Why is it?

Danalana wrote: I'm watching "Wife Swap" right now. One family is ultra-conservative and Christian. Of course, they have strived to make them look as weird as possible. The 16-year old son has a promise ring which, as you know, means he intends to remain abstinent until he is married. Well, of course, they're making that out to be the most terrible thing ever.
The other family is ultra-liberal. They let their kids look at porn and pretty much hook up with whoever they want to. Basically, there are no rules because "rules are controlling". Somehow, they are portrayed as the cool family.
Why does the media always make "religious" people/families look weird?
And what's wrong with rules?
It's just not very realistic. How many of you (religious or not) plan to encourage your kids to watch pornography when they get to be teenagers?

Sorry, I'm getting off my soapbox now.

Kaitlin'smom replied: they always go for the extreme oppsites.

sorry but there needs to be some rules, we all live with them everyday, if you raise your kids that rules are controlling, they might wind up in jail...and then the parent will wonder why? as for the promise ring I comend them, its not easy to do in todays world and I find that very sad. While I would not let her watch porn in her teen years I dont want to be sheltered her either, kinda hard to explain, basically I hope she woudl consider the idea that the promise rings hold but not be nieve about sex either.....does that make any sence?

Danalana replied: Yes, it does, Di! And it all worked out in the end....on both sides, I think

my2monkeyboys replied: They have to try to find the most extreme families, otherwise no one would watch it.
As for how the general public treats "promise rings," well, I think most people are ok with them, but I also think most people think they are a joke.

Danalana replied: I had a promise ring....and it wasn't a joke to me. But you're right-lots of people see it as a joke.

Calimama replied: That show is exaggerated beyond belief. I do notice what you're talking about... but then I also notice sometimes people who are not Christian get lectured.

Oh and I gotta add.. although it's exaggerated.. I still watch it a ton.

Danalana replied: Yeah, it really is exaggerated. Both mothers were obnoxious today!

Calimama replied: I could never do that show, because the second someone told Miabella that she doesn't need to say please and thank you, use manners, go to school.. etc.. I would flip out.

Danalana replied: I know...one time, the kids were told they didn't have to say maam and sir. That's right, don't want them to have respect!

CantWait replied: Awwwwwww no no porn for my children. Not until they're 18 and I won't be handing it to them.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Oh Dana, you do not want to get me started on this issue today.

Danalana replied:
Oh well, I'm over it. or maybe too tired to think about it anymore.

gr33n3y3z replied: I find that show annoying

Boo&BugsMom replied:
They seem to do things like this with the homeschooling families as well. They take the worse of any extreme and film them. Yikes! I can tell you, NONE of the homeschooling families that I know are anything like the ones I have seen on that show.

There was one episode that I remember that showed a punk-ish/alternative type family...skulls around their home, etc. The other mother was from a ultra conservative home, but it turned out that the punk-ish family were also Christians. I actually liked that one, because it taught that just because someone looks a certain way, it doesn't mean anything about who they really are.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:

Thank you! That does irritate me to no end!

Dana, I know exactly what you mean and I think it is just the way they have to portray our families to keep the 'those are the scary people...you don't want to be associated with them' feelings alive. I mean who is going to stand up for a group of people 'like that' when the going gets tough-KWIM? I am not saying I have never known people that truly are extreme in their religion but give me a break is it really a horrible thing that kids are taught to respect,believe, and (OH NO) PRAY that much?

OK Now I am off my soap box for the morning....I have another set of worksheets to explain!

msoulz replied:
As do I.

lisar replied:
Me to.

cameragirl21 replied: I haven't watched too much wifeswap but everytime I do I wonder how some people can live like that and want to flaunt it on tv.
I think any teenager would prefer parents who allow them to live without rules so of course those families will be portrayed as cool.
To me, both sides seem a bit extreme and unrealistic in the real world and I would just watch the show the same way I may watch a show like Cops--thanking God the whole time that those people aren't me.
I think wifeswap is designed to make people who are down in the dumps with their lives or bored with their lives realize just how blessed they really are.

Danalana replied: LOL, good point!