Seriously...What's up with current and Sex?

This is exactly what I'm talking about!!!!!!! Has anyone noticed the ''When Women Bring Home THE Bacon'' Article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???? The image is unnecessary and perversely sexually suggestive!!!!!!!

Well.....I am still going to be here and everything, I hope you guys make it it through...Mario.

Wait a minute... well, in defense of current, you do realize that it was February. so in the name of valentines day and every other hallmark holiday maybe they thought that the could push the envelope and poke fun at a holiday some people who take it too seriously.

although i have seen a lot of mamaries and i know what they look like on current.com. the fact remains that in spite of all this coverage of boobs or rather the lack thereof in some cases, *pun intended*, I believe that the vanguard journalism department rectifies the situation with its special this month...blood roses and dirty diamonds.

as far as the rants go though it's debatable. I dunno, it seems sometimes to me to be a bit over the top and not what i would expect from a professional news station. otherwise it might start sounding like bill o'reilly's hard ball or rush limbaugh. but i digress, i suppose such is often necessary to incite a response and at least get people talking, that is, after all the point of all this isn't it?

every broadcasting station has its blow hard. only in the case of current.com they have two. Although i am not sure that is a role that should only be reserved for the concerned public otherwise it might be seen as an attempts to influence public opinion via the broadcasting network by its employees. if they are going to continue to do so it must be made clear that these are the views of the individual staff members and not of the news station itself.

Mario----- I appreciate the time you have taken to explain current's concept for the new model. Now, You have kindly requested that our attention be briefly turned to the ''About Current'' footer right? Okay, I acknowledge that currents objectives are respectfully noble, but...sigh... as you can see, directly above it, you will find ''Youtubes Most famous Boobs'' which brings me to my point. You mentioned that, current ''now has a site that is heading in the direction of allowing a broader variation of opinions and interests'' which to me just seems like corporate rhetoric for,we are now compromising our intergrity to appease a new kind of audience.... because ''variation'' being the generator powering currents engine, and ''Opinion'' being the glossy luster of its charming appeal, is what has always distinguished current from the very beginning, Sooo...I don't see the need for these new revisions...

Now, My issue obviously isn't with the variation of opinions, my concern is the propagation of trite articles and posts about sex, for instance, ''Sex on Campus'' ''Family Friendly Sex Club'' ''Sex at Harvard'' ''The Internet's Best Animal Sex''
''Top 5 Songs To Have Sex To'' ''Awkward Webcam Sex'' just to name a few. I don't have a problem with sexuality, I embrace it whole heartedly, but...sigh.. it seems to be currents fad for the moment.... When I was first introduced to current, I was presented with tactful journalism and only stories that were thought provoking held lofty positions on the front page, now it seems that any old coverage about sex is holding precedence over content like for instance ''Chinatown Africa'' one of currents latest accomplishments. Even with the economic relevence of this pod, it hasn't been promoted as currents '' Current Video'', but instead, you have promoted videos like ''Youtubes most famous boobs'' ''5 Lame rap songs that People Like'' ''Sarah Haskins in Target Women: Oscar Ex-Plosion''....These are just a few of your latest promotions... How is it that these ''relatively'' less than thought provoking pod's take precedence over media like ''ChinaTown Africa'' or ''Narco War Next Door''?

I understand the Voting system...but sometimes I wonder if Jebb Bush is overseeing the directive, considering that the pods held up on the front page don't always accurately represent the majority of your subscribers interests....because ''boobs, 101-viral film school'' held an excruciating month and 1/2 spot on the front page? That does't seem right..... I have always held current in high regard and respect currents bravery and journalistic audacity! which is, I believe, why it has generated such a cult like following! So consequently, it disturbes me to see current, unnecessarily compromising it's integrity in exchange for ''popularity'', but currents integrity, journalistic audacity and ingenious creativity is what has rendered it ''popular''! The ''old format'', was effective, and I saw no need for program revisions. This new ''pop-culture'' programing has a very MTV'ish quality to it, with extraneous content broadcasted 99% of the time and the occasional ''True Life'' episode squeezing through the dirty filter... My point is that, you don't have to compromise intergrity so as to appease and attract a new immature demographic, when you already have a devoted audience hanging on your every word.....

