Steve Harvey recently had a show titled "Boys Guide to Dating" and chronicled 11 year olds going on a first date. Do you think this is creepy?

The creepier thing, to me, is Steve Harvey’s obsession with 11-year old boys.

Teachers are having sex with 10 and 11 year old students.
I think they already know this stuff.

Yeah, odd premise for a show.

Too young to date.

@rockfan Creepy to the max!

Sounds horrible.

It’s creepier to think that boys get into dating knowing nothing.

Would have been fine back in Beaver Cleaver days when “dating” at age 11 meant giving your girlfriend your Cracker Jack prize and carrying her books home from school. Maybe tips on how to overcome your terror of holding her hand and how to invite her to a weenie roast Now it’s all about condoms, STDs and unwanted pregnancies.
Amazing how far we’ve deteriorated in a few short decades.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u08NYYLQ288

Wow. Am I the only one who didn’t equate “dating” with “sex?” I assumed he was teaching manners, respect and politeness.
Bad on me.

OOPS !
I remember “dating” Betty in 5th grade; walked to her house on a Saturday afternoon and walked over to the Theater from her house. I bought the tickets, drinks and shared a buttered popcorn.

I had a “boyfriend” in 3rd grade. He was, actually, my best friend. We ran around outside, exploring and stuff.

In third grade I was the “Enforcer”. The third teachers would send me home, after school, with some of the other students, that were have trouble with 5th and 6th graders. I was a big as most 5th graders.

I think it’s pretty pointless to criticize the concept. Boys are doomed to hormone induced obsession whether we, they, or the gods themselves like it or not. And as for the actual show, I would want to see it before passing judgement. All the hype might merely be a ruse luring boys to a lesson on good manners.

Eleven?! I was hardly allowed to date at sixteen, for pete’s sakes! Lol. Eleven year olds are still kids and half of them haven’t even gone through puberty yet (thought there is a slowly growing trend of earlier puberty, besides the point). Too young for dating in my opinion.

They should just enjoy being kids while they still can. And yes, I think it’s creepy that there’s a show about pre-teens dating. Really weird. And like you said, possibly a catalyst to teen pregnancy if these kids aren’t educated about dating and sex properly. We already have a show called ‘16 and Pregnant’ to show us what can happen when kids aren’t informed about the responsibilities of sex.

Not saying eleven year olds are stupid or dumb, but their minds at that age are just not mature enough to realize the consequences of their actions. Dating is serious stuff.

@stanleybmanly I hadn’t even considered that possibility of what the show may be, but if you’re right and the show is more about teaching young boys stuff like good manners, etiquette, and respect for dating then that could be a good thing. Interesting point there and something to consider before passing quick judgement. Still, if it is what it sounds like, I gotta say I’m still on the “it’s weird and creepy” side lol.

That was the first thing I thought of @CunningFox.

It also came across as creepy because Steve Harvey mentioned how chivalry is a great thing, as if we’re still in the 12th century.

@rockfan You make chivalry sound like a bad thing…

Nothing wrong with a little chivalry, much of which is just good manners and respectful conduct.

I’m going to replace one word in that sentence. Tell me if it rings true for today:

“It also came across as creepy because Steve Harvey mentioned how politeness is a great thing, as if we’re still in the 12th century.”

Steve Harvey is the same guy who wrote “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.”

Just another book that puts the responsibility of a successful relationship on women. It’s carefully written that you don’t know what you’ve “eaten” until the aftertaste. Haven’t liked him since.

I wouldn’t take relationship advice from him, not even for 11 year old boys.

To add… As for chivalry—I enjoy medieval literature, and do love the concept of chivalry as it pertains to literature… but chivalry, in its true form, dictates how to behave as a knight, or servant to the king and country. That includes: how to honor the Church above all, how to honor your country, how to treat people lesser/weaker than yourself, how to honor the Church, how to accept your socio-economic standing, how you have to go to war against people that believe differently than you, and not to lie.

Nothing about how to treat women. Unless, you count the “lesser/weaker people” part. Again, not something I want 11 year old boys to learn in terms of how to treat females.

@ linquaphile Sure, maybe in the broader sense of the term…
I’d say ol’ Steve meant chivalry*, as being chivalrous**,
* “chivalry… 3 : gallant or distinguished gentlemen… 4 : the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood… 5 : the qualities of the ideal knight…”
** ”...3 a : marked by honor, generosity, and courtesy… b. marked by gracious courtesy and high-minded consideration esp. to women ... syn see CIVIL…”
(-from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.)

(FYI – It said nothing about church in the 3 dictionaries I have.)

Watch “Ivanhoe” from Warner Brothers, a M-G-M film from 1952, (starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Emlyn Williams) for an excellent look at chivalry in action!

I think that’s weird!

@linguaphile there is something to be said for the fact that women aren’t as as physically strong as men. If I were being attacked by a male that I couldn’t fight off, I would hope other males would come in and help me. It speaks to not hitting women, too. (And women should not hit men, but they take a much bigger risk than men do by hitting women.)

Chivalry in the modern sense means opening car doors, pulling out chairs, women ordering first at restaurants (because ordering food is such a big deal right?), and rising to your feet when a woman enters a room. All complete nonsense in my opinion. But if a women appreciates those kind of things, then that’s completely fine. But in my experience, I’ve never dated or befriended a women that cares about any of that.

I also find it ridiculous that many conservatives who follow these guidelines don’t give a damn about the fact that the U.S. doesn’t have maternity leave by law. That is way more important.