Letters to the Editor
-
I worry for the future of our country
when I hear about that basic sort of ignorance.
Our failures to educate have been massive and ongoing for decades.
One result is the rampant superstition in our society. Another is the ignorance of and shame about sexuality. And another is our elected 'leaders'.
I'm hopeful that the basic level of education will improve in my life time. But seeing the forces arrayed against it, I sometimes despair.
-
What an interesting subject for a post
What a pity it isn't reported in PRINT, which is why I READ. Having no interest in watching somebody jawing a story at me, I won't be watching this. Instead, I think I'll go Google it and see if I can find it blogged somewhere.
Salon writers' childish desperation for face-time is getting old. Next time, do what journalists are supposed to do - WRITE IT.
-
Another video?
I find these videos super frustrating as I can’t listen to sound at the office (and I almost never read Salon at home). And two almost identical videos on the same day by the same person - it’s like you’re just begging your readership to go elsewhere today. I’m almost thinking this must be a mistake…
-
Yep, me too
I don't waste my time on slow, jerky, tedious video when I can read.
-
Please stop!
If I want videos, I'll go to YouTube or watch PBS. I can read much faster than I can sit through a clip, and I have no interest in listening to non-professional reporters read a story out loud. For the love of all that is holy, STOP posting these things!
-
Background music too loud
It may be my speaker settings but I couldn't hear anything the person was saying in this video.
-
Would it be possible...
To get logs of the videos as well? I read Salon while I'm at work, but I can't *listen* to Salon while I do my work!
-
Transcript (and Salon.com--you should provide this yourself)
Transcript:
Some parents in upstate NY are outraged that their 7th and 8th graders are going to be taking a sex-ed course that incorporates materials from Planned Parenthood. They collected 163 signatures opposing the class and started the website notinourschools.com. Surely the parents must be outraged over the mention of abortion, right? No. They’re outraged that the materials acknowledge that masturbation can be one of the sources of pleasure. One of the parents called this “quite unconscionable.” It seems to be the thinking that kids might not discover masturbation or sex if you don’t talk about it, which hasn’t worked so well for the county: It has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the state. For Salon.com, I’m Tracey Clark Flory.
-
Videos suck
Don't like em, I can read faster than listen to someone talk.
Plus, if I don't understand for some reason I can reread, hitting the back button the player is annoying and yes, like most people I read Salon at work, meaning NO SOUND!
-
Shame
I think masturbation is something that kids usually discover on there own...but it doesn't necessarily make for a good topic for a 7th or 8th grade class.
Most kids at age 13 know what sex is and have probably touched themselves at one point or another and already know about it. So discussing it in a class probably wouldn't hurt...It might even help individuals who need to speak about there bodies. So I wouldn't disapprove. The shame that many parents hold against sex education is just stupid.
Maybe they should set up letters to go home to parents asking for permission for such classes....And include in the letters that parents should consider discussing such issues with their kids.
I actually watched a movie the other night that aroused this topic for discussion with my significant other....It was called "Teeth".....Its about a girl who unrealistically has a big problem with vagina dentata...which was actually in one of broadsheets articles awhile back. At one point in the movie they are in a sex ed. class and just finishing a discussion about the penis....then the teacher asks them to turn over the page to see the...um...umhrrm...well...
The students are shocked to see that a sticker is covering up a picture of the vagina....The teacher tells them the school board had it covered because of explicitness...and one student asks how it's any different then them seeing the picture of the penis.....Dawn...the main character says, "because women have a natural modesty..." and everyone begins to laugh.
It was a pretty good movie...but most of the men in it where unrealistically big assholes....Still...If you like gory movies made to be funny...its a good one.
-
I hate to pile on the video complaints...
But I'm going to do it anyway. This story would be much better in print, or at least accompanied by a print version with the same content.
But I'm not going to complain about the Salon writers... I get the feeling that many of them are as annoyed by making these videos as we are having them forced on us.
It was a noble experiment and I understand the goal, but it's just not working. Please give us text!
-
This reminds me
of anti-drug classes. It seems the last thing they want to tell the kids is the truth. Like sex IS pleasurable and drugs DON'T fry your brain like an egg. Then they can't figure out why the kids don't take them seriously. Hmmm.
-
and I don't....
Hate the videos....when I'm kidless it's actually nice because It dissolves into my brain better....and takes less time to go through.
Plus it helps me figure out how to steal tracy's eyebrows.....I think I'll print out her picture and take it to my beautician and see what she can do.....
-
You kids these days, with your masturbation and your videos
And Salon needed to videoify this tiny little blurblet (120 words) ... why, exactly? I'm gonna theorize that the 60 word ad for Pfizer had something to do with it.
-
No videos gets my vote
Really, what is the point of video? As with others, I read Salon, because it is PRINT -- get it? Pictures of the people who blog are fine -- just give us a print version, please.
-
another instance of liberal blindness
in my community public schools moslims and other asians exempt their children from this sort of thing. They seem perfectly happy with what Ransom calls "ignorance" and "superstition." What do you say Ransom? Are those people stupid as the white people who don't want their kids exposed to this?
I see muslim girls in my community, working in various places and in the park, going for walks, going to school, wearing pretty light colored clothing that entirely covers their bodies, arms, legs, hair, and most of their faces even in the heat of summer. I know they are not having sex. They will never come home and talk about my baby daddy. They don't attend the prom and do dances that simulate sex acts. Yet, they seem well adjusted and happy, these modest well behaved young women. We could learn alot from them.
You liberals think us christians are "puritanical." You ain't seen nuthin' yet.