Would you allow your 17 year old to watch Game of Thrones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't want to be put in the position of "allowing" my kids to watch light porn - whatever that means. Explicit oral sex...no. I don't want to give the green light for my kids to watch that.

I haven't watched Game of Thrones myself. My house is full of sports fanatics - so it is 24 hr sports on our t.v. What chanel is Game of Thrones on? If it's not on ESPN I don't know about it...haha.

NP. To be honest, I would have no problem with my teens seeing that in the context of a clearly fictional TV show. I do not approve of most porn for ethical reasons, which is what I've always told my kids, however the two are significantly different to me. Furthermore, despite the slight awkwardness, my teens know that I know they sometimes watch porn, and the most I've said on the subject is a discussion of ethics, consent, and possible methods of finding more ethical porn than most of the mainstream. I never felt that I was in any position to grant or deny permission for them to view such things, save that nobody had or has permission ever to purchase mainstream porn with money under my control.

Then again, I never censored any media for my kids more than legal or policy restrictions required me to do. My policy for non-pornographic media, which is what I consider this show, has always been, provided it is legal I am alright with you watching anything you want, as long as you are comfortable with it and want to be watching it. If anything makes you uncomfortable, that is a potential indication you should not watch it at this time, and since everything in life should operate on the principle of informed consent you are obviously free to stop watching anything at any time for any reason. You may also always come to me with questions about anything or to discuss anything that you would like to get someone else's perspective on.

Immediate PP here. Agree completely. You said it much better than I did.

Seriously, some things I just don't need to know about it. At 17 they are certainly old enough to have access to that stuff and I am not going to assume that they've never seen it. But they aren't going to get approval from me to watch this or that type of porn. By 17 I am not going to be monitoring their television watching like I did when they were younger. They aren't babies, they will have more freedom and as long as they are keeping their grades up and aren't hiding out in their rooms for long stretches and giving me a reason to be worried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I allowd my 15 year old. I didn't have a problem with it. if I allow it, we can watch it and talk about it. If I forbid it, he will watch anyway and then lose the opportunity to discuss.

Are you afraid the sadism and brutal sex will be appealing, or are you naive enough to think fifteen year old will think GOT depicts real life?

If my kids are anything like me, the sadism may well be appealing. That does not in any way factor into my decisionmaking regarding allowing them to watch the show, and I am in the camp of those who would have no problem with a 17 year old watching basically anything.

If I have not raised my teens well enough that they understand entertainment versus life, fiction versus reality, and consent versus coercion and outright rape, then we have bigger problems than what TV shows they want to watch.

Well, just realize that most kids do not want to know that their parent finds "sadism appealing".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I allowd my 15 year old. I didn't have a problem with it. if I allow it, we can watch it and talk about it. If I forbid it, he will watch anyway and then lose the opportunity to discuss.

Are you afraid the sadism and brutal sex will be appealing, or are you naive enough to think fifteen year old will think GOT depicts real life?

If my kids are anything like me, the sadism may well be appealing. That does not in any way factor into my decisionmaking regarding allowing them to watch the show, and I am in the camp of those who would have no problem with a 17 year old watching basically anything.

If I have not raised my teens well enough that they understand entertainment versus life, fiction versus reality, and consent versus coercion and outright rape, then we have bigger problems than what TV shows they want to watch.

Well, just realize that most kids do not want to know that their parent finds "sadism appealing".

I completely agree of course and I doubt my children know anything about my sex life, other than that the oldest knows I have one because she was snooping in my room as a young teen and found certain (thankfully very vanilla) items I suspect most women own.

My point was basically that maybe the sadism is appealing, maybe it is not, but either way that is not a problem IMO or a reason to ban an older teen from watching the show.

Most teens will not be shocked by such content, and if they are or find it uncomfortable they can decide for themselves not to watch a show if they start watching it and discover that they do not like it. At that age I am not going to police and restrict TV choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17 year olds can see rated R movies without an adult.

