Okay, how about - think of the children

[holeinboatoutatsea]

is that bullshit? ask any parent who had to explain that it was okay for a woman to show her breast in full view during an entertainment extravaganza.

I'm no prude. God knows I've been in many situations in this life, but I am sick of the media pushing the limits of dignity.

Would you like your sister or cousin to show her tit on tv with billions of people watching? would it give you a thrill?

The kids watching this, depending on their ages, I am sure, had all kinds of reactions. I would not like to be a parent of some 7 year old who asked me questions about why it's okay for a wealthy entertainer to show her breast to the world, but not okay for aunt martha to show her breast to their teacher during a PTA meeting.

think about it.

[camero]

1. Look at a magazine in Europe

They have bare breasted women in all the mags. A friend of mine gave me one from Czech Republic.

No biggie.

[Kellanved]

119. yep

I don't understand what the whole excitement is about. I mean a breast is OK even during daytime TV here and I don't see any major damage done to society by it.

[radwriter0555]

131. It's a tit. All women have them. What's the big deal?

seriously?

[Demonaut]

151. its a breast, not a vagina.....it's ok to let your kids play games showing

a spine being ripped from a body or to show movies of adults killing adults in movies but god forbid showing a womans breast, lighten up that puritanical asscroft attitude, I say "more nudity less violence"

[Lorien]

137. Or at billboards and posters in Holland

I recall looking at a rather artful-yet very sexy- photo of a nude woman on a streetcorner in Amsterdam about ten years ago. Nothing was left to the imagination. A group of grade school aged children walked by as I was looking at it, and not one of them so much as glaced at it. They obviously were completely uninterested in such things (after all, this was Amsterdam). The interesting thing, though, is that Holland has fewer teenage pregnancies than just about any Western country. Their teens have a much more mature view of sex, and generally choose to wait until their late teens or even twenties to engage in it. I think Americans could learn a thing or two from them.

I'm far more appalled at the reaction to Jackson and Timberlakes performance than by the proformance itself. Breasts feed babies-there's nothing inherantly evil about them.

[Breezy du Nord]

138. But that's Europe

Europe is different than the United States. Different country=different morals.

Keep in mind that I am not saying that Europe's morals are bad, or that the US is better. They are just different.

[LTR]

2. Let's face it, though

What boy under 10 years old hasn't seen female breasts?

I certainly did, and I like to think I grew up normal.

In Europe, they really don't make a big deal out of nudity. The result? Fewer sexual hang-ups and less sexual crime. Sex and nudity are seen as just plain normal, and not 'dirty'.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. To be completely honest, my daughter-due to turn 14 didn't even

catch it. After seeing Britney and the rest do their near bares I think, perhaps unfortunately, they've basically seen it all before.

:hi:

[nini]

4. We're one of the few countries left that don't show them on TV..

I think if we weren't so hung up on them in the first place this wouldn't be a big deal.

BUT because we are hung up on them, I think it was a bit out of line to do this at the super bowl when all kinds of ages may be watching.

It's really too bad this is an issue at all. When I was in Europe there were breasts on TV in commercials etc.. and the men don't even react - do that here and all hell breaks loose. OY

[holeinboatoutatsea]

8. I'm an american male

and I think of breasts as something sexual. You don't?

I'm not hung up on morals, I'm hung up on the idea that there are no limits. It's okay for a kid to see that and think it's just part of entertainment? That's like saying it's okay to show a kid slasher movies, because, after all, we all know that watching people shoot and stab others repeatedly is not real.

It's only entertainment.

Bullshit.

[supernova]

13. Breasts are better for kids

than violence. Seen the matrix movies? Or how 'bout the evening news? It's OK to dress up and play soldier but it's not ok to show your kids how beautiful women are and how to treat them?

[Mobius]

113. Its ok to rip a woman's clothes off???

"not ok to show your kids how beautiful women are and how to treat them?"
Timberlake was simulating sexual assault. I don't think that qualifies as to how one should treat beautiful women.

[nini]

18. Again... most of this has to do with our attitudes.

This would not be an issue in most countries.

I don't think a breast is as sexual as a penis or vagina.

But, I'm female and I don't get the big fascination/hangups with breasts - either men's obsession or a woman undergoing the knife to make her's bigger and perkier.. :eyes:

[supernova]

24. 'Xactly, nini

Breasts are primarily for feeding infants. The fact that they enterain men is just a nice side benefit, but not the main attraction.

[maveric]

35. I think that legs are very sexual, So are lips. Would that shock kids.

You were obviously brought up to beleive that the human body is dirty unless its covered.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

72. Legs are seen every day. So are lips.

To compare that to breasts is foolish.

If you feel they are sensual, then I would have to wholeheartedly agree. However, when is the last time you saw a breast and didn't think about it sexually? Therein lies the difference.

