Disclaimer: This is written from the point of view of an American, so references to certain aspects of the subject matter may or may not be relevant in your neck of the woods. Offer void in Tennessee and where prohibited.

For those who still listen to a fair amount of radio in their car, can you please tell me why people are listening to these morning shows? I love crude sexual humor as much as (or more than) the next guy or gal, but it's gotten so out of hand. Everyone is copying everyone else, trying to outdo the other guy, and for what? To tell you the truth, Howard Stern these days seems tame compared to what some of these local morning shows (and some of the less-popular syndicated shows like Don & Mike) are doing. This stuff is complete garbage and I don't know if anything they do is even funny anymore, it's just tawdry suggestive crap. ON A FSCKING RADIO. If I want my tawdry suggestive crap, I've got a cable modem connection and can find as much of it as I want.

So what is the attraction to these shows? What is it that they're doing that's so funny? And does anyone else think it's just gotten old, and is bordering on irresponsible and just plain wrong? The language they're using, while devoid of any of Carlin's seven words, is awful, and the subject matter is definitely not anything I'd want my kids listening to. And all this happens in a time slot that kids are very easily able to tune into.

By the way, the thing that got me on this topic is this "Hottest Teacher in Philly" contest by a radio station in Philly. Take a look for yourself and tell me if you think it's right. And don't be mistaken, I think many of those chicks are really hot, but the fact that a radio station is endorsing this kind of behavior in our teachers sickens me. As always, I welcome opposing points of view.

I don't listen to the radio much, and honestly I've never found that stuff entertaining at all. One of the last few things I heard on a local rock station in Houston before going completly Empeg was a contest where they'd select one male to fly out to somplace (I forget where) to select a porn star to sleep with. Their advertisment went something like "101 KLOL, the only radio station that will get you laid." Perhaps this is a normal thing, but it made me ill.

I agree with you, but, I think, not for the same reasons.

I've never found any DJ to be entertaining in the slightest. Other than, perhaps, Dr. Johnny Fever. Back in the good old days where they'd give you a little bit of commentary or whatever and put on some music, that was fine. But now (and, by ``now'', I mean years ago before I had an empeg, and, therefore, a vague reason to listen to the radio), I just end up screaming at the radio, ``Shut the fuck up and play some goddamn music!!!!''.

For one thing, they are almost never funny. And ostensible comedians who laugh at their own jokes irritate me to no end, even if said joke was funny to begin with. And they're so remarkably stupid and arrogant, too.

If they're not going to announce what that song was they just played, they're completely useless as far as I'm concerned, regardless of the propriety of their banter.

But at least they play about four songs every two hours, and actually change one out every month or so, so that makes up for it.

I find most of these boobs on the radio simply boring.

But of all the potentially offensive things they do I find it interesting that the hot teacher contest got you upset. What's wrong with teachers feeling sexy and wanting to show it on their own time? Should their personal lives and expression be restricted because they chose to be teachers?

-Dylan

And does anyone else think it's just gotten old, and is bordering on irresponsible and just plain wrong?

Yep.

Should their personal lives and expression be restricted because they chose to be teachers?

Yes. And believe me, this is not the kind of stance that I usually take on these types of issues, I am normally all for free speech, especially when it involves naked chicks.

But teachers are not just responsible for teaching kids who discovered America and how to do long division. They're there to inspire them, supervise them, and be role models. Now, hopefully kids have more role models at home, in their religious groups, etc. that they don't need to lean on a teacher for guidance in any really important manners. But the simple fact is, many don't. Teachers are basically a kid's parents between the hours of 9-3, and for homes where the kids come home to an empty house, teachers may be the adults that a kid spends more time with than any other.

I'm not talking about high school kids here, because I know that by age 16 or 17, most kids these days are already getting blowjobs in between classes and getting high during study halls. And with all the press that these teacher-student sex stories have been getting, posing semi-nude seems pretty darn tame. But some of those teachers are kindergarten teachers, 3rd grade teachers, etc. At those impressionable ages, I do not think that any kid should have to be asking their teacher why they posed half-naked for a stupid radio promotion. There is absolutely no way that the kids will not find out about it, and thus the school administrators would find out about it. If I were a school administrator and one of my 4th grade teachers was involved in this contest, I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of her. Let the ACLU beat down my door, but I think it sets such a bad example, and I know that if she doesn't get fired, the parents of the kids are going to beat down the door even harder than the ACLU will.

