I thought I hated soap operas before...but...

[SamuraiInBlack]

This just took the cake.

My mom is a big fan of soap operas and watches General Hospital and Port Charles. She acts like she'd die if she even missed the commercials to the show.

But anyway as I was eating my overgreasy breakfast of MickeyD's and watching with her just to see what was so interesting about this particular episode, I wanted to throw my Steak n Egg bagel at the TV.

Some friggin' brunette woman was performing a ritual to contact "evil spirits". Her friend is all like "well gee I didn't know you were into witchcraft" and she says "Well I'm not a witch but some of my friends are. Y'know witches have gotten a bad rap lately about this kind of stuff?"

Well, she goes on with the ritual anyway. The guy walks around her as she's chanting and says "Luuuuuuuuuucy....Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucy" in a dark hoarse voice and she's like "Evil Spirit!?" only to realize it's her friend. And then as they leave the forest there's two yellow eyes glowing in the bushes.

And supposedly another guy became a zombie because he was raised from the dead. And in General Hospital some guy performed a ritual that would make his body die off and an evil spirit named Cain would take over.

I wanna laugh about it but then I also wanna choke the producers of it. Then again I figure if they had put in anymore than they did about witches and pagans getting a bad rap, maybe they would've lost more audience from disobeying the stereotype. So right now I dunno what to think.

[Mina]

I know what you mean! My roommate at school watches a soap called 'Passions.' There is an entire story line revolving around a "witch" named Tabitha and her living doll..Timmy. For a while I sat back and watched laughing at all the stupid story lines, but after a while it just really became annoying. Apparently Tabitha had lost her evil powers, and the only way she can get them back is by destroying another character who is apparently a powerful good witch, but doesn't know it. Tabitha finally sends this girl into the 'depths of hell'....I didn't think witchesd believed in Heaven or hell... but anyways.... So she regains her powers until her Timmy goes into hell to save the girl. There is all this mess about her doing evil spells and whatnot. Makes me feel so annoyed! I take my practice very seriously, and some people take this view of wiccans...and pagan's in general, after seeing shows like this!

[Elaine]

mmmmmmmmmm steak and egg bagels!!!!! mmmmmmmmm yummy!!! :D





I don't watch much tv....but I'm sure these get annoying!!

[SamuraiInBlack]

I wanted to laugh at it, but I also wanted to call up ABC and tell them where to shove it.

It's shows like these where I seriously wish someone would make a counter-show about stereotyping all these other religions and then at the end have a black screen with white letters fade in saying, "Ask yourself if you act this way. Now ask yourself if you believe this is how you should be acting."

Just...something to make people wake up and say "Ok. So maybe they're not SO bad. It's just like ours where you just have a few who take it the wrong way." or misguided or whatever the (insert word of choice here) they wanna call it.

[Sequoia]

I know! I was watching this episode of JAG with my dad and apperantly there was a group of wiccans and one guy was using saltwater to cast these attraction/rape spells on women or something. . . >.< I was so annoyed I started ranting about it while doing the dishes. . . actually this is how I "came out of the broom closet" to my dad -_-;; I started ranting about this TV show and how annoying it was. Normally I like JAG, but this just kinda pushed my buttons. And I spent two weeks getting the weird ideas out of his head ("no dad, I don't go to skyclad stuffs" (YET!) "no dad, I don't put curses and hexes on people." "no dad I don't talk to the devil; I use earth's energy and my own." and so on and so forth) and my BROTHER has this thing. . . he thinks wicca is so kewl and practiced by all the goths at his school and his friend is a wicca who puts curses on people. .. -_-;; my gods, if I have to sit through history class learning about the blasted crusaids and god and Budda (I didn't mind that, although the lesson was WAY too short) and all that jazz. ..then SOMEBODY better mention wicca or SOME other earthbased religion because by the gods they've been around a heck of a lot longer than Jesus! -_-;; and it sucks to be a night owl; I'm getting sick of "sheapards chapel" being on nearly every channel. . . come on, I want a show called "nightowl's circle" or something like that! ^^;;;

I guess all the faulty messages keep the "trendy wiccans" and dabblers from hurting themselves, but still. . .

p.s. how can I get people to stop going "oooh you're going through that wiccan phase?" >.<;;; one more time I hear that I swear I won't be able to control either my tongue or fist or both.

[Wyrdsister]

I knew soaps were pathetic programs, but it sounds like they are so much more desperate than they used to be to get ratings. *sigh*

Wyrdsister

[fantine]

Originally posted by Puma Hime
I'm getting sick of "sheapards chapel" being on nearly every channel. . . come on, I want a show called "nightowl's circle" or something like that! ^^;;;

There used to be a show on my local cable access channel that was by Wiccans for Wiccans/witches/pagans. It was great. I loved watching it. However, one live call-in show didn't have a time delay on the phones, and some of the comments by callers definitely made me want to stay in the "broom closet". Unfortunately, that show was replaced by another one for a more "socially acceptable" religion. I never did manage to get in contact with the hosts/producers either.

