1.17.2008
Your Local Taliban
Over at El Otro Bloggo (the other blog), I wrote about a quintessential Utah story. Some students want to force Gold's Gym to get rid of R and PG-13 rated material on the TVs and put up blinds so they can't see the ladies in the aerobics classes work out in provocative clothing. Click on over there to read my denunciation.
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Hey friend~
ReplyDeleteAs a fit and attractive family, we work out at our local and friendly YMCA. It's a family thing...
But some women are in the classes to show off their assets and that's about it. They walk the same hallways & use the same drinking fountain/public space as me, my son and hubby. Just no way to avoid it.
And yes, we "see" these women and yes, it makes ME uncomfortable at the lack of discretion women have for their own bodies. They really have no clue.
I'm an east coast wife with moderate values -- one who appreciates fine art, expression and fashion. But I REALLY think this particular notion is a step in the right direction. As a society, we could do ourselves (and sex predators) a BIG favor by dialing down the decadence.
Shouldn't exposed body parts (ala R rated movies) be viewed in your living room, not my gym?
Do I really want my husband to see ripped women's sex organs bouncing around in lycra? Ouch.
So, while the students' request seems heavy handed, I simply ask: "Is there really anything wrong with keeping public space rated G ?"
I'm visually worn down from being lambasted with sex, sexual reference, provactive dress and the like. I have to constantly tune up my "sex" radar to protect myself and my family.
This isn't an LDS issue -- it's a family issue, a societal issue, a husband issue, a wife issue, a growing son issue and on and on and on...(and NO I'm not LDS)
So, having shared all of this -- which, subsequently, I could have cared less about 12 years ago-- I'm guessing this initiative might make more a little more sense in 5 or so years when your newlywed status has worn down a bit.
I am not trying to be funny, crass or rude...just honest.
And from one happily married woman: please guard your heart (through your eyes).
I am a firm believer in modesty, as seen in this
ReplyDeleteprevious post of mine. So for me, it isn't the fact that they don't want to be exposed to those things, it is how they did it. They went in there "demanding that the gyms..." and protesting. I think a better way to handle it would have been to politely ask the management to only play music that is free of expletives, or limit R rated movies to after a certain time, or whatever they wanted.
Businesses want customers to be happy and most likely would have complied but they seemed to make it a big public issue right away. And even if the gym refused to make those changes, then they could have said, okay, I am afraid I will be uncomfortable working out here and will be taking my business elsewhere.
lovemydrewbear - Just curious, but do you happen to live in Utah?
I probably would have felt like you do before I moved here. I personally think that women should dress more modesty and I don't like profanity filled songs but I still think that a business has a right to decide for itself.
Hi~
ReplyDeleteI live in Dayton (active duty AF wife). The past 13 years I've lived in Seattle, San Fran, Grand Forks, ND & Fairfax, VA. But, we are D.C. folks & will head back East mid-summer to settle down.
Briefly, back to the issue.
I went back & re-read the initial article -- feel their approach was reasonable, according to the report. People brought forth petitions, asked for certain changes & made their cause known. Nothing uber-force about it.
Yes, they will have cultural challenges to face on this front as this group seems distinctly principled. But, this is the starting process for any type of "reform".
To typify their action as "Your Local Taliban" or "quintessential Utah" is so knee-jerk & offensive. Actually, really offensive.
The point: this is an issue everywhere -- not just in Utah.
And it's bigger than racy gyms or "r" rated movies. Let's clean up the social environment already -- it's polluted. Relevant to this post, I think the gym is a great place to start reform on this issue.
So I responded...
Thanks for letting me share -- really enjoy your blog.
I agree that our society has gotten much more coarse and family-unfriendly, and that it is unfortunate. However, I think that this is first and foremost a freedom issue. These students don't have to go to this gym, and if they do, they don't have to look at TV screens or scantily-clad ladies. They shouldn't try to impose their preferences on the rest of the population. If the gym decides to change the TV programming to please its customers, that's great, and if enough customers complain, that will happen. However, these groups shouldn't be out protesting and making demands on a private business. It think its up to those who object to certain aspects of our culture to avoid them, rather than tell others how to live.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I appreciate your perspective.
I agree with Craig and Mackenzie: censorship shouldn't be ok just because you don't fancy what's being censored. If this were a different situation--maybe a Jewish group demanding that Pizza Hut stop serving pepperoni--everyone would be up in arms about their freedom to eat pig being infringed upon. This is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I actually agree with Tina, I most be wrong. Just kidding, but seriously, it is nice to finally agree with you about something political/social. :-)
ReplyDelete