# Soap Operas What a Waste of Time! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 16, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369 "2001-01-16T19:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/1 "2001-01-16T19:25:06Z")
I mean they suck dirty soap. And I don’t buy it for a minute that the boss that was tied up in “9 to 5” actually ended enjoying watching soap operas. I mean the acting is so hoakey on the soapys. No wonder it took old Susan Lucci(the one that still looks pretty good btw for her age) so long to win a soap award. Personally, I wouldn’t care if I won one or not. Because what does the award actually signify that your acting ability is better than all the no talent soap opera stars - big deal. The stories are so stupid, the dialog is so BORING, and the sets look so cheap. I think junior high plays look more real and they are a heck of alot more entertaining. I mean seriously how can girls or guys (that don’t deserve to be called guys) get in to watching this crap. I have tried to watch it with my wife and it is soooo lame. I would rather watch reruns of the “Brady Bunch” or watch Bob Barker give away crap and make fun of his guest on the “Price is Right”(btw I always win the entry game on that show those people they get as contestants are sooo dumb). Tell ya what why don’t you women that watch “soaps” do something productive with your time instead of watching this crap and buy some “soap” and clean the house with it.(oooh I am going to get flamed for that one) ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/2 "2001-01-16T19:31:38Z")
You know Bill, a lot of people would say the same thing about reading this board. Just sayin’ is all. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/3 "2001-01-16T19:49:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Tell ya what why don’t you women that watch “soaps” do something productive with your time > instead of watching this crap and buy some “soap” and clean the house with it.(oooh I am going > to get flamed for that one) Tell YOU what Bill. Instead of posting stupid shit on the board about this and that, why don’t YOU get some soap and go clean the house! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/4 "2001-01-16T20:01:58Z")
\*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > [@](#): > > Tell YOU what Bill. Instead of posting stupid shit on the board about this and that, why don’t YOU get some soap and go clean the house! Who **me** post stupid stuff? Oh come on… 😉 And who \*\*me[/] CLEAN??? Oh come on 😃 But seriously, you can learn stuff on this board. Especially how to type faster, interesting tidbits of information and better grammer skills(I can’t believe I just typed that hope esprix ain’t around) 😃 . What the heck can you from “The Young and The Restless” other than being “restless” from watching that crap. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/5 "2001-01-16T20:09:00Z")
You’re kidding, right? You don’t think that YOU should clean because you’re a man? I never said that this board wasn’t informative. Nor did I say I like soap operas-they’re stupid, but addicting. Seriously, that’s probably WHY people like them: they’re stupid, cheesy and an utter waste of time. They’re fluff. Don’t YOU have silly stuff you like to do? Like watch certain tv shows, or read certain books, or do silly stuff? Just for fun? ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/6 "2001-01-16T20:26:45Z")
\*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > [@](#): > > \*\*You’re kidding, right? You don’t think that YOU should clean because you’re a man? Do you really want to get in to this? > [@](#): > > Don’t YOU have silly stuff you like to do? Like watch certain tv shows, or read certain books, or do silly stuff? > > Just for fun? I am so glad you didn’t list playing James Bond’s “The World is Not Enough”. But I am not sure this is considered silly because in my mind I am pretending I am saving the world. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/7 "2001-01-16T20:35:21Z")
> [@](#): > > and the sets look so cheap. I think junior high plays look more real and they are a heck of alot more entertaining. I have a friend who works on the sets on “General Hospital”, and I think she would take exception of that remark. Eh. You don’t like soaps, fine. I don’t watch them anymore, they take too long. But everyone needs their “eyecandy” and “mindcandy” - and some very educated and intelligent people get a great big kick out of them. Why should you care what they watch, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/8 "2001-01-16T20:35:37Z")
WEll, fine Bill, whatever. I don’t care what you think about soap operas-for the record, I-gasp-agree that they suck on toast. BUT…that doesn’t mean the people who WATCH them are stupid. And as for cleaning the house…we’ll save that for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/9 "2001-01-16T20:47:25Z")
**Wildest Bill** , we were pretty much in agreement until you went off on a sexist and quasi-anti-homosexual rant. But my real reason for posting is to ask if you _really_ think you don’t have to clean just because you’re a man? And you don’t really think that a man that watches those inane, brainless TV shows is any less masculine, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/10 "2001-01-16T21:10:11Z")
\*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > [@](#): > > But my real reason for posting is to ask if you _really_ think you don’t have to clean just because you’re a man? I knew this wouldn’t hold to another thread so lets go ahead get it out. I think a man should split the cleaning responsibilities of the home if the woman works a full time job too. If she doesn’t, then she should do all the housework. Btw this isn’t sexist if the man stays home and the woman works, then the man should do all the housework. > [@](#): > > And you don’t really think that a man that watches those inane, brainless TV shows is any less masculine, do you? Well…yes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/11 "2001-01-16T21:47:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*\*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > Especially how to type faster, interesting tidbits of information and better grammer skills(I can’t believe I just typed that hope esprix ain’t around) 😃 . > \*\* Should I? It’s too easy - ah, what the heck! Are you saying you had **worse** grammar at some point? I can see five grammatical/spelling errors in this one sentence. I’m no grammar whiz, and I don’t usually pick on someone else’s errors, but you pretty much asked for it there. As for the OP; if you don’t like soaps, same rule applies as with anything else on TV; shut the damn set off and go do something with your life. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/12 "2001-01-16T22:07:09Z")