There was an episode of Judging Amy a few seasons back which featured a custody battle between a mother, who was Wiccan, and her ex-hubby, who was a narrow-minded bigot. They handled the facts of the mother's religion very well and got it mostly correct. I was pleased to see the script writers doing their research.



p.s. how can I get people to stop going "oooh you're going through that wiccan phase?" >.<;;; one more time I hear that I swear I won't be able to control either my tongue or fist or both.

Just say something like: "and you've been going through your <insert religion here> phase for how many years now?" It works like a charm, especially on those who are not actively practicing their declared faith.

--Fantine

[Brujaverde]

If we all contact these tv networks & let them know how we feel about it, it might happen less. They can still use similar story lines just not always having an EVIL witch/pagan of whatever kind. They need to know we are out here it's up to us to let them know. You can also contact the Witches League for Public Awareness http://www.celticcrow.com/ or
Witches Antidefamation League
Dr. Leo Martello, H.P.
153 West 80 Street
Apt. 1B
New York, NY 10024
(include SASE)

[Myst]

Actually, some Witches do believe in Heaven and Hell.

You're confusing Wiccans with Witches.

And some Wiccans do cast curses.

The problem isn't thinking Wiccans or Witches do or do not do this or that, because frankly it depends on the person and it's just as useless to go on about how no Wiccan does this or that as it is to say Wiccans *do* this or that. The truth is no one, even us Pagans, can define what Witches, Pagans, or Wiccans do or do not do, so how do you think anyone who isn't even any of those does?

Stereotyping is pretty universal. I see a lot of people even here at MW commenting on how "Christians are so judgmental" and that's JUST as bad. Maybe something to think about next time *you* start thinking of Christians in that way, or anyone of any religion.

Stereotyping is something we all have to face. I imagine we notice witchcraft on tv in that way because a) we're Pagan and b) seeing people casting spells is probably a lot more interesting then seeing people sitting in church every Sunday morning

[Sequoia]

hey, personally I think christianity is pretty cool. Jesus had a good idea and cool thing going there. It is the people who do really horrible things in his and god's name that sicken me, not just christianity in general. And it's that christianity just isn't my thing. Jesus had a good idea. The fanatics don't. So I'm not a part of it. I hold true to myself. . . :) as much as I can, anyway hehe

[Myst]

*nods*

And maybe those shows on tv are referring to the few Witches who *do* that stuff, just like when you say that you're referring to the few Christians who *do* that stuff. So if you think about it it's kind of the same thing. :)

Yeah it's too bad sometimes people don't realize the portrayal of a few people doesn't necessarily represent everyone like that, whether it's Christianity or Witchcraft. I guess that's why we're here to answer questions when needed :D

[flar7]

So, Puma.....I hear you're going through a Wicca stage?....
*runs for hills and dear life!* :rotfl:

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Puma Hime
I know! I was watching this episode of JAG ...

You could have stopped right there. That was your problem. Watching that tripe. Don't waste your time with shallow, network slop like that. Problem solved.

[Phoenix Blue]

Better yet, just defenestrate your TV set and cable box and save yourself $50 per month. :p

[Myst]

Defenestrate?

*gets out the dictionary*

Ah!

He has a point though. It's like expecting good character development and a solid plot from the Springer show.

[MammaStar]

I'm speaking as a HUGE fan of GH & PC. Yes, I tape them every day. I've been watching GH for, well a lotta years now.

PC (port charles) has had this storyline going since this post began. It was actually a Vampire/Angel thingy. It's gotten out of hand. I just saw yesterday's episode, & I have to really start paying attention, cause it seems there's a character "casting spells" & such. But of course, the spells are coming out for "evil", just to push the story on. The character "Lucy" is very "new age-y" she "listens to the universe" & consults her tarot deck regulary. I like Lucy, she's a riot & a great character on the show.

I know the stuff isn't real. I do get caught up in story lines. I'll admit that. No one cried more when we thought Lucky was dead, or when Luke & Laura reunited. Gods know I was cheering the day that little announcement came back. GH is like old friends for me. The best thing about soaps, is that the stories are so far-fetched I get to forget about my goofy problems, if only for an hour.

But I am aware that there are people (mainly women) who get WAY too caught up in these things. Kelly Ripa says that women have approached her on the street & shouted at her when her character "Haley" on All My Children has done something they don't like. It doesn't help people like us Pagans, who know the real deal & the writers are showing something completely off base. But like I always say, they are Soap Operas, totally not based on any reality we all know. So if they stretch the truth a bit, who's it gonna hurt. JMO

[MammaStar]

I saw the Judging Amy episode mentioned.

