Random Thoughts — Page 333

 in SilverWook said:

darth_ender said:

Why does our society glorify sex?  Further, why is the abuse of women so popular that Hollywood has to release a BDSM pornographic movie and rate it only R?

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifty_shades_of_grey/

Funny, I thought our society glorified violence, as it's gets more of a pass from the MPAA than sex usually does. Blow people away all you want, but if you show just one penis, it's NC-17 for you! ;)

I thought the fanbase for the book was mostly women? Go fig.

 Exactly right on both counts.

A person's taste doesn't make them self hating.  What a load of garbage.  That's like saying people who like death metal are in favor of murder.

I think I didn't made my point clear.

I didn't say this is always the case but as I understood it the reason people complain about violence being onscreen when sex is not is that they think that it does say something about us that we like the violence. 

What we like is determine by something inside of us or our personality can be changed by what we watch or read.  At least that is what I pick up on when people get morally outraged by violence and say that it should be replaced with sex because sex isn't bad.  I may have misunderstood but the only reason to get mad about the content of a book or film is if you think it either says something about us as a people or you are afraid it will have an impact on the people who read or watch it and change them in some way.

Now under that logic I am just saying that in general then if you think something is anti-woman, anti-black,anti-jew, or ant- whatever. Then find a few people from that group that likes it doesn't disprove the point that the work does have that world view.  All it proves is that a few people in that group either hate themselves or they like the work so much they have overlooked the over all message of the piece.

Again I can't say if that is the case here but I think in general the point still stands.

No if what we watch and read says nothing about who we are on the inside and it doesn't change who we are then I don't see any reason in general to be any more upset by violence then sex since they are both works of fiction.  If Fifty shades of grey doesn't tell us anything thing about the woman who read it and it isn't worth getting upset over then I don't think Dredd or The Lord of the Rings says anything about the people who read or watch them and they are not worth getting upset over either.

Again this is just a general point of logic I was making.

I think in reality no matter how logical and unemotional we claim to be we all have our buttons for things we don't like seeing in movies because we don't approve of them and so we assume the worst about the people who like them.  For some people that is sex, for others it is violence, and in my case it is Micheal Bay.  The point is that it is human nature to see the stuff we like as being okay while seeing the stuff we personally don't like as being garbage that should be banned or get a higher rating from the MPAA.

Again I am not judging anyone I am just trying to make a general point about human nature as I see it, that is all.

Sorry if this upset anyone.

Leonardo said:

I used to think the German and Jamaican accents were identical.

You might be tone deaf.

Notice I said used to. Besides, I was barely out of my single digit years at the time and I'd never been exposed to the accents before; I think I can be cut some slack for obliviousness. 

TV's Frink said:

 in SilverWook said:

darth_ender said:

Why does our society glorify sex?  Further, why is the abuse of women so popular that Hollywood has to release a BDSM pornographic movie and rate it only R?

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifty_shades_of_grey/

Funny, I thought our society glorified violence, as it's gets more of a pass from the MPAA than sex usually does. Blow people away all you want, but if you show just one penis, it's NC-17 for you! ;)

I thought the fanbase for the book was mostly women? Go fig.

 Exactly right on both counts.

 Our society does glorify violence as well, and that bugs me too.  How many people are inspired to do evil things because of movies and books?  Probably more than we care to admit.

But this book has been looked at as endorsing violence on women by many.  Yes, the fanbase is largely female, but that doesn't make the content any more to their advantage.

Our society has replaced love with lust, and the numerous problems that have followed are simply shrugged off as just part of the times we live in.  It couldn't possibly be because of the influence of some trashy novel or movie, just like kids never commit suicide because Marilyn Manson screamed something about it on a CD.

Who knew ender was Tipper Gore?

TV's Frink said:

 in SilverWook said:

darth_ender said:

Why does our society glorify sex?  Further, why is the abuse of women so popular that Hollywood has to release a BDSM pornographic movie and rate it only R?

