7th Heaven

[sweetlambofgod]

maybe lol

 

[Ringo84]

Ooh... I'm gonna get flamed for this. But I HATE this show with a passion. No offense to fans of 7th Heaven.

This show is supposed to teach "Christian values"? Please. The Cosby Show taught all of these values, but without

1. A horribly nosy family that couldn't seem to help getting into people's business - even if their opinion wasn't welcome. The absolute worst example was Ruthie's first date. Now look, I'm definitely no fan of Ruthie (see below), but I felt sorry for her in that episode (which I didn't see but read a recap).

This family not only continued to annoy her with nosy questions and intrusions into her personal life, but actually sent people to spy on her! Some people might call that "concern for Ruthie's welfare". I'd call it psychological sickness.

I know that parents are concerned about their daughters when they go on first dates. That concern is valid. But eventually, you have to let your daughter go and trust her to make the right choices. And most of all, you have to give her her privacy - to which she does have a right - and allow her to have a life!

Privacy is a big issue for me because I'm a private person. And though some might consider the Camdens' nosiness "loving" and "cute", it makes me angry because I value my privacy. And if I lived in the Camden's house and they were constantly nosing their way into my business and spying on my every move, it wouldn't make me closer to them and inspire me to be more open. It would drive me away and make me even more protective of my privacy than before.

2. Beating people over the head with a message. This is one of the show's worst faults. The Cosby Show, by comparison, sent a message to their audience through subtlety and humor. Brenda Hampton can't seem to help beating her viewers over the head with her message.

3. Questionable values. I have several examples of this, in case I'm inevitably asked, later, for examples to back up my assertions.

Exhibit A: Episode "Healing Old Wounds". When I saw this episode, it made my blood broil so hot that I had to stop watching and take a walk. The episode title should really be "Opening Up New Wounds", because that's what this episode did.

It aired before the fairly contentious and conteoversial 2004 election. I don't remember the entire episode in detail, but Roxanne happens to make an anti-war comment, and some other woman on the show (I have choice words for her that I won't use here), whines to Martin's Dad "she's anti-war!" as though this is such a horrible, horrible crime.

Does Martin's Marine Dad have a polite, open conversation with her about the Iraq war? No. He proceeds to spout some of the worst and most easily disproven propaganda I've ever heard about the war. And instead of listening and respecting Rox's point of view, he kisses her before she can even speak. Some would call it "romantic". I'd call it creepy and infuriating.

I don't want to debate the war here. I'm not bringing this up to do that but to say that regardless of how you feel about President Bush and the war in Iraq, using such BS-y propaganda to support your point of view and then kissing someone to shut them up is over the top. Martin's Dad came across more as a creep who couldn't support his point of view (a person who was comfortable with his arguments wouldn't have to kiss someone to shut their POV up) than a hero.

Exhibit B: "Don't Speak Ill Of The Dead Or The Living". What a horrible episode. It took place right before and during President's Day, I believe. Ruthie and some other classmate of hers were supposed to write a report about one of our ex-Presidents. Ruthie decides to write a sensational report about George Washington.

I have to stand up for Ruthie once again; the report was clever. If I remember correctly, the information was presented in a "National Enquirer" format. Her point might have been to show that the Presidents weren't perfect, but that didn't matter. Her teacher forced the kids to throw away their copies of the report and then forced Ruthie to do another, more "respectful" report. She finally ends up doing another report about George Washington that's less sensational, but also much more cliche and less imaginative.

I understand that this was President's Day, and that the point of the report was to honor our former Presidents, but way to overreact, teacher! Our founding fathers and ex-Presidents weren't perfect! They were human beings - subject to the same human frailties as we are! And it's important to remember that they had their faults too.

Not only that, but this teacher snatched these reports away like they were anti-christian or something. They could have had a discussion about sensationalism and how sometimes, the truth is skewered in favor of big stories. She opted to take away an imaginative report and force Ruthie to create another that was much less imaginative. A bad more on her part.

Exhibit C: The smoking episode. I know smoking is unhealthy, and that smokers can be rude, but this episode was - say it with me - over the top.

Apparently (this was another episode I never actually saw but read a recap), some smoker inadvertently burns down the house. Instead of remorse, they are aloof about the whole thing.

NO smoker would act like that! I'm not a smoker myself but I know that almost all smokers (I can't speak for all of them) wouldn't act as though it wasn't a big deal that they just burned down a house! Brenda might have had a good point to make with this episode, but it was buried under generalizations and mischaracterizations.

