Smut: It's everywhere!

[Laura]

I was standing in line at the pharmacy yesterday for quite a while and noted the covers of several magazines. Over 50% of the magazine covers had either veiled or overtly sexual photos and headline story teasers. These were magazines like Muscle, Cosmopolitan, and others and clearly geared toward the younger generation. Normally I just ignore this kind of stuff, but the magazines were in a rack on the front of the counter below the register... just at eye level for small children who would be standing there with their parents waiting to pick up prescriptions. I felt like I had just been smacked in the face! We parents are trying to hard to bring our children up to be pure and it's not even safe to take them to the drug store??? What are these people thinking? (No don't tell me... they weren't!) I've a good mind to call the store manager and suggest they might want to move such materials out of the viewing of children. Think it will do any good?

[broSonnie]

That store manager will probably ask you have you lost your mind. I can hear him now... "Look lady... you see the same thing in every store in town, including Wal-Mart and Piggly Wiggly. There is nothing wrong with it... if you do not want to see it, then just do not look at it. Get a life!"

It has become common place... acceptable in today's society and culture. Immodesty is no big deal anymore. So what that there are pics of women half naked on a cover of a magazine... or even TV Guide (do they still make TV Guide?).

Of course I am being sarcastic!

I have one question for those folks... If a woman in a bathing suit is not immodest, what is?

As you suggest, the smut is everywhere and inescapable.

[Laura]

I can see it now, little Susie yanks on her mother's shirt and asks, "Mommy, what does ____ ____ ____ mean?" Or worse, she goes home and repeats what she read with Barbie talking to Ken. After all, these magazine cover models look like Barbies from a child's perspective.

[Bill Medart]

Originally Posted by Laura

I can see it now, little Susie yanks on her mother's shirt and asks, "Mommy, what does ____ ____ ____ mean?" Or worse, she goes home and repeats what she read with Barbie talking to Ken. After all, these magazine cover models look like Barbies from a child's perspective.

I had a child come home from school and ask what ********** ment. I asked "where did you hear that word" and the reply was "on the wall in the restroom." We simply have to do our best to educate our children in what is right and proper and what is not acceptable. You are correct, the magazines are right at eye level at the check out counter in almost every store but the billboards on the highways emit just as much smut as the magazine covers. It is all around us.

[HelenR]

My husband and I get very frustrated by this. We have a 10 year old son and a 6 month old daughter. It seems like you can't turn the TV on without being bombarded by this kind of "smut". For instance, our son loves to watch America's Funniest Home Videos. Well during the commercial breaks they play Victoria Secret commercials (which by the way when I was growing up would have been considered R rated, if not worse).

It seems like even with the programs that are geared for children they are shoving mature ideas down their throats. After watching several of the non-cartoon shows now on Nick and Disney , I've noticed they often talk about "hot guys", "making out", dating, or are dressed inappropriately, not to mention speaking disrespectfully to the adults they interact with. I know the networks would say that since many of the actors are teenagers that these are geared toward teenagers (which in my opinion are to young to concentrate on such worldly things). The fact is that it is an audience of 6-10 year olds that really like and idolize these people. And if these children are thinking of such things at these young ages it should be no surprise to any of us that there is such a problem with teenage pregnancy, STDs, and so on.

It is scary and often frustrating to raise children in world full of sin. We must teach our children that this world is not our home and even though we must live here our goal should not to be to fit in or be like those of this world (Matt 6:19-20, Rom 12:2, 1 Cor 3:19). And unfortunately, because of the world we live in, we are going to have to deal with those questions like "Mommy what does ******** mean?". I just pray when those questions come along I can provide them with the answer God wants me to give them.

(Sorry for my post being so long but this is one of my soap boxes.)

[Laura]

Helen, no need to apologize for the soap box! You have found a kindred spirit. Oh, and welcome to the forums. Nice to have another Ladies Teacher here!

[HelenR]

Originally Posted by Laura

Helen, no need to apologize for the soap box! You have found a kindred spirit. Oh, and welcome to the forums. Nice to have another Ladies Teacher here!

