# No erections on TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144 "2003-12-26T17:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thylacinewas\_taken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Thylacinewas\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacinewas_taken)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/1 "2003-12-26T17:54:15Z")
You can see entire naked writhing women on TV\*, you can even see a penis or two, but I have never seen an erection on TV, whether clothed or not. What is it about erections that is such a taboo? (\*Usually latenight TV) ---
**Author:** ![Vezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b38774/32.png) [@Vezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vezer)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/2 "2003-12-26T18:12:41Z")
You don’t see a woman’s vaginal area either (non-scientific). ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/3 "2003-12-26T18:26:11Z")
The general rule of thumb in the UK (supposedly clarified by the British Board of Film Classification in 1992, although I can’t find reputable cites for that) is the so-called “Mull of Kintyre” test. If it’s at a greater angle that the [Mull of Kintyre](http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=150000&Y=650000&gride=&gridn=&scale=1000000&coordsys=gb&mapsize=big) is, it’s not acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/4 "2003-12-26T18:39:14Z")
\*Calgarian TV must be a trip. ---
**Author:** ![pothead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@pothead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pothead)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/5 "2003-12-26T20:05:04Z")
I’ve seen naked women on primetime too. I recall an episode of NYPD Blue where some woman stepped out of the shower and before she could put her robe on a kid walked in. I presume the reason for allowing naked women and men but not showing erections is to distinguish between art and eroticism. A naked female is considered to be a beautiful form by many and is considered natural. The same I suppose can be extended to the naked male or perhaps because we live in an increasingly “gender equality” age. Working with the “gender equality” idea, if men are allowed to be top less on TV, why shouldn’t women. In New York State, a woman is allowed to be topless in the same public areas that a man is. But she can’t be sexually promiscuous about it. However, the U.S. is still pretty puritan in its ideals and a naked woman on TV is still pretty rare. Its probably more common in Europe. Showing an erection on the other hand is considered distasteful, vulgar, and sexually provocative. Sex is deemed to be a private matter in most cultures and thus society enforces laws to keep it that way. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/6 "2003-12-26T23:29:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pothead \* > \*\*I’ve seen naked women on primetime too. I recall an episode of NYPD Blue where some woman stepped out of the shower and before she could put her robe on a kid walked in. > > \*\* That was Charlotte Ross. Although she was naked, her arms and hands (and use of camera angles) were always placed so as to obscure breast and vaginal areas. [Like this](http://www.nypdblue.org/gdchar/11.jpg). I assume this picture is OK for SDMB, if it was OK for Disney’s ABC in prime time. ---
**Author:** ![pothead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@pothead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pothead)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/7 "2003-12-26T23:40:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarone \* > \*\*That was Charlotte Ross. Although she was naked, her arms and hands (and use of camera angles) were always placed so as to obscure breast and vaginal areas. [Like this](http://www.nypdblue.org/gdchar/11.jpg). I assume this picture is OK for SDMB, if it was OK for Disney’s ABC in prime time. \*\* Coulda sworn it was more revealing. Anyway, Titanic is a even better example. Being rated PG-13, and the blockbuster hit it was, millions of kids saw Kate Winslet with just a necklace on, and on a big screen no less. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/8 "2003-12-27T00:45:51Z")
Uhm… but I know for a fact that there is a show you can see erect penises (penii?) on… yes it’s late night tv (Midnight) but… yeah it’s pretty obvious what it is… Just turn on Access on a Saturday night I think it is… (Either that or Sunday I think) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/9 "2003-12-27T09:26:23Z")