Also, to say that smoking causes houses to be burned down is ludicrous.

There's more. Bad acting. The fact that GlenOak seems to be run by the Camdens. T-1000, AKA Kevin. Lucy looking like ET. Sickeningly-sweet twins. Mary, who was treated by the show as such a bad-*ss but never really did much more than throw paper around her school gym. Ambiguously-gay Simon. Ruthie, the ten year old who thinks she's Socrates. Annie, the psychopathic mother. Marrying people after dating them about a month. Etc etc.

The fact that this horrible, horrible show was not permanently cancelled doesn't say much for TV culture - secular or spiritual.
Ringo

 

[javaluver]

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. And, I think anyone who cares enought to post a small essay is worth listening to!

 

[Ringo84]

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. And, I think anyone who cares enought to post a small essay is worth listening to!

Thanks. I wasn't expecting such a friendly reply.

Sorry for the length. I have a lot to say about the show that can't really be summarized (I like to explain my reasoning, etc).

Anyway, I'm not trashing the fans of the show but the show itself.
Ringo

 

[javaluver]

Thanks. I wasn't expecting such a friendly reply.

Sorry for the length. I have a lot to say about the show that can't really be summarized (I like to explain my reasoning, etc).

Anyway, I'm not trashing the fans of the show but the show itself.
Ringo

I still like the show but I also know what you mean.

 

[sweetlambofgod]

What did you think of Ruthie last show? She never used to be so rude!

 

[javaluver]

Ya, but her acting was what bothered me! She used to be good as a kid but has gotten progressively worse over the last few seasons.

 

[sweetlambofgod]

oh I know, she was cute

 

[sweetlambofgod]

ok what about Sandy and Martin getting married?

 

[javaluver]

Ya. I'm a bit confused because on the "finale" they were alluding to the baby possibly being Simon's. I didn't see some from this season, did I miss something?

 

[MadeYouLook]

Ooh... I'm gonna get flamed for this. But I HATE this show with a passion. No offense to fans of 7th Heaven.

This show is supposed to teach "Christian values"? Please. The Cosby Show taught all of these values, but without

1. A horribly nosy family that couldn't seem to help getting into people's business - even if their opinion wasn't welcome. The absolute worst example was Ruthie's first date. Now look, I'm definitely no fan of Ruthie (see below), but I felt sorry for her in that episode (which I didn't see but read a recap).

This family not only continued to annoy her with nosy questions and intrusions into her personal life, but actually sent people to spy on her! Some people might call that "concern for Ruthie's welfare". I'd call it psychological sickness.

I know that parents are concerned about their daughters when they go on first dates. That concern is valid. But eventually, you have to let your daughter go and trust her to make the right choices. And most of all, you have to give her her privacy - to which she does have a right - and allow her to have a life!

Privacy is a big issue for me because I'm a private person. And though some might consider the Camdens' nosiness "loving" and "cute", it makes me angry because I value my privacy. And if I lived in the Camden's house and they were constantly nosing their way into my business and spying on my every move, it wouldn't make me closer to them and inspire me to be more open. It would drive me away and make me even more protective of my privacy than before.

2. Beating people over the head with a message. This is one of the show's worst faults. The Cosby Show, by comparison, sent a message to their audience through subtlety and humor. Brenda Hampton can't seem to help beating her viewers over the head with her message.

3. Questionable values. I have several examples of this, in case I'm inevitably asked, later, for examples to back up my assertions.

Exhibit A: Episode "Healing Old Wounds". When I saw this episode, it made my blood broil so hot that I had to stop watching and take a walk. The episode title should really be "Opening Up New Wounds", because that's what this episode did.

It aired before the fairly contentious and conteoversial 2004 election. I don't remember the entire episode in detail, but Roxanne happens to make an anti-war comment, and some other woman on the show (I have choice words for her that I won't use here), whines to Martin's Dad "she's anti-war!" as though this is such a horrible, horrible crime.

Does Martin's Marine Dad have a polite, open conversation with her about the Iraq war? No. He proceeds to spout some of the worst and most easily disproven propaganda I've ever heard about the war. And instead of listening and respecting Rox's point of view, he kisses her before she can even speak. Some would call it "romantic". I'd call it creepy and infuriating.

