What is your standard, then, for vulgar trash?
My standard for vulgar trash is something I'd be embarrassed to have my kids see or hear.
A test (again): What would my kids been asking me if they were still little, and we had happened to sit down in front of the television for a family evening of fun, watching the First Lady's speech ?...
- Mommy, what does she mean, "Dollar Bill Lynn" ?
- What's a chippendale, mom?
- Mom, what's "Desperate Housewives" about? Can I watch it? Pleeeeeeeease?
- Mom, how do you milk a male horse?
As for the other poster for whom you presume to speak, she spoke for herself. And she did not say what you said.
Well, I have to admit, that I was embarassed when I took my daughter and her friend to see "Something About Mary." I still avoid Ben Stiller. OTOH, they were 18, so it's not like they were learning anything. In fact, I'm still embarassed for Stiller for having been in that.
As for my standards, they *may* in this instance actually be determined similarly to the way yours are. My kids are grown now, but when they very were young, I'd not have had a problem with them watching the First Lady's routine the other night. Partly because I don't think it offensive. But if I'd been asked by them to explain questions like those suggested in your post, my answer would merely have been something along the lines of "I'll explain this to you when you're a little older." They'd have forgotten all about it by bedtime, more likely in a few minutes. Or "You don't milk a male horse, that's why it's funny." Though I imagine they'd have already come to the same conclusion.