The Wasteland - ACT Style

[Trozzle]

True, but I wouldn't class a 15 year old a child, more a teenager. To which, they've probably done, seen and or thought about everything in an episode of GoT. But than again, I'm not a parent so my say is inavlid regardless.

I'd be very scared if they'd DONE even a few things from GoT hahaha.

Short answer: no, there should be nothing wrong with it at all.

In my opinion if watching something like GoT at the age of 15 is going to mentally scar someone or change their personality for the worse, I believe that person either already has some SERIOUS underlying issue, are predisposed to developing issues and therefore will anyway, or have had an excessively sheltered childhood which is going to cause issues.

I see this exactly the same way as "violent video games make people violent". Absolute load of f**king shit. I was watching the Alien films (among other similarly f**ked up things) when I was in early primary school around 8 years old. If things are presented in the right way by adults (ie the parent) then there's nothing wrong with it as the child will understand that it's just a story and that things like this don't and shouldn't occur in real life.

I'm of the belief that if a parent insists on sheltering their child by not allowing them to partake in certain things or even know about them, it's because they're a useless parent doomed to fail - all they're doing is bandaid fixing their inevitable failure.

[RosieR34]

I'd be very scared if they'd DONE even a few things from GoT hahaha.

Short answer: no, there should be nothing wrong with it at all.

In my opinion if watching something like GoT at the age of 15 is going to mentally scar someone or change their personality for the worse, I believe that person either already has some SERIOUS underlying issue, are predisposed to developing issues and therefore will anyway, or have had an excessively sheltered childhood which is going to cause issues.

I see this exactly the same way as "violent video games make people violent". Absolute load of f**king shit. I was watching the Alien films (among other similarly f**ked up things) when I was in early primary school around 8 years old. If things are presented in the right way by adults (ie the parent) then there's nothing wrong with it as the child will understand that it's just a story and that things like this don't and shouldn't occur in real life.

I'm of the belief that if a parent insists on sheltering their child by not allowing them to partake in certain things or even know about them, it's because they're a useless parent doomed to fail - all they're doing is bandaid fixing their inevitable failure.

I

agree, and to be very honest. 15 is a "late bloomer" nowadays. As shocking as it is, it's quite true.

I also agree with the video game nonsense. I was unable to watch M rated films until I was 15 (The advertised age allowed) and before than I pretty much knew everything was fake, doesn't happen etc. And if something was real, I had it explained (Whether or not I wanted to know ahah). One of the first gore movies for me would have been We Were Soldiers and then probably Saving Private Ryan. Being in a military family, I was aware of the truth of what I was seeing (to an extent) but yeah, it's all up to the parenting technique at the end of the day.

[Trozzle]

I've seen some of the most horrific shit you'll ever lay eyes on (other than seeing things with your own eyes in real life) like beheadings, CCTV footage of people being blown away big time, mangled bodies from being hit by cars, animals being tortured), and if anything it's only made the overall picture clearer in a way that I have a firmer grasp of right and wrong. Plus I don't cry like a little bitch when I see something scary or bad happen like someone dying lol. Emotion can be our greatest downfall, though not to suggest desensitisation such as that which I've experienced is an appropriate remedy

I see it similarly to "knowledge is invaluable" - if you're denied the knowledge/experience of certain things, I believe it's quite rare that you'll be better off knowing nothing of them.

I'm really glad I was introduced to the extremes at such an early age, as then when I was REALLY maturing* through my early teens, I had a much greater understanding of "how things work" etc and I wasn't afraid to see or hear about certain things. I welcomed everything with an understanding and appreciation of the knowledge I was being imparted (regardless of the topic), and never let anything I learned affect my mental/emotional well-being.

I will admit that there are many sexually themed situations in GoT that are pretty f**ked up, but even then in these situations it just needs to be made extra clear of how things ACTUALLY work (ie - you don't f**k your siblings like rabbits LOL)

The vast majority of people are either f**ked in the head, going to be f**ked in the head regardless, or completely normal. I don't agree that anything a mentally sound person witnesses second-hand will have any bearing on this, as long as it's presented in an appropriate way and that the person has been raised and taught correct values and understanding.

