Welcome to Round 2 of the inaugural Four on Four topics of commentary.

The topic of this blog entry pertains to a college research experiement linking sex to music.

 

Topic Two: According to a study performed by the University of Pittsburgh, some explicit song lyrics may be linked to sexual activity among teens.

Researchers compared the lyrics of music that teens listened to and their sexual behavior.

Overall, 31 percent of the teens in the study had sexual intercourse. Of the teens having sex, 44.6 percent listened to degrading lyrics. And of those teens who were less exposed to the lyrics, only 20.6 percent had sex.

A lead researcher said it is not the music itself causing sexual behavior but it does help mold the perception and is therefore a "likely" factor in sexual development.

Source - © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

And that leads us to this round’s perspectives from our panel of posters. Allow me to introduce you to them once more -- again, as described in their own words:

VaneDave (DAVE) - a black/latino comedian from NYC, who's been blogging here at "The X" for five and a half years.

Trunthepaige (PAIGE) - I am American, that is something I am rather grateful for, but not proud of... Because I had nothing to do with were I was born. I'm an Architectural Sales Representative, from Seattle, Washington, who's been blogging here for three years.

Lotta_Valdez (CARLOTTA) - a Mexican American student from Houston, Texas, who's been blogging here at Xanga for five years.

Franksabunch (FRANK) - a half-superhero, half-Taiwanese American physician from Honolulu, HI, who's been blogging for almost five years.

 

Out of courtesy to you kind readers, I will post one topic per blog entry as part of a series.

Today, I will only cover Topic #2.

 

Now, I ask the four of you, is there something to the aforementioned topic - or is this a crock? What say you?

VaneDave: I don't think this finding is a crock, but I so think it's unfair to put the blame on music lyrics. The music lyrics are bad, and they definitely don't help the situation, but this problem is so prevalent in many aspects of our culture, that it would be wrong to hone in on some lyrics to a song. What about television, and movies, and magazines, and the type of clothing being marketed to children. What about these skank ass moms who dress even worse than their daughters. What about the messed up dads who tell their sons to bed as many women as they can?

Trunthepaige: I make no claims to being an expert on this one. What I believe this study is showing, is that people surround themselves with other people, art, culture, and music, that makes them feel comfortable. The teens with lower moral standards, enjoy music that reflects those rather promiscuous standards. If you want to be a slut, if you idealize sluts, or long for them, you don't want to be listening to church hymns. It is not the music’s fault. The music is just a reflection of the people who enjoy it. The music may reinforce their lower moral standards, and make them feel that they are the norm. But first came the lower standards, the music came second and can not be blamed for it fans.

Lotta_Valdez: Such a crock. Most of the abstinence people I know are also very religious and do not soak up a lot of dirty pop culture anyway. Music never “made” anyone have sex.

Franksabunch: Birds of a feather will flock together, as the saying goes. That's why gangstas don't roll down the street in the 5.0 blasting Michael Bolton... and Republicans (besides me) don't listen to the Wu-Tang Clan and Rage Against the Machine. Knowing that, why would it be surprising that all the kids "sexting" with their phones also listen to Katy Perry singing about kissing a girl? People are always trying to place the blame somewhere else instead of where it belongs -- the parents and the children.

 

And that concludes this edition of Four on Four. Thank you dear readers for stopping by.

Please don’t forget that Round 3 is on the horizon with a topic of discussion involving the dynamics of a high-profile relationship amongst two young R&B stars of the opposite sex, whose domestic issues affect women of all races. See what our four esteemed xangans have to say about this highly serious subject.

Stay rooted, stay grounded… and stay out of trouble.

 

I just posted this Gerber I Pledge widget for 250 credits. You can earn free credits too!

In the past, various bloggers have posted on how potentially different our respective personas can be on Xanga as opposed to real life.  And I've had occasional discussions with fellow Xangans on that very topic. 

I mean, how do we know that certain people aren't really who they appear to be here on this online community.

Some may totally wear their hearts on their sleeves and would be horrible as actors sort of like Keanu Reeves attempting to play an undercover FBI agent who used to be a college quarterback in the flick, "Point Break."

Or some have the creative ability to convincingly play a variety of roles a la Robert DeNiro.

Which one are you?

I mean, for all we know, bricker59 could really hate beer and be an organic health food nut that only consumes fresh produce and natural antioxidant drinks like pomegranite juice.

Or npr32486 could really be a real estate developer?

Or istephaniemarie could really gag at the sight of oreos?

Or snippies_blog might really be Dr. Ruth Westheimer?

Or BigToePeople may really play basketball for the WNBA's Seattle Storm?

Or a__beautiful__disaster could really be a petite blonde that rocks a bob hairdo?

Or dare2bdiferentt might really be skilled as a computer hacker?

Or watersedge62 could really be asian?

Or infamous_dewey might really be a European MMA fight promoter?

Or crazyxbeautifulxdisaster may really produce radio ads somewhere in South Dakota?

Or turbodog might not really be a Filipino?

Or what if the antisoccermom was in fact a goalie for the Women's US Olympic Soccer Team?

Or macphoto was a green monster hating yankees fan?

Or tirockiinpink was really the recording artist known as "pink?"

Or avenuetothereal was really a Dean at Oxford University?

Or elgan could really be a folk song lyricist?

Or toecuttah may really be Arizona Cardinals' Kicker Neil Rackers?

Or penningtonhall could really prefer to run long distance marathons as opposed to lifting weights?

Or lucywrites may really be a commercial pilot for Continental Airlines?

Or story_slut just might be an unfriendly troublemaker who hated people?