[supernova]

84. Oh plenty of times,

At the beach, in a women's changing room at the gym, a nursing mother, at the mammogram clinic. There's lots of situations where breasts do not have a sexual connotation.

It's only sexual within the confines of an amourous interlude.

Are you so alarmed at your own inappropriate responses at times, that you wish society would save you from your own depravity?

[HuckleB]

5. Sorry, but if they're old enough to watch football,

they're old enough to see a breast, and get over it. Children all over the world have seen hundreds and thousands of breasts, many of them in person, and they're A-OK.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

12. Football is a competitive sport with definite rules

to prevent it from becoming barbaric. It is not the Romans watching the christians being eaten by lions. It is a sport.

If you want to de-sexualize women's breasts. Fine. The next time you have sex, don't bother to think of them as erotic, because you have seen them already thousands of times.

[nini]

23. I see lips everyday too... and I think they can be very sexy

on the right person and I still like to kiss them on someone I am attracted to.

This does not mean the sight of anyones lips does this to me.

I see your point and it applies to how you feel. But if others are less bothered by this that does not make them wrong. It has to do with how we are raised, our environments etc..

[HuckleB]

28. My, my.

Football has rules. Therefore, Janet's breast will ruin children everywhere! Yeah, that makes sense.

Sorry, but children around the world see breasts at beaches and in other natural settings, as well as in entertainment, and they still enjoy breasts when they come of age and engage in sex. Why should Janet's breast suddenly make things different?

[CivilRightsNow]

135. Hello?!

This wasnt an, "Ooophs, my boob just popped out of my dress". This was a whole half time show objectifying women and degrading them. It was a good 4 minutes of simulated sex that culminated in some serious bumping and grinding and roughly exposed breast.

If this is the message you want to be sending to young girls no wonder they are so fucked up. Kids in clothes that whores didnt even used to wear, giving their bodies away like it was nothing.

These images create that scenario. Im disgusted with the lack of decorum and morality that so many people seem to have here. This was half time at the friggin superbowl, a barbaric game at that, full of male agression and testosterone. The innuendoes of the advertisements, the half time game, etc....

Come on, is it too much to ask to keep it clean for the kids? I guess we should all be rebels, lets show the kids sexual violence. It's all the rage in Europe.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

87. Get over it

I hope you don't have daughters, because you've already taught them to have shame about their bodies.

[CBHagman]

139. Sorry, but a guy exposing a woman's parts isn't something I'll get over.

Maybe if Madonna had pulled off David Letterman's boxer shorts on TV you would sing a slightly different tune.

On edit: Frankly, I wouldn't care to see Kid Rock forcibly undressed on TV either. Not an image I want to live with the rest of my life.

I would have chuckled at the streaker, though. They had them at school assemblies when I was in high school.

[frogfromthenorth2]

You're joking I hope...

If not get a life...

[foreigncorrespondent]

109. I take it...

...you are a vanilla boy?

[madrchsod]

6. i agree but

this same thing can be scene on mtv programing and bet every hour of the day 7 days a week. viacom sells sex for profit.

[Alenne]

7. It was no more than you see at the beach.

My kids have seen breasts before.

[supernova]

9. we Amis are the wierd ones

when it comes to choking on nudity on TV or in the media.

Nudity is everywhere in Europe and South America. It's an acceptable part of life most other places on earth, but not in the prudish USofA.

Think of this: It's OK for Bush to have us foam at the mouth for dead Arabs but it's not ok for Janet to show her breast? :wtf: That's the really twisted thing in my mind.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

14. How about wrapping your mind around this concept

neither is a good thing. It's not an either/or test.

[supernova]

17. How about

considering that one is a whole lot healthier than the other.

edit: nothing wrong with healthy sexuality. There is something wrong with the glorification of violence in our culture.

Travel some outside our borders. You might learn something.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

19. Healthier for children to see breasts?

in what way?

[supernova]

27. Natural part of the human body

just like legs, and arms, and eyes, and ears. Really nothing to be alarmed about.

What upsets you so about breasts? Have your kids seen you naked?

[Djinn]

38. in what way is it

unhealthy???????

I'm finding it hard to tell the difference between DU and freepland today all this outrage over a BIT of a boob it wasn't even the whole bloody thing

[Sapphocrat]

105. But, Djinn!!!

You Aussies have SBS on free-to-air, which shows those nasty, horrible Swedish movies with actual, uncovered penises in them!

God forbid children should ever know the difference between male and female genitalia! My God, it could lead to STRAIGHT SEX!

Oh, wait a minute... Maybe that's why you guys have such a healthy attitude about sex, and Swedes have such a low crime rate.

Hmmm... Well, it's still wrong, wrong, WRONG! Because... because... because God told Jerry Falwell so, that's why!

:D

[foreigncorrespondent]

110. Take the Aussie soldiers for instance...

...they helped with the war for oil. None of our fighting gals and guys got killed, why? Because they grew up seeing boobs, rather than sitting infront of the idiot box watching the violence America likes to produce. They weren't so gung-ho!

