haha. so you turn to the gazettextra to humiliate others, gfan? I KNEW it. and I don't "do" tv either. I refuse to give Charter another of my hard earned dollars...and no other options in my new home. Therefore...it's radio and gazettextra for me!

True. But I would add that youth in combination with the performer's need to be the most important person in the room aggravates the problem. When there's no more need for the kid and adult performers' limited display of talent, there's trouble.

I can only handle TV by channel surfing every six months. TV reeks with schadenfreude. It's main appeal comes from the viewers need to enjoy watching people humiliate each other. And it all seems to amount to "relationships" between the viewers and the TV people that have taken the place of real relationships.

The so-called educational stuff on TV has been dumbed-down.

Tom Hanks? It's just a matter of time before we learn what's going on his basement.

I'd say! starting with Danny Bonaduce. Sheesh. what a mess. or Jerry Mathers. either way, they were just kids doing a job as some other kid. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that living a double life eventually catches up with you... Pathetic part is that we continue to subject kids to this knowing full well they will be messed up in a few years...and patients at celebrity rehab. to provide so much more entertainment to messed up adults. <heavy sigh>

Yes, but it's a wider choice of idiots. The opportunity for compatibility is greatly increased.

By the way, all those people who played all those congenial roles on TV are nuts.

bingo. Now you can meet idiots in every city, state and country you wind up in either literally or virtually....ugh. and trust me...they are PLENTIFUL. the others are conveniently unavailable.

No, but I think a lot of people bought into that stuff.

And, I can proudly say I've never been tricked into watching cartoons allegedly made for adults. I don't know what the Family Guy is.

As for the story above, if I remember correctly, in Greg's book, there was a lot friction between the families of the the couple who wanted to get married, and that friction had something to do with the deaths of the couple.

Before people could travel as freely we do today -back in the time period of that book, and before the internet where people can extensively explore each other's personalities, people were stuck with a limited number of people to choose from.

hey, I grew up watching almost all of those "TV family shows" and I turned out mostly ok. Nothing a psychotropic drug here and there can't fix. I kid, I kid...

Well, your comment begs me to ask what is your view then, of The Simpsons and Family Guy? (and once again we've gotten off topic of the article...go figure)

Who?

I share the opinion that the early TV family shows contributed greatly to the so-called rise of "mental illness" in this country. Family life was so nice -compared to reality- on those shows that when the viewers grew up and discovered they weren't happy all the time -an unrealistic view that maturity should naturally dissipate- they blamed their unhappiness on their early family life -specifically their parents.

This thinking played nicely into the hands of the psych-industry and the drug industry both of whom fed ravenously on the increase of "mental illness" and all the new "mental illnesses" created by the psych-industry, many of which are supposed to be caused by early family life.

Those shows help pathologized every aspect of human thinking.

was that purchased at Mr. Ford's garage sale? hehe

ms...sassy, I didn't need BB to learn caveat emptor: I learned it when pre-that I bought a used Edsel.

gfan, you haven't learned life's lessons without one or two of the BB episodes! Greg buys a lemon car...Caveat Emptor? c'mon! The moral of the story usually spelled out by Mike or Carol have taught me more than I learned in church...but church just re-inforces the "why"...just sayin'

I can safely say that my life is unblemished by the Brady Bunch.

As for falling for a con man, if it weren't for that, marriage wouldn't exist.

Heck, the concept is NOT new. Even Alice fell for a con man in the Brady Bunch, back in 1971. <grin> (Alice's September Song episode)

ms...sassy, I'm still waiting on that check.

But, seriously, who needs to be criticized by a guy who has to be a preacher to earn a living? If you really want to be told what's wrong with you, you'll get plenty of that if you get married again.

And, if there is a god of any worth, I'm convinced that whether I believe him or not, he'll believe in me more than he will believe in some of the people who claim to believe in him. He'll respect me for not believing in him based on the bible and what some otherwise unemployable preacher says.

But, thanks anyway for the kind thoughts.

Sigma and Gazettefan, you haven't found the right denomination and/or church yet. I hope it happens for you, though.

Any church I have ever been to has taught me that we ALL (including the pastor) have done wrong. The point to hearing that we are doing things wrong is not to make us "feel" guilty, but to change our behavior. The closer we are to God, the easier it is to love our neighbor (without judgement). Always be kinder to others than you have been treated. You never know what others are going through.

looking for love on gazettextra is not advised either...let's just say, "not much love is shown or to be found here"....

I have met a number of people through online dating sites. None have been any that I would say have been hugely successful (I'm still single), but I have met many whom I still stay in contact with, even though no love connection was made...

Where I was tried to be taken advantage of was when I was looking for a housemate to help share expenses. It got so far as said "housemate" couldn't come look at the place till next weekend, but based on the posted pictures, wanted to send me a check as a deposit. When I received the check, it was from an overseas bank (Nigeria?) and was for way more than one month's rent + security deposit. I was supposed to send the remainder back to her. yeah. that didn't happen. The check was turned over to the local police department (although it was impossible to make any headway there, I just didn't want it to be in my possession or to be accused of any wrongdoing). I'm sure many fall for it, though. sad state of gullible, vulnerable, and taking advantage of people who are just trying to find someway/ANYWAY to make ends meet, I guess. But back to love....sigh. That's a pointless conversation. <smirk>

There was no "online" when I met my wife.

Gazettefan - EXACTLY! That is why I dont care for churches.. Anyone inside is no different than anyone outside the church. Anyone thinking otherwise is prejudice.

What's the point of going to an assembly where the speaker is always directly saying, or at a minimum implying, that you are doing something wrong?

And how does someone ever come to the conclusion that the speaker is any closer to the lord than any member of the audience is?

Met my husband online but I had to look for a while before finding him. All the cautions listed are just common sense but there are people online that are very vulnerable and stupid and desperate. I could see that they would be easy pickings for these scam artists. They would be easy pickings for a scam artist in a church, bar or supermarket too. The dating sites do provide a convenient place to locate those types though. If you're smart and cautious it's actually a safer way to meet people because you have a chance to get to know them before you divulge any personal information. If you see any red flags you can cut off the communication before they know who you are.

Gpeck - I said "most"... perhaps it differes which region you live in..I'll reword it to "a lot". Better? It is true though a lot of people dont find faith untill some tragedy of some kind happens... or they sinned.

Almost 46 years ago I met my wife at the Oasis Restaurant on Hy 26. She was a waitress and she served me a waffle and a cup of coffee. We chatted on her break and I gave her a ride home from work. We were married five weeks later. Life for both of us has been very good. We have three good kids and six grand kids. We are still in love. Life has been fun.

Sigma40: As someone who attends services regularly, I find your comments about why someone would go to church offensive. Wouldn't "faith" be the main reason for attending church services?
Greg Peck

Sigma40: Most people here in Arkansas go to church because they are Baptist preachers.

I think you are more at risk meeting someone in a church than online. Most people go there because they either lack something, are insecure, affraid, sick, did something wrong, guilty conscious, or to touch little kids.
Besides, Love isnt a "thing" so its not searchable... its something that happens.

BostonBill: You are asking me to remember something that took place over 45 years ago. Can't !

"Hi, my name is Larry; Larry Laffer."

mgcarguy, is that how you met Your spouse? Just wondering.

Here in Arkansas many couples meet at family reunions.