Do You Allow Your Children to Watch R-rated Movies?
My point is, today's parents are much more selective on what they allow their kids to see at the movies. At least it seems that way. Are they? Do you allow your children to see R-rated movies? And if so, do you think it has an impact on them? Perhaps the parents that do allow their children to see any kind of movie are not the parents that write or talk about it. Maybe this is because it's simply not an issue for them.
With television and movies becoming much more graphic, I think that many kids are immune to certain things that would have seemed shocking back when I was growing up. However, in my opinion, The Exorcist and The Brood are movies that are shocking to me even by today's standards. In all honesty, my mom later told me had she known that The Exorcist would have been that "bad" she wouldn't have taken me. I think she still would have since they allowed me to watch anything at all. I remember when we first got HBO. I loved watching the horror movies they seemed to show every Saturday night. Even the teen movies like Porkys; I was allowed to watch by myself. My parents didn't think it was acceptable to watch movies with sex in them with them in the same room. I had no problem with that. It was mostly out of respect. My question is to the parents out there; do you think that allowing children to watch R-rated movies has a harmful effect on them?
I can see both sides of the issue and take no particular stance on it. If I had children, I think that I would allow them to watch movies just like I was. However, I can see from a parent's point of view that perhaps they don't want their children jaded by the movies. Whereas it had no effect on who I turned out to be, and some of my fondest memories is of watching certain movies growing up, maybe some parents do think that it would have a lasting impression upon their children. What do you think?
Published by K
A criminology student in Florida. Some of the content you'll see was written by me prior to changing my mind on certain political views. In that content, I'll put a note saying so. :) View profile
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8 Comments
Post a Commentit depends really on why it is rated that way. I know my family waited till i understood what was going on. But it made me very curious as to what was on those films. Now a days its tough to prevent exposure to such materials.
I don't have children, but I was allowed to watch R rated movies too when I was younger. But, I wasn't allowed to watch movies that contained strong sexual content when I was young. It had no affect on me whatsoever. I think sheltering your children only screws up their future. I had a really good friend that wasn't even allowed to watch PG-13 movies when she was 17! Then she left home, did drugs, gets drunk every weekend...... She what too much sheltering can do?
I have three kids and use ratings as a guide to tell me to look closely at the movie content to see if it is appropriate for my kids. I don't think ratings are intended to or should be used to supplant parental decisionmaking. What is too scary and will give one 10 year old nightmares may be fine for another. There is also a huge difference between cartoon violence and graphic violence with human actors; and a difference between a real life story with a lot of meaningful content having a violent scene or two and a shoot 'em up, no redeeming message movie.
I'm not so certain that things have actually become more graphic. I'll accept that they are more violent but I'm not so certain about other forms of graphicness. I think people are confusing the increased amount of overall content with an increased percentage of graphicness.
I used to be pro free flow of information. However, I have changed my opinion and now think Parents should be careful of what their kids see. Great article.
great article kim, and yes Ithink it has tremendous impact on kids, look at our crime, drug addiction and sexual promiscuity,
I think it is important for parents to be aware of what their children are watching, and to watch with them when possible. I dont think that parents should jsut let their kids watch and have no idea what they are seeing. I do feel that if the parent feels thier child is emotionally mature to watch certain movies they should let them, and/or watch it with them. I would not let my kids see movies of adult themed content until they were in their early teens, and I felt they were ready, and I did watch it with them. My kids turned out ok, but I would not let their TV/Movies be their nanny, I took an active role. just my opinion. Great article by the way :-)
I don't know. I was allowed to watch whatever I wanted. But I've also been an insomniac since I was a child, and sometimes it is fear that makes me unable to sleep. But my brother's children aren't allowed to watch anything unless it is eductional, and I find there is something culturally odd about them. Maybe another case of everything in moderation. I do know HBO was cancelled in my house after my Dad caught us watching Cat People and Rock-n-roll High School. I could have lived without the Cat People except the David Bowie Soundtrack, and The Ramones rock, so I don't know what I think of his censorship. But growing up, Animal House was our family movie. Hmmmm. Maybe this all explains a lot.