[NashVegas]

29. There Was Nothing Natural About That Stunt

It was staged for effect, no less than Britney & Madonna's kiss.

[DrWeird]

31. And no less staged than the second half kick off streaker.

CBS didn't know about either, but I'm sure it was planned in advance. Funny nobody's mentioning that guy. I see no difference.

[supernova]

32. But that's just the point

If we Americans were more accepting of sexuality Janet wouldn't feel the need to do that in the first place. Heck, she could have performed topless and no one would have cared.

[Alenne]

34. Exactly

God I wish we would get over this stuff. Whether it is a woman kissing another woman on TV or a breast, if we were not so uptight about it there would be no shock value.

[ornotna]

10. Right at this moment

History Channel is showing "Sex In The Bible".
All kinds of pictures of bare breasted women, talk of incest, prostitution. Sex I tell you, sex!
Janet's boob is no big deal, a bit shocking, but no big deal.

[corporatewhore]

11. So you think it is all right to show bombs and killingsonnewsbut not boobs

[holeinboatoutatsea]

40. You haven't read my replies

it is not okay for either.

Why do people automatically think it has to be a question of would you rather have children see boobs or bombs?

That's ignorant.

[supernova]

55. Because that IS the question

which would you rather have children grow up in? Love and acceptance or voilence?

Were you that upset at having to talk about boobs? I really don't get your outrage on this subject. :shrug:

[Mobius]

114. Justin was simulating rape

The boobs were no big deal. Presenting a rape on national tv as entertainment, was. Rape IS violent. How many kids are going to go around grabbing girls breasts tomorrow?

[Sapphocrat]

106. Because YOU were the one...

...who made the first comparison between kids seeing a tit and watching explicit violence:

That's like saying it's okay to show a kid slasher movies, because, after all, we all know that watching people shoot and stab others repeatedly is not real.

Remember?

[maveric]

15. You are a "prude" and I believe in self expression and self esteem

with ones body.
Did you think that Ashcroft did the right thing covering the bare breasted artwork at the Capitol?

I raised 3 boys and answered questions much more detailed than "why it's okay for a wealthy entertainer to show her breast to the world". I didnt leave Hustler mags around the house or watch porn in thier presense but I impressed upon them that sex is the most natural of acts or feeling in the human race and that nudity isnt dirty.

Those who are shielded from sex, nudity and sexuality are very likely to aquire perversions and/or hatred for the opposite sex, than those who dont seem to have a problem about those things.

[Exultant Democracy]

22. That is just how I feel,

if America brought sex out in the open and stopped making it something naughty we would all be a lot better off.

I wonder if girls in America have worse body image problems then girls in the rest of the world.

[populistmom]

16. I bared my breasts at a PTA meeting once

Not completely, but discretely as I was nursing a 5 week old at the time. I've breastfed just about everywhere really. I grew up in a home the had nude classical prints on the wall and I'm hardly been out of control because of it, just comfortable with my breasts (which considering myself, is a good thing). It wasn't a big deal. I could care less if my own young children saw this. It's hardly "worse" than anything else that's shown- simply by a pastie covered breast? I'd much rather than see a breast than violence.
Breasts are functional and breasts can be sexual and beautiful. It's a part of life and a part of our humanity. Get over it!!!

(Geesh, maybe I should move to Europe or something? As it seems many of my fellow Americans are surprisingly uptight regarding this.)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

89. No, Sarah. Too many prudes here on DU.

Football is SO VIOLENT and these fools freak out over a boob???

Talk about hypocrisy....

[corporatewhore]

20. Did you have to explain to your kids that women have breasts and its a bad

thing that we should be ashamed of

[holeinboatoutatsea]

46. No, simplistic one

remember, I'm talking about young children. I am not saying boobs are bad. I am also not saying snot is bad. I am saying that I think it is beyond tasteless and questionable regarding ethical adult behavior for an adult to bare their breast during the halftime show of a game that millions of millions of kids are watching.

How can one defend that? Don't give me the either/or violence crap argument again, either, because I am not for that either.

Do you have a thought out, rational idea for why it is okay for a woman to bare her breast in an obvious publicity stunt in front of millions watching on tv?

[corporatewhore]

70. first of all the super bowl is not exactly wholesome family friendly

entertainment from cheer leader to beer comercial ads
Second of all it is her own damn body she can do what ever she wants with it even if its just for a publicity stunt
and finally its JUST A BREAST

[holeinboatoutatsea]

73. Do you have kids?

Sure, it's just a breast. I hope every woman you make love to in the future tells you that. You might as well suck on her toes.

It's just a TOE

[corporatewhore]

78. My girlfriend sucks on my toes

We agree our breasts are beautiful and nothing to be ashamed of !!!

[supernova]

81. Yeah, lot of people get off

on toes.

