family guy

[Jake]

see, that's the thing ... my sons can quote entire passages from 'holy grail' - the only scene they havent seen is the castle anthrax bit ... i think they are ready for just about all of 'life of brian' too ... so i am totally not humor averse ... it's definitely not flandersville in the t4d household ...

i dunno, jake ... i remember when southpark came out ... granted, it wasnt as extreme as it ultimately became, but it was pretty out there for my comfort when it comes to 6th graders ...

honestly, the only reason i'd think about letting my oldest (rising freshman in HS) see some of that stuff would be to give him cultural currency with his peers ... he has handled every new privilege we have given him with nice balance, so i think it would go well ...

That is true, South Park didn't push the limits as hard then as they do now.


I remember being in 7th grade, when South Park started getting slightly more vulgar. As such, I was allowed to watch South Park, but only if my mom watched it with me. Anytime something objectionable came up, we'd talk about it. As long as I could maturely take in what was going on and make the separation between fantasy and reality, everything was okay.

[Scott_F]

It was forbidden TV when it first came out. As my son hit 16 or so, I didn't bother monitoring his TV habits. We don't have HBO or any other premium channels because of the "trash" that is often on them.

By 16, I figured if I hadn't taught him right from wrong, a show like Family Guy wasn't going to make a difference either way.

[ratherdashing]

I remember being in 7th grade, when South Park started getting slightly more vulgar. As such, I was allowed to watch South Park, but only if my mom watched it with me. Anytime something objectionable came up, we'd talk about it. As long as I could maturely take in what was going on and make the separation between fantasy and reality, everything was okay.

See, that's the approach I would take. Watch it with your kid and discuss afterwards. When you outlaw something, it becomes forbidden fruit. It's far better to see if you can turn the situation around and make it a positive learning experience.

[Johtosotku]

i found that when i was a teen, the kids who were most into troublesome pursuits were bored and boring

Idle hands and an idle brain...

I definitely agree about moderating the tv habits of children. Something from 13-16 years, always based on the individual in question, would be the minimum age for watching family guy or american dad or similar. I think that the taping thing mentioned earlier is going too far... I don't think that, especially if you watch it together, seeing something inappropriate every now and then is bad for kids. I think that it may even be beneficial as they learn in those decisions what's immoral or tasteless or such, often based on the actions of the other viewers.

[Tor]

See, that's the approach I would take. Watch it with your kid and discuss afterwards. When you outlaw something, it becomes forbidden fruit. It's far better to see if you can turn the situation around and make it a positive learning experience.

One could also say that gore movies are forbidden fruits as well, but I'd never allow my children watch that, as I am sure most parents wouldn't either... But there's a point where you have to draw a line, making something a forbidden fruit.. With all the pros and cons that may imply..

[Leveller]

Sorry to go slightly off topic, but what's so bad about family guy? If you decide not tolet your kids watch it as a parent that's your decision. I just don't really get what's so bad about it.

[Robert S.]

I try to pick my fights when it comes to parenting. I have seen too many times what happens when parents drift to far from center on either side of the spectrum. There are familys on our block that seem to have few standards when it comes to their children and some of those kids really seem to lack direction and boundries. If you don't hold your childen accountable for their actions then they grow up believing that there are no consequences. Bad things happen when you raise someone to believe that they can do whatever they want without a cost attached.

At the same time you can't raise a child in a bubble because there is a big bold world full of hazards just outside every front door. I had many friends growing up in the Points (detroits old money suburb) that attended the best private schools, went to church weekly and had every advantage that got into all sorts of trouble, one in particular ended up dead. I am sure that most of these partents tried their best and I fault no one or their methods because sometimes children as well as adults make bad choices.

Mostly what we do is to hold our daughter accountable for her actions. We have tried to teach her that no matter what is going on around her that she is in charge of her behavior and she pays a price for following the lemmings over the cliff.

There are many things on television that aren't age appropriate and we do have standards for our daughter but I dont know that something like Family Guy is the worst thing that she might be exposed to. Sure it isn't appropriate for an 8 y/o but if she stumbles into the room while Family Guy is on I dont change the channel and I dont believe that somehow she will be scarred for life. Funny thing is that Mrs Bob has a ban on Southpark for her and if it comes on she'll flat out tell me that "momma says no" and she'll make me change the channel or she'll leave the room!

There are many scary things in this world and I take my daughters safety and well being very seriously. We want to know where she is at all times and she is responsible for telling us where she is going (she has a range of about 8 houses in either direction) and what she is doing with whom. We have strict no swearing/no fighting rules and when stuff happens the other parents are immediately involved. She already understands no smoking/no drugs because they push that early in the schools now and we talk about those things so that she understands the dangers. As other adult situations arise we'll continue to communicate what we expect from her and why.

Nothing was harder than trying to explain why she couldn't hang out on the far side of the block where some of her friends live. There is a big hedge at the end of the street and you cannot see people and cars behind it. Explaining to a 5 y/o that there are bad people in the world that might do her harm was difficult but not having that conversation and wishing for the best is a bad plan for success.

I heard a report the other day that stated in areas where abstinence only was taught that teen birth rates and STDs are shooting up through the roof. It has never been my belief that keeping children uninformed was a way to keep them safe. There are just too many outside influences and misinformation out there for me to believe that those types of strategies work.

