How I Met Your Mother

Have you ever watched How I Met Your Mother?  I had never watched it until this semester, when my husband and I got Netflix.  Oh my goodness I wish I would have never started because I am hooked.  It is such a funny show, and now I am dying to know what is going to happen next. (Ok, not like 24 dying to know, but I am interested).  I have been watching it every day since I started, sometimes only one episode but other times more than one.

I have two problems with my new found love/addiction/waste of time:

1. How I Met Your Mother is not the most virtuous of shows.  I would never let my kids (when I have some) watch it, ever.  There are too many sexual innuendos and jokes. So why the heck do I watch it?  Well it is funny, but is that a good enough reason?  Probably not.  It also has a semi-interesting plot line, but is that a good enough reason?  Again it probably shouldn't be.  But here I sit, writing about the show, starting to love the show. Ugh!

2. Yesterday I watched three episodes in a row while folding laundry.  I did not think much of it, I enjoyed the show and the laundry got folded... win win right?  On the surface yes, but when my husband came home I felt like my attitude towards him was tainted by the show (just a little tiny bit, but I still noticed it).  It reminded me of the research Brad Bushman shared on media violence influencing aggression.  So is the show effecting me because it is going to effect me or is it just in large amounts?  Maybe I need to limit how many episodes I watch each day and see if I still think the show is effecting my thinking and attitudes.

I am not sure if I am going to keep watching How I Met Your Mother.  There is part of me that totally wants to, it is just so funny and I really want to know how Ted meets his wife.  But Holy Cow, there are 9 seasons!!  Can I handle, or do I want to put, nine seasons of sexual innuendos, drinking and bad language into my mind?  Because I have learned enough to believe it is going to effect me in some way.