Originally Posted by
PTravel
Film classifications also rate profanity more stringently than violence and sex more stringently than profanity. Film ratings don't reflect anything other than an effort by Hollywood, beginning with the Hayes Code in the 30s, to self-police so as to avoid government censorship (which would be illegal, in any event). The same situation exists in the video game industry. The assumption that MPAA ratings have anything to do with the reality of social convention is completely wrong.
As for the concern of explaining gay sex to children, not my problem. "Because they love each other," sounds like a good explanation to me, but if parents don't agree, then the burden is on the parents to think of another. I still think an effective response is, "It's rude to watch someone else's screen unless you're invited -- don't do it!"
I understand what you are saying, but as the thread was specifically whether you would / should watch an R rated movie, those are the artificial standards in play. There is, IMO, questionable (by parents standards) subject matter in films considered appropriate for all audiences.
Incidently, I am not saying that people shouldn't watch these movies - just that I probably would avoid them if I was sitting next to a child.