Deseret News | Sexy TV shows linked to teen pregnancies

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Sexy TV shows linked to teen pregnancies

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Prosecutor | 2:59 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that kids will emulate behaviors sympathetically presented. Unfortunately, the dark side is intentionally withheld. Kids learn of it only when it's too late.

Nor does it take a lot of gray matter to figure out why well-heeled members of the entertainment industry would want to continue what is obviously a very lucrative racket.

What I can't figure out, however, is why we, the public, accord these parasites any status above that of a loathsome disease.

While the First Amendment does protect "freedom of the press," there's no similar protection for smut peddlers.

The Nation's founders properly viewed the theater and actors, not as an industry deserving of public respect and adoration, but as the lowest caste of society. They were banned entrirely, as a public nuisance, from many towns. Those cities permitting theaters typically limited them to the seamier side of town, making them neighbors of their close kin -- bars and bawdy houses.

Since bad parents refuse to limit their children's access to this smut, let's at least tax today's entertainment industry at a rate sufficient to address the mess they cause.

Irony | 3:24 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

3 years ago when that guy in Holliday killed his wife in front of his kid...that night I went home and my wife loves "Alias" they showed someone take a bullet right in the head. I was thinking, wow, can the family of the lady that got shot sue the networks or Alias for this propaganda that they put out? I'm just thinking that 15% of all revenues go back to victums of violent crimes portrayed on TV.

re: Strained | 3:40 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I heard he is available again - so watch what you ask for.....

Comments continue below

None of anybody's business! | 3:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

ok, what about all those who say, whatever happens in a person's home is nobody's business. Yeah right.

Here in Colorado | 4:14 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Maybe they should have a show called "SERVICE in the City". Probably wouldn't survive the ratings wars, though...

DCnTN | 4:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I've often wondered how the Nephites and Lamanites could fall into depravity over and over without the influence of Hollywood. TV gets blamed for too much.

That being said, there does seem to be a race going on in the media to see who can get to the bottom of the sewer most quickly.

I really wish my Sat TV would let me pick ala cart so that MTV doesn't get a few dollars from me despite the fact that it's blocked at my house.

brillo | 5:06 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Here's a novel idea: Dump TV altogether. At our house we do have one TV which is hooked up only to a DVD player, no cable, no satellite, no antenna. We get a lot better stuff on TV that way.

30 Second commercial | 5:19 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

So a 30 to 60 second commercial is so motivating it will get us to buy a car, change shampoos, eat at a particular restaurant, but an hour of sexually explicit TV has no effect ---- then advertisers shouldn't be paying for all that high-priced air-time that doesn't make a difference ----- we are definitely influenced by what we see, read, think about, etc. We need to be more selective for ourselves and those who are in our charge.

Theater | 6:13 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

"The Nation's founders properly viewed the theater and actors, not as an industry deserving of public respect and adoration, but as the lowest caste of society."

Hey, look, the founders were very, very wrong about something.

A great work of theater, like a great novel, film, musical work, (etc.) can be beautiful and enlightening, both spiritually and intellectually, beautiful, and altogether wonderful. They are capable of making those with open hearts and minds better people. A lot of it is smut, yes, but not all of it is. There's an enormous difference between "Spring Awakening" and "South Pacific", between "Choke" and "The Grapes of Wrath", between "Zach and Miri" and "L'enfant". Some of it is appropriate for everyone, and some is R-rated or the equivalent, and only appropriate for mature adults. You have to exercise discernment.

And, yes, much of it is not appropriate for anyone. But that doesn't mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Anonymous | 7:13 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Sexy TV shows linked to teen pregnancy?
What a load of garbage.
IGNORANCE is the main cause of teen pregnancy.
Plain, unadulterated, absolute, flat-out, IGNORANCE.
You people are killing me with this talk of "satan" and "cunning evil" and all of this nonsense.
No wonder people look at us and think we're all ignorant fools.
It's because we ARE.
I'm one step away from getting excommunicated, but I'm welcoming the day.
I only pray that when they kick me out, they burn my contact information and leave me alone.

CHOICE | 7:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

In most cases, FREE AGENCY leads to TEEN PREGNANCY.

In most cases, two people CHOOSE to have INTERCOURSE.

To blame this pattern of choice on TV shows is an exercise in misplaced responsibility.

Re:Choice | 8:03 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Missuse of agency leads to teen pregnancy! God gives us laws, we use our agency and we make a choice, a decision. With each and every choice there are consequences of our choice. We make our choices and then our choices make us! Such is life!

norcal | 8:24 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

So then, sexy shows, like ones you find on the LDS owned KSL-TV lead to kids having sex????

Lets start a new prop in California to ban sexy shows from Hollywood!

Anonymous | 9:31 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

there's a new study that shows a really high correlation between people who wear shoes and teen pregnancy. so watch out all you shoe wearing teenagers!

MmL | 11:15 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Well, Daaaahhhhhh!!!!

To: Anonymous @ 9:31 p.m. | 11:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I recommend that you take a course on statistics to understand the validity of data correlation. If 10% of people who don't smoke get cancer and 50% of people who smoke get cancer, do you think the two could be related? Sometimes it's very difficult to determine cause & effect, but simple data correlation is pretty clear, especially with a significant sample size. Once again, the warning is sounded but people disregard it and go on their merry way. A pack of cigarettes clearly warns about the implications of smoking, but people just ignore it and do what they want to do. Eventually the long term consequences catch up with them. If you really believe that continually entrenching oneself with a specific topic doesn't have an impact on one's actions, then you might want to think about how you came to think the way you do.

Applause for Full Time Dad | 12:01 a.m. Nov. 4, 2008

Spend time with your kids, teach them ethics and right from wrong ? Get invloved, set an example, teach. Wow, I thought most people in this state just think we need to hide everything from our kids. I am glad "Full time Dad" and my wife and I, really know the right way to take care of this. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDS, DON'T BLAME EVERYTHING ON TV SHOWS OR MUSIC. EDUCATE< EDUCATE< EDUCATE, My kids are not allowed to watch these shows, however is they did they would know right from wrong. Don't take the easy way out, TALK TO YOUR KIDS--DUH

To Theater | 6:15 | 7:40 a.m. Nov. 4, 2008

No one is suggesting throwing out either baby or bathwater. But why should society, in general, pay your entertainment costs?

You'll still be able to purvey your "adult-themed entertainment," once we've started taxing it appropriately. You'll just have to pay the full cost of being entertained by smut. Including excise taxes, to be used for the support of the children of teenage mothers that are promoted and produced by this business enterprise.

And maybe, just maybe, the studio bosses and industry executives who've driven the industry into this ditch will be thrown out, instead of baby and bathwater.

Give me a break | 8:00 a.m. Nov. 4, 2008

Look, correlation does not equal causation. By the same logic, higher umbrella sales in New England cause more ice cream consumption in Australia, and a lower number of pirates since 1800 caused global warming. It's really easy to blame everything on TV. God forbid we introspectively blame ourselves for our own bad parenting.

Here's one. Why do states which consume more pornography have a lower incidence of rape?

To Give me | 8:00 | 11:57 a.m. Nov. 4, 2008

Re: "Why do states which comsume more pornography have a lower incidence of rape?"

They don't.

That's just a myth you must have read in your Playboy or Penthouse.

lonely dove | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 5, 2008

i think it is so horrible

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