NationStates Jolt Archive

After watching an episode of 8 simple rules (groan!) This thought came to mind.

Back in the 50s, the woman would stay home, cook, clean, care for the kids and all that jazz. The dad would come home, belt out the discipline (pun intended) eat his dinner, and be done with it. The ladies at that time were very submissive, and often in TV shows we're...well...stupid. The father was like a hero, a walking dictionary and had the courage of a lion.

I had a problem with this. The ladies always seemed so clueless, always getting captured, always gossiping with the church ladies. Too typecasted.

Nowadays, we seem to have the opposite.

The woman is usually the lady in charge. In fact, she is the smart one. Whenever there is a household problem, she manages. She also does the cooking and cleaning, and manages to maintain a very good love life. The man is her lapdog. He doesn't know where the dirty clothes go, he burns things in the microwave, he doesn't know squat about parenting or dealing with issues. All he knows how to do is mess things up, sit on the couch and watch "The Game".

I have a problem with this too. Now don't go off saying "well, Terecia is one of those feminist haters", because that's absolutely false. What I want is a show where you have two intelligent people dealing with problems. And trust me, if we did that, shows would still be funny.

Does anyone else find this really irratating?

I find it annoying as well. God I hate "Yes, Dear".

It's ok to discriminate against men because feminist do not care about them.

It's ok to discriminate against men because feminist do not care about them.

It's also ok to discriminate men because Women are still being "oppressed" by the male regime, and they must break their bondage and become Super Women!

It's not OK to discriminate against anyone, case closed.

It's not OK to discriminate against anyone, case closed.

I know, I was being sarcastic.

It's also ok to discriminate men because Women are still being "oppressed" by the male regime, and they must break their bondage and become Super Women!
I liked feminism when it was still about raising women to mens' level in society, instead of just lowering men to their level.

I know, I was being sarcastic.

I didn't even read your post, I was just stating my opinion on the issue,

I liked feminism when it was still about raising women to mens' level in society, instead of just lowering men to their level.

Eh I just hate the angry womens who hate men for the fact that they are male.

It's not OK to discriminate against anyone, case closed.
What about Nazi's?

After watching an episode of 8 simple rules (groan!) This thought came to mind.

Back in the 50s, the woman would stay home, cook, clean, care for the kids and all that jazz. The dad would come home, belt out the discipline (pun intended) eat his dinner, and be done with it. The ladies at that time were very submissive, and often in TV shows we're...well...stupid. The father was like a hero, a walking dictionary and had the courage of a lion.

I had a problem with this. The ladies always seemed so clueless, always getting captured, always gossiping with the church ladies. Too typecasted.

Nowadays, we seem to have the opposite.

The woman is usually the lady in charge. In fact, she is the smart one. Whenever there is a household problem, she manages. She also does the cooking and cleaning, and manages to maintain a very good love life. The man is her lapdog. He doesn't know where the dirty clothes go, he burns things in the microwave, he doesn't know squat about parenting or dealing with issues. All he knows how to do is mess things up, sit on the couch and watch "The Game".

I have a problem with this too. Now don't go off saying "well, Terecia is one of those feminist haters", because that's absolutely false. What I want is a show where you have two intelligent people dealing with problems. And trust me, if we did that, shows would still be funny.

Does anyone else find this really irratating?
I enjoyed sitcoms when I was five. I kinda grew out of them at seven or eight. Says something about most other people, eh?

It's also ok to discriminate men because Women are still being "oppressed" by the male regime, and they must break their bondage and become Super Women!

It can't be Wonder Women, because Wonder Woman doesn't want to break her bondage. ;)

It can't be Wonder Women, because Wonder Woman doesn't want to break her bondage. ;)

No she doesn't and we love her for that. :D

I enjoyed sitcoms when I was five. I kinda grew out of them at seven or eight. Says something about most other people, eh?

I didn't want to watch it, my brother wouldn't change the channel.

I didn't want to watch it, my brother wouldn't change the channel.

Were you duct taped to the sofa?

What about Nazi's?

Nope, they have just as much right to free speech as anybody else.

To deny them that right is to lower yourself to their level.

I didn't want to watch it, my brother wouldn't change the channel.
Go into your room and snatch the PS2 and play stuff.

...ya know...if you have a game system and TV in your room...like I do...

Nope, they have just as much right to free speech as anybody else.

To deny them that right is to lower yourself to their level.

