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The ABC affiliate in Washington is airing a two-part series that takes a close - and unobscured - look at breast self-exams. The series is airing during the fall "sweeps" period critical for a TV station's ad revenue, prompting concern by a parental watchdog group.
My wife just lost her mother to breast cancer so I think it's a great idea. We as a country need to stop being so afraid of seeing the human body in a public forum (as long as it's tasteful, obviously). I would have no problem with my children watching this.
When I had "the talk" with my son, we looked at tasteful pictures of the naked body so he could ask questions and it has made all the difference for him. Lighten up America.
#1 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:25 AM EDTI think it's a great idea. But the unfair thing is that testicular cancer is a problem, too, yet there's no way in hell they'll ever allow that service to be shown on t.v. - a man being taught how to examine their testicles.
Why not? A well prepared video, showing only the testicles, covering the penis, can certainly provide some useful information and a demonstration without showing all the parts in that area. A simple statement that they are about to show the breast exam, or the testicular exam, and that those who do no wish to watch or have their children watch, will be given 30 seconds to turn away, seems reasonable to me. If we all stop tittering about the human body when focusing on the medical, maybe more people would go for exams, and certainly, more would do self exams.
Other than some giggly snickering adolescents, I don't see why anyone would have a problem with this. You can find much less clinical applications of bare breasts by hooking up to facebook or youtube. At least this is performing a needed public service. We are no longer in the Victorian era and it is time for folks to abandon the "fainting couch" and realize that this is a medical discussion and not an opportunity for school-boy voyeurism. I applaud the station in question for having the courage to do what is right and risk taking some "ill-informed and immature" heat for it. Bravo! Just sayin'
It gives the term"boob tube" a whole new meaning.
coloradoan--HA! beat me to it..
Given the setting, nature of the talk, seriousness of it and focussing on cancer I doubt even the immature will find anything "erotic" about this. They may talk differently later with their friends to sound "cool" or whatever, but no; this is no where near crossing the line and if anything HAS to save some.
Now, if they did this at the beach during spring break or at Heff's house, then yeah.... could be a problem. Actually, though kidding, that does bring up a point... should the "implanted" risk-takers not bother to watch? I doubt they'd be able to check with any accuracy.
I don't find the described segment offensive at all. here is my problem with it. This is a first step to non medical nudity on regular TV. 20 years ago you could not show a woman in her bra on TV. Then it was reasonably argued that bras are an important part of women's apparel and company such as sears and JC-Penny should have the right to advertise underwear to women. The argument succeeded and we were all greeted to what was for me, the first time I had ever seen video of a liver person in a bra. It was indeed tasteful at the time, but I don't think anyone can argue that what we see today has gone well beyond tasteful.
You are going to see this follow the same pattern as the bra did. It will go in stages.
Stage 1. You can display a breast on TV but only in a medical sense.
Stage 2. You can display a breast on TV but only in a non-sexual manner.
Stage 3. You can display a breast but only in a moderately sexual manner.
Stage 4. You can display a breast but not if you can also see a vagina.
The vagina thing will be a whole other revolution. This is not where I think regular television should be going.
All kidding aside, breast cancer is a very serious subject. If these shows can save lives, then I have no problem with them whatsoever.
You can Youtube any breast exam you want. It should not be shown on mainstream tv. This just allows for the next thing..jeez they won't even show full frontal of a man at the movies barely w/o giving it an X rating but full frontal women are fair game..and don't give me that crap about a little tallywacker being porn..ain't buyin it. This should not be shown on tv.
I wonder..how many Pro breast exams on tv are men....once again more demoralizing women. Sorry but this has no place on regular tv..its bad enough every time I turn on the medical channel..all they ever show is babies bein born..enough already. Its old. Its done. Cable sucks anyway..so who cares.
bonus---boobs, breasts, whatever we're calling them here arent sex organs and that is significantly different.
this is like the breast feeding in public thing....how can any intelligent person object to a mother and baby doing something so natural. and every time i've ever seen it the mother was extremely careful to not expose herself. it's not about exhibitionism.
personally i'm in favor of women showing whatever they want anywhere but thats another story. it has a medical value even though some will watch just for a glimpse......SO WHAT! it's not you.
