I consider myself a Taylor Swift fan, even though I’m not necessarily a fan of her music. Still, if one of her songs come on the radio, I won’t turn the station. In a world full of Lady Gagas and Katy Perrys that cause me to risk driving off the road in an effort to change the radio station as quickly as possible, Taylor Swift’s music is a calming, pleasant alternative.

No, it’s the idea of Taylor Swift of which I’m a fan. She seems like a nice person. She seems like a good role model. She dresses modestly, she’s never been caught doing something inappropriate, and her overly-romantic song lyrics are generally wholesome.

In short, she’s the anti-Miley Cyrus. The anti-Britney Spears. The anti-Christina Aguilera. The anti-practically every other female musician.

But I now have a beef with her.

While on YouTube recently, I noticed a huge advertisement for her new music video. I clicked on it and watched it. Ninety-nine percent of those who watch it will likely think it’s a sweet, harmless, romantic video.

I am not within that 99%.

In the video, Taylor Swift meets a guy. They fall in love. They move in together. He proposes. They get married, have children and live happily ever after.

These events happen in the order I listed them.

Again, 99% will not notice anything wrong. And that, to me, is precisely the problem.

Jacob and Taylor sittin’ in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love
Then comes marriage
Then comes a baby in a baby carriage

Remember that playground song from your childhood? I sure do. And I can’t help but notice there is no mention of living together before you’re married!

Why, given the fact much of her fan base are impressionable children and teenagers, did Taylor Swift choose to perpetuate the notion living together before marriage is how things are done? Clearly, she sees nothing wrong with it. And that, of course, is her choice. She’s free to live her life. But to write a song and make a video that romanticizes it? Really?

I guess I just expected more of Taylor Swift based on what I thought I knew of her. But the moral, I suppose, is none of us really know what goes on in the minds and lives of celebrities. The same man who gave us The Passion, Mel Gibson, is a lonely man with serious issues. The star of Hogan’s Heroes was a sex addict. And Sean Penn…well, I can’t really think of anything positive to say about Sean Penn. Him being a tool really isn’t a shocker.

Yes, I know, I am old-fashioned. Of course, old-fashioned is just another way of saying I have a moral compass of by which I abide. I’m old-fashioned and proud of it. And my Taylor Swift fandom has taken a serious hit.