\*Originally posted by featherlou \* > [@](#): > > Should I? It’s too easy - ah, what the heck! Are you saying you had **worse** grammar at some point? I know it is hard to believe but yes. > [@](#): > > I can see five grammatical/spelling errors in this one sentence. Crap you’re right I spelled grammar wrong again I hate it when I do that. > [@](#): > > As for the OP; if you don’t like soaps, same rule applies as with anything else on TV; shut the damn set off and go do something with your life. No I can’t agree with you here. Soap operas are the worse thing on TV bar none. ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/13 "2001-01-16T22:11:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*I mean seriously how can girls or guys (that don’t deserve to be called guys) get in to watching this crap. > > \ > > Tell ya what why don’t you women that watch “soaps” do something productive with your time instead of watching this crap and buy some “soap” and clean the house with it.(oooh I am going to get flamed for that one) \*\* Well, thank you for that useless bit of reactionary neanderthal gender stereotyping. Why don’t you just pat your good little Maxwellhouse-wife on the head and send her back into the kitchen where she can look after whatever else falls into her realm of experience. You sound like a bad impression of Mike Meyers doing “Lothar of the Hill People”. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/14 "2001-01-16T22:14:11Z")
Well, I can certainly argue with your last statement, **Bill** - the worst thing on TV _bar none_…well, it’s a tossup between the TV news and those so-called “reality” shows (I’m classing shows like “When Esprix Attacks” ;), COPS and Survivor all in the same lump here, BTW, just so’s I’m clear.) are **far** worse than any “Daytime Drama” (winkies for anyone who gets this reference). Not that I watch any Soaps. But both my parents watch General Hospital and whatever the spinoff show is…although Dad would never admit it. Oh, and **featherlou** - **Bill** ’s not kidding. He used to be much worse just on this board, and I understand he’s made a 110% improvement from when he was posting on the Pizza Parlor. [sub]Bill, I don’t know if you still post there or not[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/15 "2001-01-16T22:23:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I knew this wouldn’t hold to another thread so lets go ahead get it out. I think a man should split the cleaning responsibilities of the home if the woman works a full time job too. If she doesn’t, then she should do all the housework. Btw this isn’t sexist if the man stays home and the woman works, then the man should do all the housework. **Wildest Bill** , I agree with you here. But you can’t be serious when you assert that a man’s masculinity is determined by his choice of television viewing. If this is what you think then, conversely, a woman’s femininity (sp?) must also be determined by her choice of television viewing, correct? What, pray tell, should a man watch? Is J.A.G. OK? But Touched by an Angel is not, I guess? Could you please list your criteria for television shows that makes a man a man. Oh, and while you’re at it, why don’t you provide the same list for women, OK? [sub]For the last time, where the hell is that non-smiley ‘putz’?!?!?!?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/16 "2001-01-16T22:36:46Z")
Juanita Tech, Man ok I’ll give er a shot. Men should watch action shows, comedies and romance shows(just to let their so think they are sensitive even though they usually don’t like em 😉 ). They can watch shows like Donohue or Ricci Lake but only to make fun of them. Touched by Angel is fine. It is a good show except at the end when they say we are angelss and they glow.(This would be ok to every once in a while but not every show. Jag is great show. Women…they can watch just about anything and get away with it. It is weird to me btw when women watch boxing or ultimate fighting but it is ok if they do. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/17 "2001-01-16T22:46:19Z")
::wanders away, shaking her head:: ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/18 "2001-01-16T22:51:45Z")
::: remembering resolution to give Bill a helping hand, and it sure looks like he needs one this time ::: _De gustibus non est disputandum._ So there. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/19 "2001-01-16T23:02:36Z")
Ok Poly, What does that phrase you posted mean? For that matter what language is it? Am I really one of your resolutions? Oh and dogsbody, Yes, I still post over there. But I think you were thinking about my grammar skills at the LBMB. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369/20 "2001-01-16T23:30:35Z")
It’s a classic Latin phrase from just after the time of Christ, Bill, meaning "There’s no arguing about tastes (literally, “regarding tastes it is not properly done to argue”) with the general meaning that nobody’s tastes are subject to anybody else’s judgment. Good thing, too! And yeah, remember my promising you over on the Parlor that when you got into a mess, I’d jump in and help? You haven’t needed that, for the most part, and I do like the way you stand for what you think – even when I disagree with you, as I generally do. But I keep my promises. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-operas-what-a-waste-of-time/50369.md?page=2)