Will they be showing men how to check for breast cancer? Although it is rare, men can get breast cancer also.
ModerationInAllThings - It would depend on how the implant was placed and how big the size of implant is. Some implants are placed behind the breast tissue, so those with implants would have a better chance of finding lumps. Also when feeling for lumps, the area of search also extends to the glands in the underarm area.
You need to crawl back into your Victorian cave and stay there. That is the most ridiculous set of statements in the world. G-d forbid someone you know and love (even you) should have a tumor and it goes unchecked because you don't/won't know how to do a self check. Grow up already. This is 2009 not 1936!
I am a nurse. Iam a man. I am pretty tired of seeing people die when they dont have to die.
When we were in the islands my kids saw women topless and thought nothing of it. Make it ok - and it will be ok - Stop with the sensationalizing and let people learn how to save their own lives.
i cannot tell you how many lives i have saved by educating. hopefully one of them was your family member.
What ever Dina..BREAST exams with nudity does NOT belong on tv. I don't care what you call me..or how you try to intimidate me. I have a knot under my right arm that needs to be checked. I don't live in a cave and in case you haven't noticed its dated on here for you oct 30,2009..so I don't live in the victorian age either. Our country is going down the drain. Nudity does not belong on regular cable. That is why they have Pay channels DINA. You can let your husband oogle other womens breast all you want..and if your kids see it they will disrespect women even more. I am sick of the crap on tv..even the trailer for the 2012 movie..tells kids..the world is ending...tv is sick. And You can't get up and change the channel because Dina there is nothing on the other channels either. So shut up..and I don't care if I get suspended for telling you that. get it? good.
anomalee23 You are too funny. Hope to read more of your posts. Love your avitare by the way.
anomalee23 You are too funny. Hope to read more of your posts. Love your avitare by the way.
mini mike...thank you she looka just like me :)
This is no great concern, most civilised countries have no problems
showing women's breasts in such things as bra ads etc.
I think it's a great idea.
I hope the parents watchdogs group kid's don't have internet access,
if so they are in for a real shock.
#2 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:50 AM EDTthese are the same parents who are surprised when their 16 year old is magically a parent
The producers simply have to make sure to use ugly or unattractive women in the demonstrations.
For a related story see:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/12_year_old_boy_scouts_volunteer
#3 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:58 AM EDTGood for them. Ratings grab or not, this is an example of the positive potential of television--to inform, teach, and transmit important information.
I rarely watch television, but when I do I'm always surprised at how much grimmer and even-more violent the programs have become since the last time I watched. Yet we've all had so much shame pounded into us that we still have hangups about showing nudity.
Free your mind!
#4 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:03 AM EDTOoooh - bare breasts! Why is this even a news story? Prudes continue to give this country a bad name.
#5 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:11 AM EDTEducation is key in early detection.. This is not a sexual thing it's life or death..
#6 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:24 AM EDTNext on WJLA-TV, men searching for testicular cancer.
#7 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:24 AM EDTI would rather see that over seeing a prostate exam.
Get out the rubber gloves! Ben Dover!
"Next on WJLA-TV, men searching for testicular cancer"
I think that would be a great public service video.
Have been watching re-run comic series on the Comedy Station. I doubt male exams would even be mentioned ... any time a female comic jokes about males, they all say the same thing: "why do THOSE have to be there, too?" Don't even think the question of eroticism would come up...though it shouldn't when a few boobs pop out when discussing cancer.
Any that WOULD find that to be a remote connection to "nudity in a sexual context" do need some help; they're the sort no one wants in their community on the "offenders list".
This segment is very important to every woman and man in the world. Cancer early detected is a good thing.
I find replusive and degrading the accepted "dances", "music lyrics", and other matters lacking standards of decency in our country. Far more indecent are the "inflated" breasts shown in "sexy" everything - ads, celeb photos, etc.
#8 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:25 AM EDTWhen I lived in Europe over 20 years ago there was nudity on television all of the time. Not graphic sex, just people without clothes in commercials and such. It's not the end of the world if it's done in good taste. Besides, if you don't like it change the channel!
#9 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:25 AM EDTAnd I was a tourist in Europe over 20 years as well. However, I didn't appreciate the showing of condoms & other sexual paraphernalia in a display window on a street! I also do not approve of the same toilets for men and women. I'm not a prude, but really!
