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The excitement of whole communities over fashion trends is something that is not easy to explain as it consumes them right to their core, their soul, for a lack of an apt description. A�
However, embodied in that fashion could be some values, carefully weaved into the garments in a subtle manner with the intention of challenging or replacing long held values or beliefs in preference of the new ones.
How many still remember the revulsion that greeted the first skin lighteners, milk formula, the lipstick and even the mini-skirt, in this part of the world?
If one were to tell todaya��s generation that these faced a lot of resistance as the older generation felt it eroded their cultural values, many would not believe it as they have embraced those with such innocence they do not see how else they could survive without them.
Just recently we carried a story on world rankings on the consumption of pornography and Zimbabwe occupied one of the top spots.
While those that believe in a�?choicea�? and purport to embrace the changing world order will celebrate such a development, the majority should be worried about the level of moral decadence that is slowly sipping into our communities.
We are aware that much of the consumption of the pornographic images is through the use of technological gadgets such as computers and mobile phones.A� We are also aware that it is the younger generation that has access to and spends much of their time on the Internet where they access such material.
This should be worrying indeed for the nation. We have gone beyond the days of censorship and barring of certain content from coming into the country since that has become impossible in the age of the internet.
Possession of such pornographic material remains illegal in our statutes though it is common knowledge that such images litter our internet, drawing a large chunk of our youths.
The end result is that our highly impressionable and therefore malleable young minds are corrupted by consumption of such material, leading to deviance at a later stage in their life. We have seen shocking images of child pornography from other countries and wonder what the perpetratorsa�� upbringing was like.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story on the craze on the sex dolls where men and women are buying sex toys and cutting ties with the opposite sex as they devote their time and emotions to the sex objects.
Men are paying thousands of dollars to acquire sex dolls overseas, and it would appear in neighbouring South Africa such dolls are available.
Also, we cannot be naA?ve to believe that though illegal, such objects have not made their way into the country.
In this information age, where there is so much on the worldwide web, it is important for families and other institutions to give guidance and warnings regarding exposure to these decadent images to save our children.
We cannot avoid talking about them, since like an epidemic, they continue to eat into our social fabric, giving rise to many wild addictions that give birth to even wilder fantasies that when lived spell disaster for communities.
Yes, it may appear to be the in-thing at the time but the longer term repercussions of pornography consumption are disastrous. .
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu