Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Credit is talk of the tube

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com.

Television talk shows are making us wonder, where have all the normal people gone?

Guests include husbands coping with the fact that their wives had babies by their lovers, bisexual teenagers, guys in love with their brothers' wives, women whose husbands have had sex changes, lesbian lovers, men who like to dress in women's clothing, kids who hate their parents, parents who hate their kids, and any number of other odd situations.

One recent talk show, however, carried a message of concern to many.

The emcee introduced two college students, a compulsive shopper and two young couples who had overspent on their credit cards.

One college student was in debt for $15,000 before he even finished a semester. He used the card to treat fellow students, buy classy clothes, attend concerts, etc.

The young couple got hooked for about $25,000 before they cut up their cards and went to a credit counselor to work themselves out of debt.

One message came through loud and clear: Credit cards are much too easy to come by. The college student said his came in the mail. Others in the audience told of receiving a barrage of offers to apply for credit cards. A woman who had a small business that had gone bankrupt received two applications in the mail after the bankruptcy.

The astonishing revelation was that two-thirds of the audience admitted to having been caught in credit card spending sprees.

The moral to the story, I guess, would be to slash those cards in two and throw them in the trash, unless you can control your spending.

Credit cards are handy to have, especially when checking into a hotel, ordering travel tickets or emergency expenditures. Just remember -- what you charge must be paid.

First it was the Boy Scouts. Now it is the Salvation Army.

Both organizations are facing problems brought on by their long-held beliefs about homosexuality.

The organizations have contributed years of exemplary service to our society, yet their very existence is being threatened by social attitudes not acceptable to some segments of our society.

And it's too late for don't ask, don't tell.

Pretty girls get more valentines.

It has always been true. Pretty girls are asked to dance while the ugly ducklings huddle against the wall, wishing they were somewhere else.

Never before, however, has the obsession with physical beauty been as prevalent as it is today.

Men and women, seeking the illusion of youth and beauty, are placing their faith in the surgeon's knife.

That handsome men and beautiful women have an advantage in modern society, few will argue. Wealthy cosmetic surgeons and huge sales of wonder creams and lotions belie the old-fashioned idea that beauty is only skin deep.

As one who has earned every wrinkle and age spot I now possess, I still understand the urge to stay young. My advice is to go for it.

But let us never forget the beauty of the soul.