Sex Cells
Sexting. I never, honestly, thought that such a thing would become an issue worthy of passing state laws over, but apparently it has become enough of a problem that such laws are necessary.
“Sexting” is the phrase given to text and picture messages that contain lewd acts/words and/or nudity. I’ve read other pieces that asked if this was a high-tech version of “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” and from what I can ascertain that is apparently the case.
The big question, however, is whether a new law regarding these instances will eradicate the problem and whether a law violates individuals’ freedom of speech.
I’m not sure I’m qualified enough to throw my five cents in on that question in particular, but I have to say the idea of children sending nude pictures to other children is alarming. The parents should shoulder a good portion of the blame (whether the parents will admit to their own neglect is another question entirely), but the children who send the messages have to be held accountable and have it explained to them why their actions have consequences.
In this new age of technology, future employers are scanning people’s Facebook and MySpace pages and are looking up their job hopefuls on Google before considering whether to hire them. A Facebook page with pictures of an individual doing a keg stand (or, with the issue of “sexting,” a picture of an individual in the nude) does not put that person to the front of the line for a job, to say the least.
Is it disheartening to see that it may take the passage of a law to make this fact apparent? Of course! Everyone likes to think that people have more common sense than that! Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and one has to weigh internally which of the two scenarios he or she favors more: a law against “sexting” which might, technically, have the chance of infringing on a persons rights, or a new flock of job seeking young men and women who can’t find any serious employment because of stupid mistakes made when they were younger whom we, as society, must now pay for in the form of welfare and unemployment benefits.
Neither sounds particularly pleasing, and I’m not the type of person that usually favors societal infrastructure, but when given the choice between two very bitter pills, I find the former a bit more palatable.
Besides the societal effects of not passing legislation regarding this problem, there is the blatantly obvious reason that pops into one’s head: children shouldn’t be sending pictures and messages of a sexual nature anyway!
Written for and originally printed in the NWI Times
4 Responses to 'Sex Cells'
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travis, great article on sexting.Having an 17 yr. daughter who is very active in high school activities(cheerleading, etc.), and who as most young girls do nowadays are texting at a rate of a houndred dollars a minute,I find myself trying to be concerned about this newly found problem that seems to be everywhere…by the way the lamestreet news tells me, not only am i going to get run down by a runaway toyota, and maybe even contract H1N1 while I bake in my coal burning SUV by the heat of this global warming problem we are suffering from.Now i have to worry about all the preditors who now don’t have to drive 3 hrs. to Chris Hanson’s house to oogle my lil princess!But somehow…i’m not that concerend Travis, and ya know why?…cause like you and a majority of the men in this country..we’re good fathers..we teach our children morals,manners,whats right and whats wrong. We teach them doing bad things will bring bad things upon you.So if your a good father..dont sweat this sexting stuff, but if your not a good father, well…have a seat..right over here..and keep your hands out your pockets…
Greg
9 Feb 10 at 11:49 am
Sorry it took so long for the comment to post, I forget that I have to approve them. Great points, Greg, and for the most part I agree. However, I still think something should be done, and you touched on it in your comment: not everyone is a good father, unfortuneatly. Hopefully all it will take is one little law and the situation will correct itself, though. And I REALLY want one of those coal burning SUV’s! (Side thought: how safe is a Prius to the environment REALLY?! Sure they save a few carbon baby prints, but isn’t burning car/flesh a little more eco-unfriendly?)
Travis
9 Feb 10 at 6:18 pm
One lil law???..really??..your right Travis not everone is a good parent..so to solve this problem we should pass one lil law?..Mmm..so if not all parents feed thier children a balance diet..maybe we should pass a lil law that taxes junk food…then we’ll make em fall in line…yer sounding alot like Mrs. Obama now..If a 16 yr old girl sends a nude pic to her 17yr old boyfriend..and 5 years later she gets turned down for a job because of it..I’m all for it…no law needed…you cant fix stupid..and ya cant pass a law that will make it go away…and as far as these kids not finding good paying jobs because thousands of people seen them in thier under-roos on the net…well..ask Paris,Kim K.,and Pamala lee Anderson how it effected thier rusume.
Greg
10 Feb 10 at 10:57 am
Once again, I agree with you premis, but you and I BOTH know what will happen. I outlined it in my article: there are two options. One, a slap on the wrist little law that lets children and parents alike know the future dangers of sexting, or option two, as I stated in my article, we pay for a whole new crop of welfare recipients. I would much prefer a state law is passed against children sexting then have to suffer for it a generation from now. As far as Paris, KIm, and Pam, the difference is that they aren’t trying to become doctors or some other professional career. I get what your saying, I just think in this situation, a small state law wouldn’t be a matter of life or death.
Travis
10 Feb 10 at 11:53 am