God OUT! Porn IN?

[rae519]

The March 2003 Readers Digest has an article (Porn 101) in That's Outrageous by Tucker Carlson (regular columnist for Reader's Digest and co-hosts CNN's Crossfire) on page 31.

The article details the new courses offered at several well known colleges (Berkeley, University of Massachusetts, Arizona State) that deal with pornography (hard core), erotic dancing, self videotaping of sex acts, beastiality.

I am disgusted that our federally funded colleges/universities are allowing this kind of crap to be taught! Why are we allowing them to throw out both prayer and the Pledge but let porno in?

No wonder we are in the mess we are in now!

Rae

 

[Chuck S]

Is this a debate or a statement? What are we debating, the use of Federal Funds, College Curriculums, or are we in "this mess" because God isn't in school (ala Jerry Falwell)?

 

[mrsltg]

Assuming that the debate is whether or not federal funds should be used for such things... of course not. There is absolutely no reason for these courses. Then again, federal money is used for all kinds of stuff it was never intended for.

Erin

 

[TeensMom]

I think the debate is whether federal funds should be used for porn studies. The examples given are't that unusual - universities have always been liberal hotbeds and there are many courses offered that would offend and insult the public at large. I'm very pragmatic and believe the the purpose of higher education is to become a productive citizen (i.e. get a job). However, most of my colleagues would disagree and say that the purpose of higher education is to provide students the opportunity to "explore" new ideas, research topics no one cares about and find themselves.

 

[Steve H.]

I guess I'd have to read the article and see whether or not there was any academic merit to the courses mentioned before I could make any conclusion on the topic.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by Steve H.
I guess I'd have to read the article and see whether or not there was any academic merit to the courses mentioned before I could make any conclusion on the topic.

Academic merit to the study of bestiality? I suppose you'd expect there to be "lab" assignments and homework? What would qualify as the final exam -- getting it on with a goat or sheep?

 

[inaminute]

Or, perhaps, a future psychologist/psychiatrist/criminoligist will learn something that will lead to stopping this kind of behavior in the future?

Just a guess, but I doubt the class is what we're assuming it is.

 

[Steve H.]

I'd imagine there wouldn't be any merit to a course in beastiality, no -- but again, if it was somehow worked into the context of a wider subject matter (I'm assuming the class is not called Beastiality 201), maybe there's some purpose to the course. Again, we don't know because we haven't been given any info as to what the course is about. That's all I was saying.

 

[Bumbles]

Hey, I paid good money to take classes like that..what's wrong with erotic dancing???

 

[mrsltg]

Or, perhaps, a future psychologist/psychiatrist/criminoligist will learn something that will lead to stopping this kind of behavior in the future?

I took those classes. They are already available under sociology/psychology with an emphasis in criminology. Beastiality is not something that you need 15 credit hours devoted too. Nor is erotic dancing, or learning the proper techniques for filming yourself. All of the classes that an aspiring criminologist needs are pretty much out there, and they're not under the titles mentioned in the article.

Erin

 

[inaminute]

Keep in mind that the author of the article may, indeed, be talking about the very classes you took. If this is an opinion article, it's most likely the case.

I'll have to read the article and do a little more research before I form a final opinion.

 

[inaminute]

O.K. The research didn't take long at all. Just search "university pornography classes." I'm totally in shock by what little I read.

I don't know what to say.

My husband would be amazed that I'm actually speechless!

 

[mrsltg]

O.K. The research didn't take long at all. Just search "university pornography classes." I'm totally in shock by what little I read.

You want shock? Take an upper-level criminology class! The things that you learn will curl your hair...

Erin

 

[rae519]

I certainly am glad that my oldest son never elected to take any of these type courses or he could have paid for that out of his own pocket and not mine!

I'm no prude but I draw the line at this type "learning", if that's what they call it.

Just plain disgusting. What possible "education" would a person who takes these type courses get? Certainly I wouldn't consider it an asset for a person to list any one of these type courses on their resume.

Federal dollars for this? Ohh, my tax money - now I get it.

Rae

 

[inaminute]

The things that you learn will curl your hair...

Think I'll stick with the perms, thanks anyway! LOL!

 

[TeensMom]

I'm glad inaminute did the research. I was just going to get back on and suggest that anyone who questions the course offerings search a few public university websites to see what their offerings are. Look in the departments of American Studies, Sociology and Womens Studies for starters (all very academic sounding) if you want to see what types of courses your federal and state tax dollars are paying for. Remember that tuition pays a small percentage of the cost of a public university education so it is coming out of your back pocket.

 

[The Hunt]

Just for grins, I took a look at Arizona State's course catalog

http://www.asu.edu/aad/catalogs/courses/#h

I couldn't find anything too spicy--nothing really--although I didn't search every category. I will note that they had plenty of religion classes.

The bottom line is that a large university has hundreds of courses, and a few of them are bound to be flakey. It's just not an issue worth getting bent out of shape about.

 

[megashark]

Does anyone have the link to the story or a description of the actual classes?

I've watched enough good ol' Tucker to know that he uses spin very well to his advantage (a common trait among both conservative and liberal talking heads, I'm not just bashing Tucker), so I'd really like a little more info before I draw any conclusions.

I went to one of the aforementioned colleges, and I never took anything like that. On the other hand, I'm not sure many people would find a lot of academic merit in my "Bugs For Beginners" Entomology 101 class (fulfilled part of the science requirement) nor my 6 credits in horseback riding, which went toward the PE requirement.

 

[mrsltg]

I'm not sure many people would find a lot of academic merit in my "Bugs For Beginners" Entomology 101 class (fulfilled part of the science requirement) nor my 6 credits in horseback riding, which went toward the PE requirement.

I'd disagree with that. Entomology and phys. ed (even in the form of horseback riding) are educational (college roomie is a forensic biologist... entomology is one of her strong suits). Courses that teach you to make personal porn serve no educational value. Classes in beastiality alone also serve no value. Throw beastiality in with a "Sociology of Sexual Deviants" class and you've got something of an attempt at education.

I'm all for college being an education where you step outside the norm and learn about and appreciate things that you'd never thought of, but really, can't people figure out how to work their video camera in the privacy of their bedroom?

Erin

 

[Boo'sMom]

WOW...


I thought I clicked on the Communty Board...not the Debate Board...


Good thing my back button works.