That's why you were only a tourist. And an american one at that! Very judgemental. I'm sure you had no problem appreciating the delicious cuisine or the beautiful landmarks. Don't judge other cultures, because you will show yourself to be a hypocrite. Oh and, it sure sounds like you're a prude to me.
I'd imagine there are pro's and con's to such. But, if raised in an area where that's the case on television commercials, I'd have to imagine that kid's would grow up a bit more adjusted and mature about sexuality. Not that it would desensitize or take away from sexuality in regards to dating or such, but they may not be as apt to draw naked bits in their notebooks and on park property, for example. Here, since "you're not allowed to see that yet!" is pretty much the standard, it entices them to WANT to see it in a "dirtier" context. If a kid is told "no" or "you can't, you're not old enough" that's one of the first things they want to do... testing the waters, etc...
I see no harm to this broadcast except total awareness to all the females out there regardless of age. Those baring their breasts anyways are probably actresses who bared their chests before in a film or models that sometimes bare themselves during a fashion shows. I am confident this will bring more health awareness than being viewed as filth and pornogaraphic.
#10 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:25 AM EDTWomen should just go topless, period. Then the whole taboo is lifted and people would stop caring so much. Just kidding, but I see no problem in providing information to the public in a graphic and tasteful way as to provide information that could save lives.
#11 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:26 AM EDTyeah spunk thats the answer women demoralize yourselves even more..just go topless...why don't you men go bottomless? ugh...I dongiveasht. This is not public service its soft porn. It should be on the pay channels and thats that.
your attitude is what is demoralizing and degrading to women. you are the one saying they should cover themselves up and hide.
Mike...your lights are on but nobody's home..obviously your a male..I guess by the name mike..and your probably at a "boob" bar every friday after payday..so I can expect what comes out of your mouth to be a statement like that..yeah breast's should be covered up. That "mike" is why they make a top that goes with the bottoms of bathing suits. Why stop at breasts? lets see you walk down 5th ave..in the buff...lets see how long before you get arrested? If you have kids..lets see your daughter at the beach topless..and some old fart..oogling her..then follow her home...and catch her unguarded...rape and kill her...that is why women should not go around topless. Your wrong and warped.
you are a moron. men ogle women in bikini's too so are you suggesting those be banned? women even look good in skirts and get ogled. ban those too? you are either 80 yrs old, horrendous looking or just hate men.
who's talking about running naked down 5th ave? do you have any idea what the topic is here?
Soo... We should all be wearing burqas, then? After all, I could show off my collarbone to some fetishist and he could follow me home and rape me.
Wow. It's a breast, and a breast exam is nothing sexual. What is the big deal about showing how to properly do an exam. Breasts are apart of the female body. I'm tired of the Puritan attitude. If this helps out even one woman, it would have been worth it.
Sounds like Anomalee has their own body issues they need to deal with first before expounding on covering everyone up and assuming all men are sex freaks.
I hate it when women have breasts! Go, Parents Television Council! Protect me from the awful, awful horror that is breasts. Oh, and all the other naughty parts that you don't like. Also, language you don't like.
Ax murdering is OK, though because no one has ever been killed by ax murderers. Boobs, on the other hand...
Summary: Parents Television Council RULES!
#12 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:41 AM EDTDon't fear the breast, America. Seeing one on live TV, despite what people believe about the Janet Jackson episode, will not harm you. In fact, didn't our mothers have them?
#13 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:42 AM EDTFear them?! I LUV EM
slugger....bite your tongue.....lol
Mmmm....titties. ...gigiddy, gigiddy
#14 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:42 AM EDTThe damned watchdog groups are quite annoying at times. There is a way to keep your kids, and yourself, from seeing something one finds offensive on TV. It's called the off button. If one needs a watchdog group to tell you when to use it, then there is a grander problem here than seeing a naked anything.
#15 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:43 AM EDTYeah 'mo' the off button worked real good on half time right? riiighhtt..we should NOT have to use the "OFF" button on regular cable..get it? No..I guess you don't get the difference between regular cable and Pay cable.. once again the lights are on but nobody home eh..
I'll be sure to watch!
