"THAT'S SO DAMNED INAPPROPRIATE!"
Written: 18 March 2001
Author: Dash

Yes, we hear about it all the time. Another series censored, another manga taken off the shelves of some store. Why, though? What harm does it do to anyone? Am I going to take a gun to school and start shooting someone after I hear an anime character, a person who's not even REAL, use the word "hell"? Is it going to turn me into a Satanic demon worshiper who's destined for the farthest depths of hell? Do I become a threat to society? "No, of course not," you might be saying. Well, unfortunately for those in the entertainment industry, or those who just like to be entertained by television, books, movies, etc., some would answer "yes."

Who are these people? Many have deemed them "soccer moms," because, religious authorities aside...that's, with a few exceptions, pretty much it. The idea is that "Oh, my child can't watch something like that. It's so inappropriate! What sick human being would enjoy this sort of thing?" Obviously your child does, woman. And what harm does it do them? If someone watches Dragon Ball Z and sees Freezer impale Kuririn on one of his horns, does that mean the child is going to go out and impale the first person he sees? Well, I should certainly hope your child doesn't have horns growing out of his head (if he does, you might want to get that checked out), but come on. Freezer is the villain, he's portrayed as evil, and just to seal the deal, he was even given a horrific voice so that all children would know that everything he does, you don't. Or maybe that was just because he's purple. Even so, the point stands.

The main problem I have with these so-called "soccer moms" is the way they go about doing things. A book banned, a show censored, a videogame taken off the shelves...for what? So that one child won't be adversely influenced? And according to whom is the influence even there at all? People trust television to babysit their children, and so if they happen to oppose something they see on TV, what do they do? Oh, heaven forbid we should actually be involved with our children! Let's just ruin it for everyone instead. Sound good to everyone? Yeah, that's what I thought.

I could go on and on about how there's not even any proof to support this "television corrupts the youth" theory, but I've already read a well written essay on the subject, so I'll just direct you all here.

So what does it all boil down to? Parents don't take an active role in their children's lives. But then something "bad" comes along and what is there to do? What, you actually expect ME to involve myself with my children?! You must be joking. No, no, let's just eliminate this undesirable element. But wait, what about those thousands or millions of others who have no problem with what I'm deeming offensive, and would like to go on enjoying it? Well, I suppose it's for their own good, and of course I DO have the right to decide that.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Does it sound right? Unless you yourself are one of these supposed "soccer moms" or a deeply religious (close-minded) person, then I assume you're probably saying no. And by any real measure of logic, you'd be right.

However, there's more to it than just this. I mean, parents need to put some degree of trust into their children, and forgive me for generalizing, but in MOST cases (notice I don't use "all" there), this trust doesn't seem to be present. May I ask what's so harmful in these "offensive" things? And I do really mean that, if someone can tell me how books, magazines, TV shows, videogames, and movies are harmful, please feel free to E-mail me about it.

I just don't understand how this whole thing works, though. I see a thing that offends me. I have two courses of action here. I can either eliminate the problem the hard way, or I can eliminate the problem the easy way, and for some very strange reason, I usually take the illogical route and eliminate the problem the hard way, which ruins it for everyone else. There's no sense in having something banned or censored to protect my children from it. Why don't I just keep my children from getting it and let everyone who's not offended go on enjoying their lives? Oh, well my children might get it anyway, right? Well there's the trust factor again. I'm completely disgusted by parents who don't trust their children at all without any good reason. My own parents are like that at times, and I hate it. They can't produce any examples of when I've actually betrayed their trust, but just the same, it's not there.

But what if you're right not to trust your kid? What if you did trust him and he made you regret it? Well first of all, most any major religion preaches forgiveness, and if you're agnostic/atheist, it's still common sense not to hold any sort of grudge, especially against someone as close to you as your own children. A second chance seems in order, and if they go against what you've asked once more, then what does that say? That he's a bad kid? No, that's now how I would see it. Bad children are usually the result of bad parenting...and what do we have there? Another connection! This one, not to trust, but to involvement in the child's life. Don't you just love how everything's coming together here?

So then what's the solution? If we're not supposed to get rid of bad things, what do we do? Take the easier, healthier path and deal with your child personally, not with all children generally. Teach your child what you think is right and wrong, but also, expose him to other views. You are not your child, so don't try to insert your own ideals into him. Don't let him watch or read what you find offensive, and then, building on all that stuff that parents should be teaching their children anyway, put a little trust into them not to go behind your back to watch it or read it anyway. Not only is it better for building a healthy relationship with the kid, but it's also going to make everyone else happy...and well, people like me won't feel like you're a complete fool.