For all we know, The Xanga Team could be a Columbian Drug Cartel.

Maybe saadiaonline really despises poetry and is a professional beach volleyball star?

Or krissy_cole is really single with no kids living somewhere in Montana?

How about the possibility of da positive energy jaynebug really being a quick-tempered firebug, who exhibits road rage the moment she's behind a slow-moving vehicle>

Or maybe buddly47 doesn't really like the Kentucky Wildcats and is more of a Pac10 USC fan?

Or wherever_we_go is really a tea lover living in Puerto Rico?

What about ifwallscouldtalk21 really being a Ohio native rather than the Michigander that she allegedly poses to be here on Xanga?

Or what if wherethefishlives was really a long-haired Pantera roadie who regularly wore black t-shirts?

Or what if saintvi was really a middle-school prodigy?

Or maybe undertheglass was really a scupltor and not a photographer?

Or what if edlives is really using the brainfriednetwork as a drug laundering operation?

Or what if the lyricsninja is really New Jersey Devils' Netminder Martin Brodeur?

Or what if heartofpandora was really a registered nurse?

Or what if neeka1 was really Native American?

Or maybe theblackspiderman was really white?

Or maybe vanedave could really be chinese?

Or what if redshirte really hated video games?

Or what if bosefius was a celibate monk who absolutely detested sex?

Or what if daithi is really egyptian and a far-off descendent to one of the mighty pharoahs?

Or what if sladethegreyfox really doesn't have a moustache?

Or what if kestryl really had a Korean boyfriend?

Or what if thebigshowatUD really was wee man from MTV's jackass?

Or what if thetheologianscafe is really a boob-hating hare krishna?

Or what if alterego909 is really chuck norris?

Or what if beli_grrl was really Eli Manning?

Or what if seedsower had her husband take all of those beautiful pictures she blesses us with?

Or maybe ciaobella810 chose that name because she really wasn't african-american, but rather a mobsters' daughter straight from sicily?

Or what if suggestive tongue was a professor at an Ivy League University?

Or what if barelyjen's real first and middle name both began with the letter "z"?

Or what if viktorious1 was really bernie madoff?

Or what about ilsurvive really being from antarctica who hated jagermeister and embraced frigid temperatures?

For all you know, I could be a bald, skinny-ass, 7 foot, 11 inch vegetarian from Belize, who hated sports and listened to nothing but celtic music 24/7.

There are secrets about our real life identity that aren't always -- or will never be -- mentioned here on Xanga. How do we know how you really are fellow Xangans?

Hmmm.

Dang, why'd I post this?  Now I got myself all skeptical about all you'all and what not...

But I will close this blog entry with a request...

State ONE true fact about yourself -- in the comments area below -- that you have never mentioned here on Xanga.

I dare you...

Ever notice when you’re in a daily setting among attractive people -- where you’re almost forced to have to regularly interact with (be it job, school, cause, or something else) -- there seems to be a unique sensation whenever you are around them?

 

Maybe it’s one of those things that, because of their awesomeness, you might get a little intimidated, nervous, or perhaps… just maybe – dare we go there – it’s sexual tension?

 

Now before you married folks -- or those in an exclusively committed relationship get your undies in a wad and decide to go high and mighty to defensively claim, “Not me, I’m faithful to my ______.  I would never ______...”  Just stop.  Don’t finish your statement of defense, hear me out, and allow me to finish.

 

Gimme a chance, ah-ight?

 

Where was I?

 

Oh yeah…I never said that the scenario involved giving in to any wanton desires that may exist deep down inside.  That might be YOUR defense mechanism coming out.  And if it is, I got no stones to throw at you.  Why?  Because you’re just being real.

 

All I said was that those feelings are present -- whether we want to admit it or not.  The fact that the feelings exist doesn’t make you a low down, unfaithful snake, for you’ve done nothing wrong.  Hell, you might not even entertain the thoughts beyond that person’s presence.  The feelings might just arise when those type of intriguing people are around, and then leave when they leave.

 

All I’m saying is that it still happens to me, and whether you’re willing to admit it or not, it probably happens to you, as well. 

 

Yes, I’m married.  And many of you know how rocky the relationship has been as a result of “her indiscretions.”  However, even though I’m hitched, it doesn’t mean I don’t deal with the tension whenever I’m around certain hotties I am forced to work with.

The placement of stares when both of you are together.  The added excuses to stay in each other's presence just a little bit longer.  The occasional flirtations like her/him playing with your hair in your office with no one around.  Or how about the peripheral vision of her/him gazing at you or another section of your anatomy.

Hey, these things could all be naive and innocent on the other person's part.  But they could also be revealing something on the inside.  You just never know about these things.

 

But in reality -- for the most part -- each time I am in a position to deal with these types of people, I naturally rise (no pun intended) above those feelings… and the tensions automatically stay beneath da filter.

Now, according to the urbandictionary.com, the term sexual tension is defined as "the tension felt between two people who want to do something sexual together but hold back."

That's just a possibility.

You might not wanna unleash a full-fledged, jump her/his bones mentality deep within, but there could still be a feeling of being attracted to that person -- even though you'll never ever give in to those desires.  And that's almost a mild form of sexual tension.  Sort of a Grade 1 type.  Not a third degree burn yearn.

 

No, I haven’t any plans to ever yield to these so-called temptations... but honestly, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

 

Just keepin’ it real.

 

And by the way, I’m very, very interested in hearing your experiences dealing with these kinds of situations.  What do YOU think about the topic of sexual tension in general?  And are you experiencing it at the moment – or can you even relate?  If so, feel free to share.