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifty_shades_of_grey/

Funny, I thought our society glorified violence, as it's gets more of a pass from the MPAA than sex usually does. Blow people away all you want, but if you show just one penis, it's NC-17 for you! ;)

I thought the fanbase for the book was mostly women? Go fig.

 Exactly right on both counts.

 Yep.

People who are into BSDM stuff do so with the explicit understanding between those involved that everything that happens must be on an entirely consensual basis.  This consent may be revoked at any time if unwanted discomfort, whether mental or physical, intrudes upon the proceedings.

Further, by having the right to grant and take away consent, the submissive party is actually more 'in control' than the dominant.

Having recently taken in a rather energetic stray cat, I ultimately see it as being not very different from playing with the use of catnip toys and such.  Though their inherent cuteness makes it easy to forget the fact, cats in reality are vicious predators who have a strong instinct to tear apart and eat small animals.  Playing with them allows them to channel their inherent aggression into a non-destructive form, and helps to prevent their unfulfilled desires from turning into what we would deem to be 'bad behaviors', such as scratching and biting of humans.

If you'll follow the analogy, human sexual desire is really not at all different. The behavioral problems that result from prolonged repression of instinct may ultimately turn into real violence towards women if allowed to go unchecked.  People who are into BDSM are frequently misunderstood due to the outwardly aggressive nature in which they express themselves, but if approached from the proper perspective of consent, their form of 'play' is ultimately more healthy than that of many who would presume to judge them.

hairy_hen said:

People who are into BSDM stuff do so with the explicit understanding between those involved that everything that happens must be on an entirely consensual basis.  This consent may be revoked at any time if unwanted discomfort, whether mental or physical, intrudes upon the proceedings.

Further, by having the right to grant and take away consent, the submissive party is actually more 'in control' than the dominant.

Having recently taken in a rather energetic stray cat, I ultimately see it as being not very different from playing with the use of catnip toys and such.  Though their inherent cuteness makes it easy to forget the fact, cats in reality are vicious predators who have a strong instinct to tear apart and eat small animals.  Playing with them allows them to channel their inherent aggression into a non-destructive form, and helps to prevent their unfulfilled desires from turning into what we would deem to be 'bad behaviors', such as scratching and biting of humans.

If you'll follow the analogy, human sexual desire is really not at all different. The behavioral problems that result from prolonged repression of instinct may ultimately turn into real violence towards women if allowed to go unchecked.  People who are into BDSM are frequently misunderstood due to the outwardly aggressive nature in which they express themselves, but if approached from the proper perspective of consent, their form of 'play' is ultimately more healthy than that of many who would presume to judge them.

 Your mom taught you some interesting stuff.  

(She teaches me interesting stuff too)

"My mom's a saint!  Go chug some dick!"  :p

. . .

Okay, now that I'm done channeling Stifler in American Pie 2, I'll just say it was a conclusion I came to all on my own, and have never had any reason to talk about in real life.  lol  It's actually something I find a bit alarming myself, not being into pain and all, but I'll stick up for other people's right to express themselves in a way that feels right for them, when some would seek to label them as if they were unhealthy.  The need of empathy towards others to understand where they are coming from is clear in such matters.

It was actually the movie Secretary that first got me thinking about such things.

I refuse to believe that tentacle porn really exists, and am not willing to look at any evidence saying otherwise.  

I am pretty sure someone is getting fired for this.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/911-operator-to-teen-as-dad-lay-dying-stop-whining/ar-AA915NJ?ocid=ansnewsap11

While we're all discussing sex and the exploration/denial thereof, I'd just like to say that I'd probably be more comfortable with my sexuality and my sexual desires would probably be more normal had my parents not instilled in me the notion that sex -- outside of marriage, in positions other than the missionary position, for reasons other than procreation -- was wrong and sinful.

In other words: Teaching your kids to repress themselves sexually will turn them into perverts.

Duracell, is that Jeffrey Combs in your avatar?

Leonardo said:

darth_ender said:

TV's Frink said:

 in SilverWook said:

darth_ender said:

Why does our society glorify sex?  Further, why is the abuse of women so popular that Hollywood has to release a BDSM pornographic movie and rate it only R?

