One of the things that nobody ever thinks about is the second (or third) order of effects from their actions. I could go on for hours (maybe days) listing examples of this phenomena with the female children that live in my house. But I don’t feel like typing that much today.
A prime example of unintended effects from technological change is the Miss America contest. The ratings are in the tank and a second network has dropped them. I offer that this is a secondary effect of the Internet. With so much porn available for free there is no longer a need to watch young women parade around in bathing suits. Years ago, greasy old men and pre-teen boys could only get their fix by watching beauty pageants on television. Porn films and skin mags were not easy to come by and hard to explain when you got caught. Now anyone can find their fetish of choice with a few simple mouse clicks, and not get caught.
There’s really no need for a .xxx domain name to help you get there. Ask any 13 year old boy and he can have you hooked up before the question clears your lips. Give him your credit card and you’ll be set for the next 90 days. Not that I would know how long initial memberships last or anything.
The Internet has been chided in the past for killing the record industry. It’s also doing a good job of closing down mail order catalog houses. Now it’s taking out another once thriving business. Maybe the head of the Miss America pageant should consider making better use of the Internet to stay in business. Old men and young boys would pay big bucks to watch web cam footage of the dressing rooms and backstage cat fights. There’s probably a decent reality show to be had out of all the pre-contest drama too.
But that would be thinking out of the girls’ boxes. And we all know that can’t happen.