Very fun. :D

[NashVegas]

21. Read My Sig

To hell with the kids.

[DrWeird]

25. You say your not a prude,

but I bet if it were eighty years ago you'd be complaining about all these loose women showing off their elbows and ankles to impressionable children. It's the twenty first fucking century, not Cotton Fucking Mather New England.

[supernova]

30. How true!

:thumbsup:

[holeinboatoutatsea]

54. What is true?

I'm not into repression, but what happened to dignity and sanity?

If you think it's healthy for your kid to see women's breasts whenever and wherever, I respect your opinion. I don't agree.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

49. I don't give a fuck what century it is

why is it okay for a woman to publicize herself by showing her boob in front of millions? I would think women's rights advocates would be up in arms about this. A woman denigrating herself for publicity and money? That sounds so 19th or 20th century.

[DrWeird]

65. "why is it okay"

Why is it wrong? Because you've got a stick up your butt?

"A woman denigrating herself for publicity and money?"

Why is it denigrating? Why is showing a breast denigrating, but slapping another man's ass isn't? Because you've got a stick up your butt?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

97. Pole Up The Ass Syndrome

Typical among repukes, surprising among Dems.

[tkmorris]

66. I can't believe

how tied up in knots you are over this.

Look, I think this stunt was kind of stupid, though not for the reasons you do. I think it was wrong because it was SUPPOSED to be as prurient as possible, they expected controversy. A female breast should not stir up so much trouble. Sex is the most natural function human beings perform, you may say it is our primary biological purpose. Why do we act so bloody goofy over it?

The problem I have, and the reason my kids didn't see the show, is the game itself. It's hard enough to see football as a sport instead of some sort of "violence-with-rules" war simulation. But ok, played well it certainly can be.

The NFL however passed the point of good taste years ago. Trash-talking, taunting, ridiculous celebrations desgned more to mock the other team than to celebrate anything. Nope, I think the game itself would have been far more damaging to their psyche than Ms Jackson's breast.

[supernova]

74. Thank you TKMorris

very well put! :thumbsup:

[DemLikr]

136. Why does an exposed breast necessarily "denigrate" its owner?

Please at least try to examine your premise.

[TopesJunkie]

149. Why is it OK for you to use that kind of language?

Why is what Janet did so bad?

[Sapphocrat]

108. ROFL, DrWeird!

You said it better than I ever could! Xlnt! :)

[Breezy du Nord]

143. But shouldn't people have the right to choose

if they want their kids to watch that sort of stuff? I agree, that Americans do have more sexual hangups than the rest of the world, but I don't think it's unreasonable for someone not to want their kid seeing nudity.

[Alenne]

154. Don't watch TV then

You have no control over what is on it. So if you are that worried that your child might see something as horrible as a naked body I suggest not letting them watch it.

[Edge]

26. We should be proud of our naked bodies...

and not feel shame over it. Christ, the people in Europe are proud of their naked bodies...why can't we?

This country is full of prudes....

[HuckleB]

33. But, but... THINK OF THE CHILDREN! THE CHIIIIILLLLLDDDDRREEEN!

PUFAC (Prudes United Thinking Of Children) will show you the light.

[Edge]

41. F--- that.

[HuckleB]

43. Oh, I'm shocked.

Such lude behavior from such a lude poster.

[Edge]

47. Yes...I'm going to Hell for liking and being proud of my naked body.

:eyes:

[HuckleB]

52. You most certainly are!

Going straight to hell in a handbasket!

[Edge]

53. I know!

:eyes:

[HuckleB]

57. Deep, deep, into the lowest, slimiest, dirtiest, hottest, prickliest

bowels of HELL! Oh, the horrors that await you!

[Edge]

58. Well...

at least I'd get to be around female boobs all the time! Rock on!

[HuckleB]

61. Sorry.

Every beautiful breast made by God wiil be in heaven, awaiting those who refrained from temptation while here on earth.

[Edge]

62. Pfft.

[HuckleB]

63. Ah, the wind goes out of your sails.

[supernova]

42. One thing adults forget

Kids aren't that prudish.

When I was eight, I bought a clear plastic blow up pillow for my bedroom. I liked it because it has a black/white checkered border around a pic of my favorite band at the time: Three Dog Night. Plus the color of the photograph matched my new yellow room. :thumbsup:

It wasn't until three years later I realized the band was.... NAKED!!! LOL!

To her credit, mom didn't say a word and bought it anyway because I liked it so. :D

[HuckleB]

44. OK. I'll spell it out.

It was a joke! If you noted my posts above and elsewhere, you'd know that I could give a rip about Janet showing her breast.

[supernova]

48. Wasn't talking to you

I realize you were joking. HuckleB. It's the originator of the thread that gets me.

[HuckleB]

51. OK. Got it.

Cheers!

[holeinboatoutatsea]

56. I put it that way to get attention

not unlike someone who would bare their breast on international tv for self-promotion.

welcome to the 21st century.