#16 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:47 AM EDTBob Martinez just shows why this belongs on pay tv. That mentality is exactly my point. enough said.
It seems appropriate to show a bare breast for self examination during the ll:00 p.m. news. However, I question the 5:00 p.m. news. There may be latchkey children at home waiting for their parents' arrival and they would NOT change the station. Those who have not retired by11:00 p.m. should be viewing this.
#17 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:48 AM EDTWhat happens to a child who sees a breast? Does he or she turn into a werewolf? Do they immediately rush outside and begin raping people? Do they burst into flame and die?
boons...great point....what will happen to the kids? too many people here are so uptight and worried that a boob is going to destroy the nation's young. someone explain how that will happen.
If you have a latchkey kid and you really cared about what your kids were watching when you weren't home, you would have a TV that locked out specific ratings and then this wouldn't be a concern now would it?
They probably like there DVD/VCR players as well, cuz lord knows kids don't borrow sketchy media from friends who aren't as disciplined.
The only reason nudity is so taboo is we make such hype about it. In my experience in nudist camps, nudity is not sexual. I admit, the first time I visited one I was 12yo, it seemed different different due to prior teaching, but after a short time, it seemed normal
#18 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:50 AM EDTExactly. But the porn industry probably relies on this taboo to make money. No one would care as much about Playboy if breasts were seen regularly on Network TV. It just wouldn't be as special.
It's not the nudity that's sexual. It's the context in which the nudity is depicted.
Why are we so backwards when it comes to nudity. Nearly all beaches in Europe are at least topless and some even bottomless. There are people of all ages, including children at the beaches. I didn't see a social problem in Europe because of this. Are we so ashame of the human body? We need to get out of the Dark Ages, especially in the South.
#19 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:57 AM EDTJOHN because they only show WOMEN. Do you ever see a nude man in any movies you go to?? hardly ever. Oh if a penis makes an appearance..God forbid...thats hard pardon the pun core porn....its so double standard it makes me sick. Do you honestly think its right for a child to see a nude Pu@@y or D!@k? on a beach?? really? its child abuse I don't care what you say no child should be subjected to an adults sexual parts of thier body. I think that is perverted..Just tonight I rented a movie and in the first 5 minutes a bimbo not even relevent to the movie took off her shirt and was just sitting there...did a naked man show up in the whole F'ing two hour movie? NO its always naked women...you people are all double standard...and you women who think nothing is wrong with it...your husbands and b/f 's are the first ones to cheat on YOU. lol you will say..my husband will never cheat...well...guess what..thats what you think.
you sound angry.....are you mad because there are no naked guys? there are movies that you can rent and buy that will help you out.
i'm not for total nudity on t.v. or even the beach where i would take kids, but guys are shirtless on the beach and tv and i think women should be too. that's fair.
Omg what an idiot. You don't even have an argument there buddy...womens breast's are part of the sexual anatomy..guys fried eggs are not. I have not ever seen a women get turned on by a mans man boobs..but a man on the other hand will get turned on by a 15 year olds breast...so your admitting your a perv right? lol now ....NOW I get it. There's classes you can take for that..Mikefla...or just move to haulover beach in N. Miami you will see all the naked old men you want.
you are stupid in its most fundamental sense. you say 15 yr old girls then old guys with nothing to base either moronic comment on. so just babble your stupidity and live your sad, mad, depressed, man hating, ugly life.
Oh it's okay to showsomeone get shot full of holes, but show a nipple and the FCC's phones are going to light up.
#20 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDTBingo. It's okay to show life being snuffed out, but do not DARE show a body part that GIVES life via milk(mammary gland).
This is great! So sad Americans are raised to believe there is something dirty in seeing breasts or other parts of the body in a way that is to educate the public on serious issues that effect so many people. maybe if they would do this more, our culture might not be so messed up concerning nudity. I am not condoning smut or exposing the the body for television to use in series and garbage like that and do find it a shame they chose sweep weeks to run this as it does appear to be a gimmick to raise their numbers. I fully agree it looks bad.
#21 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDTthere is nothing wrong with showing this and if it also increases ratings for true medical reasons or not, SO WHAT? i dont see what the problem is.
