Is it normal to let child watch violent scenes but not sex scenes?

46% Normal

Is it normal to allow a very young child to watch the most violent, gory scenes but have them close their eyes if a sex scene comes on?

Reasons:

-I think the child can understand the violence and know if it's right or wrong/appropriate or inappropriate but couldn't (and shouldn't) understand sex yet

-I think it would be much more likely to become sexually inappropriate from seeing sex scenes rather than become inappropriately violent from seeing violent scenes

-IF the film was to influence real life behavior, I would be more OK with the child acting out violently rather than being sexually inappropriate

Voting Results

46% Normal

Based on 135 votes (62 yes)

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Comments ( 33 )

bananaface

11 years ago

No no no! Is this hypothetical, or are you actually let a very young child watch very violent and gory films? If so, then stop. That's unbelievably horrendous, and you shouldn't be allowed to look after children if you are doing stuff like that. You don't have to choose between sex and violence you know, you can prevent them from watching *both*! And you *should* prevent them watching things which could be harmful to them; violence is definitely a part of that.

I personally believe that violence is a much bigger concern than sex, although that isn't me condoning something like letting a 5 year old watch porn or anything like that. I just don't see sex as being some really harmful or evil thing, and I think if you're raised to believe that there's something wrong with it, then you might grow up with an unhealthy image of sex.

Seriously though, pack it in, if you are doing this.

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malkiot

11 years ago

I fail to comprehend why knowing what sex is and how it is done would be inappropriate, no matter the age group. It's not like a child would want to do it, most find it to be 'icky' anyway.

And what do you mean by becoming 'sexually inappropriate'? Learning about sexuality at a young age, under parental guidance, is in all likelihood better than starting off with porn (as most do) at a later age anyway.

IMO seeing violence is much worse for a young child (<10) than some sex scenes could ever be.

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Fabulous

11 years ago

My dick is violent and sexual

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- [Old Memory]
  
  11 years ago
  
  You have no dick, I kill it, I kill you, I kill you, I kill you.
  
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  - RoseIsabella
    
    10 years ago
    
    Mwahahaha
    
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dom180

11 years ago

Regarding your second reason: why do you think that is true? Is it merely a hunch which is clouded by your personal views about sex/violence? Why would there be a difference?

Regarding your third reason: I would much rather my child be sexually liberated than grow up to be violent.

I also think making kids close their eyes when there's a sex scene is the best way possible to make your kids really curious about sex, which will lead to the exact opposite effect you want. If you stop your kids from seeing something, they will become much more curious about it. So really stopping kids from seeing anything will backfire :P

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- [Old Memory]
  
  11 years ago
  
  I thought it said;
  
  "I would much rather my child be sexually violent than grow up to be liberated."
  
  Damn my selective dyslexia.
  
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- dom180
  
  11 years ago
  
  To clarify, it depends a lot on the age of the kid and the intensity of the sex scene. If the kid was 5 years old, I wouldn't want them to see any violent or sexual stuff. If they were a bit older, like 11, I would mind them seeing some sexual stuff so long as there wasn't full nudity and I wouldn't mind them seeing violent stuff so long as it wasn't presented in a way that encouraged violence as a way to solve your problems and so long as it wasn't bloody or gory. After 15, you can't really control what they see anymore so anything goes.
  
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  - Anonymous Post Author
    
    11 years ago
    
    I mostly base it on my own experiences with what I was exposed to and what I can observe in my child. We talk about the films afterwards and she has a healthy understanding of it.
    
    I should have clarified in the OP, I don't think sex is shameful or bad. It's not that I'm trying to hide sex altogether, I am only trying to keep the exposure to it at an age-appropriate level. When I said 'act inappropriately' I meant age inappropriate, not that sex is inappropriate in itself.
    
    My child is 5 and she enjoys horror films immensely, we both do, so we watch them together.
    
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    - 1000yrVampireKing
      
      11 years ago
      
      Yes
      
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    - RomeoDeMontague
      
      10 years ago
      
      Of course it is! Violence is not the same as sex. If your child sees something sexual it might harm them. A guy destroying a zombie versus a man having sex with two hookers. I think the zombie movie is the lesser of two evils. My parents did not permit me or my siblings to watch sexual things till a certien age. I also think its better not to teach them any bad habits early. Since if you have a 5 year old trying to pull his thing out to all the girls at school you are going to have some serious problems. Children bicker, wrestle, brawl and get in confrontations with other children. Should probobly teach them how to handle these type of situations at a young age. So they have to deal with violence at an early age anyhow. So yeah its very normal.
      
