Society of Prudes

[Black Dog]

Silencing Sex

Put 10 adults in a room, turn on an educational TV show about explicit sex and watch what happens. For every person who stares and slobbers, another will close his or her eyes and complain. But why? The reason is the same today as it was 50 years ago: Sex is taboo. Well, sometimes.

Despite all the provocative winking and nudging in our magazines, commercials and films, many believe an open discussion of sex should remain behind closed doors. It’s a tug-of-war that pits individual rights and sexual freedom against conservative values that scream, “Think of the children!” Until the argument is settled, if ever, we will be hounded by this question: In what context is it “right” to discuss sexuality?

STD rates are five times higher in the U.S. than in Europe, where sexual education is compulsory, according to Barnaby Barratt, psychologist and president of the American Association of Sex Educators. In an interview with USA Today, Barratt said abstinence-only sex education makes it difficult to teach the lessons of safe sex to students who are already sexually active. The result: dangerous and contagious diseases, unwanted childbirths and unnecessary abortions.

Also, many people will argue that withholding information from curious young adults only creates more intrigue and desire. When sexuality becomes the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, the public is left to wonder if they are truly being punished for the sins of their curiosity.

[The Terrible Sweal]

I find all the so called 'sexy stuff' in our media, from Sex in the City, to Talking Sex with Sue, to Maxim magazine jokes, to the double-entendres of Queer Eye, to supposedly titilating documentary-lite programs on female kink on Showcase, and the whole raft of soft-porn cable channels to be, frankly objectionable.

But not because they're smutty or immoral. Because they're merely ... tedious.

When it comes to sex, I prefer doing to watching. And when it comes to watching I want to WATCH SEX, not watch actors or fools TALK ABOUT sex.

[Black Dog]

You hit on something interesting though: sex is everywhere. Sex is the main subject of 90 per cent of network TV programming, and the hook behind 99 per cent of advertising. Yet despite the ubiquitousness of sexual imagery and "nudge-nudge" innuendos, frank talk of sex and sexuality is still strictly verboten. You can see the results of someone's violent, gory demise on CSI, but you can't say "vagina" on TV. When was the last time the "think of the children!!" crowd railed against violent imagery the way they lit up the switchboards at the sight of Janet's booby?

[PocketRocket]

Western society has largely put sex on a pedestal, like it's something sacred.

This is the reason for both the discomfort for some people, and the titllation in others, when speaking of sex.

In many countries which are more open about sex, seeing a boob is not a big deal.

Their kids are taught about sex, both in terms of the mechanics involved, and also from a pleasure standpoint, whereas over here, sex "education" teaches little more than how the plumbing works, and how to make a baby.

If, in a classroom, a student brings up the pleasurable or erotic aspect, the discussion is turned back to the mechanics of achieving pregnancy.

And so, when we are at the age where we start to take an interest in sex, we are taught, through silence or obfuscation, that it's something "bad" that "polite" people don't talk about.

Is it any wonder that American media, and Canadian for that matter, is so hung up on sex???

Equally, is it any wonder that so many individuals have twisted or disfunctional notions about it???