Is This Porn?
While I was on my blog break, I got together with my friends Kate and Kendra to watch the season finale of The Bachelorette (Team Roberto all the way!). This show is so cheesy, but I love it. I posted on Facebook and Twitter that we were watching the show. Shortly after, I received an email from someone who was shocked that I speak out against pornography, yet I watch The Bachelorette. This emailer went on to tell me that The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are both porn.
My first thought was: If this is porn, it is THE WORST porn ever.
My second thought was that if The Bachelorette is classified as porn, then the mostly naked Dancing With the Stars is in MAJOR trouble.
I don't think it is porn. Porn involves sexually explicit images, not girls in bathing suits. But I don't think The Bachelor the Christian who is trying to keep their thoughts above reproach. And I say that as someone who has watched tons of episodes and seasons of the show.
I don't think it is porn at all.
….but I would like to get every single one of those girls/guys into some self esteem classes so they can learn they are worth more than having to fight it out over some guy/girl that doesn't care that much about them!
Uhhhh…no. LOL
Agreed…that's some awful porn.
Did the email give some reasons for that connection? Be curious as to the reasoning.
I don't think you can call it porn but I can see where someone might think they're objectifying men and women on the show.
I suppose it depends on how one defines pornography. How do you define it?
pornography
1. the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement
2. material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement
3. the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction 〈the pornography of violence〉
[Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.]
Could this The Bachelorette fit into any of these definitions?
Yep, that's porn.
And secular music is from the DEVIL.
All women should stay home with their hair in buns and long dresses.
Guitars in churches will pave a road straight to Hell.
COME ON! Is this seriously up for discussion? “Free will” encapsulates so much….like turning the freakin channel if ya don't wanna watch the bachelorette.
Steppin off the soap box.
Thank you :D.
I have come to the conclusion that God convicts each of us on issues that He needs to deal with us. I needed to take a break from shows featuring shirtless men for a while, as I was dealing with “lusting” issues. I have now come to the point that I can watch shows, but after my break, I find I don't want to.
I also feel that certain situations are convicting for me. If I find myself thinking “oh, why isn't my husband that romantic” or “oh, I want to be in that situation” I turn the channel. I also think about what do I want my daughter seeing.
Yes, mostly naked Dancing with the Stars is super major trouble. I stopped watching it due to the costumes. I love So You Think You Can Dance, but there are times I turn it off for the same reason. I find that we are getting de-sensitized to that much skin, and I see the effects in the junior high.
Just so you know, your honesty always inspires me.
That's sarcasm, right? ;)
Personally, I don't think so.
Thank you for including men in that comment!
She did but I can't remember what the reasons were. I deleted it.
Just a bit :D
Agreed. Bachelor pad may be another story ;)
I think it's 99% about trying to be a celebrity. I don;t honestly believe that anyone is seriously looking for love.
You watch The Bachelor!? I can't imagine that for some reason. I suspect that your wife must be involved ;)
Why not? Would you say that this show does not fit into the dictionary definition I provided? Maybe a better question is – does the show contain pornography?
I'm also curious if porn is restricted to images for many people.
Well yes of course. I got her to quit though. We're not watching that crap anymore.
It doesn't elicit sexual excitement for me. At all. The show is so campy and goofy that it's hard to take it seriously. Even the “romantic” parts are ridiculous. Therefore, for me personally, I would never call it porn. And like I said in the post, if this is porn it's the worst porn EVER. That said, I also asked if porn is subjective. I can see how the definition of sexually explicit material can change from one person to another.
I think that porn is defiantly not restricted to just images. Erotica is as big a problem for some as adult movies.
Off topic a little. Gail Dines has an incredible new book out called “Porn Nation” I think that’s the title.
She has been doing ground breaking research on pornography for a long time. Porn is not subjective, it can be distinguished from fine art because porn appeals to prurient interest — largely in men it seems.
I’m just not a fan of anything that uses women to sell things, uses women’s bodies to sell things, or uses women’s bodies on stupid TV shows. All of this stuff has a clear profit motive for men, and they don’t want anyone messing with their bottom line. Certainly not women who are most injured by porn, but a whole society that becomes a toxic waste dump.
I’ve heard about Porn Nation. I look forward to actually reading it!
I’m sure you are probably right about that.
It’s not porn in my opinion, but it is lascivious. And if I had impressionable teenagers I am not sure that I’d be okay with them watching because I think it does create a negative image that women have to beautiful and easy. As a grown, married woman, i watch it and laugh at how cheesy it is. And then i feel sad for these girls that seem to have so little self respect.