[HuckleB]

59. So you and Janet are one and the same?

Glad you recognize it.

[supernova]

60. LOL!

Good one, HuckleB! :thumbsup:

[holeinboatoutatsea]

77. Not lots of laughs

One person does something to get attention to gain future monetary benefits. Another person does something to get people's minds to attend to a thought and an idea that may or may not have merit.

Different. Critical, educated minds can see the difference.

[supernova]

68. And you were hoping

what? To teach us to be as uptight and repressed as you?

[holeinboatoutatsea]

82. No

I was hoping to have a discussion regarding the media and how I personally believe it to be detrimental to children for a woman to expose herself on international television.

Don't assume I am repressed or uptight. You would be mistaken.

[supernova]

88. How is it detrimental

You haven't explained that. You've only stated your topic sentence over and over again. Shallow.

Where's the research that says seeing an occasional fleeting glimpse of breast is detrimental?

It was 2 seconds of breast, not a reenactment of Behind the Green Door.

[dweller]

36. I have no problem whatsoever with a breast bared

by the woman expressing herself. It's her body afterall.

To have her clothing ripped off of her in a display of cheap pandering of machismo (sporting event?) is beyond disgusting, but sadly, par for the course in 'merka today.

Far more telling is the quick and tittering response of the threads generated on this newsgroup....

dp

[Sapphocrat]

111. And you, dweller...

...are the first person I've seen tonight spell out the ONLY thing that was at all disturbing about the entire incident:

It wasn't the exposure of a breast that was offensive -- it was that some guy yanked her bra off.

Thanks for making that point, dweller. I was wondering if anybody would before I had to point it out myself.

[KG]

37. think of the children! a whole generation destroyed by a breast!

the world greatest civilization, brought low by a boob!

[BigMcLargehuge]

39. I have seen the best minds of my generation destroyed by a boob

...

:eyes:

[supernova]

45. That one lives at 1600 Penn Ave

At least other boobs are useful.

[fortyfeetunder]

102. Not to mention an entire nation being destroyed by one

and the rest of the world will be laughing at us because we are getting flustered over a voluptuous boob like Janet's but not that boob on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

[neverforget]

50. The news can show Iraqis being obliterated by an Apache helicopter

but Janets boob is somehow wrong? Where's the outrage about REAL human beings being killed on tv in our name?

[holeinboatoutatsea]

64. again

it is not either/or

both should not happen.

It's not like you're choosing between a sandwich or a salad.

think about it.

We seem to be so conditioned to thinking this way. What is wrong with sex and nudity? Nothing - for ADULTS. Why is it okay for movies to show people getting blown up? IT ISN'T!

It is not a choice between sex and violence.

For those who can think and read, this thread is about having sex shoved visually on our children by the mass media.

I don't like it. If you do, then fine, we disagree.

[foreigncorrespondent]

112. Um!

It was a bloody boob for crying out loud. It wasn't two adults going hammer and nails with each other, so quite saying that it is about having sex shoved visually on children.

[dweller]

79. YES! bring back the coliseums...lions....

<your choice of religion here>

dp

[HEyHEY]

67. You Americans spend too much time worrying about tits

Seriously, if Janet pulling a stupid stunt like this is enough for your child to run around exposing herself...you ARE a bad parent.
All over Europe and Canada and Australia, that kind of thing is just brushed aside...and ALL of those places have better standards of living, lower crime...etc..


Stop blaming everything on tits!

[NightTrain]

69. Not this American!

;)

[HEyHEY]

71. Atta boy Night Train!

:-)

[KG]

75. hell, i wanna spend MORE time thinking about tits!

but i gotta work for a living...

[HEyHEY]

76. I know ya do KG...

ANd god willing, one day that dream will be realized

[frogfromthenorth2]

80. Yep... I like my neighbors but sometimes I don't understand

the way their brains are wired... So fun to watch them freak over this tits story... and I am surprised to see people freak here... It's not unexpected on FreakRepublikkk but HERE?!?!

[HEyHEY]

83. Well, most are being sarcastic

But some are mad at the stunt aspect of it.

[frogfromthenorth2]

85. It lasted about 1/10 of a second.... talk about a failed stunt...

But great buzz in the news tomorrow... But tell me, what's the freaking diffence with those slow motion Baywatch Boobs?????

[HEyHEY]

91. Je ne said pas

Demandez les fundies

les boobie...j aime.

:-)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

86. This puritanical crap is what's wrong with this country

people freak out about a boob but have no problem with violence.

What fucking hypocrisy! :eyes:

[arwalden]

93. Boobs, NO! Axe in the forehead... A-OKay!

Ali Abbas with no arms just bloody stumps... fine!
Hidden camera decapitations and executions under Taliban rule... nice!

But NO BOOBS! Not even one!

