I believe that censorship is there to protect us and not lead those less-educated astray. It is very easy for someone of strong character to convince someone of a weaker nature that their acts are justified - you only have to look around the world, past & present, to see this has been achieved.
I do believe that vulnerable types should be protected from images that are going to distress and disturb them.
Some parents, for example, don't seem to have any sense and would plonk their kids in front of anything if it kept them quiet for five minutes. Look at the terrible murder of poor little Jamie Bulger. The ghastly children who killed him had been allowed to see a film that was far too old for them. They couldn't possibly have understood that what they had seen was not real, that the 'doll' in Child's Play was just a doll and that the actors got up and walked away - whereas obviously in real life if you do things like that people are not going to walk away.
I wouldn't blame the film for that, blame the idiot parents who let these nasty children see a film that was clearly unsuitable for them.
My sister is another one, she will insist on letting the kids watch films that are certificated for older people. Then she wonders why they have nightmares.
Last week I went to see Hellboy [FAB, really loved it!] however it is a 12A certificate so no one under the age of 12 should have been allowed into that cinema. There were at least 6 kids obviously well below 12 years of age - at least two of them could have been no older than 9 and the eldest of them was probably 10. They were there in company with parents, if you please.
When I was 14 I sneaked in to see Saturday Night Fever - dolled up to the nines and was thrilled when I got into an 18 cert film [it was originally released as an 18 if memory serves] but that was 18'd to do with language and sexual content. There was nothing disturbing or likely to give a kid nightmares.
Some of the imagery in Hellboy was quite strong for a 10 year old to take on board and the younger ones would certainly have found it scary.
quote:Originally posted by NIKKI D: I do believe that vulnerable types should be protected from images that are going to distress and disturb them.
Some parents, for example, don't seem to have any sense and would plonk their kids in front of anything if it kept them quiet for five minutes. Look at the terrible murder of poor little Jamie Bulger. The ghastly children who killed him had been allowed to see a film that was far too old for them. They couldn't possibly have understood that what they had seen was not real, that the 'doll' in Child's Play was just a doll and that the actors got up and walked away - whereas obviously in real life if you do things like that people are not going to walk away.
That was rubbish the British press thought up at about the time of the case. The police later said there was no relation with Child's Play/Child's Play 2/Child's Play 3 (the tabloid press couldn't even decide which one it was that had damaged them). In fact there was no evidence to suggest that the two children had ever even seen any of the three films.
The film was withdrawn from release for a while voluntary but it was never officially banned in the UK. The film is back on general release with no fuss whatsoever. So what did that achieve exactly?
Oh, and the '12A' certificate means that a child under the age of 12 can be admitted to a cinema with an adult over the age of 18. The mandatory '12' certificate only applies to home video releases.
My son is 12 and he loves horror I will allow him to watch anything that I have watched first and deem OK there are certain films I will not allow him to watch I feel as his mother I know what is acceptable and what is not
you consider scream a classic? and jeppers creepers? man you have a bad concept of a Classic. and the new dawn of the dead or the old one....the old one i can understand because that entire trilogy could be considered classics in there own rights...please dont say the new one. Nightmare on ekm street yes indeed a classic but anyone could pick that one out fom a list...but a magnificent classic it is. If you were my mother i would be ashamed if u called such films as screm and jepper creepers classics.
You have misunderstood my meaning of classic I actually meant the older Horror flicks rather than some of the shite that is produced now and I was not referring to the mentioned films as classics anyway I meant in addition to......... I let him watch the classics.
On the one hand I accept what you say that as your boy's mother you know what's best etc...I still think it is not right for a child to see a film that has been deemed an 18 or adult certificate. I certainly would not let my young nephews - about the same age as your boy - watch Nightmare on Elm Street and some of the older horror movies in their way can be quite scarey. It just isn't something I would do myself.
Horror movies I mostly don't have a problem with, if you have a heart attack or something watching some scary movie, then your probably ready for a heart attack anyway. That actually sounds really cold, it isn't meant that way, but I don't think movies should be banned for that reason. And if you're a perfectly fit and healthy person and it is scaring you THAT much, then you are probably some kind of massochist.
I know a lot of people are against censorship in any way, but I do believe that there are certain things that could be censored. I think violence is one of the big issues, but not so much the violence you see in horror films, but the more realistic violence. There is a lot of young and impressionable people out there watching these movies and being heavily influenced by them. I'm not saying that these people are going to go out and copy what's in the film exactly, but I do believe that there is a more indirect but heavy influence coming from them watching a whole range of movies. People have so many aspirations these days, they want to be something/someone, and there's a lot of kids out there who want to be the next Tony Montanna or whatever. I think it's unquestionable that there is a huge negative influence coming from movies, TV, or any sort of media for that matter.
