This post is NSFW (but in an ideal world, it wouldn't be)

On my way home from work the other day, I heard a radio commercial for the new show called the LA Complex. This seemingly outstanding CW programming has the dramatic context of young 20-somethings trying to make in LA as actresses, actors, singers, writers, etc. Apparently it’s supposed to be a lot grittier than other shows of that ilk (doesn’t every show promise that?), but before I changed my radio to CD input, two words grabbed my attention: sex tape. The chicks on the TV ad were discussing why they might be inclined to make a sex tape, if it would get them famous. This subject matter is supposed to be topical. Sex sells, but lately, it seems to be the driving force of the plot lines.

Last week’s episode on Glee also featured talk of a sex tape. The super hot Brittany was helping her equally hot girlfriend, Santana, achieve fame. Santana proclaimed that she always knew she’d be famous, even if she didn’t know how. Wanting to be the supportive girlfriend, Brittany put their sex tape online (with spliced in footage of her cat, Lord Tubbington). Naturally, Santana was upset but her demeanor softened when she realized that Brittany only wanted to help her achieve her inner stardom, whatever that may be.

Please be over 18...

These were only two in mainstream media that I caught this week, but it was enough for me to dwell on the topic. My question about this whole (relatively) recent phenomenon is, what’s the big deal?

Even as I stare at the sentences on my screen, I don’t know how to phrase them any better, so I’m going to let them stand. So here’s my piece. As a 23 (soon to be 24) year old woman, I don’t see what the buzz is about sex tapes, whether its negative or positive. They seem to be a dime a dozen. Kim Kardashian. Pamela Anderson. Paris Hilton. Tila Tequila. Just to name a few. There are countless more, and I’m sure we’ll get inundated in the future when the younger set realizes they can program their iPhones to flip the video recording the other way, and avoid awkward angles.

If the two adults are consenting, and of legal age, why are sex tapes such a big deal? I don’t see why there is this stigma attached about filming something so awesome, and then distributing it later. Nobody is forcing anyone to watch them online if they don’t want to (and believe me, you definitely don’t want to see some of the stuff I just watched to research this). Still, the more porn I view, I don’t get why everyone bitches about it. Nobody stopped Stephanie Meyer from putting her stupid filth on film, and now we’re stuck with five Twilight movies. Yet, when Jenna Lewis from Survivor creates a sex tape with her husband on her wedding night, suddenly morality is brought into question.

Now, when scumbags like John Edwards film sex tapes with their pregnant mistresses, that’s pretty shitty. Maybe I’m a purist, but I think you should only create monogamous sex tapes (unless it’s a threeway, then that’s awesome). As I stated before, sex tapes are pure fun when both parties are aware of the filming and they’re over 18. Nothing is worse than finding out someone is secretly filming you. However, I have zero sympathy for someone who knew they were being filmed and then got upset it was somehow ‘leaked’. That’s right Kendra Wilkinson. Oh, and you looked fine without the implants too. Stop bitching. 

I don’t know why people are so dumb. I treat every picture and video I’m in as if it had the potential to go online. There’s a reason why I don’t post pictures of myself visibly intoxicated online, or videos of me trying to parallel park. Anything embarrassing about me has relatively no record. I mean, sure there are some less than flattering images tagged on Facebook (look for me attempting to eat a chicken wing but failing, David Hasselhoff style), but there’s nothing I’m downright ashamed of. Nothing that would ruin my life.

So, when I hear people who I deem to be open-minded shunning those who make sex tapes, I wonder about perspective. I’m not forcing you to do one thing or the other, but if you want to make a sex tape, let your freak flag fly. Put that shit online. I’d like to live in a world where employers don’t care if they see you tea bagging because it just shows you flexible you are to take on multiple roles in the workplace. If you found a sex tape of someone you went on a first date with, you could see if it’s worth waiting for the third date. I mean, you wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive. Except now the test drive is a flight simulator that you can autopilot from your own bedroom.

Nothing boosts your confidence like filming yourself at your sexiest. It’s cheaper than drugs, and the high lasts a lot longer. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your significant other. Just be smart and make an informed decision. Hopefully, society evolves into one where a sex tape isn’t a taboo plot device for the LA Complex, but just a standard checkmark of interpersonal capabilities. So hurry up, because whatever you’ve got going on isn’t going to look this good in ten years. It’s all about self preservation. But be careful about giving yourself Vinegar Strokes.