They did handle the "facts" in the case well, however, the mother still took off. Judge Amy tried to tell the woman to stay & fight for her son. But the ex-hubby kept pushing the issue for the Mom to give up her religon or her son. Meanwhile, it was tearing the Mom apart, so she just left. She couldn't choose & felt it was betterfor the kid to live with the dad. I didn't like the episode very much. :(

[shnen]

ever heard of passions? ugh! :mad::sick:

[Chibi-Fallon]

Well think about any soap logically, from a network standpoint. Let's take "Passions" as that's the only soap I've really ever seen. Their target audience is more and more becoming Hispanic females (they show it in Spanish as well as English). Now we all know that most of Latin America is Catholic. Hence they are going to show Pagans in a good light because that would alienate their target audience. And since the show doesn't want to do that (I don't think any show does) they are going to keep doing what their doing because it's working.
We could all write a script to some Pagan soap, and put it on public access. :D It'd be fun just to make up a story-line.

[Garnet]

Is it the show where the woman who casts spells has a midget sidekick? She had a magickal book which showed her the future.
I saw a couple of minutes of that & thought "Ugh. Who is actually paid to think of this ***?".
I saw that episode of Judging Amy. A similar story was on the old show Picket Fences. In that episode, I think it was social services trying to take the daughter away after the mother was discovered participating -skyclad- in a coven ritual. The judge threw the case out on the basis that the mother had consitution-promised religious freedom, even though the policy wonks at Social Services didn't approve of the religion.
Years ago, I used to watch Dark Shadows. The vampires, ghosts, etc. were the whole point of the series, not just an excuse to blindly boost the ratings.

[Dancin Girl]

Having been a long time soap opera watcher, and enjoyer of silly fantasy stories whether they come in books or in movies, or on network television.... I have to say that some of their story lines are no more far fetched than science fiction. In all of the years they've been on, they have at times reached the outer limits of believability on any number of topics and subjects. Almost every one of them at one time or another has attempted storylines dealing with witchcraft, the occult, evil spells, demons.... Who is to say they are any more right or wrong, good or bad than the other shows on evening television... such as Buffy, Angel, Charmed, X-Files, Outer Limits, or any other fantasy realm shows out there? They try to cater to their target audience, and to what ever current trends and or hot topics are out there. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes, too, they deal with difficult subject matter s and raise viewer awareness. Yes, they may be silly, fluffy and supposedly rot our minds, they may display stereotypical and unflattering portrayals of a lot of things, but not that much more so than other shows on network, cable, or the movies, or even books for that matter.

I watched General Hospital for years, and loved Lucy!!! She was dizzy, dingy, flighty, but most times has had good intentions. One Life to Live used to have a great character who was an excellent role model and portrayal of a Pagan... Luna!!! She was fantastic and yes, I cried when she died!!!! Seldom ever have watched Passions... just way too flakey and hard to follow for me!!! Loved Dark Shadows and watched it on Sci Fi channel!!

[MammaStar]

My Mom used to watch Dark Shadows when I was a kid. Eshallet watches the repeats on his days off on Sci fi. I can't get into it.

[Old Witch]

I have watched GH since the day it came on......I love the show.......... Today was its !0,000th day.....and the character Audrey has been on it since day one.......We soap fans are a mighty force, so don't make light of us!!!!I watched Dark Shadows from the beginning to the end...........you know, as I think about it, it probably influenced me to become a witch.........Angelique was beautiful you know!!!

[Djiril]

It used to be that witches in the media would just cast evil spells. Now they complain about the bad rap witches are getting, explain that witches are really good earth-loving people, and then cast evil spells.
The media has come a long way, hasn't it?:rolleyes:

[Xander67]

ok, I think this just may be the thread I need to help break My addiction to that show LOL (passions) It is driving me CRAZY
the plots are getting out of hand, And the storyline is moving slower than molassess !!

Hey I thought it was a nice Coincidence though today,
Flaire celebrated her 10,000 th post and GH celebrated its 10,000th eppisode! that was a nice coincidence :)

or was there a connection :woah:

[Dancin Girl]

Hmmmmmmmm?? Is Flaire a fan...did Flaire plan it ahead of time?? Is Flaire really an incognito resident of Port Charles and afraid to tell us?? Sounds like fodder for another Soap Opera!!!

Alright OW!!! Yes, do not mess with us soap watching witches..our brains have turned to mush and we may not be responsible for the spells we cast out upon the masses who ridicule us!!!

I caught most of yesterday's anniversary show too, remembered watchin it with my Mom... well, I was suppose to takin a nap on the couch but never actually slept... always had one ear open to hear what was goin on.

[Flaire-FireStar]

Originally posted by Dancin Girl
Hmmmmmmmm?? Is Flaire a fan...did Flaire plan it ahead of time?? Is Flaire really an incognito resident of Port Charles and afraid to tell us?? Sounds like fodder for another Soap Opera!!!


Flaire can't really stand soap operas...:2G: I only watch the first 5 minutes of As the World Turns before the TV gets turned off after the news. ;)

:o Just a lucky coincidence, I say.. ;)