Trying to fall asleep to the TV last night...

[Chewbecca]

I stumbled upon a show on MTV called "Skins".
There was NOTHING on tv last night (that I could find), so I left it on. I wasn't paying attention to it, though, because I was talking to the dogs and cuddling them.
WELL. Ben came into the bedroom and he goes, "What are you watching?" and I said, "I...don't really know. Something on MTV."
And he saw the title and he said, "oh. That's that 'Skins' show. There's a big controversy about it."
I asked him why and he said that apparently it shows 15 year olds having sex.

Ok, well, I thought, "He's exaggerating."

So, I decided to try and actually watch it.

Now, this show bothered me.
Look, I did my fair share of getting into trouble as a teenager. Had I been caught for HALF the stuff I did, I probably would have been sent away.

But I guess I was shocked that they were showing kids "smoking pot", buying "pot", and all the sexual conversations and heavy making out on a tv program.
A movie? Yeah, I can see that stuff going down on a movie, but these kids are highschool kids. 15 and 16 years old. Smoking pot at school. On MTV.
It's a made up show. A TV PROGRAM.

Next week we get to watch 16 year old lesbians have sex. WTF.
And don't get me wrong, I don't care if they're lesbians or straight. I'd be WTFing at 16 year old boy and girl having sex on a tv program on mtv.

Now, I'm not saying to censor anything. They're free to put on tv what they want.
But are kids this OBVIOUS now-a-days???

 

[Fran101]

It is a british TV show that was "re-created" because it is so popular in the UK
and yea..its pretty graphic, lots of drama
but I loved the british version! lol went through ALL the seasons a few months ago

You can turn on the news and watch people dying and getting blown up, you can turn on MTV and watch sex, drugs and alcohol

its up to parents to make sure they know what their kids are watching. IMO

 

[Lilavati]

But are kids this OBVIOUS now-a-days???

Probably not. Maybe more obvious about sex, but the rest, probably not considering the trouble they can get in now is a LOT more than when I was a kid. And probably not THAT obvious about sex either.

Sounds to me like this is a sort of "wish-fulfillment" type of thing, and profoundly exaggerated. Adults usually don't act the way they do on TV either, particuarly on lurid dramas. Heck, the way high-powered law firms are portrayed on TV sometimes . . . well, they dont invite *me* to those parties. (on that note, even Michael Clayton, which has one of the most accurate protrayals of Big Law I've seen yet, is somewhat inaccurate . . . our clients don't generally try to murder people).

 

[Brattina88]

But are kids this OBVIOUS now-a-days???

Yes. Well, not that extreme but they don't hide it or anything. At least, some of the kids around here

 

[Locke]

I think it's probably more realistic than half the "reality" TV shows on MTV. My boyfriend's little sisters' are 15 and 17, and they talk about sex, drugs, etc. They go to parties and get totally smashed.
When I was in highschool, tons of people from age 14-18 smoked and sold pot, many had sex, and tons of kids would come to school talking about crazy parties they were at and how some girl had to have her stomach pumped.

The controversy is unwarranted in my opinion. I'm pretty sure most teenagers who watch it won't be surprised in the least.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show!!!!!!!!!!!

Well to be more accurate I love the British version that is now starting its 5th series (season) this upcoming thursday. Been watching it for years now. It is a amazing show that has a movie in the works that will be in British theaters this summer.

I liked the MTV pilot but I do wish HBO or Showtime took it on like Shameless so it could be shown the way its supposed to be. Raw and how most urban youth today really is. Im not saying all. But this show is not straying too far from reality.

The pilot is alot of partying. But there is alot more to this show and hopefully the America version will live up to it.

And if you find it so offensive. Figure Jersey Shore and any and all other shows on MTV have almost exactly the same content. Teens and adults having sex and partying.

If you saw the British version you would really freak lol. Nothing is off limits.

But again thats most definately not what its all about. There is much more to this show than just sex and partying. It really has great young writers behind it. And I hope the show does well in America and lasts for multiple seasons.

I gotta mention lol.......My mom loves this show...And she's 53

British Clips

My favorite bit of dialogue and scene from the fourth season. Its nothing that offensive. No sex, partying, or drugs lol. If you give any of this videos a chance let it be this one.