We communicate with our daughter and we spend almost all of our free time with her. We do our best to raise her to be responsible and to care about other people. Despite all that, if she grows up and makes poor choices they are her own. We'll deal with that when we get there. As long as we are also there all along the way I can only hope her mistakes aren't catastrophic.

If they are I promise not to blame the television.

[Markk]

i can not believe that this show is on network TV .... goodness GRACIOUS those writers OBLITERATE anything even CLOSE to 'the line'

i had never really watched a whole episode ... i gotta admit that i laughed a couple of times, but mostly at the shock value / disbelief at the things that they say/do ... it didnt have a sustaining quality, just 20 disconnected gags per minute ...

in all honesty, at what age would you let your kid watch that show?

t4d

I love how they target attention deficit people...myself including

[Forbes]

Kids that are overly mollycoddled always turn out wierd, if your kid is the one at school going to bed at 9 when everyone elses kid goes to bed later, or yours are the only ones not watching family guy, then they are going to turn out wierd.

It's always those ones that end up socially awkward around people of thier age, usually seem old before thier time and become loners. I'm not saying let them watch anything, but if all the other kids are doing it, you should very much consider letting yours. Personally i don't see much of a problem with family guy, although i very rarely watch it myself so maybe i havent seen these particularly bad moments. From what i've seen i would pretty happily watch it with a kid over 13/14, probably less. South Park i would probably say from 14/15 onwards.

The stuff your kids hear and talk about in the playground is way worse than any of this stuff anyway.

[Forbes]

I remember being in 7th grade, when South Park started getting slightly more vulgar. As such, I was allowed to watch South Park, but only if my mom watched it with me. Anytime something objectionable came up, we'd talk about it. As long as I could maturely take in what was going on and make the separation between fantasy and reality, everything was okay.

That's great parenting, the best way to do it.

[tone4days]

... but if all the other kids are doing it, you should very much consider letting yours. ...

well, sure ... if you put it that way

[Forbes]

I'm not saying you definately should, i'm saying you should consider it, if you are in that much of a minority you should probably question why this is, and if its a correct decision or if you are just being over-protective. I think there is a middle ground on these issues which seems to be the best for raising healthy, well adjusted kids. Letting your kids watch and do whatever they please is bad, but i see hardline censorship just as negative in the long run.

In the same vein if you let your kids watch southpark and none of thier friends are allowed to you should also reconsider your priorities. I don't mean to say let other parents decisions dictate your own, but it's a good yard stick to approximate with.

[texasguitarslinger]

its not a very PC show

/\ that's like saying Pamela Anderson is not quite a nun.

[ginormous]

I like this thread. This is a reasonable and responsible debate about this show, its humor and its possible effect on kids -- kudos to all who've kept their heads about them.

[lpmarshall]

Growing up, I found out my parents took a more corrective stance to most behavior, instead of being proactive. My parents were very lenient during my childhood, but when I messed up I sure learned a lesson.

Take curfew for example, my parents did not set a curfew for me in high school. If I was staying out after midnight or not coming home, I had to call them and let them know. Fair enough, and a decent compromise to some of my friends that had to be home at 11PM.

Back in high school, a bunch of us were going on a camping trip. My buddy scored a bunch of beer from his boss at work, and my friend's dad ended up finding it in his trunk. He told my dad. My dad basically told me that he knows we are going to do stuff like that, and told me to never drive anywhere with anyone who has been drinking, and he would pick me up at any hour if I needed a ride, no questions asked.

There is always a fine line of being overprotective and letting your child run wild. I knew a lot of people who refused to drink in high school who went to college and just let loose and eventually flunked out because of heavy drinking.

I'm probably getting off topic a little here. I don't watched any of the animated shows anyway (simpsons, family guy, south park, etc ......)

[bungalowbill]

I don't watch it...I don't really think shock comedy is all that funny....and trust me I'm not a prude.

As far as the my children watching it...no go. There are some pretty bad sexual references and enough other "bad" things on the show, for me to give it the thumbs down.

About the comment of..If all the other kids do it, you might consider it.....

I'm sorry...that doesn't hold water....just because peers are doing something, doesn't make it acceptable.

A LOT of kids are on Ritalin that don't need to be and I think it might have something to do with the fast paced TV and video games that they play when their brains are developing. The same goes for things of a sexual nature....if a 6 or 7 year old would view that, it could screw up their whole life.

I do pick and choose my battles..and my 6 year old does do a fair share of things that are reserved for more grown up kids, but it is done while being supervised by me or my wife.

Supervision is the key.....know what your child is watching or playing.

[ratherdashing]

One could also say that gore movies are forbidden fruits as well, but I'd never allow my children watch that, as I am sure most parents wouldn't either... But there's a point where you have to draw a line, making something a forbidden fruit.. With all the pros and cons that may imply..

Right. I wouldn't suggest sitting down with your kids to watch hardcore porn. The TV shows that fall into a "gray area" though, it might make sense to watch the show with them and discuss.

[Tor]

m-m. Time will tell how I handle that stuff when I actually become a parent, but seeing and discussing with the kid(s) is a sound way of handling it..