Yesterday, my friend Nancy S. emailed me:
I woke up this morning to a commercial about today's Oprah show in which she states that "pornography is the number one addiction" in the United States.
She goes on to warn her female audience: "Could this be your husband?"
In the promo on her website, Oprah makes pornography out to be the worst thing happening in America today. Perhaps Senator Brownback should give her a call and they can work together.
Today's show features a famous "victim" and recovering porn addict: Kirk Franklin. He's a Grammy-winning Gospel singer (and total fool- sb).
Oprah's "pornography addiction expert," Rob Weiss, claims that 10% of the 40 million online pornography users are addicts. As with most of Oprah's shows, this information isn't given out until the last ten minutes. By then, the viewers are all worked up about what they think the issue is, and are no longer paying attention to the fact that the big problem really isn't as common as you think.
Nancy! When will these people stop lying through their teeth! I am throwing-up right alongside of you.
Do you know why Kirk Franklin is pimping himself and his wife like this? Because he has a new album out! And if he doesn't get the sales on this one jumping, his recording contract is over!
The hot promotion for popstar-wannabe's like Kirk, is to say you're a "porn addict" who's recently been saved. Your record company will then dress you up like a stud supermodel and pose you in steamy pictures for your album's release. But no one can call you a "tart" because you're redeemed! You're living for God now! BLECH!
Have you seen Kirk's album covers when he was a secret sinner? Oh, he's such a dork. But now— now that he's rejected porn— he is a total BABE. Isn't that amazing?
To my horror, I see that Oprah hired Rob Weiss, as her "expert." What an old phony he is. He is the original snakeoil salesman. Note that I linked his name to his bracing essay on "compulsive masturbation."
This hustler Weiss has made the rounds of TV talk shows for years, ranting about sex addiction, in every flavor du jour.
I was on a show with Mr. Wonderful once, where he flew into a rage simply because I gave me an incredulous LOOK. I know I have a penetrating gaze, but geez, Louise! He chased me down an alleyway afterward, shrieking, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He can't stand to have people know he's a fraud. He doesn't represent legitimate psychology in the slightest— in fact, every shrink I know recoils at his name. I wish legitimate therapists would speak up about this. He should be "disbarred."
What about those figures he quotes about how many people "watch" Internet porn, and how many are addicts? Nancy, HE MAKES THEM UP. There's not a cite in the world to support him.
Weiss feeds off of all these hip new Christian fundie churches, like that XXX.church we talked about here a few weeks ago. They "use" porn to recruit. Without it, they're dead in the water. They play on people's sexual feelings to get them excited, and then shame the shit out of them.
People have often asked me why none of my books are ever on Oprah's show. Why has she never brought anyone on her program to talk about feminist erotica or sex-positive ideas?
Well, it's not for lack of interest. The point is, her company has taken a stand in the opposite direction.
Do you really think Oprah wants savvy, authentic people looking at her and saying, "Gee, Oprah, why don't you come out? Why can't we have an honest sex discussion on this show? Why are you so ashamed of your sexuality? When will the time come when women and men deserve your erotic respect?"
Her Christianity and sexusl shame has been a thorn in every progressive woman's side for years.
Did you see the "porn poll" on her web site? I took it. I made sure to say that my partner and I both "look" at porn, and amazingly, have survived it intact. The questions are stupid to begin with, but I struggled through.
After I entered my answers, the website revealed how everyone else has responded so far.
The most interesting statistic is this: 43% of her viewers have never seen porn. Whatever they think it is, they haven't seen it.
The best way to run these shame & blame crusades is to talk to people who have never been out of their egg. You can say whatever nonsense you like, and they believe it. Hey little girl, come here, I have some anti-porn candy for you!
For any woman who has jilled off now and then, the hysteria seems ridiculous. You're going to look at handsome Kirk Franklin, and wonder if you could get him and his pretty wife over to your house to give nice wholesome erotica another try.
The thing is, these talk shows are produced by cynics who consider this all an incredible laugh. They think we're silly for caring. They think their fans are a bunch of pathetic idiots, and must be pandered to with every hysterical female stereotype. If you could convince them they they'd get high ratings saying that shit tastes good on toast, they'd get you an afterschool special on it. With butter.
But I fret about that 43%, who think their boyfriends don't care about them, just because they masturbate or like sex pictures. Or women who think they're perverted because they feel some similiar stirrings. It is so cruel to lead them on and make them think they are dealing with a pathology that requires spending thousands of dollars to "Doctor" Weiss to be cured. A pox upon them!
