07-30-2003, 01:44 PM
Well, not so much restrictions, but, as I stated, better warning systems. I have no problem reading Huck Fin. However, I might want to wait till "I" feel that my Goddaughter is mature enough before I would read it to her. I know in advance what words are in there.
However, there are many movies I don't know in advance. And for me, that's not a problem. But for others, it can be. I went out and watched movies like "Faces of Death" and the like and was just fine while other folks were busy puking into their popcorn buckets. (I went to see what all the fuss was about)
Frankly, and this is going to be rated R topic wise I think, I have seen things far worse then they show in movies and I am really jaded. I grew up as a boy in dime a dance whorehouses, sawdust on the floor honkytonks, brothels, and gambling dens. My mum was a working girl in those places. I don't remember just how old I was, but I watched a man get murdered. Somebody took a broken bottle and slit his throat. He gurgled a bit, flopped around, and died in the gravel parking lot. They covered the huge puddle of blood with sawdust and it was business as usual. I saw a man get his guts slit open, and how he tried to keep his own intestines inside of him, scooping and clutching at his own guts. As I got older it got no better. I remember vividly riots in my life time, people being mauled and tore apart by dogs. I remember a terrible day where Klan members showed up to a peaceful protest, and one Klansman firing into the crowd with a shotgun. I saw a little girl get cut in half that day from that shot. So really, not much of what I see on movies or tv bothers me. I have seen things I would rather forget, but can't, and have gone numb instead. Does this mean everybody should be like me? No. I think folks would be a lot happier with out knowing some things, or at least not knowing them before they are ready.
However, it bothers me that some folk see things before they are ready. I for one, want my Goddaughter watching Veggie Tales for as long as possible. There is plenty of time to grow up later and learn about things like the N word or other horrible facts of life, but, damnit, I want her to hold on to her innocence for as long as possible and not have her mind polluted by all the terrible realities of life until she really actually needs to learn it. I don't want something slipping under the radar either. Like I said, a warning system would be great.
We must also take into consideration maturity levels. I know a few kids that I know could watch Schindler's List and probably be ok. However, most kids should NEVER see that. I personally know a guy that took his son to see Saving Private Ryan. 13 year old son, accompanied by an adult, to see THAT. Kid's a little older now, and his therapy is coming along nicely. The night terrors have eased off a bit, but panic attacks are still frequent. Poor kid has to take vallium now to make it through the day. He had seen plenty of other adult films, heck, he had seen all of the Friday the Thirteenth films by the time he was 12 and it never ever bothered him, quality times spent with dad, and his dad did not realize just how BAD SPR would be. Once again, a warning system would have saved a lot of grief. A historically accurate showing of the the war indeed. Is it ok to show this to kids for historical accuracy? To learn about American sacrifice? Not my place to say. I know I would not. Even a mature kid. SPR scored a 2 out of 10 on my squirm o meter, mostly because it made me think how painful it is to be shot. Made me recall painful memories of BEING shot, which are by no means, pleasant. Other then that, seen worse.
Is that what we want? A nation of super jaded numb on the inside folk like me? That's where we are headed, and that bothers me for reasons I can not explain. It eats at me. Some folk, well, some folk should be spared from this. Like em or not, rating systems are there to do this, but they are flawed and really, there should be a better way.
However, there are many movies I don't know in advance. And for me, that's not a problem. But for others, it can be. I went out and watched movies like "Faces of Death" and the like and was just fine while other folks were busy puking into their popcorn buckets. (I went to see what all the fuss was about)
Frankly, and this is going to be rated R topic wise I think, I have seen things far worse then they show in movies and I am really jaded. I grew up as a boy in dime a dance whorehouses, sawdust on the floor honkytonks, brothels, and gambling dens. My mum was a working girl in those places. I don't remember just how old I was, but I watched a man get murdered. Somebody took a broken bottle and slit his throat. He gurgled a bit, flopped around, and died in the gravel parking lot. They covered the huge puddle of blood with sawdust and it was business as usual. I saw a man get his guts slit open, and how he tried to keep his own intestines inside of him, scooping and clutching at his own guts. As I got older it got no better. I remember vividly riots in my life time, people being mauled and tore apart by dogs. I remember a terrible day where Klan members showed up to a peaceful protest, and one Klansman firing into the crowd with a shotgun. I saw a little girl get cut in half that day from that shot. So really, not much of what I see on movies or tv bothers me. I have seen things I would rather forget, but can't, and have gone numb instead. Does this mean everybody should be like me? No. I think folks would be a lot happier with out knowing some things, or at least not knowing them before they are ready.
However, it bothers me that some folk see things before they are ready. I for one, want my Goddaughter watching Veggie Tales for as long as possible. There is plenty of time to grow up later and learn about things like the N word or other horrible facts of life, but, damnit, I want her to hold on to her innocence for as long as possible and not have her mind polluted by all the terrible realities of life until she really actually needs to learn it. I don't want something slipping under the radar either. Like I said, a warning system would be great.
We must also take into consideration maturity levels. I know a few kids that I know could watch Schindler's List and probably be ok. However, most kids should NEVER see that. I personally know a guy that took his son to see Saving Private Ryan. 13 year old son, accompanied by an adult, to see THAT. Kid's a little older now, and his therapy is coming along nicely. The night terrors have eased off a bit, but panic attacks are still frequent. Poor kid has to take vallium now to make it through the day. He had seen plenty of other adult films, heck, he had seen all of the Friday the Thirteenth films by the time he was 12 and it never ever bothered him, quality times spent with dad, and his dad did not realize just how BAD SPR would be. Once again, a warning system would have saved a lot of grief. A historically accurate showing of the the war indeed. Is it ok to show this to kids for historical accuracy? To learn about American sacrifice? Not my place to say. I know I would not. Even a mature kid. SPR scored a 2 out of 10 on my squirm o meter, mostly because it made me think how painful it is to be shot. Made me recall painful memories of BEING shot, which are by no means, pleasant. Other then that, seen worse.
Is that what we want? A nation of super jaded numb on the inside folk like me? That's where we are headed, and that bothers me for reasons I can not explain. It eats at me. Some folk, well, some folk should be spared from this. Like em or not, rating systems are there to do this, but they are flawed and really, there should be a better way.
All alone, or in twos,
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall.
Some hand in hand
And some gathered together in bands.
The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand.
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad buggers wall.
"Isn't this where...."
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall.
Some hand in hand
And some gathered together in bands.
The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand.
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad buggers wall.
"Isn't this where...."