Loss of Innocence

May 8, 2009 7:54 PM

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis could share a bath and kisses in the 1950s without any of the obligatory frantic "but I'm straight" caveats of modern celebs. Also, reading the negative reactions of some viewers to a charming family portrait on a recent Mefi post made me wonder: Is Innocence Dead? Can we no longer look at a scoutmaster teaching a boy to swim without thinking "molester" rather than "mentor"? Can we not see two guys hug without thinking "sodomy" rather than "best friends"? Innocence still exists. We need to revive it. Or have too many "nasty keyboard monkeys" with their cynical leers injured the sense of innocence beyond recovery -- no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation please...
posted by binturong (18 comments total)

Stunt post? If not, weirdly framed.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:59 PM on May 8, 2009

Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:01 PM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]

Is Innocence Dead?

Was it ever alive?

Can we no longer look at a scoutmaster teaching a boy to swim without thinking "molester" rather than "mentor"?

I can. Some people can't..

Can we not see two guys hug without thinking "sodomy" rather than "best friends"?

Why can't we think both?
posted by Avenger at 8:03 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]

Isn't this pretty much the definition of editorializing?

Not that I'm agreeing or disagreeing, as such, but this is a textbook GYOFB post.
posted by paisley henosis at 8:03 PM on May 8, 2009

Innocence is a dead end. It's shame and repression that drives human development.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:04 PM on May 8, 2009

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
posted by Bageena at 8:04 PM on May 8, 2009

This is your 11th post?
posted by Falconetti at 8:06 PM on May 8, 2009

Metafilter: "nasty keyboard monkeys"
posted by dosterm at 8:09 PM on May 8, 2009

Falconetti, I went back and looked at the other posts. He injects himself in nearly all of them, is overly witty or editorialistic, and in severe need of cortex's remedial posting class. I am half tempted to head over to the deleted posts blog and see how many more than 11 he's done.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:10 PM on May 8, 2009

No don't. There's nothing to see there.
posted by gman at 8:14 PM on May 8, 2009

I think you missed about a hundred years of psychology. Everything is about sex.
posted by XMLicious at 8:15 PM on May 8, 2009

My apologies to those offended above. My post was really the first link -- a new collection of related clips with a comment on how such representations in the media have changed. I linked this to posts earlier today as that is what made me think it of interest. I'm sorry if I editorialized -- I hadn't realized that is forbidden -- seriously. And for you quick-off-the mark censors and scolds, I have not had posts deleted but thanks for the review cjorgensen. Can people comment on the clips and subject and not me?
posted by binturong at 8:16 PM on May 8, 2009

That felt-naked-suit picture is a "charming family portrait"? Maybe for the Manson family, but otherwise, no.
posted by DecemberBoy at 8:16 PM on May 8, 2009

Can people comment on the clips and subject and not me?

You're too distracting.
posted by gman at 8:19 PM on May 8, 2009

Were such images really "innocent" at the time, or was it very much "nudge nudge wink wink" back in the day?
posted by maxwelton at 8:24 PM on May 8, 2009

How I envy the fellas that live by a shady old nook
And cute little guy who's casting a fly at
a trout leaping out of a brook
Oh there's nothing as gay as a day in the country
posted by tellurian at 8:25 PM on May 8, 2009

You're drunk.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:28 PM on May 8, 2009

What exactly is the subject that we're supposed to be commenting on? I'm not sure the point of the blog post and the Metafilter post are actually the same.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:29 PM on May 8, 2009