Again like the video game bullshit - onus falls entirely on the parent. Anyone trying to blame the media their children have been exposed to (violent games, violent movies, pr0nz etc etc) is just clutching at straws for a scapegoat to cover their own shitty parenting etc.

[RosieR34]

Liveleak eh?

aha yeah but, pretty summed up my thoughts.

[Trozzle]

Liveleak is tame hahaha

Let's not even touch on the subject of games still being refused classification even now that we have an R18 rating...

Life is full on. The world in which we live is seriously f**ked up. How is shoving your head (and those of your children) in the sand and pretending everything is rainbows and lollipops going to help a damned thing? All it does it create a weakling human being who'll be the first person to have an emotional breakdown and sit in the corner being useless as f**k when shit REALLY goes down.

Consider exposure a form of life training lol

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Maybe thats why your still alive

You fully understand the consequences of stacking.

Maybe thats why i dont like to ride on the road anymore.

Edited August 13, 2013 by D.I.Y. Mik

[Trozzle]

Maybe thats why your still alive

You fully understand the consequences of stacking.

Maybe thats why i dont like to ride on the road anymore.

Not sure if this is on-topic for our current conversation, or if it just conveniently fits in and you're just responding to something earlier I missed

Either way yes, relevant - I don't ride like a dickhead on my overpowered (for a learner) bike, because I have a complete understanding of what can (and likely WILL) happen when shit hits the fan

To understand you're taking a risk is one thing; to understand the consequences if said risk goes wrong is a different level of understanding entirely.

[Deziner]

Ahh yes...All from those who are not parents.

One day when you have kids you will be shocked to see how much you start to sound like your own parents! LMAO

No, kids should not be "sheltered" in fact our 3 year old went to a family funeral this week. But it does not mean as a parent you give them free run to watch and do whatever they want.

It is a sad indictment on society that we see kids being more and more sexualised every day. Letting a 15 year old kid watch sex scenes as twisted as they are and as far from reality as things are in shows like GoT is part of this problem.

As for video game, it is a proven fact they desensitise people to violence (in a lot of cases). Why do you think the military uses them? Not saying it turns everyone into mass murderers. But does a 13 or 14 year old (or even much younger from what I have seen) need to play games that are VERY graphic in terms of blood and guts?

I have to tell you that most 15 year old's still don't understand their are consequences for their actions.

It can lead to problems.

Just saying.

[Trozzle]

Ahh yes...All from those who are not parents.

One day when you have kids you will be shocked to see how much you start to sound like your own parents! LMAO

No, kids should not be "sheltered" in fact our 3 year old went to a family funeral this week. But it does not mean as a parent you give them free run to watch and do whatever they want.

It is a sad indictment on society that we see kids being more and more sexualised every day. Letting a 15 year old kid watch sex scenes as twisted as they are and as far from reality as things are in shows like GoT is part of this problem.

As for video game, it is a proven fact they desensitise people to violence (in a lot of cases). Why do you think the military uses them? Not saying it turns everyone into mass murderers. But does a 13 or 14 year old (or even much younger from what I have seen) need to play games that are VERY graphic in terms of blood and guts?

I have to tell you that most 15 year old's still don't understand their are consequences for their actions.

It can lead to problems.

Just saying.

Brain is starting to melt, so just gonna reply mostly in point form hahaha

Desensitatisation to something is VERY different to influencing the individual to enact that which they've witnessed. I won't at all deny playing/watching violent stuff will desensitise an individual; I will however firmly stand against the common notion being pushed that it will make them more likely to re-enact similar things to that which they've witnessed because they're under the impression it's "normal/acceptable". THAT is where the parents are to blame in their failure to properly raise and educate their child. THAT is where I received the correct upbringing and correct information.

As previously mentioned, I've seen some seriously f**ked up shit lol, not to mention endless hours of ridiculously over the top REALISTIC violent/gory/questionable games and movies...yet I can almost claim with absolute certainty that of everyone here, I am the least likely to ever commit an act of violence - even in self defence, violence is my absolute last resort. That being said - I'm a fkn angry flamin mongrel sometimes lol.

