Sex, Lies and Social Media

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Boy, did I ever pick the wrong day to get ill and have to take a sick day. Monday was a confluence of the prurient sexual interests of the "lamestream media," comprised mostly of reporters whose intellectual development was stunted during pre-adolescence, and the prurient sexual interests of one equally pre-adolescent Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY).

The cable news day started with the John Edwards prosecution for paying hush money to his mistress and the mother of his love child, followed by the announcement of Rick "man on dog" Santorum that he is running a Christian Crusade campaign for the presidency. That "Santorum" Google search (NWS) might be a problem for him.

Throughout the day there were repeated references to all of the other recent sex scandals in politics. This was followed by a media carnival news conference in which provocateur Andrew Breitbart hijacked the microphone to play "I'm a victim of the left-wing media" card ahead of Anthony Weiner admitting that he engaged in phone sex and "sexting" with women that he had met through social media. Weiner claims that he never had actual sexual relations with any of these women, so I guess this may be the first "non-sex scandal" or "cyber-sex scandal" ("virtual sex scandal") in American politics?

By the end of the news day, I had to take a shower because I felt dirty. Is this what our "lamestream media" has become?

The KLPX 96.1 FM morning show years ago was Mike & Tyler, who oft repeated their rule for women, "never let your boyfriend take pictures of you naked" — because you know the pictures are going to get passed around, especially after you break up. This wise rule was before the prevalence of camera cell phones, YouTube, Twitter, and posting on the Internet. Nowadays the problem is people taking naked pictures of themselves with their camera cell phones and 'sexting" them to others or posting them on the Internet. I really don't get that.

I knew a guy a few years back who told me his marriage ended in divorce after his wife became heavily involved in a role playing Simulation Game online and "fell in love" with another online character, whom she sought out. I have to admit that I had never contemplated anything quite that crazy before, and I was left speechless. I didn't know what to say to console him.

I guess I have to concede that I am getting old. I just don't understand all of this sexual voyeurism/exhibitionism in social media. I grew up in the era of the supposed "sexual revolution," but that era was tame compared to what we are witnessing today.

There is serious cognitive dissonance in the American public and the media when it comes to sex. Americans are engaged in all kinds of freaky sexual stuff out there, most of which I really do not want to know exists, thank you very much.

But when it comes to our politicians, we apply a Puritanical standard of sex. It is as if we want to think of politicians as non-anatomically correct sexless robots. They exist to serve our needs, not to have any needs and desires of their own, certainly not sexual. We dehumanize them. And when politicians display that they are in fact human, that they have the same human frailties and predilections for freaky sexual behavior as the rest (some) of Americans, we are merciless in our condemnation of them. Bad robot!

This is not to excuse Anthony Weiner's behavior. What he did was adolescent and stupid. He left himself open to possible blackmail from individuals to whom he had sent his "sexting" messages. He had to know this was extremely risky behavior. If any of these women turn out to be underage, potentially he can be charged with a crime. His disrespect for his wife is shameful and inexcusable, and he knows it.

Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and DCCC Chairman Rep. Steve Israel have called for an ethics investigation in the House. This was meant to be a message to Anthony Weiner to do the right thing and resign to focus on getting his life and marriage in order. Leadership does not want an extended ethics investigation during an election year. Take the hint, Anthony. Do the right thing. And get some help.