I'm looking forward to the next step in evolution that Mario A outlines.
It's fine to have a open forum where all voices are heard, but just as in the wider world, smaller groups with different levels of interest need a somewhat more quiet alcove to move a subject forward.
For me, it does get incredibly tiresome to have to wade through long strings of ill-informed posts that amount to nothing more than misspelled graffiti.
I'm not arguing for isolation for one point of view; I find it valuable to occasionally plumb the depths of just how wacko some reactionary streams of our crowded little planet are. I find it useful to quote them when I get to my familiar: "We're all doomed" argument among my friends. : )
But it would be a great relief, and I think a necessary encouragement, to have place in Current for more coherent adult conversation.

'not everyone is a fan of JanforGore's eye opening Monsanto stories'

This isn't about making "fans." I have made friends here who care about this planet, and that is more important than "fans." This also isn't about celebrity status.This is about using CURRENT as a conduit for the TRUTH you don't see on the MSM. These stories about genetically modified organisms (as well as water and climate change) and their health and environmental effects are IMPORTANT information that people should know whether they are a "fan" or not.This isn't about me.

How about you make a 'REAL NEWS' column on the frontpage for all of the news we don't see on YAHOO so that people who want to be real citizen journalists instead of just cut and pasters can do what Al Gore, the Chairman of this station himself stated the Internet should be used for? You remove a topic (Earth and Science) that was already there, and then state you are "working on a solution" to bring it back? How hard is it to place a topic back on the frontpage that was there just two days ago?

oh, one more thing: we recently moved Earth and Science from the homepage to make room for Green. unfortunately, we don’t have room for all of these channels on the homepage, but that won’t be the case forever. we’re working on a solution.

wow...well, hello everyone.

thanks for sharing your concerns with the rest of the community, Mobius2012. i appreciate your input, and so does the rest of Current.

so here's the deal. whether you believe it or not, the mission that Current was founded upon has remained intact, with one minor exception -- we now have a site that is heading in the direction of allowing a broader variation of opinions and interests to be exposed on the surface for all to see.

what we are running into here is a situation where so many varied interests are colliding. those familiar with our original programming should be aware that we range from Vanguard to infoMania, from serious investigative journalism to irreverent social satire. on Current.com, these pieces rub elbows with the content and submissions that you all bring to the table.

not everyone is a fan of JanforGore's eye opening Monsanto stories, and DeliaTheArtist's ongoing interest in Science and Religion may not be everyone's cup of tea either. Metalcookiesxy70 has a deeply intriguing love of the art of video game soundtracks -- that might not be your vision of hard-hitting information. i just happen to be a fan of all three.

and it's not just me. these stories are important to many, and that makes them important to all us. each one of these contributors brings something unique to Current, and ultimately, to our community.

i urge you each to scroll down to the footer of this page, and give the "about current" section a quick glance...i'll wait, go ahead...

ok, i'll help you out, here is what it says:

"Current is about what's going on in your world: all the things you and your friends are actually interested in -- that you won't find on any other news site or cable TV channel.

Current.com is the place to find and share stories and videos that are interesting to you."

this mission has remained the same from the very get go. in fact, one of the only things that has changed about this mission is it's placement on the page (it used to stretch across the footer, now it's in it's own box on the right). regardless, it's always been there, and it always will. one thing it doesn't promise, however, is that you will agree with every single thing that gets posted here. that's why we have a "vote down" button.

right now we are about 1/4 of the way through a very big evolution on Current.com. i know it must be difficult to see the forest from the trees when we are still so far from the finish line, but i urge you to stick with us, because what is coming is really aimed at giving you guys the ability to "find and share stories and videos that are interesting to you" in ways we've never been able to offer before.

we want the JanforGore's to have a place to build a repository for their interests. we want the Metalcookiesxy70's to be able to build a home for their video game soundtracks, and for others who share that same interest to be able to join in on the fun.