This is definitely an issue that goes against my normal grain... So I don't know if it's even legal to fire someone over something like this, something tells me it might not be. But I think it's really shameful that these women chose to do this, knowing that within minutes, their students are going to be looking at the pictures on the Internet. I just value education (especially at the primary and secondary levels) very much, and think that teachers should make better choices.

Having said all of this, I absolutely positively wanted to nail my French teacher in 9th grade.

This all assumes the stance that nudity is immoral.

I dunno. Howard Stern has made many of my commutes tolerable... In fact, when I listen to his show, I often can't get out of the car because I want to hear what happens next!

I like Jackass too. Adolescent humor is sometimes fun.

- Jon

True. But I have never found either of those things to be humorous.

This all assumes the stance that nudity is immoral.

If you saw my porn collection, you would understand that's not my position. I am a huge fan of nudity, and don't think it's immoral at all. I wholly support a person's right to get naked, or in these teachers' cases, semi-naked.

As a matter of fact, the photos themselves are generally tame, and you can see worse at any beach, shopping mall, reality TV show, etc. It's not about the nudity. It's about the message it sends to young girls, and even to the boys who are now going to be popping chubbies in their classes instead of paying attention. I know that the "objectification of women" argument is kind of tired, and even mainstream women are saying that they're proud to show what they have and be beautiful. And I for one am 100% in favor of that. But I think that in an era when kids are being bombarded with mixed messages about sex, it'd be nice if at least the teachers could set a better example.

I guess I'm on my own on this one.

I guess I'm on my own on this one.

Not totally alone . . . though you can probably guess I take a much stronger stance against public nudity in general. But I'd agree that the teacher thing is a bad example and in poor taste.

I think the biggest crime is the lack of humor in those captions. Wow are those lame. They read like that guy on your college dorm hall who wanted to write for Maxim but wasn't very good.

I'm a Don & Mike fan, but I haven't listened to them in years and years. Even then, I only listened for a very small time. I mainly like them because they live in my area, and one of their kids (either Mike's or the other Mike's) went to my middle school.

To give you an idea, the last time I listened to them was when Tickle-Me-Elmos were huge. They somehow got ahold of like 20 of them, and were running a bunch of contests to give them away. I thought it got pretty funny.

But I guess I can't comment. I've never really found any DJs funny, so whatever they do doesn't bother me.

Oh, and that Lisa is extremely hot.

If you're in favor of nudity, then what is the better example that can be set?

If you're in favor of nudity, then what is the better example that can be set?

Deep-throating a 14" long sausage before roll call?

I just graduated from high school, and work at a local Coffee shop.. lets just say I totally feel that some of these talk shows are responsible for the reason I have to kick kids off of my stores premises on a daily basis... they all listen to the radio at all times of the day, they think that the stuff they listen to is humerous and act it in public.. the worst part is they are all younger then me and think they are more mature because they act and dress the way they do... honestly its humiliating being assosiated with them... howard stern has always been cool... but the so called "tame" stations advertize rude and crude behavior on a less noticable wave.

And I have NO idea why people listen to this... if I wanna hear talking.. I'll listen to the news... not something that most likly iisn't even happening

Offer void in Tennessee and where prohibited.

Please clarify, my sister lives in Chattanooga - what makes it different to the rest of the US? - just for the benefit of someone the other side of the pond!

Yes, this contest is despicable...but I had to vote for #2. WOW

What is funny is a matter of personal opinion and usually offends someone. That fact that this crap is openly on the air makes it harder to raise kids with proper morals. Should it be banned? I dont think so.

I believe he was just making fun of the endless parade of qualifications you often hear at the end of advertisements and offers. Tennessee is not particularly different than the rest of the deep South, other than regular interstate differences.

Yeah. I pick Tennessee because it seems they're always one of the exceptions. The Simpsons has picked up on this as well:

From Treehouse of Horror VI:

Lisa: Hey, Springfield! Are you suffering from the heartbreak
of...Monster-itis? Then take a tip from Mr. Paul Anka!
[Paul waves, begins playing a small synthesizer and singing]
To stop those monsters, one-two-three,
Here's a fresh new way that's trouble-free.
It's got Paul Anka's guarantee...[winks]
Lisa: [singing] Guarantee void in Tennessee.