Does a 14 year old NEED to see it? f**k no. Does a 14 year old need to be absolutely denied it no exceptions end of story? Again - f**k no. It's all circumstantial. With the right knowledge, anyone has the power to be exposed to anything and not let it affect them. If you sheltered someone their entire life - let's say they never had any interaction of ANY kind with the outside world, and to them their direct surroundings are all they ever know - until they're say 30. Do you think this 30 year old is ready to play the same games we deny our 15 year old? Hell f**king no they aren't - they haven't learned anything about the real world and how it works. They'll absorb it in the same way the 15 year old allegedly will, since they don't know any different.

In no way should a kid be given "free run", as for the purpose of this discussion that's effectively the polar opposite of what some parents do (or at least what I'm saying shouldn't happen). Obviously there's middle ground, you've just gotta find it while ensuring your child has a proper understanding of reality. Supervision plays a large role here - I never watched any of the messed up films I did as a youngin' alone. I was always with my grandparents or parents.

I understand a certain instinct will be triggered when one becomes a parent, but regardless of how I might feel about certain things at the time, I will always follow a logical train of thought in which I will go by the same methods I was raised with. Assess the situation, think about how I'd have felt about it when I was their age, and act accordingly.

More and more sexualised yes (as in young girls are being "turned into complete broad minded persons" by popular/social media). However, by nature, at the age of 15 almost every single female (and male) is ready to begin reproduction. The only reason this is a horribly bad idea these days is because they aren't mentally ready for parenthood. Why is this? Because we hold them back intentionally. Not saying this is the wrong thing to do at all, just saying that there'd be nothing abnormal about it if we didn't forcibly make it the case through lack of education/preparation/slight feeding of misinformation. Everything is about control and power these days.

Most 15 year olds don't understand the consequences of their actions because they've been raised incorrectly. In the same way most people are deadset f**king useless with money and don't understand the consequences of taking out a personal loan - because they were never taught things correctly.

[Anfanee]

Brain is starting to melt, so just gonna reply mostly in point form hahaha

Desensitatisation to something is VERY different to influencing the individual to enact that which they've witnessed. I won't at all deny playing/watching violent stuff will desensitise an individual; I will however firmly stand against the common notion being pushed that it will make them more likely to re-enact similar things to that which they've witnessed because they're under the impression it's "normal/acceptable". THAT is where the parents are to blame in their failure to properly raise and educate their child. THAT is where I received the correct upbringing and correct information.

As previously mentioned, I've seen some seriously f**ked up shit lol, not to mention endless hours of ridiculously over the top REALISTIC violent/gory/questionable games and movies...yet I can almost claim with absolute certainty that of everyone here, I am the least likely to ever commit an act of violence - even in self defence, violence is my absolute last resort. That being said - I'm a fkn angry flamin mongrel sometimes lol.

Does a 14 year old NEED to see it? f**k no. Does a 14 year old need to be absolutely denied it no exceptions end of story? Again - f**k no. It's all circumstantial. With the right knowledge, anyone has the power to be exposed to anything and not let it affect them. If you sheltered someone their entire life - let's say they never had any interaction of ANY kind with the outside world, and to them their direct surroundings are all they ever know - until they're say 30. Do you think this 30 year old is ready to play the same games we deny our 15 year old? Hell f**king no they aren't - they haven't learned anything about the real world and how it works. They'll absorb it in the same way the 15 year old allegedly will, since they don't know any different.

In no way should a kid be given "free run", as for the purpose of this discussion that's effectively the polar opposite of what some parents do (or at least what I'm saying shouldn't happen). Obviously there's middle ground, you've just gotta find it while ensuring your child has a proper understanding of reality. Supervision plays a large role here - I never watched any of the messed up films I did as a youngin' alone. I was always with my grandparents or parents.

I understand a certain instinct will be triggered when one becomes a parent, but regardless of how I might feel about certain things at the time, I will always follow a logical train of thought in which I will go by the same methods I was raised with. Assess the situation, think about how I'd have felt about it when I was their age, and act accordingly.

More and more sexualised yes (as in young girls are being "turned into complete broad minded persons" by popular/social media). However, by nature, at the age of 15 almost every single female (and male) is ready to begin reproduction. The only reason this is a horribly bad idea these days is because they aren't mentally ready for parenthood. Why is this? Because we hold them back intentionally. Not saying this is the wrong thing to do at all, just saying that there'd be nothing abnormal about it if we didn't forcibly make it the case through lack of education/preparation/slight feeding of misinformation. Everything is about control and power these days.

