Comments on: A Rant on Violence in Cartoons http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:00:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: friend http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161019 friend Tue, 06 May 2008 15:47:08 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161019 [quote comment="160837"]Personally, I think there's way less violence in children's programing today because people are so hyper-aware. Have you seen any of those 50's/60's cartoons lately? Roadrunner? Bugs Bunny? Selvester? Tom and Jerry? That shit is crazy![/quote] But do you remember Johnny Quest, and Rocky and Bullwinkle....that was classic!!! [quote comment="160837"]Personally, I think there’s way less violence in children’s programing today because people are so hyper-aware. Have you seen any of those 50’s/60’s cartoons lately? Roadrunner? Bugs Bunny? Selvester? Tom and Jerry? That shit is crazy![/quote]

But do you remember Johnny Quest, and Rocky and Bullwinkle….that was classic!!!

]]> By: Kristy http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161015 Kristy Tue, 06 May 2008 15:14:51 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161015 I don't know. I agree that guns and violence don't belong in children's TV and movies. But OTOH, something like the scene with the old lady in Ratatouille did not seem at all violent to me. It seemed satirically comical, and I thought th message was clear that by pulling out that gun she not only failed to kill any rats, but she destroyed her own house in the process. She was in no way a cool gun-slinging destructo machine, you know? I don’t know. I agree that guns and violence don’t belong in children’s TV and movies. But OTOH, something like the scene with the old lady in Ratatouille did not seem at all violent to me. It seemed satirically comical, and I thought th message was clear that by pulling out that gun she not only failed to kill any rats, but she destroyed her own house in the process. She was in no way a cool gun-slinging destructo machine, you know?

]]> By: Allison G. http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161014 Allison G. Tue, 06 May 2008 15:14:47 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161014 The cartoon violence doesn't bother me so much because we talk to the kids up and down about what would really happen if someone was hurt or shot. "No. If you get hit by a car, you don't turn into a pancake. You could end up paralyized or worse, you could die. Do not run in the parking lot or street." "No. Cartoons are fake. If you shoot someone in the butt, they don't get a red bump, they'll lose a leg or probably die. Never ever touch guns." We have to talk about that because we have (locked up) guns in the house. So the chance of them seeing one happens fairly often when dh is cleaning them or storing them. They know all about never touching them, and what would happen if dad saw them doing it. My bigger issue is how much sex is boldly or secretively put in kids movies. But that's a whole other debate...... The cartoon violence doesn’t bother me so much because we talk to the kids up and down about what would really happen if someone was hurt or shot.
“No. If you get hit by a car, you don’t turn into a pancake. You could end up paralyized or worse, you could die. Do not run in the parking lot or street.”
“No. Cartoons are fake. If you shoot someone in the butt, they don’t get a red bump, they’ll lose a leg or probably die. Never ever touch guns.”

We have to talk about that because we have (locked up) guns in the house. So the chance of them seeing one happens fairly often when dh is cleaning them or storing them. They know all about never touching them, and what would happen if dad saw them doing it.

My bigger issue is how much sex is boldly or secretively put in kids movies. But that’s a whole other debate……

]]> By: Rita http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161001 Rita Tue, 06 May 2008 14:33:56 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-161001 [quote comment="160998"]J Even the Veggie Tales movie had sword fighting and crazy little cheese puff looking creatures that kept trying to eat the veggies (honestly that kind of freaked me out-ds thought it was funny). [/quote] Yeah, that was just fucked up. Those living cheese snacks just really sat with me wrong. I can overlook a talking cucumber who somehow has invisible hands that move things, but an army of angry cheese puffs was too much. The wee one and I left before the movie was over, she was not impressed. I have to say that while I am OK with certain types/levels of violence for my kids (varying according to kid), I was also really happy with Spielberg's changes to ET. I thought in the context of that movie, taking out the guns and changing them into walkie-talkies was a good move. It wasn't necessary. It's not like the movie was bad or that kids couldn't watch it otherwise. It's just that the government guys were intimidating enough without weapons, and making them have weapons made them seem like BAD GUYS, and without weapons, it left it open for the viewer to decide--what would they have done with ET if they caught him. So, it's not like I'm "Rah-Rah" pro-violence or anything. I just like for parents to decide for themselves what's appropriate for their own kids, and NOT have some industry or other body making those choices for us. Both editions of ET are available, too, so each person can decide for him/herself which they like better. Unlike Star Wars (which is a topic you don't want to get my husband started on...what Lucas did to those originals). [quote comment="160998"]J Even the Veggie Tales movie had sword fighting and crazy little cheese puff looking creatures that kept trying to eat the veggies (honestly that kind of freaked me out-ds thought it was funny). [/quote]

Yeah, that was just fucked up. Those living cheese snacks just really sat with me wrong. I can overlook a talking cucumber who somehow has invisible hands that move things, but an army of angry cheese puffs was too much. The wee one and I left before the movie was over, she was not impressed.

