Originally Posted by
emma69
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.
But that's my point -- I'm not going to guess at "parents' standards." It's not my problem, not my concern and certainly not my responsibility.
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.
Whereas I don't care who I'm sitting next to, I'll watch what I want. I'm not limiting my conduct solely because some one decided to fly with a child. As I said early on, I don't believe that this should be a "child safe" society, and I have no responsibility to anyone else to make it one. You're free to bring your children wherever you want, but don't expect anyone to conform their behavior to your personal moral standards for parenting just because you have.
Originally Posted by
emma69
And, if we are talking about legalities, there are places where homosexuality isn't legal, so should that factor into the decision on what is appropriate to watch?
Those places certainly don't exist in the U.S., notwithstanding the best efforts of some religious extremists. However, I with respect to international travel, my attitude has always been that I'm a guest in someone else's home and, as a guest, I should respect and conform to the social conventions of that country. When my wife and I visit Muslim countries, she doesn't wear short-sleeve shirts and wears a scarf over her hair. If I was flying on a Muslim airline, I wouldn't watch sexually explicit films. However, in the U.S., I'll watch whatever I want and, if some busybody who is rudely watching my screen objects, too darn bad.
Originally Posted by
mikeef
My kids have plenty of friends with same-sex parents. Watching them kiss, hug, etc. wouldn't phase them. I see no reason that I shouldn't watch movies with gay characters simply because others' haven't. What their parents have told them is or isn't right is not my concern.
We're Jewish, and someday, I may have to have a conversation about why we don't celebrate Christmas, but I wouldn't use that line of reasoning to say that people on a plane shouldn't watch Rudolph.
Mike
Well said! ^