Most 15 year olds don't understand the consequences of their actions because they've been raised incorrectly. In the same way most people are deadset f**king useless with money and don't understand the consequences of taking out a personal loan - because they were never taught things correctly.

all im going to say is you have a very ignorant view on something you obviously know nothing about. I'd just drop the topic Troy you sound like a deadset wanker.

[Verms]

Ahh yes...All from those who are not parents.

One day when you have kids you will be shocked to see how much you start to sound like your own parents! LMAO

No, kids should not be "sheltered" in fact our 3 year old went to a family funeral this week. But it does not mean as a parent you give them free run to watch and do whatever they want.

It is a sad indictment on society that we see kids being more and more sexualised every day. Letting a 15 year old kid watch sex scenes as twisted as they are and as far from reality as things are in shows like GoT is part of this problem.

As for video game, it is a proven fact they desensitise people to violence (in a lot of cases). Why do you think the military uses them? Not saying it turns everyone into mass murderers. But does a 13 or 14 year old (or even much younger from what I have seen) need to play games that are VERY graphic in terms of blood and guts?

I have to tell you that most 15 year old's still don't understand their are consequences for their actions.

It can lead to problems.

Just saying.

Once you become a parent your life changes and the decisions you make arn't just your decisions.

Everyone is different and respond differently to different situations.

[RosieR34]

If you drive a performance car, you're desensitised to speed and you WILL commit mass burn-outs and cruising at 250km/h in a 50km/h.

If you play a computer game, you're desensitised to gore and you WILL commit mass murder and cruising at 250km/h in a 50km/h.

If you were taught to handle your car properly you will most likely not do stupid things.

If you were taught to handle your games properly you will most likely not do stupid things.

You may as well say that anyone who watches F&F are hoons in the waiting.

But all in all, things that you play, watch, do, compete, see, look, feel, smell has some form of LITTLE influence in your day to day actions. Not enough to blame a single object (Games, Cars, Movies etc).

Edited August 13, 2013 by RosieR34

[Manuel Kasko]

TLDR

[RosieR34]

TLDR

• Is Game of Thrones appropriate for 15 year olds to watch.
• Parenting and upbringing to support above notion
• Games influence violence
• Cars influence "hooning".

[Trozzle]

all im going to say is you have a very ignorant view on something you obviously know nothing about. I'd just drop the topic Troy you sound like a deadset wanker.

Right back at you with that attitude mate. So far you've added nothing, and after this post I give no f**ks if you do add anything.

[GTRKat]

I'm with both Eric and Anfanee on this one. Eric summed up my thoughts perfectly.

That was a TERRIBLE post Troy.

I don't have kids of my own but I spend plenty of time with my nieces and nephews - again not totally the same but my nephews are aged from 1 through to 14 so have had reasonable experience with kids growing up.

[Trozzle]

I fail to see how expressing my thoughts on the subject in a mature way constitutes the response I've received. I wasn't arguing with anyone, I wasn't putting anyone's opinions down, I was merely expressing what I thought to be good practice and how I feel things should be done given my own upbringing.

If anything I could argue that it's Anthony who's ignorant. I'm not quite sure of his age, but I'm gonna guess old enough that he has absolutely no experience with being raised with the same violent games etc at the same age I was. This leaves us both in a situation where we have experienced only ONE SIDE. I feel the experience from the child's perspective holds more value in a way that they're on the receiving end - if anyone knows what extent my exposure has had on my tendency to re-enact what I've seen, it's ME.

I stand by my opinion that with the right information and education on subjects such as the "is X too young for Y", there's very little reason why someone can't be exposed to certain things in the right environment.

I should also point out I do understand a child/adolescent's mind and personality are still developing around this age. That doesn't mean they are unable to be taught right from wrong.

[GTRKat]

People who feel the need to keep telling everyone that they are mature, often aren't coming across as they think they are.

[Trozzle]

I never claimed to be "mature" myself. No idea what your point is Kat.

[zebra]

Holy shit..