It's a difficult question as to where you draw the line though. It's obvious that kids don't wait till the're 18 to watch 18 certificate movies (I was watching them when I was about 8). No, I haven't turned out into some evil character, but I do believe they are an influence. Personally I would like to be able to watch these movies at my own free will, but I just think sometimes the influence of them is too strong with certain individuals, which leads to the question of censorship. And I do think censorship is required.
If there was no way that you could possibly watch an 18 cert movie until you're 18 (say, as soon as you do, a big alarm goes off and you're immediately arrested. Bit extreme maybe, but...) then I don't think there would be much of a problem, but that's not the case, and even then, more and more violence is creeping into lower certificate movies.
It's a tough question, where to draw the line, and I'm not going to answer it, just some of my opinions.
<Spiderlassie>
Posted
if it was me i wud let my kid watch watever he wanted....but on saying that he wud have to suffer with the consiquence (eg nightmares, etc) that the movie caused him...thats not a good way to put it reely...but i think you catch me drift
Sorry, Spiderlassie, I don't agree with you. If you are a grown up then you should be able to watch whatever pleases you. However a child can't always rationalise things in the same way that most adults can. They can't always differentiate fact from fiction. My eldest nephew was allowed to see Jurassic Park when he was about 4 - a good film, I suppose - but it terrified him for months after. No matter what we said he would not be convinced that the dinosaurs were not going to come and get him. He grew out of it eventually but it took ages and in the meantime was a very frightened and troubled little boy. It was heartbreaking to see.
You would hold your child's hand whilst it was crossing the road, or protect it from falling wouldn't you? Myself, I see it as much the same thing. I don't want these children to be 'hurt' by watching unsuitable things that are only going to frighten and distress them.
My nephews are very bright kids, they do understand that what they see on the telly isn't real - when they are awake and in full possession of their faculties - but there is no way I would want them to see something like, say Nightmare on Elm St [one of my own faves!] coz I know what the end result would be.
I feel censorship undermines us as intelligent beings who cannot make up our minds or are sensible enough to take on board whatwe are seeing. For example there have been films (clockwork orange e.g) who or which banned in ase it lead to copy cat behaviour ( please give us some credit) yes some ( very tiny majority ) may be affected by violent overtures like this howeverwe live in a day and age where much worse is seen on the news and in papers, not to mention video games and mucic ( which I totally disagree with being banned... Marilyn Manson... get over it see it for what it is). In relation to certification this is a guideline so we are aware of certain contents in a film, howevwer these can also be taken with a pinch of salt I have seen some 12s which are silly and OK for kids and yet others have been more disturbing. Also it seems a film has to be particulalry nasty these days to get an 18 certificate ( and then they are not really)0 Phew this is a long message aa y
Iam looking for people's opinions on effects of violence in the media on young children. This is the subject for my dissertation and would be really interested to hear anyone's views on it. Is it a good thing to have a certain amount of violence available in the media for young children or does it desensitise them to violence thus making it seem more socially inevitable or acceptable? pretty interesting stuff really. please reply to me!!
<Jayke>
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by brookes student: Iam looking for people's opinions on effects of violence in the media on young children. This is the subject for my dissertation and would be really interested to hear anyone's views on it. Is it a good thing to have a certain amount of violence available in the media for young children or does it desensitise them to violence thus making it seem more socially inevitable or acceptable? pretty interesting stuff really. please reply to me!!
Unfortunately you can't get away from the violence in the media at all - mainstream programmes that kids are likely to see have violence in them. it is unforutnately a way of life these days. So as long as you are with a young child and explain that what they see on tele can be make believe while newspapers hold the real violence. Mind you there are the video games that are violent - GTA and Manhunt the main offenders. not sure if this has answered your question!!
<DreamW>
Posted
So what about injustice ? Why wont channel4 show that ?
i just here to say that i am really enjoying the banned season the banned in the uk docs are exerllent but what i don't understand is if the veiwers are already warned about the content of the programe then why do they wacth it if they know they are going to be offended then why watch it i know also that they are trying to protect others but if others want to wacth it they will turn it off stop complaining about stupid things deal with it !!!!!!!!!
<Solid Snake>
Posted
The reason people watch the banned film season, knowing full well they will probably see something they don't like, is just down to human fascination. People probably want to try and see what the big deal was with these films in the first place.
In The UK, Film Censorship is crucial. If the Censorship Board did not protect children, then children would see everything. Parents can not control what their children see (when their children are not in their sight), so it is crucial that a Board exists to regulate/advise on behave of parents.
Childrens well being is more important that adult rights to see all films. When all adults in the UK agree to censor childrens viewing, then the Board of Censorshop will be redundant.