I don't want to debate the war here. I'm not bringing this up to do that but to say that regardless of how you feel about President Bush and the war in Iraq, using such BS-y propaganda to support your point of view and then kissing someone to shut them up is over the top. Martin's Dad came across more as a creep who couldn't support his point of view (a person who was comfortable with his arguments wouldn't have to kiss someone to shut their POV up) than a hero.

Exhibit B: "Don't Speak Ill Of The Dead Or The Living". What a horrible episode. It took place right before and during President's Day, I believe. Ruthie and some other classmate of hers were supposed to write a report about one of our ex-Presidents. Ruthie decides to write a sensational report about George Washington.

I have to stand up for Ruthie once again; the report was clever. If I remember correctly, the information was presented in a "National Enquirer" format. Her point might have been to show that the Presidents weren't perfect, but that didn't matter. Her teacher forced the kids to throw away their copies of the report and then forced Ruthie to do another, more "respectful" report. She finally ends up doing another report about George Washington that's less sensational, but also much more cliche and less imaginative.

I understand that this was President's Day, and that the point of the report was to honor our former Presidents, but way to overreact, teacher! Our founding fathers and ex-Presidents weren't perfect! They were human beings - subject to the same human frailties as we are! And it's important to remember that they had their faults too.

Not only that, but this teacher snatched these reports away like they were anti-christian or something. They could have had a discussion about sensationalism and how sometimes, the truth is skewered in favor of big stories. She opted to take away an imaginative report and force Ruthie to create another that was much less imaginative. A bad more on her part.

Exhibit C: The smoking episode. I know smoking is unhealthy, and that smokers can be rude, but this episode was - say it with me - over the top.

Apparently (this was another episode I never actually saw but read a recap), some smoker inadvertently burns down the house. Instead of remorse, they are aloof about the whole thing.

NO smoker would act like that! I'm not a smoker myself but I know that almost all smokers (I can't speak for all of them) wouldn't act as though it wasn't a big deal that they just burned down a house! Brenda might have had a good point to make with this episode, but it was buried under generalizations and mischaracterizations.

Also, to say that smoking causes houses to be burned down is ludicrous.

There's more. Bad acting. The fact that GlenOak seems to be run by the Camdens. T-1000, AKA Kevin. Lucy looking like ET. Sickeningly-sweet twins. Mary, who was treated by the show as such a bad-*ss but never really did much more than throw paper around her school gym. Ambiguously-gay Simon. Ruthie, the ten year old who thinks she's Socrates. Annie, the psychopathic mother. Marrying people after dating them about a month. Etc etc.

The fact that this horrible, horrible show was not permanently cancelled doesn't say much for TV culture - secular or spiritual.
Ringo

first of all i'd like to say you and everyone is entitled to their opinions

but i would like to point out one thing often misunderstood about 7th Heaven, it's not supposed to teach Christian values. it's a TV show for entertainment first, if it teaches anything, which it very well could not, that's great but that's not the purpose of the show. The purpose is to get ratings like any other show, why else would 3 sets of twins be born in the finale last season but to bring in big ratings? and to entertain.

it's TV G so alot of Christians do(or more likely) did watch this show, but it by no means is a Christian show. Christian influence maybe but that's it.

although, if you want your kids learning values from tv(which shouldn't be the case in the first place) this is probably the best show for them to watch.

i love the cosby show by the way

 

[tigercub]

What did you think of Ruthie last show? She never used to be so rude!

I think her current bratty attitude is part of the storyline. Ruthie and Lucy butted heads in the most recent episode, Lucy seemed mostly incredilous at Ruthie's selfishness.

I can see this particular story teaching a lesson to bratty kids out there who may not be able to look beyond their own desires in life. That or it will show people what can happen if children Ruthie's age are given almost complete independence before they are ready for it.

 

[asir]

I watch it, I have for years, it used to be better

Hi everyone! I'm brand new here. I hope to learn from my experiences here and perhaps even share a little too.

 

[sweetlambofgod]

I think it was that Sandy just liked him but wanted us to think otherwise

 

[javaluver]

Hi everyone! I'm brand new here. I hope to learn from my experiences here and perhaps even share a little too.

Hi!

 

[sweetlambofgod]

Thoughts on tonights show?

 

[sweetlambofgod]

Ok, this episode was SO bad. Can this show get any worse? What are your thoughts?

 

[javaluver]

Ya, can't say I liked it a whole lot either!

 

[sweetlambofgod]

Ya, can't say I liked it a whole lot either!

 

[javaluver]

I'm not believing the whole Eric sickness line... Why on earth did they have to be stuck in an airport for most of the episode?