-- Allen

[Kathy in Cambridge]

98. I think the original poster was freaked out

and retreated with his tail between his legs, OR

he got excited by all our talk and maybe got lucky!

But I still feel bad for his kids...

[dawn]

104. I totally agree. nt

[Ramsey]

90. Football is worse than some boob

Why are young impressionable children being allowed to watch such a violent game? Aren't the cheerleaders barely clothed? Isn't the distinction between them and a flash of boob just a little hypocritical? Don't you think the kids are smart enough to figure all this out on their own?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

94. My point exactly, Ramsey

uptight hypocrites upset about a boob have no problem with violence.

:eyes:

[NightTrain]

92. OK, how about...

I'm sick and fucking tired of these latter-day puritans pissing all over the Constitution in the name of "protecting our children."

In the early 1950s, these people demonized comic-book publishers for ostensibly corrupting America's children. A few years later, it was Alan Freed and the rock 'n' roll movement being scapegoated for supposedly turning our youth into juvenile delinquents. After that, they set their sights on the Beat Generation. And so on and so on.

For decades, these neo-puritans have used variations on the same fallow argument in the name of "protecting the children." What they now say about Janet Jackson's breast, their parents' generation said about Elvis Presley gyrating on stage.

Or, to put it more bluntly: same shit, different assholes!

[supernova]

96. Same charge lodged at Socrates

for "corrupting the youth of Athens." For that possibly the single greatest teacher ..... ever.... had to kill himself with hemlock. :eyes:

Same shit; different assholes indeed.

[Catherine Vincent]

95. Well for what it's worth....

IT ALL HAPPENED IN H-TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nolabels]

99. That would be their choice, not mine

Why is some feel the need to decide for others. Most people I know don't profess a need to bare their breasts or other body parts for that matter.

If people have a need and desire to display their body, why is so offensive for others. Prudence I can understand but beyond that, if its not yours to control why do feel the need for the control?

This is just one more way people in power (mostly men) keep others subordinate to them.

[supernova]

100. Hey holeinboatoutatsea - what's your stance on breastfeeding?

Because you know, kids, um, er... *looks both ways* ... have to look at

*GASP*

Wait for it...









BREASTS!!!

[nonconformist]

101. I was watching with my 8 yr old son

And when it happened he noticed immediately, then looked away like he was embarrassed. :)

Anyway, I don't really care that much about it, it's not going to be any kind of an impact on my kid's life or start "sensitive, special" conversations. No, I don't go around naked in front of my kids, but we're not *strange* about nudity either, there is a happy medium. I've seen clearer pics and I agree it wasn't appropriate, but what are you going to do - it happened.

On the other hand, in light of the MoveOn.org ad, I'm going to enjoy the karma-ish backlash that CBS will be getting... mostly from freeper types, which adds to the irony.

[fortyfeetunder]

103. Think about Al-Qaida

They are probably plotting their next shenanigans knowing that we are all flustered about Janet's boob....they've got us distracted to no end!!!

[foreigncorrespondent]

107. Yes, please do think about the children...

...and use the proper word instead of using that slang "t" word. </sarcasm>

Sheesh mate, I am no prude, it was just a bit of boob (granted, not the best looking one I have seen but still) for crying out loud.

If you are so shocked about (GASP!) a nipple being shown on television, you should see some of the stuff we get here in Australia. And no, we are not a country of perverts. We actually have a healthy outlook on sex and nudity here, as opposed to to prudish manner you have displayed here.

On edit: And BTW, if my sister showed her boob on telly I would bloody well stand up and clap her for being brave enough to do it.

[Sapphocrat]

115. Why Australians are healthier than Americans...

You live almost directly under the ozone hole -- yet none of you pays any attention to all the warnings about using sunscreen or wearing hats. Every last one of you I've ever seen gets a horrible, roasting sunburn every year.

Almost all of you drink. Most of you can drink most of us under the table.

A huge percentage of you smokes tobacco.

ALL OF YOU eat red meat as if cows were going to disappear off the face of the earth tomorrow.

You love deep-fried foods. Life in Australia would end if you weren't within five minutes of a fish-and-chips shop, or anyplace that sells dim sims.

You live where there are more creatures that can kill you than anywhere else on the planet. Hunstman spiders live in your homes.

Sharks surround the country, and crocs swim upstream into fresh waters, which often makes swimming an exciting proposition.

There's not a sport you play in which protective equipment is required -- except cricket, and that's only because the bowler is actually supposed to try to hit the batsman.

Bush fires aren't an anomaly -- they're a season.

And yet, you somehow manage to have a longer life expectancy than Americans.

I figure it's got to be the unbelievably healthy Aussie attitude toward sex!

If only we had BOOBS here!

:D

[foreigncorrespondent]

126. ROFLMAO!

How observant you are. :)

I don't know, I saw at least one set of nice boobs while I was there. ;)

[ProdigalJunkMail]

116. let the flaming begin...

well, in just a second. Those of you who know me know that I am no prude. My politics may be questionabe, but prudishness is not in my makeup...but having said that...

