Parents: Sex or Violence?

My fellow movie-lovers, I have a question for both parents and the general populace: why is it that parents are so much more tolerant of their child/children watching violent content in film than sexual content?

I am curious, of course, because one is a natural thing born in love which creates life; the other is abhorrent, born in hatred, and damages or destroys life.

I know how I feel about it: when my wife and I have a child, I will be far more comfortable with her/him seeing two people doing the "horizontal mambo" (or what-have-you) than I will be with her/him seeing a horrible beating, a stabbing, an explosive gunfight, or human bodies blown apart.

That's how I feel, but I am really, really curious to know what others think and feel about it. All of you -- parents or otherwise -- what is that about? I would like to understand how seeing mature human anatomy at work in creating pleasure is more damaging to a child than the horrors of war and murder.

P.S. I am absolutely, positively not interested in offending anyone in any way at all, ever. I just really want to know what others think; I want to get to know the other side of the coin, you know? Also, I'm sure that once one has a child of one's own, that changes how one thinks about all kinds of things. So? What say you, fellow film-lovers?

My parents had no problem with violence.. I could watch just about anything..
But Sexual content was always paid attention to.

This is a great question/topic! Much kudos. I have to go now though, but I'll be back to talk up a storm about it.

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"Loves them? They need them, like they need the air."

Thought I'd share this here.

Thank you, PlanetNews -- I've enjoyed every post I've seen of yours, and look forward to reading your thoughts/feelings on this question!

I believe it has to do with two things, cultural attitudes and embarrassment.

elaborate HK. elaborate!

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something witty goes here......

I've always been 50/50 on either subject. As long as they're not too graphic, I don't care.

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God that lady is awfully annoying

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If I had a dollar for every existential crisis I've ever had, does money really even matter?

I believe sex is monitored so by parents because the results of irresponsible sex, no matter how beautiful or natural it is, could result in creation of life.

When my little guy is old enough to know whats going on in more adult films I will let him watch what ever he wants. He will also understand from my teaching the difference of film and real life violence, and the responsibilities of love and sex.

What the hell was that?

I would -probably shield them from sex first -- the young ones don't even know what it is yet because they haven't reached that physical age. (Unfortunately) they all know about violence to some extent (thanks Disney). I remember seeing R-rated films with my folks when I was 10, and I turned out ok. Yes, I do go downtown in my underwear with a cleaver every once in a while, but doesn't everyone?

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Under-the-radar Movie Awesomeness.
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"Kids know the difference. Maybe you couldn't when you were a kid, but I could. "
How can you not love QT?

And how can anyone take that lady seriously in that hat...

I can recall my parents were almost always okay with my watching violence. No, really, I was about ten when I started watching horror movies. Sex on the other hand was almost forbidden which I thought ridiculous because I tend to look at it (as I do now) that sex is natural and should not be seen in such a negative light. Obviously crimes involving sexual activity is...not okay to say the least, but between having my kids see sex or violence, they will see both. Violence is a part of our nature, regardless of how we display or channel it. Don't get me wrong, I think that things such as the amount and the intensity should come with the child's maturity level and falls on the parents. I figure if a child is mature enough to have questions about either (assuming it wasn't just some loud mouth schmuck from school), they shouldn't be ashamed to ask and should find the answers they seek in an appropriate way. I'd much rather have my kids ask me about things of that nature than look for it somewhere they could find unreliable information or simply crude information. But that's just me.

p.s.
I realized how I phrased some of my words made it sound like I children. It's just the way I plan on parenting my kids.

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But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet, Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. W.B. Yeats

I think it probably has something to do with the fact that kids "aren't supposed to know about 'sexual intercourse' at that age". Why, is quite effectively summed up by Fiscal, "I believe sex is monitored so by parents because the results of irresponsible sex, no matter how beautiful or natural it is, could result in creation of life.".

Then again, sex talks are dished out in primary 7 (UK) around 11 years old, usually before that by parents. Knowledge to far before that is useless anyway, its just generally something that is concealed by parents. The topic has a glaringly obvious answer in my opinion.

Violence on the other hand is something kids can never be shielded from, you only have to watch the 5:00pm news to realise that. Violence is in everyones face's these days, you read stories about people being stabbed in broad daylight on the busiest street in London, car bombs in New York etc there are in fact kids probably present at these events. I guess its just a parent's role to raise their kids to know the difference between the rite and wrong.

Even though my parents shielded from sex in films.. I would sneak into watching those movies anyway..

I think Parents should hide stuff a little better..

As a kid I would easily get to know which controversial movies are making waves... Parents can do their part at home...
But what about the curiosity of the young ones?... Surely there must be a spoiled brat who knows about sex a but earlier than most kids his age..

Exactly, like I said, realistically you cant hide your kids from violence unless you intend to hide them from the world. Not even in a home environment can parents prevail as I mentioned with the news, reporters like are friend in the video bring more violence into the home than Quentin Tarantino could ever wish too. Parents should spent less time and energy hiding them from it and more time teaching them the difference between rite and wrong.

With that being said, were clear that in my opinion, the presence of violence in film isn't the problem, the glamorisation of violence however Can Be a problem for those of us who are unable to go to the theatre and differentiate between the real world and the world of dramatic fiction. Though I'm not one of these people, history has shown us that such a minority does exist.

I'd love it if there was a way to gauge a percentage of crime that happens as a result of the glamorisation of violence in film vs a percentage that shows the neglection of a proper upbringing and the installation of morales and respect at a young age. Film aint the problem guys.

I had arguments in the past with a 23 year old mum about why her 9 year old son feels the need to let my F**King tyres down. This sort of thing is the problem, she's too young to have a child, she doesn't want the responsibility of raising a kid, but wants government benefits and a house. The kids going to get worse and worse, with no clear sense of whats rite and wrong and neglectful parenting, what sort of crimes will he be committing when he's 18? I cant help but assume the mum was neglected when she was a kid, I'd kill my daughter if she got pregnant at 13-14. The cycle repeats, I always point to parenting myself. Maybe when he's in court in 9 years for man slaughter as he tried mug a man who struggled, we can look back at the films he's watched or the music he's listened too and blame it on Quentin and Eminem.

I'm diggin' all these replies, folks! Keep 'em comin'! I especially like The Next Big Thing's point about the importance of parents teaching their kids what's right and what's wrong. It reminds me of something said perhaps in the Tao Te Ching, perhaps the Dhammapada (I forget which): that one can submerge one's hand into poison without being hurt if they do not have an open wound. If, however, one is wounded already, he will succumb to the poison's effects.

I have to agree, it's the parents responsibility to monitor what their kids are exposed to. It's not overly difficult to find out what your kids are into. Of course there are going to be things you can't shield them from and you can't always be around, but that's where you parenting comes in. Did you teach them right and wrong? What is and is not appropriate? People are individual beings and they will go against what they have been taught someway or another and their consequences will be of their actions, but until they reach that point, the parents are responsible. That's why I get upset when I hear about people writing obnoxious letters or causing a fuss about "inappropriate content" on television or when people attack artist because it damaged their child. All you have to do is be aware of what your kids are involved in and give them the tools to make good decisions when you aren't there. Again, it's not a perfect system, but it's a fairly good one.