How about Hitler? Can we discriminate against Hitler?

How about Hitler? Can we discriminate against Hitler?

In what way?

In disallowing him the freedom to speak openly about his views, provided he doesn't incite violence? Nope.

You can't do that and claim to be a society that allows (almost) lfreedom of speech.

Nope, they have just as much right to free speech as anybody else.

To deny them that right is to lower yourself to their level.
But their level is so much more fun.

But their level is so much more fun.

Yet so much more dangerous and right-infiringing.

Yet so much more dangerous and right-infiringing.
Well nothing's perfect.

I liked feminism when it was still about raising women to mens' level in society, instead of just lowering men to their level.

Since when is it about either?

Does anyone else find this really irratating?
Uh ... "Desparate Housewives" anyone?

It's also ok to discriminate men because Women are still being "oppressed" by the male regime, and they must break their bondage and become Super Women!



No.

No.

I was being sarcastic.

What about Nazi's?
Fine, you're allowed to discriminate against stupid people.

Nope, they have just as much right to free speech as anybody else.

To deny them that right is to lower yourself to their level.
There's a difference between denying someone their rights and discriminating against them. For example, if I owned a business and was hiring, I would most likely not hire a Nazi, as per the fact that I'd consider it a negative character flaw, and not an innate feature of the individual, such as skin color.

There's a difference between denying someone their rights and discriminating against them. For example, if I owned a business and was hiring, I would most likely not hire a Nazi, as per the fact that I'd consider it a negative character flaw, and not an innate feature of the individual, such as skin color.

So it's OK to not hire someone based on their political or religious affiliation?

I enjoyed sitcoms when I was five. I kinda grew out of them at seven or eight. Says something about most other people, eh?
What a deliciously stupid thing to say. :)

So it's OK to not hire someone based on their political or religious affiliation?
Oh, certainly not, unless that political or religious affiliation shows the potential for causing conflict in the office. Or possibly to use it as a way to determine a portion of an individuals character. For example, I also wouldn't hire a cultist who might disrupt the stability of my workplace.

What a deliciously stupid thing to say. :)
Why's that?

So it's OK to not hire someone based on their political or religious affiliation?
Well, if the person had to work with customers, would you really want to hear "WHO SAID YOU COULD TALK GOOK?"

There IS a simple solution to this problem.

Soap, Oxygen, WE and any other 'womens' networks Im forgetting are to be shut down, and their owners executed. Spike can die as well, since it doesnt show anything good, although I do occasionally enjoy an episode of DS9...but its not worth it for the other crap.
SUPPORT NON-DISCRIMINATORY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS!

Why's that?

Does the personal preference of one person say anything about the rest of the population?

Does the personal preference of one person say anything about the rest of the population?
Perhaps it does. On the other hand, perhaps it doesn't. I left it up to the interpretation of the reader.

Perhaps it does. On the other hand, perhaps it doesn't. I left it up to the interpretation of the reader.

If anything, it says something about you.

If anything, it says something about you.
Yes. It says I have better taste than crappy sitcoms.

There IS a simple solution to this problem.

Soap, Oxygen, WE and any other 'womens' networks Im forgetting are to be shut down, and their owners executed. Spike can die as well, since it doesnt show anything good, although I do occasionally enjoy an episode of DS9...but its not worth it for the other crap.
SUPPORT NON-DISCRIMINATORY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS!
FALSE!
It's the only basic cable station that has UFC.

Married With Children definitely had this bias.

I didn't want to watch it, my brother wouldn't change the channel.
Older brother or younger brother?

Older brother or younger brother?

Older, but he acts much younger. But it wasn't a matter of just getting up and changing the channel. My dad just got back from work, and he hates any other noise than nescessary. So if I did just walk up and change it, he would whine and I would get a solid smack to the upside of my head.

I couldn't "go play the ps2" because I just beat Metal Gear Solid 2, so I have nothing to work with, again. Give me a break people, I hate the show too!


And stop with the idiotic flame wars. This is about men, and women, and how both situations are really unequal.

And yeah Eut, I avoid Desperate Housewives like the plague. I don't even want to know what it's about.

Sometimes though, when you don't have cable TV, you either watch those freaking sitcoms or public TV asking for your money. Once in a while though, ou see those awesome reruns of the totally on acid Bob Ross!

I had also noticed this. I think it is really unfair. I'll have more on this topic later.

