Censorship at home

[Klodomir]

In the Simpsons post, the writer of the article mentioned that he used to forbid his children to watch the show, until he got to know it better.

This made me wonder about the following: What kinds of programmes are off-limits for your children? If you have no children (yet), what do you think you will do if and when you have them? And how do you make sure they don't get to see these things? Or do you allow them to watch whatever they want, provided you or another adult is present?

I'm not thinking about obvious things such as hard-core porn and extreme violence, but the sort of thing you might find on your telly before 9 PM. Here are some examples:

- Cursing
- Fist-fights
- Weapons
- Discrimination
- Televangelists
- The news
- Incorrect use of language (e.g. Teletubbies)
- Science fiction
- Blasphemy
- War comedy
- Tom Green
- Occultism (perhaps Harry Potter-style)
- Soccer
- Moderate nudity (breasts, buttocks etc.)
- Certain political views
- Low-quality cartoons
- Cruelty to animals
- Boxing
- Goosebumps (R.L. Stine)

etc. etc. Of course the age of the child is also a factor, but I'd like to hear from people with (or without) children of any age.

 

[80sU2isBest]

This should come as no surprise to any of you, but if I had children, I wouldn't let them watch much of any TV.

I'd let them watch many shows on PAX, and a lot of the "animal" and "children" programming on PBS. Most Fox shows would be right out, except sports (and no wrestling or boxing!)Most Nick and TvLand programs would be fine, also. I would let them watch most game shows, also. Very few situation comedies. As they get older, I would encourgae them to watch a select group of dramas; that stuff is very often very good and thought-provoking. They could watch Fox News, as long as i am there to discuss the issues with them.
In other words, my kids would think I'm " a drag".

 

[melon]

If I ever get children, they won't be allowed to watch nudity, gratuitous violence (a wide umbrella that does not include reasonable cartoon violence), televangelists, or anything conservative. It's a value call, and there will be both respect and tolerance in my household, both of which I find eluding in televangelism and conservatism, not to mention the obvious nudity and violence.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[U2Bama]

Originally posted by melon:
televangelists,

What about "Mother Angelica Live" on E.W.T.N.?

 

[Whortense]

blech...e.w.t.n.

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~whortense wiffin
walla walla, washington

 

[80sU2isBest]

Originally posted by melon:
If I ever get children, they won't be allowed to watch nudity or anything conservative. It's a value call, and there will be both respect and tolerance in my household, both of which I find eluding in televangelism and conservatism, not to mention the obvious nudity and violence.
Melon

Melon, you always talk about the lack of respect and tolerance in conservatism, but you refuse to see the other side. You don't talk about the fact that conservatives are the butt of many many jokes by the liberals, especially Christianity. Just take a look at the Hollywood left's portrayal of consrevative Christianity and you'll know what I'm talking about. Jokes about conservative Christians and Republicans abound in all forms of media. It's outrageous; liberals talk about having an open mind, but the only things that they are open to are people who agree with them. I've seen it in your own posts, Melon. Fundamentalists have always received your wrath on this forum. How tolerant and respectful is that, melon? I no longer want to hear how liberals are more "respectful" and "tolerant". It's just not true.

 

[melon]

I'll put it this way. I still stand by the fact that I've found conservatives to be lacking in both respect and tolerance of difference. Liberals are apt to the same sense of "intolerance," if you want to put it that way.

As you know, though, 80s, I fit the ire of all that conservatism stands for just by being who I am. For me to support conservatism would be for me to walk into a burning building, and you just never know how much support is in that structure (sorry for the WTC allusion, but it's a metaphor that works for what I am talking about). Liberalism, for all its admitted shortcomings, is where I belong, if I belong anywhere on the ideological spectrum.

Likewise, as you fit into the conservative box, you will probably not be encouraging your children to liberalism. No "drag" of a parent usually does.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[80sU2isBest]

Originally posted by melon:

Likewise, as you fit into the conservative box, you will probably not be encouraging your children to liberalism. No "drag" of a parent usually does.

Melon

I wasn't objecting to you not letting your kids near conservatism. If I were a liberal, i wouldn't want that either, and you're right, I wouldn't let my child watch liberal programs. I was just pointing out that for all the belly-aching liberals do about conservatives being non-tolerant, liberals don't exactly practice what they preach.

