stupidity of programming than anything else.
I believe the main reason is the poor quality of the programs, the lesser the intelligense factor the bigger the sex factor.
My favorite programs are West Wing, CSI, Law & Order, news, and Discovery type programming. TV is commonly used as an escapism tool and I guess I like to escape into a smart(er) world and not into someone elses embarassing, or promiscous life. No need for me to complain any further, I do just elect not to watch it and there's enough smart stuff out there to keep me satisfied, if nothing on for me to watch I hang out hear with you bunch of sharpies. :)
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
It's true, but I still thought it was funny ;D Good job, "Fake X"...I love a guest with a sense of humor ;D
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"Fake X" is my hero :) Much better than that other X :D
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Quoting:
Here is my 2 pennies on this subject.
I think there is to much sex on TV and I am shocked at times with what I see and hear. I'm a pretty socially liberal guy, under 40 no children, no religion to shape my values so no good reason to stand on a soapbox and start preaching other than I'm offended more by the stupidity of programming than anything else.
I believe the main reason is the poor quality of the programs, the lesser the intelligense factor the bigger the sex factor.
My favorite programs are West Wing, CSI, Law & Order, news, and Discovery type programming. TV is commonly used as an escapism tool and I guess I like to escape into a smart(er) world and not into someone elses embarassing, or promiscous life. No need for me to complain any further, I do just elect not to watch it and there's enough smart stuff out there to keep me satisfied, if nothing on for me to watch I hang out hear with you bunch of sharpies. :)
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Sometime in July 2002 I got rid of my cable box. There was never anything on the premium movie channels that I was interested in seeing, and I got sick and tired of spending $70/month to flip through a few hundred channels, only to find there's nothing on.
On the sex thing... I've spoken about this before in other threads. There's just too much of it...period. One of the motivating incidents which prompted me to get rid of my TV was cinemax. One Friday evening I was watching forest gump and fell asleep on the couch. When I awoke, I saw images which should be reserved for my wife and myself. It was hard core porn. Just no close ups on the peneration part. What kind of sick, twisted, demento airs porn after something as innocent as forest gump?
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I think there is a lot of sex on television especially cable with shows like:
-Queer as Folk
-Red Shoe Diaries
-Kama Sutra
-Lustful Temptations
and these shows come on at late night between 1 and 2 in the morning but from when I used to watch em,they are not hardcore,they're basically softcore porn but without the penetrationing!
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Too much sex on TV? Yes, for the following reasons:
1. It's uncomfortable, and very easy to fall off
2. A serious risk of electrocution if you don't turn it off (or even leave it on 'Standby')
3. You crick your neck if you're trying to watch what's on at the same time
'nuff said?
Phil
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I would rather see too much sex than too much violence.
Cat
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
I find a woman being brutally murdered on television very disturbing. Some examples are the now cancelled "Vengence ,Inc." where the blonde woman being choked and pushed into a copy machine by villian Gregg Henry, and most recently, "Alias", where the final scene shows a black woman killed with the famous death stare. It made me NOT want to tune in to Alias again.
BTW, the majority of murder victim on TV dramas are female, usually scantily clad in compromising positions. >:(
Subject: Re: Sex on Television
Violence is worse but as Indy pointed out, it's often mixed.
I think much of the sex that is portrayed on TV isn't healthy, honest sex how most of us deal with it. Mucht of it is to much silicone and shallowness, violence and vanity.
Quoting:
I would rather see too much sex than too much violence.
Cat
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