October 31, 2005
Not Suitable for Children under 18
I was watching Arrested Development earlier today and the warning before the show started kind of hit me off guard. “This disc contains adult language. May not be suitable for children under 18 years of age.”
I know we’ve all seen this warning a hundred times. But for some reason it jumped out at me today. I think it had more to do with the wording than anything. “Adult” language? That makes it sounds like it’s more mature than young kids can handle. Most kids over 5 hear this “adult” language on a daily basis, whether it be at school, from siblings, or even their parents. And the “mature” ratings on video games? I don’t know about these guys, but when I hear mature, I usually think older, more refined… in other words, grown up. I think they should call it what is it: violent, crass, and foul. That way people know what they are getting into. Kids can “handle” strong language, they’ve shown us that they also know how to use it. How many out there have heard some little 10 year old cuss and swear? I know I have. Most kids have a dirtier mouth than I ever did, and putting a little label on a movie isn’t going to stop them from hearing it from other sources.
I don’t think that these labels should be removed, don’t get me wrong. I like knowing what I’m about to watch or buy. I just think that they should say what the content really is. And really, what makes it ok for an 18 year old to hear the F-word and not a 17 year old? I could argue that there are 16 year olds that are much more ‘grown up’ and can deal with some cussing. I don’t know why the cut off for adult language would be 18. Who comes up with these rules? Are you immediately able to handle strong language at 18?
All in all, most people can probably agree that warning labels on entertainment don’t really do much if the parents aren’t taking into account what their kids are watching. My mom filtered my viewing, and I don’t resent her for it. I filter my own viewing even now. There’s a lot of junk out there that I don’t want to have to sit through. But really, “adult” language isn’t grown-up at all, I would argue that half the time it is more immature than anything else; there’s nothing great about hearing people cuss. So why don’t those guys that make up the rules just call it what it is: “Foul content.”
What do you think?
Little Miss said,
November 2, 2005 @ 10:10 pm
I agree that a lot of the lables are kind of oddly rated, but I guess they must think that since 18 is the age that you can vote that must mean that you’re now adult enough to watch blood, gore, and swearing glamourized on the big screen. It doesn’t make too much sense to me why the cut off ages are 18, 14, and whatever else, and I do agree that there are a lot of kids out there who are 18 and no where NEAR mature, but then again, there are probably more 18 year olds than 16 year olds, not that they don’t hear it anyways. Honestly, I think it’s because the movie companies have to cover their asses so that some crazy parents don’t sue the pants off them. You know how horrible some people can be.