Political Forum - US & World Political Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Entertainment choices and being a good person

MikeT · 10-11-2007, 08:38 AM

I enjoy intensity in my entertainment. Suspenseful horror, hilarious comedy, psychological thrillers, gritty action/adventure flicks--I don't like to be bored when I'm supposed to be having fun

I also like amusement parks usually head straight for the highest intensity ride. When I write (I'm an author) my books always include explosions, hand-to-hand combat, etc.

This is what I enjoy, and the majority of the time, this intensity is accompanied by intense language. We designate "family" oriented movies we watch when the kids are awake--the rest comes after they're in bed.

For my 14 yr.old, however, we've been getting a bit more lenient in what he watches with us. I have no qualms about his being exposed to some adult material (not talking porn here--which I don't watch either--what little I have seen is just really badly written and completely boring.) I'm just of the parenting style that it's detrimental to raise a child with no knowledge of the adult world whatsoever and then expect them to function in the adult world. My eldest will be 18 in four short years, it just makes sense to start allowing him to experience some adult issues--through different mediums--in a controlled environment and in minimal doses.

But as far as language is concerned? He's in 9th grade now, there's very few words he hasn't heard already. Does that mean I swear around him and set a bad example? Heck no

I'm not ignoring his experiences though in favor of maintaining a false relationship with him though.

Every year he has to "clear" words he wants to use with me. So far, I've allowed him to say damn and hell--but not 'sh*t'--I tell him that if he doesn't think it's a good idea to say a word in front of his grandmother, it's not likely anything he should be using at all

Either way, my goal is not to hide reality from him, but teach him right from wrong, respect, civility, and give him the tools he needs to evaluate situations when I'm not there. So far, he's been doing an excellent job and we often have long talks about grown-up situations.

In the end, it's not language I worry about, it's harmful attitudes--like manipulation, coercion, etc. to entice or tempt him to participate in unlawful or immoral situations and making sure I've done all I can to instill in him the knowledge and wisdom to make good choices.

10-11-2007, 08:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
MikeT Knight Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stevens Point, WI Posts: 632 Country:	I enjoy intensity in my entertainment. Suspenseful horror, hilarious comedy, psychological thrillers, gritty action/adventure flicks--I don't like to be bored when I'm supposed to be having fun I also like amusement parks usually head straight for the highest intensity ride. When I write (I'm an author) my books always include explosions, hand-to-hand combat, etc. This is what I enjoy, and the majority of the time, this intensity is accompanied by intense language. We designate "family" oriented movies we watch when the kids are awake--the rest comes after they're in bed. For my 14 yr.old, however, we've been getting a bit more lenient in what he watches with us. I have no qualms about his being exposed to some adult material (not talking porn here--which I don't watch either--what little I have seen is just really badly written and completely boring.) I'm just of the parenting style that it's detrimental to raise a child with no knowledge of the adult world whatsoever and then expect them to function in the adult world. My eldest will be 18 in four short years, it just makes sense to start allowing him to experience some adult issues--through different mediums--in a controlled environment and in minimal doses. But as far as language is concerned? He's in 9th grade now, there's very few words he hasn't heard already. Does that mean I swear around him and set a bad example? Heck no I'm not ignoring his experiences though in favor of maintaining a false relationship with him though. Every year he has to "clear" words he wants to use with me. So far, I've allowed him to say damn and hell--but not 'sh*t'--I tell him that if he doesn't think it's a good idea to say a word in front of his grandmother, it's not likely anything he should be using at all Either way, my goal is not to hide reality from him, but teach him right from wrong, respect, civility, and give him the tools he needs to evaluate situations when I'm not there. So far, he's been doing an excellent job and we often have long talks about grown-up situations. In the end, it's not language I worry about, it's harmful attitudes--like manipulation, coercion, etc. to entice or tempt him to participate in unlawful or immoral situations and making sure I've done all I can to instill in him the knowledge and wisdom to make good choices.