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      - RomeoDeMontague
        
        10 years ago
        
        They made age ratings for a reason.
        
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    - RoseIsabella
      
      10 years ago
      
      What kind of horror films? Give some examples please. It's hard to have an opinion without knowing more.
      
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    - searchingnow
      
      11 years ago
      
      I was able to watch both and if I didn't want to see something, I wouldn't watch.
      
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CheyChey

11 years ago

I watched violent action movies when I was kid and I turned out okay, for the most part anyway

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changes123

11 years ago

I like to think I'm sane, and I've watched violent action films since I was 5. Of course, every time the actors even hinted something sexual, my mom would tell us to look away. I can't watch cartoons kiss to this day...

Children will be exposed to sexual and violent things regardless of whether you want them to or not.

It's normal for some children like me. But it's completely up to the parent to monitor what they want their child to see.

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Terence_the_viking

11 years ago

There are age ratings for a reason.

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sega31098

11 years ago

Only if you want to let them be traumatized.

Also, "I would be more OK with the child acting out violently rather than being sexually inappropriate" is a pretty ****ed up type of mindset.

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[Old Memory]

11 years ago

Whether its right or wrong I say its normal, my parents did the same thing with me.

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kingofcarrotflowers

11 years ago

writing in replies again . The BBFC agrees with you. honestly I don't agree I know people who will go and buy their kids gta4 (heavy drug use, swearing, human trafficing, of course gta, strong violence etc) yet get offended bu the sex scenes in mass effect (so,so mild and the relationships matter).

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  I'm not offended by sex scenes. I should have been more clear in the OP, it's not that I want to hide sex altogether I just find the sex scenes to be age inappropriate while I don't have a problem with the violence. I don't think that violence should be introduced the same way sex should. I definitely think exposure to sex/sexual matters needs to be age appropriate however I don't think that there's such "rules" with violence. I think violence is fine at any age.
  
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  - kingofcarrotflowers
    
    11 years ago
    
    No i get what you meant I just don't share the opinion, then again I don't have children so maby i'm biased in my opinion on how it would affect them
    
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- kingofcarrotflowers
  
  11 years ago
  
  I realise you may be talking mainly about films but I think the same thing applies. I'm not saying lets all let our kids watch some people having sex and I also don't agree with people who say violent films and games cause violence, what I am saying however is that if as you said think your kid is too young to know about sex or understand it how is he/she going to understand the complexeties, reasons and right and wrong of violence
  
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  - kingofcarrotflowers
    
    11 years ago
    
    And I'm not against GTA 4. good game
    
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Joyless

11 years ago

What do you believe is sexually inappropriate. Where Is it written down what is right or wrong in sex. If your child sees sex they might be influenced but to what end they might go out and have sex at some point oh my god. It has been shown as more harmful in later in life to have a child think sex is dirty and wrong. Also I have to say I find your comment about being "more OK with the child acting out violently rather than being sexually inappropriate" to personally be abhorrent.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  11 years ago
  
  I meant acting inappropriate for her age, not that sex is inappropriate. She is 5.
  
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WhiteCrow

10 years ago

You do relize kids at age 8-25 uasaly love violence. 13-45 love sex. Same thing. Violence is cool with me, but no sex.
I mean kids of age 5 play Black Ops 2, GTA, and Mortal Kombat. Violence fun for them to watch for some reason.

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NothingxCrazy

11 years ago

"Son, I'm going to introduce you to violence and anger at a young age because you're not old enough to know what love is."

Logic?

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DADNSCAL

11 years ago

Both gratuitous sex and violence are bad for children. They contribute to the number of sex addictions, and to our violent culture.

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loopoo

11 years ago

I feel like this is the biggest problem these days, we let kids watch violence, murder, gore, yet when it comes to sex, nudity, they have to go out the room or cover their eyes. Sex is never talked about, yet its the most natural thing in the world.

If we let kids know more about sex and love, they would know rather than seek it out via porn and have an idea that sex is just like that. Or them growing up becoming curious and getting pregnant, or getting someone pregnant at a young age.

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searchingnow

11 years ago

I was able to watch both and if I didn't want to see something, I wouldn't watch.

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Sog

11 years ago

If anything your attitude is just going to contribute to a lot of confusion about sex and violence. You are basically telling your child that sex is horrible, taboo, and must never ever be spoken of, while violence is bad but "hey, it happens".

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GreyWulfen

11 years ago

Let me guess, you are american?

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Are You Normal?

Is it normal to let child watch violent scenes but not sex scenes?