what we found with our old model was that a large group of posters with a single interest could find ways to overrun the homepage (note the complaints of countless pot stories, etc.). this led to a realization: if we only offered a single homepage that comprised solely of one focus determined by popularity, whether it be marijuana legislation stories, conspiracy theories, or eco-friendly information, that would be much more like "shoving it in [peoples'] faces" than a homepage that serves as windowpanes into different subject matter.

that is what inspired the present homepage, and as i've said before, it's only a baby step in a much larger plan.

i hope this helps add some context to things. please feel free to ask questions.

also...as DeliaTheArtist mentioned, please make it a point to participate in our weekly Town Hall meetings. our next one is Thursday at 10am PST at the link above.

i hope to see you there.

best,
mario

online community team

Oh, and surely others have noticed that our contributors run the gamut of the highly sophisticated to the barely literate. In that way, Current sometimes resembles USA Today...you have to WORK to find the writing and debates that are really interesting and engaging -- and sometimes you may be disappointed altogether...

"High Ground?" This debate is, so far as I can see, about whether there are too many "boob" stories intermingled with the more substantive stories. MY bored-o-meter goes off whenever I see the latest "legalize marijuana" story because the debate has simply become so predictable. The same few thoughtful comments on the legalize side, a fewer number of nonetheless thoughtful comments on the other and the usual sprinkling of comments from those who are already so baked they can barely type. So I have learned to avoid those articles. But to me one speaks of the "high ground" when debating things like human rights, not when debating the manner in which a web site's homepage should be organized. Just sayin'

I have noticed the differrence in current and I have not been here that long.
I rather liked the old front page, but then again, everything and nothing changes.
I simply do not look at anything I have no interest in, kinda like....reality TV.
Hopefully current will not continue to slide down a slope that I am not interested in.
i rather like intelliegent exchange of ideas and opinions.
Though intelligence can be subjective.:)))

@metal- I think some of those categories can be combined as well. I'd also like to see a return of "earth and science" because "green" is very specific. The good thing about Current is they are always taking viewer opinion seriously. They reach out to everyone through so many avenues like their phone line, emails, Current town hall meetings, Twitter, etc. I have no doubt that there will be more changes and better organization on the home page soon.

As far as it being "shoved in our faces" the new homepage is like an attention deficit dream; there's a million things going on at once and I think it can be a bit distracting; but on the other hand, it means there are many things being shoved in our face at the same time. Honestly when I look at the Current homepage I see a large variety of subject matter.

My point on posts like this always is the same: Who determines what is "important" or not? Jan, you said "I came to CURRENT for more stimulating and informative content. With so much happening out here that Current should be raising awareness about, seeing the frontpage looking more like Entertainment Tonight is very disappointing" and I understand- I'm not a fan of Celebrity news either- but sex, drugs, technology etc etc etc IS important to society. What is "stimulating and informative" to you may not be the same for others. Of course you have the right to your opinion, no one is saying you don't and I'm not trying to change it.

I just wonder why all of these topics can't live happily together on one web page. Isn't content on Current user determined? Don't the popular stories reflect what people are interested in? Wouldn't it be crappier if Current censored out the stories that "weren't newsworthy"- if that's not the solution to the problems y'all are talking about, what is? Again I'm not trying to "jump" on anyone's opinion, I'm seriously interested in the answers to these questions because I think the whole point is that the community makes Current what it is.

You don't have to check it out. It is shoved in our faces (figuratively speaking.) I think that was the point. And I also think critiquing content here is also allowed unless that's changed as well. No matter then, I'll just keep voting it down when I see it.

The only reasons why Current.com completely changed its homepage and clashed topics together the wrong way was in order to gain more popularity from other websites, Current used to have a unique structure because of the way it had its topics, the feature of having stories on tv, and the homepage....I will indeed predict this will be Current's downfall from standing out from the crowd on its website and on Tv. Topics, the reason why we can't have specific topics clashed together is mainly becuase it doesn't make relevant sense, for example, Green doesn't make much sense as Earth and Science.....Although, there are some topics that should be clashed together such as Movies and Enterainment belong in the category and Tech and Gaming belong in the same category....I beg Current to at least bring back the old homepage, they refused...

