Posted on 02/06/2007 9:04:52 AM PST by SLB
I wasn't one of 'em, but if you look at this thread, there was plenty of the "yuuuuk" factor. You're standing in line for an amusement park ride w/your kids, & a male/male (or female/female) couple does an open-mouthed kiss right next to your family. And so, if they do it in a "funny" or "comical" sort of way, you laugh hysterically in front of your kids, eh? (I'm sorry, some "humor" eludes me at times)
There are too many phobias out there waiting to consume us and our children, and too many hystericals propagating those phobias needlessly...Making a big issue out of this only adds curiosity to children...and had little lasting impression except the overprotective parent's reaction turned it into some phobia. Some People are freaked out about their shadow nowadays and think the sky is falling but life goes on.
Well, there's too many "phobias" about phobic behavior, so we're even (why are so many folks so phobic about perceived phobias, anyway?) Re: your "shadow" comment, yeah, I see folks jump out of their clothes every night upon spotting that ugly thing!
You can accuse folks of shadow-freaking, and I'm sure I can build a much stronger case of zombies-in-the-flesh whereby nothing phases them. Painting folks as extreme on either side of that continuum certainly describes some folks, but it doesn't come close to portraying the bulk of 'em.
Children have an ability to sort out a lot of things without overprotective parents holding their hands and shielding their eyes every time they think the child is exposed and vulnerable. Making a big issue out of this only adds curiosity to children.
So how long have you had this problem with this "PG" thing? (I suppose you complain to the movie industry or video game industry every time you see a "PG" rating?) I didn't know that "parental guidance" is so provocative. And, again, we can all go to the "extreme" continuum here. For every "overprotective" parent, I can probably find two sets of underprotective ones.
shielding their eyes every time they think the child is exposed and vulnerable
It's almost like you don't live in the real American culture. I mean, if these parents were as overprotective as you claim, and if you really took a hard look at what's on the Internet & media in general, if you were serious about this charge that's all these parents would do. I mean, I think somebody could make a serious argument that they could only focus on the worst 10% of the worst media/internet content & attempt to "cover their kids' eyes" as you say, and they'd still have to do that almost 24/7. Bottom line, there's more in our culture to be reactive to than ever before; hence, parents are sadly "under- reactive."
had little lasting impression
Okay, go back in your childhood. You're in the best amusement park. Somebody from a higher level of the ride you're on spits on you and everybody else on the ride. Is that going to mar you for life? Hardly. Is that going to stay w/you as a memory for a long time? Probably. Is that going to effect you in any negative way? (Like becoming obsessive-compulsive about washing/taking showers). Extremely doubtful.
But, & I say, but, what about those few kids on that ride who were spit on & then concluded, "that's a rad idea. I'm going to take their example & spit on others at some point in the future?" Why do some folks think "role models" are a one-way street?
Actually, I heard 2 boys around 13 say the snickers was a phallic symbol and they took it as a pro-gay push type commercial!
you said: "So how long have you had this problem with this "PG" thing? (I suppose you complain to the movie industry or video game industry every time you see a "PG" rating?) I didn't know that "parental guidance" is so provocative. And, again, we can all go to the "extreme" continuum here. For every "overprotective" parent, I can probably find two sets of underprotective ones"
I was a child when the movies went to the "rating" system
Yeah the rating on some movies was the reason why I wasn't allowed to attend certain movies. Those same movies, for the most part play on tv all the time now. So did it hurt me to wait? Nope. I knew at some point my parents would not be able to control what my choces were. Have I made some bad choices? Yes. We all have. it is a part of what shapes us into who we are today, but it don't necessarly make us bad people. Sometimes it makes us better.
I see a rating system on tv as well. With football being the violent sport it is I am frankly surprised there isn't a PG rating. I guess parents still need to be told every move when it comes to raising children. If they lack the responsibility to affirm with certain knowledge of past similar sporting events, that there could be a wardrobe malfunction or a beer commercial or some other "questionable event or act". yeah, get the government involved. They can raise our kids. Sure.
Not that I condone the commercial. But I and millions of viewers saw it differently, thought it was ewwww and then funny and moved on. We didn't care. So what?
Each and every "what if" scenario is dealt with differently by each and every one of us. If you were so deeply offended, Quit buying snickers. Explain why to your children. Then proceed as if every Super bowl or NBA game or Hockey match is PG rated and take some responsibility for assuming that programing will not have a fight or a cuss word or an offensive shot of a fan or an adult oriented commercial or something.
You control the remote. If you don't like it. turn it off. But don't censor everything for everyone else just because you think the content don't agree with "the children".
You control the remote! Take responsibility!
Conversation over.
two men kissing is disgusting
Okay, convo over. My parting remark, tho, to your parting remark is this: If you have water pollution coming thru the water system of your house, the answer isn't to simply stay silent about it while heading for the store to buy bottled water.
It sounds to me like your answer would be "You control the faucet. If you don't like the water, turn it off. But don't make a fuss over the water just because you think the content of the water doesn't agree with your stomach or your children's stomach. You control the faucet! Take responsibility! Go buy buttled water (and don't whine on your way there...just shut up, why doncha?)!"
You see, it's folks' attitude like this that's the basic problem. The last time I looked, the public hasn't relegated or delegated its ownership of the air waves. The public owns the air waves, not the government, not the networks, not the advertisers. We own it. We can address problems and not remain silent.
If you really believe that, I have a bridge for sale you may be interested in...
Advertisting can sell things besides a product. It can sell ideas. I saw this ad as a way of advancing the homosexual agenda. The idea was to get America used to the idea of two men kissing, everything that followed that was window dressing.
The headline here said it was an anti-gay ad. I disagree, it was very much a pro-homosexual ad.
I am pleased to see a backlash.
One must wonder what these corporate leaders are thinking when they allow such a disgusting ad to go forward.
Quick, get me some copies. I'm still laughing. Strange how America is becoming an Orwellian society. Look over your shoulder, there's a new thought police on the prowl and they'll destroy you if you don't agree with their point of view.
The irony is, the Mars company will attribute your ill humor to the idea that they ran a homophobic ad, and make note to treat gays with more respect in future.
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