Thanks, I'm very excited about being here!!

[Peace]

Amen to everything said above. I can't even tell you how many times I have changed the channel or turned off the Tv in disgust. One day even my grown daughter, while visiting, notice me change the channel after something vulgar and said "Dad, you don't have to change it because of me, I am twenty-two now". I responded, "I change it as much for myself as I did for you sweetheart".

In this day and age, it is so easy to sit in front of the TV and be entertained way beyond what is appropriate for Christians. Most of us are guilty to some degree. I myself went without watching pro football for two seasons because of that little bomb they drop on me during the Janet Jackson Superbowl halftime show. It was hard for me to believe that NFL execs were not aware of the smut show they were going to have and I'm not only talking about the wardrobe malfunction. The NFL cleaned it up abit and I hope they can become even better in the future.

Raising kids these days is much harder than it should be thanks to the smut peddlers. Some of the commercials during "family friendly" shows make my blood boil, so to speak. It will not get any better I'm afraid.

peace

[Steven Rasberry]

Originally Posted by Peace-be-with-you

Amen to everything said above. I can't even tell you how many times I have changed the channel or turned off the Tv in disgust. One day even my grown daughter, while visiting, notice me change the channel after something vulgar and said "Dad, you don't have to change it because of me, I am twenty-two now". I responded, "I change it as much for myself as I did for you sweetheart".

In this day and age, it is so easy to sit in front of the TV and be entertained way beyond what is appropriate for Christians. Most of us are guilty to some degree. I myself went without watching pro football for two seasons because of that little bomb they drop on me during the Janet Jackson Superbowl halftime show. It was hard for me to believe that NFL execs were not aware of the smut show they were going to have and I'm not only talking about the wardrobe malfunction. The NFL cleaned it up abit and I hope they can become even better in the future.

Raising kids these days is much harder than it should be thanks to the smut peddlers. Some of the commercials during "family friendly" shows make my blood boil, so to speak. It will not get any better I'm afraid.

peace

I know what you mean.. Just tonight, my son that is 10, turned the channel because of the junk on it. He just huffs, then changes the channel..He is on his way...I am proud of him..:t:

[Laura]

Steven, sounds like you're doing a great job with your son. Keep it up!

[johnh1094]

What's great about Joshua is that he does these things when nobody's looking. That's a definite sign of good character developing. Good job, Steven and Helen (and Diana and Larry)! (Proverbs 22:6)

[D. White]

Originally Posted by Steven

I know what you mean.. Just tonight, my son that is 10, turned the channel because of the junk on it. He just huffs, then changes the channel..He is on his way...I am proud of him..:t:

Proverbs 22:6!!

[cim902]

Just wanted to say--in a lot of grocery stores, they cover up some of the magazines with plastic boards that display the magazine logo. Cosmo is the one I've seen this for the most, but I've also seen it for Glamour and maybe Elle. I've seen it in Kroger and Wal-Mart in Eastern and Southern Indiana, so perhaps you can talk to the mgt at the store about doing this in your area...I'm sure you're not the only person who's complained, or felt like it.

[JOKER]

I watch a lot of Sports. On channels like ESPN & FOX when they go to commercial breaks it just cracks me up yet annoys me that I have to constantly see "E.D." commercals. Even on the radio. My boys are 12 & 9 and although my 12 year old knows what that is now, they don't need to see that junk.

There really is no way to get away from it. We are living in pretty much Satan's world now and it's out there to tempt all of us to cross over as I will say "The Darkside".

The one thing that really bugs me about TV is that certain channels it's okay to say the Lord's name in vein. I mean I can handle someone dropping an "F" bomb. I don't care for it because it's a man made word, but the Lord's name in vein disturbs me.

[Steven Rasberry]

Originally Posted by JOKER

I watch a lot of Sports. On channels like ESPN & FOX when they go to commercial breaks it just cracks me up yet annoys me that I have to constantly see "E.D." commercals. Even on the radio. My boys are 12 & 9 and although my 12 year old knows what that is now, they don't need to see that junk.