Older, but he acts much younger. But it wasn't a matter of just getting up and changing the channel. My dad just got back from work, and he hates any other noise than nescessary. So if I did just walk up and change it, he would whine and I would get a solid smack to the upside of my head.
A few word of advice for you: Peanut butter and laxative sandwich. Of course, assuming your brother likes peanut butter.

FALSE!
It's the only basic cable station that has UFC.

Why would you want to watch two Idiots beat the crap out of each other for money?

about as much fun as watching water boil

A few word of advice for you: Peanut butter and laxative sandwich. Of course, assuming your brother likes peanut butter.

and wash it down with a nice cool epicac smoothie.

if you had explosive diarrhea and unstopable puking, which end would you stick in the toilet?

Does anyone reading this thread think of the women stereotype being Edith Bunker?

I sure did.

Then the current anti-male bias can be shown best in Al Bundy.

A few word of advice for you: Peanut butter and laxative sandwich. Of course, assuming your brother likes peanut butter.

Very funny you mention that. My brother and I had a really big arguement, and peanut butter (well, peanut butter flavored) stuff was a part of it.

Does anyone reading this thread think of the women stereotype being Edith Bunker?

I sure did.

Then the current anti-male bias can be shown best in Al Bundy.

I really really hate that show. He is a complete dumbass, as well as his neighbor. (Dateline did a show on the actor for the neighbor, he tends to wreck a lot of shows.)

Pretty much every US sitcom that's been out over the last few years has followed the same pattern of dumb, childish guy who hates responsibility and is always looking for the most fun thing to do and strong, independent wife who tolerates his childishness, solves the problems he gets himself into and invariably puts him down with sarcastic wisecracks.
Everybody loves Raymond (NO THEY DON'T!!!)
Yes, dear
Home Improvement
8 Simple Rules
Grounded for Life
My Wife and Kids


Why is this?
No idea. I have a few suggestions:
I suspect that if they did the reverse (of having an infantile wife and strong, supportive husband) they'd have NOW baying for their blood. But when the reverse happens (as it has had in pretty much every sitcom) there's just a deafening silence. Any man who complains is put down as a whiner who should get a thicker hide if he can't handle being made a joke of.

Possibly most sitcoms are watched by woman, so they're merely targeting their audience. Ppl invariably prefer to laugh at others rather than themselves and so the target audience (women) enjoy watching men being made idiots of instead of women.

It's meant to be fantasy. The target audience, let's assume, is married women in their 30s/40s. Everybody loves being told they're the most important and better. So sitcoms reflect that - the guy is a dumb oaf and the woman is the intelligent one. Haven't you ever noticed how the wife is always really good looking and intelligent while the husband is a fat dumb ugly guy? Sitcoms are just reflecting the common fantasies of the target audience.


Does bring up some issues about how men are portrayed in the media and how this could affect the development and maturity of the next generation of men. These sitcoms are just reinforcing the idea that men are childish buffoons who have to rely on women to help them. It also reinforces the idea that marriage isn't between equals, yet is almost Oedipidal in that they wife is more of a mother than a wife, looking after the childish husband.



Personally, I blame Bush for this.

Why?

Because him getting into power pushed America towards the Christian Right. The big networks follow whatever they think is the safest path - in this case family-oriented sitcoms, where the guy is an idiot and the wife is intelligent (ie Bush family).

Look at the 90s when we had Clinton. We had far edgier sitcoms, which reflected the Network's beliefs that the US was ready for Liberal ideas. So we had sitcoms which weren't about married couples but were about groups of professional friends who were looking more for short-term relationships not long-term ones (ie. Seinfield, Just shoot Me, Spin City, Friends). We even had sitcoms about gays (Will & Grace) and had edgy, pushing-the-envelope sitcoms (Southpark, Family Guy). Even when they did do family sitcoms, they were twisted a bit (eg. Malcolm in the Middle).

Don't believe me?

Go back another decade to the 80's when the Far Right was in power again and traditional values were being pushed politically at every opportunity. What sort of sitcoms were there? Again, family-oriented ones. Cosby Show, Family Ties, Who's the Boss, Growing Pains, Full House...

And now, aside from Arrested Development and Curb your Enthusiasm, we have just shitty, tired, predictable family sitcoms.


Republican President = shit sitcoms.
Dem Pres = good sitcoms.

Surely there's no better reason to vote Democrat, is there?