I think HOLE (not the band) has a point here that is being overlooked. Why can't someone have the choice of whether or not this sort of thing is shown to their kids? Everyone is getting so up in arms that 'it's just a tit!' and that may be true, but shouldn't people have the right to make the decision on when and where this issue is raised for their children? Since when is it NOT a right to be a prude? It may be detrimental in some way to the children to hide this from them, but people should have the right to make this decision.

Turn the tables and ask yourself what you would think? You have sheltered your children from violence their entire lives...they literally know nothing of it and you like it that way. You are watching a documentary on sexual relationships and the ways they can be healthy and as part of a planned stunt, two of the participants fake an assault of some sort. Now, you have done your best to shield this child from any sort of violence and have done an admirable job, but now you have to explain this to them. "Why would someone do that? I didn't know that could happen. Mom, why is she bleeding?" Not to mention the justice system questions and all that will be spoiled by this split second of violence.

Now, I know these things are not equal, but people should have the right to decide what their children watch or don't watch whether we like their decisions or not. The people watching that game has a reasonable expectation that nudity would not be part of the program and therefore should not have been subjected to it.

Ok, I'll step off of my soapbox and I expect to be putting on my flame retardant suit momentarily...now where did I leave it???

theProdigal

[ProdigalJunkMail]

117. hot damn...

500 posts! I just knew some day I would get here...

theProdigal

[Breezy du Nord]

141. Congrats

nt

[oldcoot]

146. What if I do not want my child to see a man's bare chest?

One of the things that annoys me the most about the whole Jackson incident is the sexual double standard. I do not understand why men are allowed to appear in public without a shirt while women are not. Some people even freak out if a woman attempts to breast feed her child in public. However, most people do not think twice about a man doing lawn work or walking down the street without a shirt. Why is that? It seems that if one is going to get upset about a woman's exposed breast, one should get equally upset about seeing men's bare chests. After all, at least half the human race finds men's chests sexy.

Yes, parents have a right to be prudish and to decide what their children watch on television. However, I do not think it is possible to totally shelter children from nudity or violence. Even if a parent does not allow their children to watch a violent television show, the child will probably still be exposed to violence at school. The child may be a victim of a bully and will probably witness at least one fight in his or her life.

I also agree that people have a right to reasonably expect that there will be no nudity at football game. Now if we can just get those men who have painted their stomachs to match their teams' colors to put their shirts back on, things will be fine.

[Forkboy]

118. Ah fuck the kids

little bastids!!

I'm only semi-kidding.

[BlondieK143]

120. I'm sorry but...

If anyone thinks that kids these days AREN'T seeing breasts or anything worse, then parents themselves are in denial. And halftime was just another example of what your kids probably see and talk about on a daily basis. You know, I'm tired of hearing parents say "Well MY child isn't allowed to see...blah blah" you child, that isn't allowed to see this stuff, probably has seen it more times than you can count. It's hypocritical to say that the media is pushing things too far. Think about it. Have you sat down with your kids and talked to them about sexuality?? Or do you put it off simply because it's "Not the right time" or "My child is too young to think about that stuff." Wake up America. These are the times we're living in now. Stop ranting and raving about a boob, get rid of your insecurities, and go talk to your kid instead of avoiding the fact that he/she is living in the real world.

[Seldona]

121. My 7 year old did catch it.

I just explained that it was an accident.

I believe we spoke for 10 seconds on it.

Her main concern was what kind of clothing she was waering that would allow that to happen. lol

*shrug

Judging by the reaction it is recieving, it is the adults we should be concerned about.

[buddhamama]

122. by halftime kids

had seen far more of a woman's body from the commercials than this quick shot of Janet's breast. the only difference was she showed her nipple. and before that bit exposure she was pretty heavily clothed. think about it.

[Forkboy]

123. The networks were so offended

that they have to show it over and over in slow motion just to get across how offended they are.

[buddhamama]

124. good point

you're cracking me up this morning!

[Loonman]

125. I'm pissed because it took the focus off the Pats

Show your boobs with the rest of the Bims on MTV, not in the middle of the game.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

128. well, I pulled for the Panthers

but I have to agree whole heartedly with that assessment!

theProdigal

[Loonman]

Freakin' MTV

They knew something was going to happen.

I wish I was in NYC, then I could throw stuff at the glass TRL studio in Times Square.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

130. i think a latte from starbucks would make a nice statement

next time I am in town I might just give that a shot...hopefully they will be shooting TRL...those asswipes...

theProdigal

[Breezy du Nord]

144. Yeah, but do you really want to waste $20 on that latte?

Aw, hell, it's worth it.

[BiggJawn]

127. As Karl Rove slept easy last night...

Safe in the knowledge that EVERYONE would be discussing Janet's Nekkid Titty instead of Dim Son around the water cooler this AM....