There really is no way to get away from it. We are living in pretty much Satan's world now and it's out there to tempt all of us to cross over as I will say "The Darkside".

The one thing that really bugs me about TV is that certain channels it's okay to say the Lord's name in vein. I mean I can handle someone dropping an "F" bomb. I don't care for it because it's a man made word, but the Lord's name in vein disturbs me.

Yes, they have all this "OMG" stuff going on now. They have it on kids shows and products. If we do not know what this means, we need to. It stands for Oh My God.

We really should not be distracted with the amount of evil around us though but instead, we need to go into and abide in the Word, grow in it, then offer it to the lost around us. satan gains ground when we allow him to get us to take our eyes off our job and divinely given task of doing His work to save those He loves and we are supposed to.

[Sophia'smom]

It's really sad that they are targeting children's programming with all that stuff. I rarely watch t.v. these days (unless it's the Hallmark Channel) because of all the garbage the networks are airing and I have a low tolerance for it but my husband has two things he will watch when he gets in from work and that's Fox News Channel and Sponge Bob Square Pants. As a matter of fact it's become a nightly thing for him and our nine month old. She snuggles with her daddy and watches Sponge Bob. The minute she hears the sea gull at the beginning of the theme song she will stop what ever it is she's doing to crane her head in the direction of the t.v.

[Steven Rasberry]

Originally Posted by Sophia'smom

It's really sad that they are targeting children's programming with all that stuff. I rarely watch t.v. these days (unless it's the Hallmark Channel) because of all the garbage the networks are airing and I have a low tolerance for it but my husband has two things he will watch when he gets in from work and that's Fox News Channel and Sponge Bob Square Pants. As a matter of fact it's become a nightly thing for him and our nine month old. She snuggles with her daddy and watches Sponge Bob. The minute she hears the sea gull at the beginning of the theme song she will stop what ever it is she's doing to crane her head in the direction of the t.v.

cute! My son always has love sponge bob..we watch it a lot. My new baby girl like him too but really prefers teletubbies...

[Sophia'smom]

Originally Posted by Steven

cute! My son always has love sponge bob..we watch it a lot. My new baby girl like him too but really prefers teletubbies...

Yeah I was never into Sponge Bob but my husband has it on so much that I've kind of gotten to know the characters. I'm partial Squidward. Congrats on the new baby girl btw!!

[Laura]

All THREE of my boys like Sponge Bob. LOL

[Steven Rasberry]

Originally Posted by Steven

cute! My son always has love sponge bob..we watch it a lot. My new baby girl like him too but really prefers teletubbies...

Thanks, she just turned 7 months! Mommie and her are in FL at her friends wedding and will be there all week! I miss them!

[D. White]

It is amazing that even in the old cartoons there were some form of morals somehow...for example family always mother, father, children. Today, you are now seeing divorce and homosexual issues being brought forth.

Personally, I like Jimmy Neutron!

[tux]

If you can stand it, take a look at just the basic advertising around you. Watch tv for 2 hours and count how many ads use the 'sex sells' approach. The billboards are the same. Nearly everything in print media is the same. I have a hard time tolerating it, and my son also changes the channel from suggestive content. He's 10.

My daughter constantly asks me, "Dad why do they say, 'G*d' in that show so much?" And many of these are Disney "family" shows. The only decent things Disney has put out in the last 10 years have been made by Pixar.

[Laura]

Originally Posted by tux

My daughter constantly asks me, "Dad why do they say, 'G*d' in that show so much?" And many of these are Disney "family" shows. The only decent things Disney has put out in the last 10 years have been made by Pixar.

Walt would turn over in his grave if he could...

[D. White]

I agree with Laura. Many things have changed since the original founders of businesses have died. Take a look at Wal-Mart now selling alcohol. I know some might say it is just beer...but take a closer look and see what else they are selling. Sam never did approve of this earlier...at least not when I worked there many years ago.

Tux, sex is in everything. No matter what you watch (even the news) it is there. Why? Because that is what the general public likes and is pushed upon us. Now do we write in and let our displeasure be known (like I do) or do sit back and say nothing? That is the question!