I have to say that while I am OK with certain types/levels of violence for my kids (varying according to kid), I was also really happy with Spielberg’s changes to ET. I thought in the context of that movie, taking out the guns and changing them into walkie-talkies was a good move. It wasn’t necessary. It’s not like the movie was bad or that kids couldn’t watch it otherwise. It’s just that the government guys were intimidating enough without weapons, and making them have weapons made them seem like BAD GUYS, and without weapons, it left it open for the viewer to decide–what would they have done with ET if they caught him.

So, it’s not like I’m “Rah-Rah” pro-violence or anything. I just like for parents to decide for themselves what’s appropriate for their own kids, and NOT have some industry or other body making those choices for us. Both editions of ET are available, too, so each person can decide for him/herself which they like better. Unlike Star Wars (which is a topic you don’t want to get my husband started on…what Lucas did to those originals).

]]> By: julymom http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160998 julymom Tue, 06 May 2008 14:17:04 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160998 Jessica, I agree with you. I will not let ds watch Tom and Jerry because it is crazy violent. I won't let him watch Cartoon Network at all because the cartoons on there are violent AND gross. He's old enough now that I occassionally let him watch Jetix, but I monitor it pretty carefully. As for Ratatoulle, those 2 scenes didn't bother me or my ds at all. Every kids movie has violence of some sort in it. Even the Veggie Tales movie had sword fighting and crazy little cheese puff looking creatures that kept trying to eat the veggies (honestly that kind of freaked me out-ds thought it was funny). Even the original Mickey Mouse cartoons had a measure of violence in them. As long as ds isn't scared, I'm okay with most of the G movies. If he sees something that he doesn't understand or questions (guns, violence, etc) I use it as an opportunity to have a discussion with him. I don't think any of the kids who shoot others at school are doing so because some old woman in Ratatoulle shot at a pack of rats. Jessica, I agree with you. I will not let ds watch Tom and Jerry because it is crazy violent. I won’t let him watch Cartoon Network at all because the cartoons on there are violent AND gross. He’s old enough now that I occassionally let him watch Jetix, but I monitor it pretty carefully.
As for Ratatoulle, those 2 scenes didn’t bother me or my ds at all. Every kids movie has violence of some sort in it. Even the Veggie Tales movie had sword fighting and crazy little cheese puff looking creatures that kept trying to eat the veggies (honestly that kind of freaked me out-ds thought it was funny). Even the original Mickey Mouse cartoons had a measure of violence in them. As long as ds isn’t scared, I’m okay with most of the G movies. If he sees something that he doesn’t understand or questions (guns, violence, etc) I use it as an opportunity to have a discussion with him.
I don’t think any of the kids who shoot others at school are doing so because some old woman in Ratatoulle shot at a pack of rats.

]]> By: Rita http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160864 Rita Tue, 06 May 2008 02:09:58 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160864 [quote comment="160755"] Rita, I couldn't have said it better myself! Look at that, I agree with you [/quote] Actually, I get the feeling that if we lined things up, topic by topic, we'd agree on most things. It just seems to be the small stuff that we meta-debate. [quote comment="160755"]
Rita, I couldn’t have said it better myself! Look at that, I agree with you [/quote]

Actually, I get the feeling that if we lined things up, topic by topic, we’d agree on most things. It just seems to be the small stuff that we meta-debate.

]]> By: Jessica http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160837 Jessica Tue, 06 May 2008 01:49:08 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160837 Personally, I think there's way less violence in children's programing today because people are so hyper-aware. Have you seen any of those 50's/60's cartoons lately? Roadrunner? Bugs Bunny? Selvester? Tom and Jerry? That shit is crazy! Personally, I think there’s way less violence in children’s programing today because people are so hyper-aware. Have you seen any of those 50’s/60’s cartoons lately? Roadrunner? Bugs Bunny? Selvester? Tom and Jerry? That shit is crazy!

]]> By: Rita http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160819 Rita Tue, 06 May 2008 01:23:00 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160819 OK, I keep trying to post this response, but it's not going through. What am I doing wrong? Is it too long or something? OK, I keep trying to post this response, but it’s not going through. What am I doing wrong? Is it too long or something?

]]> By: Rita http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160815 Rita Tue, 06 May 2008 01:19:46 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160815 Testing Testing

]]> By: Allison J http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160800 Allison J Tue, 06 May 2008 00:41:56 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2008/05/05/a-rant-on-violence-in-cartoons/#comment-160800 Oh Bambi -- that was traumatic for me. Even more so when a few weeks after seeing it my neighbor pulled into his driveway with a huge dead buck laying in the bed of his pick-up. A lot of good TV and film has gone bad. It's the same with video games. Oh Bambi — that was traumatic for me. Even more so when a few weeks after seeing it my neighbor pulled into his driveway with a huge dead buck laying in the bed of his pick-up.

A lot of good TV and film has gone bad. It’s the same with video games.

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