I have read about this issue and thought about it and have gone through it myself. I cannot for the life of me figure it out.
Television time, movie time, renting time, whatever…I dealt with kids, students, etc…all talking about it. Why can they watch something like “Nightmare on Elm Street 1” but people flip out with something in which, at some point in the show a person’s bare butt appears? What is this big problem with sex and not a problem with violence?
Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed it. The thought was reintroduced to me when I was reading a post by Lady or not —> post is here <— *note – this particular blog is a little more adult than mine (or most of yours). Just letting you know before you pop over there and get surprised. I enjoy the post immensely and she is a wonderful person, but…or butt…
Anyway, the whole thing raised its head again and I decided I would put the most talented and smart group of people I know (that’s you guys) on duty to help explain why it is that we as a society condone violence more than sex.
I do not want to go on record as saying kids should see either of them early in life. It’s not that; it is that I have just noticed that all things point to sex as having been labeled as worse than violence in nearly all things to be viewed or talked about.
I am not being hippocritical; I did kinda the same thing when my children were little. My son and I watched violent shows quite a bit. Not the violence that is on today, but things considered violent back then. I did it too. Why? It seems so dumb to me now. It doesn’t make sense if it’s to keep them from having sex young. If that is true, then we don’t care if they kill or beat someone to death? If it’s that we can explain the violence easier, that’s just a pity.
I am thinking that we are more comfortable with violence than sex. That’s a shame. I think it would be better for our world, in general, if we introduced the idea to children a bit earlier and did it in a positive fashion. Not to practice it, just to understand it better. We should open the subject up for questions and educate ourselves so that we understand all of it better. I have had some adults say some things to me about sex that made me do kind of a double take. I remember thinking, “How can you possibly believe that?”
This is one of those posts that I could continue discussing all day and still not cover it, so, instead, I would like for you all to do that. I will give you a couple of ways.
First, give me your opinions on the basic question concerning sex vs violence.
Second, if you would like, ask a question, posit something here in the comments to get us going on it. If it really takes off I will do another post on that area so we can center in. But, at least, let’s talk. You all do that really well, as do I.
Let’s hear it!!!
Namaste,
Scott
Comments
I agree with you here. I really don’t give a flying crap how much sex my kids see on TV. But violence and drugs? NO THANK YOU
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Good question. The jury’s out on this one. Aside from one show I don’t think I watch much in the violence world or the sex world. The only “violent” show I watch is Criminal Minds.
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I don’t watch Criminal Minds as it is based on truth. I don’t care much for those.
Give me Dexter – all fake.
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yes my Hubby is mostly like that too, but he does like CM.
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We came to this land as Puritans (prude in the extreme yet happily burning people alive) and we haven’t ever quite thrown that yoke off. So now a barely glimpsed bare breast during the superbowl halftime show is a national scandal, yet an exploding head shown on TV barely gets mention. Is it any wonder mental health issues are so common?
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My sentiments too.
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I really try to protect my kids equally from both. They know sex is a beautiful thing. They know what it is and how it works. But I don’t think that means that I should give them examples of how it works. Not at age 9. That said, I have never hit my kids, including spanking. Nor will I. They respect me, are well behaved, and kind. I want to preserve their youth and innocence as long as I can.
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Good Mommy. Sounds like you are doing fine.
My two turned out really great. I can’t complain. Both are out on their own, well adjusted. My son is in Web design in Portland; my daughter just finished her PH. D. in psychology.
I am a proud and happy daddy.
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Aww you should be proud. Being a parent is the most amazing gift I could ever be given.
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I would agree with that.
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On TV, sex and violence are often the same thing – the violation of one person’s autonomy by another. IMHO.
In my home we discuss the stupidity of TV and discuss sex and violence at age appropriate levels in ways that don’t mirror what TV offers up.
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Sounds good.
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all the sex and violence one needs is available on the Ten o’clock news. For entertainment I like good clean well crafted stories. Thanks for the post Scott. – John
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I can understand that. Neither really bothers me as long as it is tied to the story or plot or whatever. What I hate is a really violent movie in which most of the violence could have been left out and I still would have followed and understood the story. Needless violence doesn’t make me want to watch a movie more.
I don’t like the news.
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Amen. 🙂
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When I was young my mother refused to allow my brothers and myself to watch Love Boat because she felt it was to sexual. Back then the Six Million Dollar Man and Roadrunner were deemed violent and it was ok for us to watch them.
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Yes, I remember watching “Love Boat” just to see a bit of the sexuality (really bad for then!). I loved the two violent shows. They were great!
Yes, those were okay. How about “Love, American Style”?
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Oh… Love American Style in my home would of been considered triple X porn.
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🙂 I don’t think my parents ever watched it.
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