I agree with you. As for it looking bad, maybe its for ratings, maybe its that they wanted to reach a larger audience. Either way this is no where near the smut and violence that is on regular TV. As I will always say.....ON/OFF buttons were put on devices for a reason. If you feel that it will offend you, turn it off or change the channel! It really is that simple.
Good idea. But something tells me the timing of the event was not some accident, like "oops! it's on during the ratings week, oh well, let it go".
#22 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:33 AM EDTOKay, if they are doing such a "public service", then let them do it AFTER the sweeps. This smacks of naked sensationalism timed for the period when the viewing numbers are measured to determine the next year's advertising rates. Any other explanation is undiluted BS!
#23 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:33 AM EDTwhy? the purpose of any show is ratings. if no one watches what's the point? ratings week will tell if its something people want to see or not. strictly business!
It's meant to be educational. I think they should not only show womens' breasts though, men get breast cancer too, so show men and teach them how to self-check. Stop stereotyping breast cancer as being something only females get, because men get it too and unfortunately, because it's uncommon and underexposed in the media, most men don't know about it and will ignore a lump. Men need to learn how to do breast self-exams too and if you're going to make this an educational segment, then you need to teach men to check for it, how to check for it, and to be aware of it in case they notice something odd on their breasts.
#24 - Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:39 AM EDTthen show the balls...cuz men get lumps there too what pray tell is the difference???HUMMMMM nothing...NOTHING. So if their going to show breast exam.. lets see some testes hangin and how to spot a suspicious LUMP. again double standard.. and you all can write whatever you want I am not coming back to this post. ciao.
how about the difference is that breasts are not sex organs. need a lesson in anatomy?
ok Mikefla neither are balls..cuz you don't need them to perform..soooo whats your point? Your wrong about breast's too thats why a law is that woman can't walk around town topless....do your home worky mikeyfla.
This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. Having women hunt for cancer.
Our health care is ran by idiots.
The ABC affiliate should be running how to prevent breast cancer. Estrogen is the problem
Asian women living in Asian countries have 80% less breast cancer than American women. They get 40% of their protein from soy. Soy has a very weak form of estrogen in it. I believe that the Asian women eat the soy, and their bodies recognize the estrogen and quits producing the woman's estrogen. Lower estrogen prevents the cancer. This is the research that they need to be spending the billions of dollars that they are wasting. They need to find out if just lowering estrogen will prevent the cancer (which is what I believe), or if the actual compound that is in soy is what it takes to prevent breast cancer.
The first pill that you get when you are first diagnosed with breast cancer is a pill that shuts down your positive estrogen receptors. Doctors know that estrogen is what fuels the cancer. They are just not smart enough, or don't care, that lowering estrogen will prevent breast cancer.
The way our research is done in health care is a waste of money. Our health care research is funded by grants. The last line on the research says; more research needs to be done. Since the grant money is spent, no more research is ever done. I had the National Cancer Institute send me all the research that was being done on soy in 2007. They sent me 10 - 15 articles. The last line on every one of them was; more research needs to be done.
They need to set up an organization like NASA for our health care research. If NASA wants to go to mars. they get to mars. They wouldn't let a researcher come back with more research needs to be done.
I could go on and on about the research that proves that lower estrogen prevents breast cancer. Hopefully some one will read my response and take action to prevent the 40,000 women that will die this year from breast cancer, and the 40,000 waiting in line to die next year.
Death from breast cancer is a horrible death. If your breast cancer comes back in a different area than the breast, there is nothing they can do to prevent you from dying. You are strictly treated for pain management. Breast cancer eats up your bones which is what your spine is, and they have to radiate to kill the cancer because of the pain. When they kill the cancer there is nothing left in your bone where the cancer was so they crush on each other. Its an enormous amount of pain. The pain killers do not work for this kind of pain. Your skull is also a bone and is subject to getting cancer. If they have to radiate your lower part of your spine, the radiation affects you stomach. You will be throwing up any food you eat for months. You will be sick on your stomach for months. It is a horrible way to live.
It makes me mad knowing that they are not trying to prevent breast cancer. I have called all the organizations and none of them will do anything about it. This includes the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and Susan G. Komen.
Anyone posting anonymously is automatically suspect of a hidden agenda of their own! Anon should be struck off immediately!
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