Asymmetric Music

Like Percy Sledge sings in the podcast, men will give up their money, job, and the respect of their children and the community to surrender to their lust. Mel Gibson, a man I formerly admired for his counter-cultural bravery, is the latest to fall into this trap. He either gave up his most deeply held Catholic beliefs or is seriously lying to himself. Do his kids take him seriously now that he's just another aging star with a hot chick half his age?

Before him, we had Mark Sanford's shameful display, Eliot Spitzer's foray into into the mutual degradation of prostitution, and countless other examples.

How much damage have a few priests caused the institution they dedicated their life to? Why did Michael Jackson risk going to jail for his attachment to boys? Really, could there be a scarier thought for Michael than being in jail. He'd last as long as a carton of Marlboros.

Besides direct harm, there's a harm of omission. Harnessing sexual energy and focusing it on either your spouse or another, productive activity is one of the bases of civilization. It's the reason we have bridges instead of endless hula huts and went to the moon instead of just the hot spring next to the river. Imagine if Eliot Spitzer used his money and time to help people instead of perusing brothel catalogs. Even looking at computer gadgets (almost done and its on to CNET!) is more ennobling than finding looking at some girl on a webcam.

I knew a guy who'd have a collection worth a million bucks now if he spent his time collecting coins instead of porn tapes.

It's one of our challenges as men.**

**I don't recall any famous lady politicians sacrificing their career for a Capitol Hill intern or launching a a thousand ships over some Trojan boy-toy. A few teachers seduce their students, but it's a rare thing. I guess women have their own things to worry about.