It seems to me that in Soap Opera land every married couple will have an affair within 12 months of arriving in a particular programme. With youngsters being brought up on this tripe is it fair to say that they start to associate this as normal behaviour and is it possible that Soap Operas have a sub-conscious effect on the divorce rate going through the roof.

They also seem to glorify teenage pregnancy, homosexual relationships, binge drinking and any number of other subjects that stray from the norm.

I realise it is all about viewing figures and people wanting to be scandalized but is it now time to give these programmes a post watershed time. Surely the hours before 9pm can be filled with much more 'Family' orientated programmes

Possible very true, how many people have we seen in a hair net and curlers since Hilda Ogden left our screens??

people should know right from wrong and should take responsibilty for their actions. Soaps do not affect our decisions, people may simply use it as an excuse for their low moral standards.

Also, soaps are watched by fewer and fewer people anyway, most young adults who are at an age where they may be influenced are on their computer game, MSN or a street corner anyway

They should know but they don't (always). Got to have some effect but very hard to say how much.

(and blokes be very scared if your missus has been watching Tracey on Corrie )

It worries me that anybody watches these things When used to travel a lot into town by train, the times you hear conversations relating to these things, with the parts actors play being spoken about as if real people. if it was not so sad it would be funny, did have a conversation while ago about terrible image football gives to the young, this from a person who would not miss an episode of Eastenders.

Very true Mike...they only make them because people become addicted....for some people it is the topic of conversation !!

I can honestly say ive never seen an episode of Neighbours, Home and Away, Emmerdale Farm, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks etc..

Ive left out Eastenders because I still catch the odd episode
probably about once or twice a month...

Ban soap operas now! Just 'cos they're brain rotting crap.

Haven't read the thread itself but whatever the accusation I'm sure soap operas are to blame for it. Should be banned the lot of em

Why are they called Soap Operas anyway ???? they are far from clean !!

The soap companies used to sponsor them (as in washing powder, term comes from US I think)

PS Glad to see this thread has attracted the holier than thou 'I'm above watching soap operas' brigade

Now then, I admitted to East Enders

Used to have a nice routine for midweek years ago, Corrie and Eastenders both twice a week at 7.30 Mon to Thurs, so at 8 O'clock we could either go out or get a video and still get to bed at a reasonable time, and the weekends were free for doing whatever we liked.
Now my soap addict missus watches all the soaps till 9 virtually every night Neighbours, Home and away, Corrie, Eastenders, Emmerdale etc.
I reckon this could cause more divorces than the content of the programmes.
Reason I spend a lot of time on the computer, it's the only way I get to see any films, and keep up with the world.

Got to admit I do watch Home and away, it reminds me of that old comedy show called "soap", a new disaster every day, murders, cults, terminal illnesses, hurricanes, gang wars and lots of fit birds on the beach. Something for everyone

Not me mate. I'm definately far below watching soap operas having been prone to the occasional "This Morning" or "Big Brother" (which is of course reality soap anyway!).

I'm not above watching them - i just think they're crap

Ahhhh - that's better - quality entertainment for 1am. Remember watching that when I should have been doing A-level coursework!!

I've been a binge drinker for years as have a lot of aquaintances and I can honestly say I say know of no causal link between that and soap operas.
I would be interested to hear expert views on the subject of "homosexuality, a biological and genetic condition or a side effect of too much hollyoaks?"
As for teenage pregnancy, if they'd been at home watching Corrie with their mums instead of out sha**ing they might have ended up less pregnant.

At least this type of post (which you can generally rely on to pop up on FISO regularly) saves people from having to buy the Daily Mail.