 

[madamc]

Originally posted by melon:
If I ever get children, they won't be allowed to watch nudity,... or anything conservative.

since when has nudity been part of being conservative? nudity is part of liberalism--hence why the europeans are so open with it. im surprised you said that, and that noone has pointed that out.


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"What fish don't know"--Marshall McLuhan

http://www.envy.nu/meisce/u2/

http://glamourpuss.blogspot.com

 

[melon]

Hmmm...words being put in my mouth again.

They are separate issues: nudity and conservatism. Call me that "ugly American," but I don't find it appropriate for children to see nudity, but--perhaps I should have specified--obviously in the context of television and magazines, where nudity is pornographic. If it's an art book (you know, sculptures, classical painting, etc.), then that's fine. I see nothing wrong with such things. It's the pornographic aspect I am opposed to for children. Is that unreasonable?

As for conservatism, it's a value judgment, plain and simple.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[madamc]

i didnt put words in your mouth melon--you typed it!

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"What fish don't know"--Marshall McLuhan

http://www.envy.nu/meisce/u2/

http://glamourpuss.blogspot.com

 

[martha]

Originally posted by melon:
but I don't find it appropriate for children to see nudity, but--perhaps I should have specified--obviously in the context of television and magazines, where nudity is pornographic. If it's an art book (you know, sculptures, classical painting, etc.), then that's fine. I see nothing wrong with such things. It's the pornographic aspect I am opposed to for children. Is that unreasonable?


Melon

Just to be an asshole, I'm going to ask: Is Mapplethorpe on TV porno, while if it's in a book on your coffee table, it's not?

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...a highway with no one on it, a treasure just to look upon it...

"The skeletal structure of your foot is not normal." -- my podiatrist 8-6-01

 

[martha]

God, just don't let your kids watch WWF or Jerry Springer. You'd fall out of your chair if you knew how many students I've had over the years who regularly watch Jerry Springer.

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...a highway with no one on it, a treasure just to look upon it...

"The skeletal structure of your foot is not normal." -- my podiatrist 8-6-01

 

[TylerDurden]

Originally posted by melon:
If I ever get children

Haha... you make it sound like a new car or stereo or something.

I've always found it funny how the US is so 'poo poo' on nudity, but a-ok on often really hardcore guts and blood violence.

Surely a bit of skin (I don't mean full on porno, just 'suitable' nudity etc) isn't anywhere near as offensive/bad for the kiddies as a guy getting stabbed through the stomach, blood spurting out his mouth as he reaches for his gun then blows the head away (with the most WICKED effects - it looks so REAL) of the guy who stabbed him.

 

[melon]

Originally posted by martha:
Just to be an asshole, I'm going to ask: Is Mapplethorpe on TV porno, while if it's in a book on your coffee table, it's not?

I thought, oddly enough, Robert Mapplethorpe would come up. While I do believe he is "art," I do not think he is appropriate for children. When I talk about "appropriate nudity," I mean stuff like photos of Renaissance sculptures or the Sistine Chapel, etc. Basically, it is nudity that does not have an overtly sexual message. Adults and children should not be ashamed of the nude human figure, but, obviously, I will not want my children to see the parts of sex that appeal to "darker interests." Mapplethorpe would be acceptable when I knew they were old enough and mature enough to handle it, without giggling and pointing at a dick. That's when you know that they are not ready.

I think people are making this more complicated than it is. It's common sense....right?

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[martha]

'K

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...a highway with no one on it, a treasure just to look upon it...

"The skeletal structure of your foot is not normal." -- my podiatrist 8-6-01

 

[Crzy4Bono]

My kids don't get to watch much TV. But definite no-nos in my house are:

wrestling (WWF variety)
an alarming number of cartoons that are rated Y an on Cartoon Network (i.e., Cow & Chicken, Ren & Stimpy, Ed Ed & Eddie, Stupid Dog, etc.)
just about ANYTHING that comes on after 8:00 on network TV
CNN (they will just put anything on screen)
talk shows

We watch a good bit of national public television, TLC, discovery channel, Disney when the TV is on.

Now my kids are still very young so this list will probably change as they are older and able to handle being exposed to more things.

On the nudity front - I honestly don't have a problem with my kids being exposed to nudity as long as it is not being portrayed in a sexual way. I mean, you go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and there is nudity all over the place. When I took my son to his "siblings" class when his sister was born, they saw nudity in the film about breastfeeding. Nothing wrong with the body - but 5 year olds don't need to see sex. Just my opinion.

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