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fifty_shades_of_grey/

Funny, I thought our society glorified violence, as it's gets more of a pass from the MPAA than sex usually does. Blow people away all you want, but if you show just one penis, it's NC-17 for you! ;)

I thought the fanbase for the book was mostly women? Go fig.

 Exactly right on both counts.

 Our society does glorify violence as well, and that bugs me too.  How many people are inspired to do evil things because of movies and books?  Probably more than we care to admit.

One would argue, most of those people, if not all of them, are mentally ill. I think Catcher in the Rhye and a Bazooka Joe comic would have the same effect on some of them.

It couldn't possibly be because of the influence of some trashy novel or movie, just like kids never commit suicide because Marilyn Manson screamed something about it on a CD.

 I refer you to my above statement. Marilyn Manson is just an entertainer, no more of an act than Frank Sinatra. At least Manson's violence is an act, with Sinatra there are rumors of ties with people of a certain ilk. The fact that Manson's image is controversial is one thing, the fact that it "inspires" braindead people to kill, tells me there's a problem with them more than with the artist.

 One could argue that anyone who murders is mentally ill.

But while I avoid overly violent movies, let's look at the difference in interpretation for a minute.  Has society seen in increase in violence due to watching The Godfather or Saving Private Ryan?  I would argue that perhaps not due to these movies, but due to some, there has been some increase, as such violence is seen as "cool".  Nevertheless, overall most people understand that such is not acceptable.

On the other hand, let's look at promiscuity, at sexual abuse.  Though society has indeed come to a greater understanding of women's rights, it appears that sexual violence is in fact on the rise.  Sexual frivolity, infidelity, teen pregnancy, abortions, and the like are certainly much more prevalent than before.  To what can we attribute this rise?  Largely the media portrayal and acceptance of such behavior.

Now I know I am coming from a conservative viewpoint.  I have been married for eight years and have had one sexual partner in all my life, starting with my wedding night and not a moment before.  I am proud of such a lifestyle, but I understand that not everyone cares about such virtues.  Instead, there seems to be a need to "educate" me on BDSM (as if I have a history of engaging in topics I know nothing about).  But let me review why I made my first post, and we shall skip all the differing of more enlightened individuals.

First, 50 Shades of Gray is an erotic novel.  To me, this is pornography.  I oppose the flaunting of sex.  It is called intimacy for a reason.  It is to be shared between the partners and none else.  I made love to my wife last night.  Did I record and upload it for you all to see?  No.  I am keeping it personal.

Second, the novel promotes sex out of marriage.  Obviously I oppose this for reasons already stated.

Third, it treats sex as a form of selfish pleasure rather than selfless giving and sharing.  What did I do with my wife last night?  I didn't screw her, I didn't tap that, I didn't use any other disrespectful term.  I made love, because I feel that when we engaged in sexual contact, it was about loving giving rather than lustful taking.

Fourth, that novel shows BDSM, even if I did find that as a selfless form of sex (I don't), as abuse.  Many who have read it (and I'm going by their opinion, as I have not) feel it shows an abusive, controlling, manipulative relationship, not a giving relationship between equal partners.  So even if you argue that BDSM is a wonderful thing where the submissive is really in control (yeah, I'm sure that's how it always is), this book does not portray it that way.

And fifth, in spite of all this book has going against it, in spite of how trashy and poorly written it is, in spite of the negative psychology correlated with those who are fans of the book, it is a huge bestseller, with a movie made after it, shown just in time for Valentine's Day so that we can celebrate the day of love watching lustful, selfish indulgence and encourage more teens to get pregnant and glorify the worship of such self-serving behavior rather than the outward devotion that true love really is.

And people are buying their Fandango tickets in advance.

I don't care who the primary audience is.  It's a stupid book, it's a filthy movie, and it shows the dysfunction of our society.

I'm off work tonight.  I hope to make love to my wife again.

darth_ender said:

What did I do with my wife last night?  I didn't screw her, I didn't tap that

 Darth_ender, would you be offended if I used this as my signature?  I mean no disrespect or disagreement, it's just that this sentence sounds so funny out of context...