Originally Posted by
mgcsinc
When I was a kid, from the time I was 4, my father explained to me that movies were 'fakey' and had nothing to do with the real world (except where they actually did resemble it). From that point forward, my parents allowed me to watch basically any movie, except with gratuitous sexual content (mostly because of my mom's opposition).
I never had nightmares about those movies. I never feared for my safety. I never had violent tendencies. I never killed any animals. I was just a kid, who watched and enjoyed violent movies. And I ended up okay.
It's not my intent to attack you - however, you are not necessarily A) typical or B) statistically significant. So it is important to remember that while this worked for you, with your parents, you fit within a huge range across the bell curve. In other words, just because this worked for you, it doesn't mean it will work for everyone else. Or for that matter, ANYONE else.
Originally Posted by
mgcsinc
As a kid, I (obviously) had many peers with less permissive parents. And I remember thinking that the kids with the most restrictive parents were the most screwed up. They were the most afraid of their own shadows, most prone to finding something to cry in fear about in a PG movie. I can't help but think that sheltering does more evil than good.
Some of my friends who were more sheltered as kids have trouble with extremely violent movies even as adults. I have to say that, if I had to choose between saving my kid from a few nightmares or making it easier for them to appreciate the beautiful mastery of movies like Kill Bill as adults, I'd choose the latter.
This a logical fallacy, albeit a common one. False dichotomy is the term I've heard applied. The thing is, you (and every one else) do NOT have to choose between giving your kids a few nightmares or making it easier to appreciate Kill Bill. Again, this is a bell curve that is very flat. In fact, for some elements of the bell curve it is probable that you get to BOTH give your kids nightmares AND do not make it easier to appreciate Kill Bill.
For example, what about the other of your more sheltered friends that do NOT have problems with extremely violent movies as adults?
Originally Posted by
mgcsinc
Maybe I'm an exception. Maybe exposing kids to violent movies really does harm them. But I don't think so. And I think that faulty assumption courses through the veins of far too many parents.
Again, you aren't the exception. You're simply a data point. Unfortunately, you are one among hundreds of millions. Which means you can think whatever you choose, however it's your faulty assumption, not necessarily those of however many "far too many" parents are, regarding how/if kids are harmed. Just because you think an approach is wrong doesn't mean you are right.