Good Evening all,

and Happy Friday to you.

21votes about our friends at current and it's a close call on who has the high ground.

At least there are 21 of us debating......

Best,Broadsword.

I don't click on the boob stories unless something scathingly sarcastic ("scathing" and "mind" admittedly being subjective terms that may be defined differently by others) comes to mind with which to taunt the folks who regularly visit those articles. I mean, clearly they are there to see two dimensional mammaries when there are something on the order of 6 billion real, three dimentional boobs out in the world -- and usually (but not always, I am told) they are attached to real human women. Who knows? If these lusty visitors spent as much time and effort properly romancing one or more of those real women as they do debating the relative merits of the electronic kind, actual physical human interaction may ensue! OK, admittedly, it may just be a pity thing but think "baby steps."

Otherwise, I'm sorry, but this kind of sounds like someone complaining that somewhere in the public library is a book to which he objects. If he really objects, why does he keep checking it out?

If I wanted to have BOOBS and see continuous entries about drugs, sex, and insignificant celebrity BS shoved in my face there are many other places I go to on the Internet if I were so inclined to keep my head in the sand about what is going on in this world. I came to CURRENT for more stimulating and informative content. With so much happening out here that Current should be raising awareness about, seeing the frontpage looking more like Entertainment Tonight is very disappointing. That is my beef, because as a member of this site who has been here from the beginning I can see the change. That is my opinion, it isn't changing, and therefore I believe your questions have then been answered.

How am I "jumping" on you about it? I'm just asking some questions. You get so defensive so easily, it's like I can't say one word to you without you thinking I'm attacking your POV. I'm not being rude or tasteless, I'm not making personal attacks against you, I'm not even saying you are wrong. What's the beef?

And can't people express an opposite view without you jumping on them about it?

Isn't there room for everything? Can't we have boobs next to science and celebrity bullshit next to environmentalism? Can't some people be interested in sex and drugs AND politics? Don't video games have their place on a news site along with stories about the economy?

Mobius2012:

I actually agree, and that's why I vote that kind of fluff down. For the most part, the quality of the content here in many respects has slid down greatly since current.com came to be. In my view that is more than likely a decision made in the higher up offices thinking they have to serve a certain demographic in order for the company to stay afloat and give competition to other venus on the web like you tube.

And It is about a bit more than just 'finding something you like.' It is about a station that purported to be different from the MSM and has now apparently sold out to the same tactics to keep viewers and readers as the MSM and entertainment tabloids. That is why I mainly stay in Earth and Science (now green) and occassionally News. So I see your point and have been posting less here myself of late because I have been disappointed in the direction Current.com has taken.

I think Current needs to understand that you don't have to sell sex, drugs, drinking, video games and crap celebrity news to young people in order to keep their interest. I suppose sponsors have other plans however, and actually that is a shame. Hopefully, people do read what serious people post here and it has made a difference in some way, and that is always one bright spot about it.

Go vent on your personal blog. I'd prefer to read real articles about boobs than read this crap. You're just as bad as them.

Yeah and whats up with the damn hissy fitting about the tags? I DO THAT INTENTIONALLY TO GET THE ARTICLE NOTICED! HELLO!!!!

Dude did you just tag this story with every label you could or what? It won't be long before a staffer comes along and re-tags it because let's be honest, this is not about music, art and style, green issues, etc.

So what's wrong with artistic enjoyment?

i'm mostly interested in wasting time on stories posted in the music section about how current users waste time with sexuality...
there's so much content on this site. if you got through it all, i'd call you guru. find something you're interested in.

Gargaryun, I don't know about you, but...I don't need pics, real women are preferable...:)

...I'm sick of the Boobs too !...How about a few pics of some seriously Sweet ASS?....(female, as I'm Hetero)

I honestly had not noticed that at all. There is plenty of content on Current, find something you are interested in!

very true