YouTube - Skins - Freddie & Effy - 4x05 (part 3)

Generation One (What the Mtv series is based around)
YouTube - Skins | Bad Kids

Generation 2
YouTube - Skins Cast - I Still Remember

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

An article just posted today about the creator and what he has to say about the show.

Exclusive: 'Skins' Creator Speaks Out - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV

When viewers have taken the time to watch the show in a little more depth, they are less concerned about the behavior of the characters. Teenagers can be loyal, supportive, dedicated, focused, and capable of making informed value judgments about their lives. In the pilot episode of Skins, it's possibly easy to overlook the story wherein a young boy sets off to a party to sell drugs and have sex, but in fact, does neither of these things, because, he senses that he has been manipulated by friends and does not feel ready to have sex with someone he does not know properly.

Skins is a traditionally made television series which has won countless international awards and gained a worldwide audience for stories about the joy, misery and challenges of being a teenager. The show has been used in anti-drug campaigns, has drawn praise for its portrayal of mental health issues and explorations of bereavement, sexuality, bullying and gender stereotyping.

 

[smkie]

----------------------------I am taking Hyia to a mountain top for sure now---------------:yikes:

 

[Paige]

To put it bluntly... yeah. When I was 14-15 I went to a lot of parties though never had sex, did drugs or drank. My friends all did. My bestfriend was hooked to heroin for year and only recently kicked the habit. Then I hit 17, lost my virginity in a drunken blackout and it all went down hill from there. I got pregnant while heavily drunk, high on e and was slipped GHB. Then woke up the following morning and consumed a large amount of acid.

Maybe that isn't how most teenagers party... but it's certainly how I did.

The only really odd thing I find about that show is girls actually hanging out with guys their own age. All the females when I was 17 where a similar age but the guys were in their 20s, some of them 30s.

 

[oakash]

^ Most likely because 17 year old boys are no fun

I'm homeschooled, so most of the girls I hang out with don't even talk about sex, and if they talk about drugs, its making fun of them. My mom doesn't even like to say the word sex...

But then again, I play sports for a private school, and while they talk about sex, no one takes drugs, as far as I know

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

The only really odd thing I find about that show is girls actually hanging out with guys their own age. All the females when I was 17 where a similar age but the guys were in their 20s, some of them 30s.

Meh it was a mixture in my circle of friends .

I hung out with all the hard partiers all through middle school and high school. But and im being 100% honest I did not drink or try any kind of drugs until I was 17-18.
And even then I have never *knock on wood* had a problem with drug addiction or substance abuse.

 

[Amber]

I think people my age are obvious about it, but not to their own parents...

Last week I went to a huge birthday party at a local club, and alot of my classmates were getting nasty right by the dance floor, even with a few parents there watching. The guy whose party it was was even up at the front hardcore making out with his girlfriend while standing right next to his mom. Awkward much?

So yeah..

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

But are kids this OBVIOUS now-a-days???

Pretty much. The stuff I see on my Facebook is ridiculous. I have a friend who's 14, and she's been having sex, drinking, smoking pot, doing other drugs since she was 11 or 12. And her mom knows 100% of what's going on, usually she's doing the drugs and drinking with her. I also know several 16-18 year olds who drink and smoke pot with their moms. The parents don't really care, and do the same thing. And they all talk about it on their facebooks (or are texting me "i'm so high right now" or "i'm so drunk right now" like...okay wtf, nice to know...) where everyone can see it. My 14 year old friend's status the other day was: "I partied so hard last night, smoked pot, and drank 'til I threw up". I know some one (wouldn't call them a friend) on Facebook who has pictures of her and friends smoking a bong.

But not ALL teenagers are like that. I'm 19, and I've never had sex or done drugs, and I've had ONE drink in my whole life, never been drunk or even buzzed.

But you'd think the people who DO do that stuff would be less obvious about it. Geeze.

 

[Amber]

(or are texting me "i'm so high right now" or "i'm so drunk right now" like...okay wtf, nice to know...)

I know right? My friend's boyfriend (who I hate) is alwayyyysss doing that. I mean, whatever, have a good time at home, but you don't need to share it with the world.