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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
9

Smug Americans Love 'Bad-Parent Porn'

We're addicted to seeing moms and dads face 'public smackdowns'

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(Newser) – America, it seems, is addicted to “bad-parent porn,” writes Meghan Daum in the Los Angeles Times. Nadya Suleman's new reality show is only the latest incarnation, along with Jon and Kate, of course. (And let us not forget Michael Jackson.) People just love to see moms and dads screw up in a big way. "We express disgust for them and for the media outlets that enable them, and then we read and watch some more."

What is it about these stories that sucks us in? That would take a lot of therapy to figure out—maybe a lot of Americans are angry at their parents or guilty about their own lousy parenting—but "in the end, bad-parent porn appeals to that ugliest and most innate of human emotions: smugness.” We like seeing parents “subject themselves to public smack downs.” Suleman needs a “time-out”; the media and fans of the genre should be “grounded for life.”

This image made from a 2006 video provided by KTLA shows Nadya Suleman looking at a ultrasound of her unborn twins at an in-vitro fertilization clinic in Los Angeles.
This image made from a 2006 video provided by KTLA shows Nadya Suleman looking at a ultrasound of her unborn twins at an in-vitro fertilization clinic in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/KTLA)
In this file publicity image released by TLC, Jon and Kate are shown in in happriet times.
In this file publicity image released by TLC, Jon and Kate are shown in in happriet times.   (AP Photo/TLC, Mark Arbeit)
The woman Americans love to hate.
The woman Americans love to hate.   (Hulu.com)
Scene from the special.
Scene from the special.   (Hulu.com)
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Should you want to watch all 1:26 of it.   (hulu.com)

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The more egregious the adult behavior, the more they're subject to public censure and, therefore, the more satisfying the viewing experience. - Meghan Daum

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9 comments
VIEWING:
 
ruserious
Aug 20, 09 1:52 PM CDT
Don't be so sure Americans love it--the show on Suleman got the lowest ratings of all major networks last night, only getting the ratings of a mediocre cable show. Maybe we (and SHE) should take this as a sign that we don't care! Reply
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
DarkFrancis
Aug 20, 09 4:09 PM CDT
That's because people's entertainment obsessions have become ever more fleeting. Overstay your welcome and you're a goner. But there'll be more car crashes to look at in future.
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+4
paul123
Aug 20, 09 3:07 PM CDT
It's called schadenfreude. Reply
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+2
jenna
Aug 20, 09 3:27 PM CDT
I wish that nno one would have watched. Dumbasses. Reply
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+7
acj
Aug 20, 09 4:06 PM CDT
I was horrified at what I saw when I caught the tailend of the show. The octomoron's "cameraperson" made it into the sterile OR and was videotaping the births. She was in the staff's way, arguing with them, causing a disruption during a very serious surgery and impeding the care of critical infants. Octomoron had her babies laid in a row on the floor at home, most of them crying and needing care and she was going down the row, holding them up for the camera then laying them back down to cry alone. I'm horrified at the torture, neglect and explotation of those innocent babies! I will not be watching. Reply
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+2

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