https://n2v.paloaltoonline.com/square/print/2009/12/31/what-minimum-age-to-watch-south-park


Town Square

What minimum age to watch "South Park?"

Original post made by Chen Kai Wen, Midtown, on Dec 31, 2009

Please be calm, civil libertarians, I am completely on your side and wish only a personal opinion. Palo Alto parents, students, and teachers, what say you? I have mixed feelings for many reasons, not the least of which is that among the 'kick your ba**ls' and 'gd-its! and sob's, and you bleep-holes! et., al, is a very smart show--a Clash fan might even argue it's the 'only show that matters' because it values free-thinking, ethical decision-making, and especially the citation of information (as if learning and education are good things). Concerning the latter point, compare the satire of the SP' Scientology episode, or the one crucifying 'Family Guy' or more recently, Kyle the Jewish kid as Jesus leading the U.S. out of the recession and back towards unnecessary conspicuous consumption, with the "Simpsons" show where Bart tells Side Show Bob, "you smell like my butt." Information presented on the Simpsons is always 'uncool' in Barts and Homer's opinions, and 'self-aggrandizing' and sophistic from Lisa's. I really hate the fact that wife will allow the latter--The Simpsons, but not the former (S.P.) for my almost k-garten kids.

That being said, I can understand my wife's argument that a 5 yo is not going to realize like a 12 yo that Eric Cartman is a jerk--a borderline sociopath and possible future criminal even, whom we should not try to emulate (certainly not try to talk like in public). I do understand that society's acceptance of slang words changes since my own childhood's shock and TV hells and damns, and yes, kids today don't watch all that much TV, in comparison to computer and video games. Lastly, although I come from lower middle rather than upper middle class, I like rap, but I am not in any way 'ghetto fabulous'. Trust me from personal experience: with the exception of Berkeley grads up in the hills, people in Oakland's insults at P.A. are envy-and so are those from rural Oklahoma (well, they WOULD be if they read books).

Do you think k-garten kids go now to say El Carmello, and talk like Eric Cartman? What do teachers and other students do? Is this even a problem? I would like my kids to be seen as politely spoken, nice little P.A. residents. So, what age do you think? Thanks very much for response.

Comments

Posted by Bill
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2009 at 9:31 am

Good parenting is independent from civil liberties. I think most or all of these TV shows with TV-MA ratings (mature audiences) are not appropriate for children younger than high school age.


Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 31, 2009 at 10:07 am

Clever writing does not have to be equated with smut. In fact clever writing will stand the test of time.

We have the complete "Yes, Minister"/"Yes, Primeminister" dvd of BBC shows from the 70s. These are very clever, very witty, and as true today as they were then as well as being extremely funny. If you want to give the whole family a good laugh as well as some good conversation starters, check them out.

Broadcast television is becoming so last century anyway :)


Posted by Bill
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2009 at 10:11 am

Are any of these TV-MA rated shows on broadcast TV? Or only on cable?


Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 31, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Many people can't tell the difference nowadays. Some of the best shows are on The History Channel, PBS, Animal Channel, so classifying something as a cable show as being bad is unfair to the good stuff.


Posted by Bill
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I am not condemning cable TV. I am just suggesting that parents supervise their children more closely if they have access to cable TV.


Posted by Chen Kai Wen
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2009 at 1:51 pm

yes, supervising was what I'm trying to do, but without needless overkill. The only person here who sort of answered my question, Bill, said (without even indicating that he was familiar with the show) "high school age." So does that mean 14 years old? 15? Before a child is ready for 'Southpark'? Sheesh, you guys, even my wife said '12'.

I agree strongly that clever writing does not have to be equated with smut, and will stand the test of time. But being accused of 'smut' falsley does not mean you won't 'stand the test of time' either.


Posted by Chen Kai Wen
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2009 at 1:58 pm

The 'civil liberties' reference was directed at possible mis-interpretation of my headline. I don't propose some kind of legislation or law--it was just a parenting of young school age question. I've been told that there is some 'torts' involving parental culpability of child-unsupervised cable/Computer usage, which I've never considered laws and which I do not advocate.


Posted by Parent
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 31, 2009 at 11:10 pm

I would wait until the child is at least 13. A certain level of maturity is required to understand the references that the humor derives from, and to ensure that the child is not going to emulate the behaviors witnessed in the program. I think 13 is definitely better than 12. You may say it's only a year, but that year can make a huge difference in maturity at that age.


Posted by OhlonePar
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 1, 2010 at 1:06 am

I think somewhere in middle school, depending on the kid. My own take on television tends to be a wait-and-see approach--i.e. I wait until my kid hears about various shows from other kids--that tends to tell me what's considered appropriate in the area.


Posted by goody 2-shoes
a resident of Greenmeadow
on Jan 1, 2010 at 6:31 am

I didn't let my first one watch it until 16, and even then was appalled at how smutty it was and how it made "acceptable" certain comments and drawn situations which, in my opinion, are not comments or situations I find either funny or conducive to nurturing the "good" in us.

That said, I know our world is different now and that South Park is now considered "norm" humor ...which I find sad. Not as sad as "Honey, let's grab the kids and go watch the flogging in the square" kind of sad, but along that continuum.

But hey, that's me..I prefer to focus on teaching thought patterns and beliefs that promote happiness, and giving them time to firm up, before introducing rape, for example, as a form of humor.

I find that South Park humor introduces kids to concepts that they may not have heard of yet; rushing them past the age of innocence and into the age of adulthood before, perhaps, it is good for their emotional development.

I know many people laugh at that, but oh well. What's the harm in shielding our kids as long as possible from the horrors of the world to give them time to build their "muscles" of character, optimism and belief in the good in us?



Posted by Chen Kai Wen
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 1, 2010 at 9:02 am

thanks very much for everyones' thoughtful opinions.


Posted by goody 2-shoes
a resident of Greenmeadow
on Jan 1, 2010 at 6:02 pm

Chen, thanks for not slamming my old-fashioned ideas and assuming I put some thought into my answer...I have a feeling I am one of the few remaining "goody 2 shoes" type, ie shield the kids as long as possible, people in this area...


Posted by Chen Kai Wen
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 2, 2010 at 1:21 pm

and thank you, goody, for not necessarily considering new-familes moving to P.A. (primarily for the schools), 'barbarians at the gate'. ha. we admire you guys, you know, you have a wonderful town. Slightly off the subject, but I really enjoyed that post and resultant discussion by the women and her family from Redwood Shores looking for better schools.


Posted by Midtown mom
a resident of Palo Verde
on Jan 5, 2010 at 3:16 pm

Chen Kai Wen, I enjoyed your clever writing style. I am sure you know the answer yourself. Do write more, you are good!