SwingTown: What did you think about how Trina ran off Janet?

[JustAskJulie]

One of the most dramatic things on the show was also one of the things that bothered me the most, it was the moment that ran the vanillas out of the party. When Janet asked where Susan was and Trina sent her downstairs to the basement. This situation really bothered me, as I really hope that's not how real swingers would have handled the situation of getting an uptight vanilla out of their party.

I know there's been some discusison on the CBS boards about this, but I wanted to bring it here. What did you think about this scene? And if it were you in Trina's shoes, how would you have handled it differently?

[TNT]

I'm of two minds...it was sadistically funny....the evil side of me enjoys shocking vanillas who are so up tight about sex. But, it was a really bitchy thing to do and NOT something I would have done.

Had I been in Trina's place I would have tried to have steered her toward a more sedate place in the house/party, hoping they would have gotten bored and left soon so I could have fun and not worry about them.

Ted also found it funny and said...They weren't invited to the party so, it wasn't on the host to hide what type of party it was...he could see himself doing something similar if it had been his party and someone showed up uninvited.


Teresa

[SnakeBabe]

Originally Posted by TNT

I'm of two minds...it was sadistically funny....the evil side of me enjoys shocking vanillas who are so up tight about sex. But, it was a really bitchy thing to do and NOT something I would have done.

Had I been in Trina's place I would have tried to have steered her toward a more sedate place in the house/party, hoping they would have gotten bored and left soon so I could have fun and not worry about them.

Ted also found it funny and said...They weren't invited to the party so, it wasn't on the host to hide what type of party it was...he could see himself doing something similar if it had been his party and someone showed up uninvited.
Teresa

I am with you on this. Yes, it was probably wrong but I did enjoy it.

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[VegasLee]

Something that some seem to forget, Swingers are just people also.

If you think about it that would be something a "vanilla" would do also for the shock value.

Not saying it is something I would do, ok, maybe I would. Would depend on who it was and if I wanted them there or not.

Swingers are really no different then anyone else in the world. We are not more open minded then anyone else. We are just different minded then most.

The problem with that scene is that the "vanillas" are all going to look at it and say how evil it was for her to do that and forget that they pull the same kind of nonsense on people all the time in different ways.

The look on her face was kind of funny though.

Good Morning Maria.we miss you guys.

[Alura]

Mrs. Alura and I thought it was mean and way out of line. Perhaps Janet wasn't originally invited but when Trina invited her in, she became a guest and deserving of the kindness afforded to any other guest.

A better option, in my opinion, would have been for Trina to have initiated a private conversation to explain to Janet the nature of the party and what swinging is rather than shock her into leaving, but that wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic and funny. It would not have increased ratings, either. Most viewers would have thought it boring.

[SnakeBabe]

Originally Posted by VegasLee

...
Good Morning Maria.we miss you guys.

Hi there!
I am really enjoying the effect this show is having.
So much more open conversations.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[MsGingerLynne]

Love the show!!! I am hoping that it "opens" the hubby's mind to trying "more". (baby steps, baby steps.......)

Seriously, though, even if you're not a swinger, the show is VERY sexually charged, especially for CBS, and I find that in itself very appealling!!

As for what Trina did.....I found it funny. Maybe I have an ill sense of humor. But obviously Janet is very uptight about sex and her sexuality. Loosen up!! You only go 'round once in this life - Enjoy it! Would I have done the same thing if I were Trina? Most likely.

[partyof2ormore]

I have to admit, I laughed pretty hard when she was sent down to the basement (second door on the left). You knew what was going to happen right then and there.

The actual scene when she arrived in the basement was just too cheesy though. I really can't imagine anyone reacting the way she did. I get the surprise, I get the shock, I don't get the all out disgust she showed.

I thought the whole show was a little over played on both sides of the fence, but we'll give it another chance next week.

-J

[sweet_tna]

I saw it coming a mile away . . . but still thought it was funny. Why? Because Janet was being an uptight, judgmental prig, and it's tempting to want to put people like that in their place.

That said, would I have done that in Trina's place? No. I would have sent her to where Susan really was, and let the four friends sort it out for themselves. I suspect it wouldn't have changed the outcome (Janet and Roger leaving while Susan and Bruce stayed), though.

=)

[ncmd_couple]

No way would I have sent her to the play room. My reaction was "oh shit!" But keeping in mind that they were setting the stage in the first episode, which was the best way that I could have thought of declaring them as non-players and setting up future episodes in a limited amount of time. It was done as part of the plot to declare the characters. Her hubby is not happy, but intrigued. I see our vanilla couple being the first to split up.

S

[JustMrJ]

When Trina sent her to the basement (playroom), I thought to my self ... "Oh, that's not right... sooo wrong!"

The joke was kinda sadistically funny for the show, but as others have stated it doesn't really express the way a vast majority of us would have handled the situation... I hope!

I really like the show so far...

[fun4Ds]

Originally Posted by Alura

Mrs. Alura and I thought it was mean and way out of line. Perhaps Janet wasn't originally invited but when Trina invited her in, she became a guest and deserving of the kindness afforded to any other guest.

A better option, in my opinion, would have been for Trina to have initiated a private conversation to explain to Janet the nature of the party and what swinging is rather than shock her into leaving, but that wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic and funny. It would not have increased ratings, either. Most viewers would have thought it boring.

I hope what is percieved here is allot different from how swinging is today. That time in the 70's was so different than now. I'm speaking if anything more from our viewpoint of (we were teenagers then) but we new some of the neighbors were swingers then. Mainly swingers today have a better understanding of showing that we are conciderate of the vanilla world.

We have said before here, we dont shock people with what we do. We have better communication.

[JustAskJulie]

television is television... it's all about the drama and what sells. I'm not trying to change that... and yes I too found it sadistically funny in an "OMG, I can't believe she just did that" kind of way... and maybe there are people I've met that annoyed me so bad I'd want to do that to them as well.... would I? Until faced with that situation I will never know.

That said, that scene is what finally gave the show the bang it needed to fire out of the cannon... otherwise it was a bit dull (but then most pilots are).

[LFM2]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

<snip>and yes I too found it sadistically funny in an "OMG, I can't believe she just did that" kind of way... and maybe there are people I've met that annoyed me so bad I'd want to do that to them as well.... would I? <snip>

I hope I wouldn't be that mean to someone, but then again, I am passive-aggressive in so many respects.

I might, depending on how much I liked you at first.

It did have it's funny side, but still, it was kinda mean.

[JDApopka]

I too beleive they did that for the effect of the show