How did 'Friends' change you?

[escaperoute]

I'm probably going to get stoned by fans of the show, but it's something that i just felt perplexed about, and I have to vent. Don't mind me, I ramble a lot. I just don't quite understand how this all played out.


As I walked out of the company cafeteria with my bagel (sorry Dr Atkins), I scanned the cover of USA Today inside its little dispensing machine. The headline "Farewell to 'Friends'" and then the sub-head "How They Changed America" caught my eye. I didn't bother to invest 50 cents in the paper. I just made my way back to the office and returned to my little fabric cube.

I've only seen a handfull of 'Friends' episodes in the early years. I rarely, if ever, watch any of the network sit-coms. I've heard bits and pieces about the program from advertisements and conversations around the water cooler.

What stuck in my craw was that sub-head that 'Friends' "Changed America". A fictional drama of mostly mal-adjusted, confused people "changed" America. I have to wonder just how this is possible.

Let's think about this claim of this program or any other changing America. It's a one hour program, minus 10 minutes of commercials and such, times a 26 week season times 10 years. That means that in the last 10 years, if you have watched each and every episode, you've spent 216 hours 40 minutes being involved with 'Friends'. We won't ask how many hours you've spent alone with your Bible in the past 10 years. How has 10 years of 'Friends' changed you, your outlook, your attitude, your relationship with God . . . .?

Why doesn't the cover of USA Today or the NY Times or the Wall Street Journal have head lines like . . . .

Southern Baptist Outreaching Changing America

Nazarene Service and Sacrifice Changing America

University Campus Ministries Bind Together to Change Capital

Church Youth Group Changes Face of Forgotten Neighborhood

Adult Bars and Stores Bankrupt as Movement of FaithHitsCity

Change Seen as Increasing Number of Senators and Congressmen Praying and Fasting on Regular Basis

Revolution in School District as Students Gather Daily for Prayer


Maybe the reason that we don't read headlines like that is because we're too busy watching 'Friends'.

 

[Oblivious]

I think I've watched that show once, and only because it was showing on an airplane flight, so I really can't comment...

 

[Kelly]

It was ok. Had some funny moments - but changing your life?

 

[ps139]

It didnt change me because I rarely watched it. When it first came out I saw it as a Seinfeld rip-off, something to play right after Seinfeld to keep the audience watching - then it took the momentum. I never really liked it. Maybe it changed me for the better by making me watch less TV

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

I enjoyed the show, but it had little to no impact on my life. In the real world,

"sooner or later you have to leave the coffee house and get real jobs" -Bill Gates, addressing college students about the real world.

It was an entertaining series though. Only problems I had with it, was that it tends to send messages to America like "It's okay to sleep with 30+ people as long as you've got cool hair and funny catch phrases" and stuff like that.

 

[wvmtnkid]

I enjoyed the show-but I can't say it changed my life. It gave me something to laugh at and sometimes to see that the crazy things that make me me are not so crazy. I didn't always agree with the morality on the show. But I don't always again with morality in real life.

It was a funny show. I will miss it.

 

[escaperoute]

I'd like to think we've all done more to change America than these six hotties.


Or maybe I'm just mad bacause I could never get my hair to look like Rachel's.

LOL! Niiiiice.

 

[kurabrhm]

I think I've watched that show once, and only because it was showing on an airplane flight, so I really can't comment...

Well, on a flight from London to Baltimore, I managed to watch the least amount of Friends ever!!

I've watched a lot more on UK tv, obviously.

 

[tqpix]

I saw a few episodes of Friends; they were funny but didn't change me one bit.

 

[sad astronaut]

i don't think friends changed america. i think the show is merely a reflection of the times, rather than the other way around. one could argue that it affected the values of society, but i think it was more of a reflection rather than a cause. it did influence hairstyles, dress, etc..., but i doubt little else, i guess i would have to read the article though.

 

[theeyesoftammyfaye]

i'll tell you how friends changed me: it made me realise that i can, in fact, loathe a show simply because i hear it advertised nonstop. i've never seen an episode, and still hate it.

 

[matty c]

that episode sent me to the hospital. because of the excessive amount emotion surging through my body at the time, i developed a severe pain in my side. my gf took me to the hospital where i stayed until 2am dosed up on pain killer as well as many other medications to blot out this horrible pain caused by my depressed mental state of the last episode of Friends. i seriously was in a horrific amount of pain and have the medical papers to prove it for those who doubt the amount of pain i went through.




























seriously though it wasnt because of friends, my kidney developed a kidney stone which caused all the pain i've never been in that much pain evar

 

[lucypevensie]

The only way Friends changed me is it made me want to turn off my TV more.

 

[SuzQ]

I enjoyed the show-but I can't say it changed my life. It gave me something to laugh at and sometimes to see that the crazy things that make me me are not so crazy. I didn't always agree with the morality on the show. But I don't always again with morality in real life.

It was a funny show. I will miss it.

I have to agree with you - I really did love the clever & hilarious writing, (Chandler's afraid of Michael Flatley and Joey is stunned. "The Irish jig guy"?, he asks incredulously. Chandler replies, "Well, his legs flail about, as if independent from his body!! When Ross gets an earring, Chandler says, "You do know that Wham broke up?" ) As a teen from the 80's, the humor was right on the button for me! I did not watch the show from the beginning, but started watching re-runs awhile ago.

I also questioned the moral message, though, but then NBC tried "Coupling", and "Friends" looked pretty tame in that respect. ("Coupling" was immediately cancelled, with raunchiness a major factor). I haven't read the USA Today article, but could the story have something to do with how "Friends" changed television in America?? (and not changed America itself - other than help Starbuck's open more coffee lounges - LOL!). I guess I'll have to see the article for clarification...

 

[joculi]

Most of the posts so far are from people who were wise enough to ignore the show all together or strong enough in their faith to not allow it to affect them. I can claim neither honor for myself.

I was fresh out of college when Friends debuted. I had already strayed from the faith I was raised in. I believed everything pop culture and pop media wants us to believe. I was filled with foolish pride believing myself to be very wise and my desires to be very important. I looked for fulfillment in my job and hobbies. I spent my time and money frivolously. I am thankful that I didn't follow the moral example of "Friends," but I suspect my moral foundation was slowly being eroded by the "anything goes" and "it's all relative" message we are bombarded with by the TV/movies/etc. I look back on that time with shame for having strayed from my faith and with thanks to God for calling me back to faith.

I can't give "Friends" full credit for my choices during that time, but "Friends" and the popular media influenced me greatly and led me with their siren song of pride, relativism, and easy gratification. I must take full responsibility for my choices, but I think my choices might have been different had I not filled my head with the message and things of the world.

I'm glad to be back!

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

seriously though it wasnt because of friends, my kidney developed a kidney stone which caused all the pain i've never been in that much pain evar

Welcome to the club. I've had two. On the bright side, when a woman tells you you'll never know how much it hurts to give birth, you can tell her she's wrong. I can't verify that seeing as pain is relative, but that's how my doctor explained the pain level to me.