John Ashton's Lack of Responsibility

Manchester Online: Sex scourge of Big Brother

BIG Brother's steamy scenes are encouraging young people to "play Russian Roulette" with sex, a top health boss said today.

In light of what the jackass says, "health boss" is not as appropriate as "official prude and professional health nanny-whining thug."

During last week's Big Brother, Stuart, a former pupil of King's School in Macclesfield and a psychology student at Leeds University, and Michelle, from Newcastle, crept into a makeshift tent under a table, where it was widely believed they had sex.

Something that happens thousands if not millions of times a day, right?

Prof Ashton said: "The impression is given that two people, who know little or nothing about each other's history, are having sex under a table.

"No consideration is given to the risks. There's no mention of safe sex or condoms and no obvious signs producers did anything to stop it or to counsel the couple on the dangers. Not only is this a new low in British television history, but it sends out a signal that casual sex with a comparative stranger, with no regard to the risks, is okay.

"If Michelle should become pregnant or if either one of the couple should pick up a sexually-transmitted infection, then the producers are culpable, in my view.

"They have put viewing figures above social responsibility and they deserve to be held to account for it.

"Programme makers, whether for film or television, need to be more responsible about how they portray sex."

© Copyright 2004 GMG Regional Digital.

If he wants to hold the people behind a TV show responsible for the actions taken and emotions felt by the show's viewers, then he should be held responsible for the searing disgust I feel towards him for saying it.

I don't care if a mini-series about the benefits of becoming a Satanist influences droves of people to take up the Dark Art. Those individuals made up their own minds with the information the integrated. They can uncritically accept what they see on TV and (as Professor Ashton just fucking assumes) believe what they see to be true and honest and good, or they can view what they see with skepticism and dig into the issues further.

I won't dispute the health benefits of being careful with sex nor the social and personal benefits of being respectful to your partners. I will dispute anyone who says implications, depictions, and hints towards sexual activity need to be plastered with disclaimers, warnings, cautions, and other things.

Posted by Drizzten at July 28, 2004 11:24 AM