Hustler vs. Hallmark Channel

The world wide web has given us unrestrained access to information, which for the most part is a wonderful thing.  As a self proclaimed trivia buff, I don't know how I made it through life before the invention of Google.  But as with anything, with the good, so comes the bad.  One downside of unlimited accessibility in the privacy of our homes has been the plethora of pornographic material that is available on the internet.  I think we can universally agree that the viewing of pornography by one or both partners in a relationship is ultimately a damaging thing.  It breeds a lack of intimacy, unrealistic expectations and a feeling of distance and resentment between a couple.  All bad things, and I think we can agree that life is better when this isn't a factor.  

What drives me crazy, though, is the acceptance and even positive feedback that surrounds the plethora of channels on tv that equate to porn for women.  I'm thinking mostly about The Hallmark Channel.  This channel feeds on the unrealistic emotional stimulation of women.  Take a look at the lineup any night of the week and you'll find movies and series' filled with inane titles such as A Lesson in Romance, A Ring By Spring, Lucky in Love; all stories predicated on the idea of some poor woman who's life is unfulfilled because she has yet to find the 'perfect man.'  The presentation of the men in these movies is quixotic and is as impractical as the display of perfect 10 women in traditional porn.  Yet, it is perfectly acceptable in our society for people, women, daughters to watch this emotionally manipulative garbage.  How is that positive or productive in any way?

In fact, I'd argue that these Hallmark-style movies are even MORE damaging than traditional pornography because (unfortunately) there isn't a stigma attached to them.  Women aren't sneaking to watch them, tucked away in the darkness of their bedrooms at night, because they understand that they are inherently destructive.  Quite the opposite.  We rally around them as wholesome, family entertainment and encourage our daughters to watch them, feeding into the dubious notion that 'romance', as defined by the writers at Hallmark, is a noble goal.  

Huh?!?  As far as I'm concerned I think anything that we embrace in our lives that perpetuates unrealistic expectations and misguided notions can be very damaging.  

Now, I want to state for the record that I am not anti-love, or anti-wholesome entertainment.  I just want to encourage everyone to think beyond face value and recognize that often times, things that are seemingly harmless can be the most destructive things of all.

That being said, I'm off to watch some sports.  :)