There's a country song out right now that kind of sets me on edge when I hear it. It's called "Something About a Truck" and the opening lyrics go "Something about a truck in a farmer's field. No Trespass sign. Nobody's gonna get hurt so what's the big deal?"
So what's the big deal? The guy is trespassing and proud of the fact that he is ignoring the farmer's feelings on the matter. That sign was put up for a reason. Nobody's gonna get hurt? How does he know? Who decides?
When I was growing up we lived next to a farm with a really inviting hayfield. When the grass got long it was oh so much fun to tunnel into it and roll around. We kids honestly didn't think we were hurting anyone. But the farmer felt differently and he told our parents. What we didn't realize that our innocent trampling was ruining a corner of his field so it couldn't be harvested and therefore costing him money. It took a couple of visits before we got it through our heads that we were NOT to go into Mr. P's hayfield no matter how tempted.
In theater, the First Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Touch Another Person's Props." Unless the stage manager or the actor concerned tells you otherwise. No picking up to look at it. Nothing. What's the big deal? Suppose you are getting ready to go on and you can't find your prop. This happened to me in my first play. Fortunately it was during rehearsal. I do not know who moved my prop or why but I got chewed out by the director for not making sure ahead of time that it was in place. I can tell you that a person who habitually disrespects theater's First Commandment will not have a long and happy career on stage. "I was just looking at it," is not going to be accepted as an excuse.
We were sitting around having some post-show drinks and the conversation drifted to getting wasted. One person told of her experience at a party where she was so drunk she couldn't move. She "came to" to find another party-goer trying to take her pants off. Fortunately another person saw what was happening and came to her rescue. This happened several years ago. Another person commented that things have changed and that you can't trust anyone anymore, that nowadays the other people would just sit back and let it happen. From there the conversation turned to the recent collegiate sex scandals. What I found ironic--but didn't point out--is that several of the people present had participated in a production of the immensely popular "Rocky Horror Show" which celebrates and makes a joke out of the very behavior they were all deploring. A young couple's car breaks down and they take refuge in Dr. Frank-N-Furter's castle where he proceeds to trick them into non-consensual sex. This is funny. This is hilarious. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Only when it happens in real life . . . maybe not so funny, hey? It makes me wonder about those who do think "Rocky Horror" is funny. But of course you are not supposed to bring such things up. You aren't supposed to make the connection. But for those of you who are fans of "Rocky Horror' there is a song that Dr. Frank-N-Furter sings that basically says "If you feel like doing it, do it." Think about it. Think about it long and hard. Do you really, deep down inside, agree with that philosophy? Do you really think it is ok to invade someone sexually? If so, I don't want to be around you. And I sure as hell wouldn't want my kids (if I had any) to be around you. Because I know who and what you are.
We've lost our sense of boundaries. We don't think of the other person any more. It's all about what I want. I determine--not anyone else--whether my actions are harmful or not. And those that don't like it are basically told to go you know what themselves.
So what's the big deal? The guy is trespassing and proud of the fact that he is ignoring the farmer's feelings on the matter. That sign was put up for a reason. Nobody's gonna get hurt? How does he know? Who decides?
When I was growing up we lived next to a farm with a really inviting hayfield. When the grass got long it was oh so much fun to tunnel into it and roll around. We kids honestly didn't think we were hurting anyone. But the farmer felt differently and he told our parents. What we didn't realize that our innocent trampling was ruining a corner of his field so it couldn't be harvested and therefore costing him money. It took a couple of visits before we got it through our heads that we were NOT to go into Mr. P's hayfield no matter how tempted.
In theater, the First Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Touch Another Person's Props." Unless the stage manager or the actor concerned tells you otherwise. No picking up to look at it. Nothing. What's the big deal? Suppose you are getting ready to go on and you can't find your prop. This happened to me in my first play. Fortunately it was during rehearsal. I do not know who moved my prop or why but I got chewed out by the director for not making sure ahead of time that it was in place. I can tell you that a person who habitually disrespects theater's First Commandment will not have a long and happy career on stage. "I was just looking at it," is not going to be accepted as an excuse.
We were sitting around having some post-show drinks and the conversation drifted to getting wasted. One person told of her experience at a party where she was so drunk she couldn't move. She "came to" to find another party-goer trying to take her pants off. Fortunately another person saw what was happening and came to her rescue. This happened several years ago. Another person commented that things have changed and that you can't trust anyone anymore, that nowadays the other people would just sit back and let it happen. From there the conversation turned to the recent collegiate sex scandals. What I found ironic--but didn't point out--is that several of the people present had participated in a production of the immensely popular "Rocky Horror Show" which celebrates and makes a joke out of the very behavior they were all deploring. A young couple's car breaks down and they take refuge in Dr. Frank-N-Furter's castle where he proceeds to trick them into non-consensual sex. This is funny. This is hilarious. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Only when it happens in real life . . . maybe not so funny, hey? It makes me wonder about those who do think "Rocky Horror" is funny. But of course you are not supposed to bring such things up. You aren't supposed to make the connection. But for those of you who are fans of "Rocky Horror' there is a song that Dr. Frank-N-Furter sings that basically says "If you feel like doing it, do it." Think about it. Think about it long and hard. Do you really, deep down inside, agree with that philosophy? Do you really think it is ok to invade someone sexually? If so, I don't want to be around you. And I sure as hell wouldn't want my kids (if I had any) to be around you. Because I know who and what you are.
We've lost our sense of boundaries. We don't think of the other person any more. It's all about what I want. I determine--not anyone else--whether my actions are harmful or not. And those that don't like it are basically told to go you know what themselves.
