Angel ep by ep; (Hey kids, it's...) SMILE TIME!

[FetalPig]

I'm not sure I agree that it was made light of in Smile Time, it seemed even more disturbing because it's puppets. I do let my kids watch this episode but we fast forward through those parts. I also think it includes the message that there are adults who care & will protect children from this stuff. Although I'm not sure any of this is overt or even intended. Definite undertones though!

I agree. with the 'not agreeing, necessarilly'.

I think this is one of those points where the original intention gets somewhat warped by the new fangled ability to watch the DVD sets. The first time I saw that TV energy transference thing it's gross but I didn't really analyse it. I think it works at that level where it was written as a show that would be aired once and then occaisionally re-run. It's kind of yuk/funny/yuk, but when you know what's coming through repeated viewing it takes on a different emphasis.

 

[zobothehobo]

Well A. Kids aren't stupid. That's all I'm going to say on that because I feel rather insulted right now.

I'm sorry. That was not my intention. My point was if they know about it, they know about it. I'm not trying to attack anyone here... I'm simply stating that I, personally, do not understand sheltering your kids from subtext you don't want your kids to know about. If they get it, they already know about it.

Yes, which is why I find it inappropriate for my kid. I don't need for him to have this topic shoved in his face even if he 'knows' about it, because I think he deserves to continue to just be a kid with all the innocence that comes with that.

Again, exactly why I don't feel it to be appropriate for my kid. He shouldn't have to think about stuff like that.

And this was the answer to my central point and question: why?

Again I kind of feel like you're talking down to both me and my kid right now. Of course he understands it, he's not dumb, kids understand far more than we give them credit for.

Again, I'm not trying to talk down anyone. I just legitimately do not understand.

I grew up in perhaps one of the most unsheltered homes ever and for me, I don't shelter a lot, but when it comes to certain things yes I do because I want to protect my child from growing up too fast which I myself did. Kids should get to be kids and if that means holding off on watching shows like Angel for a few years then I don't think that's unreasonable because it was never meant for kids at all.

This makes sense to me. This answers my central point and question better than you did up there ^^^. Thank you. You're the first and only person to ever have a legitimate answer I could make sense of for why you want to shelter/censor this or that from your child. I understand now and respect your decision. I think you're a great mom.

Just to see if Zoà« is right, I asked my 8-year-old why she thinks I won't let her watch "Smile Time" anymore. She said "Well because the puppets are making the little boy do dirty stuff, right?" I have NEVER ever said out loud to her why I don't like the episode, yet she still knew. The thing about kids, though, is that they are more likely to try to forget about stuff they don't like and repress it. Which is why people like me, who have been through something as traumatic as molestation, will wake up years later having nightmares about their experiences. And even though I know it's just a show, and yes, it's a freakin' puppet, I don't want her watching it.

The problem I don't get with this is it's portrayed as the bad part of the episode. I mean the puppets are legitimate demons from hell. Like I've said, I think it's a good representation of abuse with the whole it looks like something that would be great for the kids, but in reality is literally sucking the life out of them. Your child understands that this is a bad thing. Also, as I said to Taake, your child understands the episode because she already knows about abuse and such. Wanting to keep your child from having to think about it so she doesn't have to grow up too fast I get... I was under the impression when I posted before you wanted to keep the topic away from your daughter so she didn't learn about it. I thought that because it was the only answer that was ever given to me about why censor this or that from kids... and it never made sense to me. I like Taake's explanation about why to censor this or that and I understand now. Like I said to Taake, if that's your reason, I understand and respect it and I think you're a great mom.