Nation of Weiners

[marmar]

from truthdig:




Nation of Weiners

Posted on Jun 17, 2011
By Peter Z. Scheer


I pretty much lost it while watching David Gergen, a veteran of the Nixon White House, trying to make sense of sexting. The CNN analyst surely witnessed his share of villainy in that administration and the three others he served in, and he probably has no problem comprehending something like the illegal bombing of Cambodia or welfare reform. But who sends pictures of his penis to strangers?

A lot of people, as it turns out. There is a culture gap in this country, between people who are happy to enjoy what’s left of their privacy and people who just don’t think about it. It’s not that No. 1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden wanted to expose his penis to fans—it just never occurred to him that anybody but his lady friend would get a peek. There are a number of professional athletes—and at least one politician—for whom the previous sentence would work.

There is a generation of Americans that has grown up in a surveillance state, people who have adapted to constant monitoring by going even further and exposing themselves and the minutiae of their personal lives. Of course there’s a difference between broadcasting your reaction to the last episode of “Game of Thrones” and sending someone a testicle close-up, but both seem to inspire the same kind of incredulity in those who can’t imagine the impulse to do either.

This of course doesn’t explain Anthony Weiner, who has his own issues, and it is not meant to excuse his being a shitty husband or a lame older guy on the prowl for young women. It does, however, shed light on the rhetorical acrobatics of one news pundit after another struggling to decipher the moral implications of a “crime”—sexting and its social media equivalent—that for younger viewers has potential to embarrass but is considered common. As one college student recently explained to me, as if I were a cave man unfrozen from a time when word got around on smoke signals and shadow puppets passed for entertainment, it means “sexy texting.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/nation_of_weiners_20110617/

[patrice]

1. I'd like to see some simple wild-ass guesses as to how many American men are sitting on the sideline

s in this "issue" and thinking "WTF! is the big deal here!!!????"

I'll open the bidding at 50% - maybe they wouldn't do it themselves, maybe they don't even really "approve" of it, but they sure as hell don't think it is the great crime a lot of people seem to think it is. Maybe the just regard it as somewhat worse than saying "fuck" in the wrong social environment.

[xchrom]

2. i thought the whole this was an 'amuse bouche'.

have some yucks at his expense and move on.

[xchrom]

3. damn hiccup. nt

[patrice]

4. .

:hi: Have a good day, xchrom! :hi:

[xchrom]

5. merci!!!

:hi:

[zalinda]

6. Actually there are a lot of women who are asking the same question.

Men do not lose their balls when they get married. Some men love the hunt, but don't necessarily give in to the 'kill' or in this case, the bedding. There are also married women who flirt, maybe not so blatant, but will wear deep cut outfits that you swear must be staying up by magic. Men are not aa subtle, although some have been known to stuff socks into their pants.

Is it dancing a fine line for these flirting people? Yes, it is, which may be one of the reasons it is more exciting. When people tend to think that all they are is a body, they worry about their attractiveness to a potential partner. 'Flirting' is a way to pump up the old ego, without betraying their spouse.

zalinda