Vent Post: TV Moms...and Dads
It's a sad day when the mothers of "Dance Moms" look positively human by comparison. However, most of the mothers on "Toddlers and Tiaras" accomplish this flawlessly.
Edit: Since apparently I'm on a trashy reality TV kick, I'm also watching the "Teen Dad" special. It's worth noting that none of the six fathers featured has admitted to using contraception beyond Saran wrap and a condom that had gone through the wash. It's also worth noting that the only one who doesn't seem like a complete and total douche is Tyler, the partner of Caitlynn. They opted to adopt their daughter out to give her a better life.
What I want to know is, why is Dr. Drew Pinsky, the so-called "expert" not asking these guys any of the hard questions? Why is he playing clips showing these guys being abusive by calling these women bitches and 'hoes in front of their children, threatening them, withholding financial support for the babies, and not pressing them on any of it aside from saying these guys were too young to be parents?
It didn't bother me as much as I was initially watching the broadcast, but playing it back on the DVR, I'm realizing how disturbing it is that abusive behavior is continuously softened in our society, chalked up to the same age-specific nuances as refusing to share or cutting a class. OK, I'll grant that there is clearly something missing from the thought process if people opt to lash out and hurt others, but just as rape is more than a miscommunication, abuse is more than the lack of maturity.
And while some of those guys were probably victims of selective editing, and some seem to be victims of abuse in their own right (here's looking at you, Gary Shirley) do the folks behind the "Teen Mom" franchise really have no qualms documenting and airing the antics of Jo Rivera or Adam Lind, both of whom frequently called their exes names in front of their children, the latter at one point requesting paperwork to terminate his rights to daughter Aubree?
Granted, Jo probably continues to command attention due to his own ambitions (PopEaters reported a few months back that the 19-year-old released a rap video covering an Alicia Keys' chart topper) so one can hardly expect to hold MTV to a higher standard of screening fathers on their shows. But one would expect Drew Pinksy, the eponymous "Dr. Drew," to know better than let the hard stuff go, given his expertise with treating drug addicts.
And teens are particularly vulnerable to violence--The Mirror reported two days ago that an alarming number think domestic abuse is "normal". I cannot believe that a show which continues to assert its existence is due to wanting teens to have more awareness would play so fast and loose with such a serious issue.
For what it's worth, I think what I'm witnessing on "Toddlers and Tiaras" qualifies as abuse, too. I'm glad that the moms aren't paid for their appearances, but I'm angry that people watching the show could be inspired to drag their own children through the pomp and circumstances.
Edit: Since apparently I'm on a trashy reality TV kick, I'm also watching the "Teen Dad" special. It's worth noting that none of the six fathers featured has admitted to using contraception beyond Saran wrap and a condom that had gone through the wash. It's also worth noting that the only one who doesn't seem like a complete and total douche is Tyler, the partner of Caitlynn. They opted to adopt their daughter out to give her a better life.
What I want to know is, why is Dr. Drew Pinsky, the so-called "expert" not asking these guys any of the hard questions? Why is he playing clips showing these guys being abusive by calling these women bitches and 'hoes in front of their children, threatening them, withholding financial support for the babies, and not pressing them on any of it aside from saying these guys were too young to be parents?
It didn't bother me as much as I was initially watching the broadcast, but playing it back on the DVR, I'm realizing how disturbing it is that abusive behavior is continuously softened in our society, chalked up to the same age-specific nuances as refusing to share or cutting a class. OK, I'll grant that there is clearly something missing from the thought process if people opt to lash out and hurt others, but just as rape is more than a miscommunication, abuse is more than the lack of maturity.
And while some of those guys were probably victims of selective editing, and some seem to be victims of abuse in their own right (here's looking at you, Gary Shirley) do the folks behind the "Teen Mom" franchise really have no qualms documenting and airing the antics of Jo Rivera or Adam Lind, both of whom frequently called their exes names in front of their children, the latter at one point requesting paperwork to terminate his rights to daughter Aubree?
Granted, Jo probably continues to command attention due to his own ambitions (PopEaters reported a few months back that the 19-year-old released a rap video covering an Alicia Keys' chart topper) so one can hardly expect to hold MTV to a higher standard of screening fathers on their shows. But one would expect Drew Pinksy, the eponymous "Dr. Drew," to know better than let the hard stuff go, given his expertise with treating drug addicts.
And teens are particularly vulnerable to violence--The Mirror reported two days ago that an alarming number think domestic abuse is "normal". I cannot believe that a show which continues to assert its existence is due to wanting teens to have more awareness would play so fast and loose with such a serious issue.
For what it's worth, I think what I'm witnessing on "Toddlers and Tiaras" qualifies as abuse, too. I'm glad that the moms aren't paid for their appearances, but I'm angry that people watching the show could be inspired to drag their own children through the pomp and circumstances.