The Bachelor... really?

I saw this post on a site called “Mamavision.com” and thought it was interesting.

I myself believe that a dozen women clawing and conniving and plotting to win the heart of one man in front of millions is ridiculous… but that’s just me. My mama always said, “Don’t compete or fight over a man” and that’s how I lived my life.

Anyway, here’s the website summary and some comments – what do you think?

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“I'm sorry but any woman who lines up for a cattle call for a chance to marry "some dude" is nuts. I mean really girls, where has our self esteem gone?”

The Bachelor

“I truly think this is pathetic. If one of my friends, or god forbid my daughter someday, wanted to go on this program I would be seriously worried about their mental health.

A. You don't line up for a husband under any circumstances.

B. You don't beg a guy to choose you.

C. You sure as hell don't go on national TV, stand in a room of other contenders, and start balling if you don't get "a rose." This all goes back to one simple thing – self esteem.

If these girls had any respect for themselves, they would not even dream of getting married this way (and none of you better either!)

I blame the rest on their parents, yes they are grown women, but for cripes sake can't we even raise a child with the confidence to stand on their own, know what they are worth, and not settle for less? The parents of these fine, smart women even participate in the selection process for goodness sake!

NOT normal. Rant over. Am I off my rocker? mV

COMMENTS:
“I do think the people that go on these shows are crazy and so are the people that go on those dating shows and compete to win the guy or girl. You can just see the low self esteem in the way they throw themselves at somebody they know almost nothing about. I’m sure some go on it to win money, some go for their 15 minutes of fame, and others… who knows? Still crazy though.”

“I find the whole concept insulting. I do think most of the women going on these shows are just out for their fifteen minutes though. If that’s any comfort… I appreciate the website. It’s nice to have a voice of sanity around.”

“I have never ever ever understood this show. A few years ago when I still lived at home my mom and younger sister LOVED it and I was just like, “why?!?!” It’s so insane. I feel that way about most reality shows. But something as significant as this is so disturbing.”

“B. You don’t beg a guy to choose you.”

“I would disagree with this one point. Situations in like aren’t always so simple that you can just have whoever you want with ease. “Don’t make someone a priority when they only make you an option,” I know. But I disagree, sometimes people are worth begging and waiting for.
And that has nothing to do with my self-esteem.”

“no no they are not do you really want to be with someone that you have to convince to be with you to actually beg - its pathetic.”

“I’m not saying everyone is worth it. Or even most. And I myself would never beg for anything, I’m too prideful and conscious for that. I am merely stating that neither life nor love are black-and-white games. Not to mention that I’d never be so selfish as to beg the one I loved to do something for me rather than him or herself, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth begging for.
If you aren’t willing to lower yourself to your knees for love, then you’re not loving.”

“Shouldn’t love be about standing equal.”

“Everyone has their own ideas of and standards for what loves is or should be. If I truly loved, I’d be willing to beg. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to, but it’s that I would be willing to that matters.”

WTF! (Watch the Family)

Maybe it’s just me, but while sharing this with all of you I still cannot fathom what possessed a major television network to air such a show in the middle of a weekday afternoon.

I was home from work last week nursing a cold, lying on the couch, and working the clicker when I came across a show called The Drs. It was 2:00 PM in the afternoon on Boston’s Channel 7 (WHDH and an NBC – affiliate) and appeared to be about health and well-being so I stopped to watch for a bit. What I saw shocked and angered me because I realized that at this time of day, many children were probably watching the same thing.

This particular episode was called “Your Most Embarrassing Sex Questions” which were to be answered by a panel of five doctors including that day’s guest panelist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer. I should have known right then that this was going to be somewhat graphic. The show was filmed in front of a small studio audience and included several people clad in hospital scrubs who would take turns standing up and spinning a wheel to see which doctor would answer a question supposedly emailed from regular viewers.

Though the show did open with the warning… Adult Material… Viewer Discretion Advised… I wondered how many kids left alone in a room to watch television would actually change the channel upon hearing those words? I mean, wouldn’t a growing, curious child keep a look out for mom and stay tuned because of that? I mean, NBC is not one of those cable channels that parents usually blocked, am I right?

Okay getting back to the show, the “hospital attendants” asked the doctors questions on topics such as why sex can be painful, self pleasuring, sex toys and -- I kid you not -- details on how to use a vibrator correctly. Terms like “orgasm”, “vagina”, “ejaculate”, “nipples” and, yes, “clitoris” were also used in their “clinical” explanations, however, I might add, were often said with rather sly smiles and in some cases embarrassing giggles by some doctors. My question is, why does the FCC have strict regulations on what body parts and language is allowed on nighttime television but not this stuff?

Sex education aside, isn’t there is a proper time and place for such discussions? It might be perfectly appropriate for adults to sit in an open forum and be given answers to their sexual questions by professionals, but is anybody else appalled at the timing and availability of such a production to children who may be too young for school or home from school? Parents and teachers clash over sex education and condoms being given out at school all the time. And I can understand the concern and the need for teaching young people how to take care of themselves and be safe. But on afternoon television with no filters?

Does anyone else worry about this stuff -- our poor kids are exposed to enough, don't you think?

A Martini a Day Keeps the Anxiety at Bay!

Just kidding, but after a tough week at the office, it's nice to relax and sip on a watermelon martini. Or a nice glass of chilled pino grigio. And it's okay for me to do so because it was my doctor that recommended it! See, I am the high strung kind of woman who constantly tries to figure out everything and everyone, always organizing things, and doesn't like to stop juggling all the balls I have in the air even for a moment. And heaven forbid I drop that quarter I'm holding between my cheeks!

For women like me, it may help to know that I practice a visualization before I go to sleep where I imagine actually putting all of the people in my life and the things I have on my mind, on the nightstand next to my bed so that I can fall asleep and not feel guilty for not thinking about them for 5 minutes. And not so much for the same reasons as a control freak, but more like those of a worry wart. That way I know that when I open my eyes in the morning, they will all be staring at me waiting for me to grab 'em and continue to obsess about them all over again!

So after my board meeting tonight I may just put on my PJs and sip on some vino... how about you?