Well, on TLC and the Discovery channel, you can occasionally see an erect penis. Mostly on sex documentaries. (Esp. Desmond Morris’ documentaries) Heck, once, they even had a tiny camera planted _in a vagina_—or at least, a reasonable facimile thereof. I don’t know which is more creepy.—and filmed a penis _during_ intercourse. :eek: It’ll be a few decades before Fox can top _that_. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/10 "2003-12-27T14:26:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > \*\*The general rule of thumb in the UK (supposedly clarified by the British Board of Film Classification in 1992, although I can’t find reputable cites for that) is the so-called “Mull of Kintyre” test. If it’s at a greater angle that the [Mull of Kintyre](http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=150000&Y=650000&gride=&gridn=&scale=1000000&coordsys=gb&mapsize=big) is, it’s not acceptable. \*\* How … quaint. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/11 "2003-12-27T15:47:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > \*\*The general rule of thumb in the UK (supposedly clarified by the British Board of Film Classification in 1992, although I can’t find reputable cites for that) is the so-called “Mull of Kintyre” test. If it’s at a greater angle that the [Mull of Kintyre](http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=150000&Y=650000&gride=&gridn=&scale=1000000&coordsys=gb&mapsize=big) is, it’s not acceptable. \*\* [Sean Connery] I’ll take “The Penis Mightier” for $100, Alex. [/SC] ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/12 "2003-12-27T18:43:54Z")
[SC] I’ll take “Musical Bum” for $200, Trebek. [/SC] ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/13 "2003-12-28T05:33:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pothead \* > \*\*Coulda sworn it was more revealing. Anyway, Titanic is a even better example. Being rated PG-13, and the blockbuster hit it was, millions of kids saw Kate Winslet with just a necklace on, and on a big screen no less. \*\* But once again, the reason for the PG-13 rating on Titanic despite the nudity was because it was being shown in an artistic setting, not an erotic setting. ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/14 "2003-12-28T05:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian Flutterby \* > \*\*Uhm… but I know for a fact that there is a show you can see erect penises (penii?) on… yes it’s late night tv (Midnight) but… yeah it’s pretty obvious what it is… > > Just turn on Access on a Saturday night I think it is… (Either that or Sunday I think) \*\* What the heck is Access? NOTE: I have NO desire to see an erect penis. ---
**Author:** ![pothead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@pothead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pothead)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/15 "2003-12-28T05:48:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xayoz306 \* > \*\*But once again, the reason for the PG-13 rating on Titanic despite the nudity was because it was being shown in an artistic setting, not an erotic setting. \*\* Precisely. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/16 "2003-12-28T05:50:40Z")
Not too long ago, a patient on ER had an erection, covered by his hospital gown. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/17 "2003-12-28T06:08:24Z")
In a dream sequence on _The Sopranos_ Tony had a _huge_, presumably exaggerated erection. (no disparagement to James Gandolfinis/ Tony Soprano’s manhood but this was a long dong silver woody) Can’t remember the episode though. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/18 "2003-12-28T06:24:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Freiheit \* > What the heck is Access? > > NOTE: I have NO desire to see an erect penis. It’s a provincial channel… basically local TV. It’s on channel nine peasant vision where _Thylacinewas taken_ is. Shows a lot of educational stuff and you can even take college courses by correspondence and watching shows on that channel. They even have the episodes of the tapes they show in Physics class shown there. You can learn high school physics just watching tv lol. I watch it sometimes because they have interesting movies at times and a couple of interesting shows (FBI files, Sex files… which fyi is the one where you can see the erect penis) Mom and I watched it once because we were bored. It was interesting though, talking about research into sex and some studies which used MRI’s and ultrasound as research into desire and orgasms. It looked a little uncomfy to be having sex in an MRI though… ---
**Author:** ![aramis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@aramis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aramis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/19 "2003-12-28T20:37:27Z")
In the movie “Cross My Heart” which is sometimes seen on broadcast and basic cable TV, there’s a scene where Martin Short (yes, the comedian) is lying on his side in bed with a sheet over him and talking to Annette O’Toole. There’s no sexual context, but he’s clearly erect under the sheet. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144/20 "2003-12-28T20:41:34Z")
Moving this “Great” Debate to Cafe Society. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-erections-on-tv/221144.md?page=2)