More often than not, I tend to see the good in our generation and remain optimistic that we will lead the nation in a responsible direction.

But then I turn on the television.

I happened to find myself watching MTV’s Video Music Awards on Sunday night and felt a combination of embarrassment, shock and disgust – but surprisingly, also a sense of clarity as to why morality seems to be a thing of the past.

Among many other highlights, Lady Gaga convinced me that she was a man. Lil’ Wayne’s performance was so muffled by the censor that I couldn’t make out a word he was saying. And it now seems that everyone is trying to “out weird” each other with how they dress and act.

As if that weren’t enough, MTV decided to premiere a new series right after the VMA’s called “I Just Want My Pants Back.”

I’m not sure of the plot, but in the first five minutes, teens were shown smoking marijuana and having sex inside of a refrigerator.

Let me repeat: having sex inside of a refrigerator. On MTV.

As I sat through the beginning of the show, I thought of my fourteen-year-old brother who was, I’m sure, watching the same thing.

Another MTV show, “Skins”, follows this same pattern.

A typical episode of “Skins” has been described by critics as featuring “wild parties, drinking, drug use and lots of scantily-clad underage kids having sex. Not to mention pornography, masturbation and casual references to ‘girl-on-girl.’ In the first episode, a group of friends helped one awkward 16-year-old character to lose his virginity with the help of prescription drugs.”

What have we become?

The younger arm of our generation has become blinded to what is right and acceptable in the minds of mainstream society.

According to the Parent’s Television Council, 62 percent of children surveyed say that sex on television influences them to have sex at a young age.

Now, to be clear, this column is not to champion abstinence or censorship in our culture.

I do feel, however, that there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed when thinking about the direction in which our culture is heading.

We’ve come a long way since Ricky and Lucy just 60 years ago.

We now live in a constant, invasive media cycle that aims to humiliate and destroy anyone who stands in its way.

Yes, we the people have a right to be informed and the privilege to be entertained; but the line between what is appropriate and what is just a good story has been blurred.

When exploring this issue, we must think about younger siblings or other children who are constantly exposed and desensitized to this kind of behavior. It is important that they not think actions like rampant sex and heavy drug use are acceptable for their age.

We can choose to continue to allow this same type of invasive and inappropriate ideology to plague our airwaves and the minds of those too young to discern between reality and reality television.

But if we continue down our current path, where do we draw the line? When do we stop? What is too much?

As leaders of the next generation, it is important to ask these questions.

Austin Gaddis is a junior majoring in public relations and communication studies. His column runs biweekly on Thursdays.