I also have heard the quote "Valid in 49 states - Sorry Tennessee!" but I can't remember where that one comes from.

It's got Paul Anka's guarantee...[winks]
Lisa: [singing] Guarantee void in Tennessee.

One might argue that they used it just because ``guarantee'' and ``Tennessee'' rhyme.

"Monsterssssss...Monstersssss.....It'll sound alot better comin' out of Paul Anka"


I think it's just one of those phrases that catches on. Instead of naming certain states I think they now just say "Void where prohibited."

And I was sitting here thinking that the European Union was a beaurocratic nightmare!

One might argue that they used it just because ``guarantee'' and ``Tennessee'' rhyme.

Yeah, one might..

Yes, this contest is despicable...but I had to vote for #2. WOW

Yeah, she's going to win it. If you read the fark.com discussions on this contest, someone found a link to a bunch more pictures of her on a "girl next door" type modeling page or something. So she's obviously not interested in being a teacher in the future, it just happens to be what she's doing now. I'd personally rank #'s 5, 15, and 9 ahead of her, but I'm quite sure #2 will win the contest.

Should it be banned? I dont think so.

The freedom of expression advocate in me agrees with you. I am generally never in favor of anything that limits free speech. I guess my emotion is more disappointment than outrage.

I'd personally rank #'s 5, 15, and 9 ahead of her

Despite our differences on the ... decency ... involved in this issue, we seem to have similar tastes in women.

but I had to vote for #2. WOW

totally in agreement to that

... though you can probably guess I take a much stronger stance against public nudity in general

If God wanted us to walk around naked, we would be born that way

Sorry, I could not resist.

<rant reply=optional>
Or, more seriously, what is exactly wrong with nudity (non-commercialized, plain enjoy-the-sun/wind/sea kind of nudity as, say, in nudist camp)? Then, what is wrong with commercialized nudity of, say, a model who sells his/her looks as opposed to, for example, politicians who modify their 'sincere convictions' to opinion-poll results? Is modeling one's hair in shampoo commercial OK? Legs? At which body part it stops being OK and why?
</rant>

#5 is certainly the cutest....

WOW. Yeah, for that Lisa I was also thinking "Maxim, here I come." Just WOW.

#5 is cute, but not the hottest, which is what the contest is for. She looks a bit like Maura Tierney.

If God wanted us to walk around naked, we would be born that way

Then, what is wrong with commercialized nudity of, say, a model who sells his/her looks

Of course the understanding here is that we're coming from two different perspectives, and I'm going to try and not get too deep into it (though I always fail at that don't I?). The following of course flows out of a religious conviction I fully expect most people don’t share.

I think that the root problem is lust, or the aforementioned “objectification of a person”. This doesn’t simply mean “promoting a person’s gifts” such as a pretty face or a good voice. When using pornography men (or women) experience the trappings of intimacy without the substance of it. This is not how sexual attraction was meant to be exhibited. Sex is a wonderful, intimate experience between a husband and a wife where two people physically express their relationship to one another. When sex becomes a one-sided experience, however, it is turned from a positive experience into a negative one.

How all this relates to nudity? The truth is that in a perfect world there would be no lust, and therefore public nudity would not be an issue (see the Garden of Eden before the apple incident). However we do lust (or most of us do) and therefore there is a problem. You can argue (correctly) that the human body can be admired in a non-lustful way, but it’s fairly clear that the pictures posted above, and pornography in general, are attempting to play upon lustful desires: these women’s bodies are being used by men to satisfy sexual desires without regard to the women themselves. I don’t know about nudist colonies, having never been to one. I know that I would be probably very lustful with a bunch of naked women around, but I think that perhaps nudist colonies aren’t intended to promote wanton lustful desires (or maybe they are, someone who knows more can tell me).

I could say more, but that’s about the core of my feelings on the subject. I’m already sounding pretty judgmental, but really I’m just stating how I see sex and nudity from my belief system. If you think that lust is natural and good (or at least not bad), then clearly my above arguments carry no weight. I, of course, do think that lust is not a good thing and thus feel that promoting it in any way is not a good thing.