"Who's that showin' that nast boob?
Nasty Girl!
My name's Janet, 'Miss Nasty' cuz I'm Nasty..."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

129. Breasts appear here all the time and children don't give a flying fsck

Like in news spots about breastfeeding, cancer prevention etc., breasts appear as needed for informational purposes, regardless of time of day. Also dancing samba around during Carnaval and similar festivities.

Displays of poor taste like Justin Timberlake's simply don't happen.

I don't think this is a coincidence.

[Kamika]

agree this was SEX not nudity

It wouldn't have been so bad if it had just been nudity but this was sex and no kid should have to be subjected to that.

[Kamika]

132. agree this was SEX not nudity

It wouldn't have been so bad if it had just been nudity but this was sex and no kid should have to be subjected to that.

[TopesJunkie]

148. Then no kid should watch television, period.

It's everywhere on the tube. If you want to keep if from children, no more TV, period!

[GreenPartyVoter]

133. I have mixed feelings on the matter

I wouldn't have thought twice about it if there had been a baby attached to it instead of that Borg-like pasty. *l*

But why didn't she rip the crotch out of Justin's pants? Where's the equal time? :^P

[LWolf]

134. Nudity is fine.

I don't think breasts are obscene; I think America's obsessive prudishness is extreme. It's a symptom of our culture's juvenile nature, that female bodies can't just be bodies; it always has to have sexual connotation.

It's the intent; sexual display, invitation, etc. is not the same thing as nudity. As far as this display went.....

Maybe next year they can just move the performers from the local strip club onto the stage at halftime?

[Breezy du Nord]

140. You guys are being awfully hard on him

I mean, it's a valid question: Will the elevated sexuality our children are exposed to effect them negatively?

If you think that it's ok for your child to see a bare breast on television, fine, let him watch away, s/he's your kid. But I think parents who don't wish their children to watch such sexual stuff should be allowed to. I personally don't have a problem with other woman who wish to expose their bodies for money, it's their body, I don't give a shit.

But do you honestly think Janet did it to "make our children more sexually aware?" Hell no, she just did it because she needed something to make headlines and flashing nearly the whole cuntry is a good way to start.

[Nazgul35]

142. To quote an Aussie Minister...

"Thank God we got the criminals and the Americans got the Puritans!"

I am begining to wish it had been the other way around!

With the Puritan came all their sexual hang ups....

WIth sexual hang ups as with telling people pot will make you a crazed out druggie, anytime we over sensitize our children to the "evils" of a particular activity, and it turns out not to be soo bad...they no longer believe us when we warn them about really important stuff....

And trust me, as long as your children have their own rooms and a working hand, they're going to find out how much fun sex is all by themselves....

[Pithlet]

145. My kid sees breasts every day.

I breastfeed my baby, and my 3 year old doesn't even give it a second glance.

The reason this is so scandalous is because, for some reason, women's breasts have been sexualized to the point of absurdity. I've never understood it. It's a part of my body, just like any other. And CBS banked on that for publicity. Get people talking about boob exposure instead of the real issues. If people stopped getting so upset about it, it would become a non-issue, really.

[TopesJunkie]

147. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think. Think --

Give them all a long TIME OUT if they didn't turn away in horror! The little dirty young boys and girls must learn a lesson.

[TopesJunkie]

150. The kids are all right --

We teach our children rules regarding touching and the body in a matter of fact manner, along with the other rules of life, in increasing complexity as they develop. This fosters safety and understanding, and makes the unexpected much easier to discuss.

This was no big deal. It is now, thanks to people getting all upset about it. That's what cracks me up. Parents and moralists have such a tendency to feed their own fears and make the situation bad, when they had a wonderful teaching opportunity that they let go down the tube.

[ContraBass Black]

152. Funny,

I'm seeing outrage everywhere over Janet Jackson exposing herself, but it looked more to me like Justin Timberlake exposed her by force and without her prior knowledge.

[TopesJunkie]

153. Sure. Without her prior knowledge? --

She would have kicked his punk ass. The nipple was covered. It's clear that it was set up.

[geniph]

155. What I really wish

is that pretty much everyone's reaction would have been a shrug and "who gives a shit." They wouldn't stage these dumbass fake-assault stunts if they didn't generate so much publicity. I wish everyone was used enough to seeing nakedness - male and female - that it was no more shocking that having someone's knee forcibly exposed. If only the universal reaction had been, "what the hell did he do that for? That was stupid."

It's about time we grew the hell up and stopped reacting exactly the way the corporate persuaders expect. As a society, we're entirely too predictable.

[beyurslf]

156. I wouldn't want my 7 year old

to watch a half time show full of songs that say... I wanna get you naked... its hot in here so take off all your clothes.... i wanna rock your body...

all this while women wearing almost nothing grind against others and do all but simulate sex.

Any truly concerned parent would have turned that off long before Janet showed her breast.