This show goes beyond R rated movies, some scenes are more like x.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

Well, pot is illegal, for one. There is no law against watching Game of Thrones.

Logic fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old niece mentioned to me that her favorite show is Game of Thrones and when I asked how her parents felt about her watching, she responded that they don't care. My kids are a lot younger, so I'm not sure how I will feel when they are that age, but my instinctive reaction was surprise that her parents would let her watch a show that is basically light porn.

Would I allow my 17-year-old, who will be a legal adult in less than a year, and who will probably out of the house in the next year (if not earlier), and who has plenty of opportunities to watch this show anyway even if I don't allow her to, to watch this TV show?

Yes, I would.

Most kids have plenty of opportunities to watch porn, even if not allowed. That doesn't mean that the parent has to officially "allow" it.

Of course a parent can ban anything. The question is, what does the banning get you?

+1 - seriously, she is moving out in less than 9 months!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my two oldest kids were away at college by that age, so they could watch whatever they wanted. I might talk about disrespect towards women and inaccurate portrayals of sex, but that's it.

This is the crux of the whole matter, and I would begin that conversation (not the show) in the early teens. It bears repeating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

Well, pot is illegal, for one. There is no law against watching Game of Thrones.

Logic fail.

Ok. Then how about letting your 17 year old have their boyfriend spend the night? It's not illegal and they will be out of the house soon enough anyways where you won't be able to prevent it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

Well, pot is illegal, for one. There is no law against watching Game of Thrones.

Logic fail.

Ok. Then how about letting your 17 year old have their boyfriend spend the night? It's not illegal and they will be out of the house soon enough anyways where you won't be able to prevent it.

If you want to tell your 17-year-old that she's not allowed to watch a certain TV show, you can go right ahead and tell your 17-year-old that. Just remember that you telling her she is not allowed to do something, and her actually not doing that thing, are two different things.

Alternatively, you could tell her WHY you think it's inappropriate for her. I, personally, think that would send a clearer message about your beliefs than "You may not watch this TV show." But you're you and should do what you find appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

Well, pot is illegal, for one. There is no law against watching Game of Thrones.

Logic fail.

Ok. Then how about letting your 17 year old have their boyfriend spend the night? It's not illegal and they will be out of the house soon enough anyways where you won't be able to prevent it.

Again, there is a major difference. Assuming that you mean that DD & her boyfriend will be staying in the same room, there are actual, life-altering risks (pregnancy, STDs) involved with the boyfriend spending night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, your 17 year old is likely going to college in August. Can they watch it then? As PPs have mentioned, when kids are getting ready to be "launched" and are applying for and choosing college, it seems so much better to spend your last few FT parenting months spending time with them and discussing things than banning a TV show that they will either stream behind your back now, or as soon as you drop them off at college.

So should they be allowed to smoke pot at home as well? After all they'll be out of the house in a year and I won't be able to stop it then.

Well, pot is illegal, for one. There is no law against watching Game of Thrones.

Logic fail.

Ok. Then how about letting your 17 year old have their boyfriend spend the night? It's not illegal and they will be out of the house soon enough anyways where you won't be able to prevent it.

Again, there is a major difference. Assuming that you mean that DD & her boyfriend will be staying in the same room, there are actual, life-altering risks (pregnancy, STDs) involved with the boyfriend spending night.

Well, really, there isn't a major difference. If you tell your kid that she may not watch Game of Thrones, what will she do? Will she not watch Game of Thrones? Will she just go somewhere else to watch it? Is it ok with you if she just goes somewhere else to watch it? Will she know why you don't want her to watch it? If something upsets her when she watches it somewhere else, will she talk to you about it?

Similarly, if you tell your kid that she may not sleep over with her boyfriend, what will she do? Will she not have sex with her boyfriend? Will she just go somewhere else to have sex? Is it ok with you if she just goes somewhere else to have sex? Will she know why you don't want her to have sex? If something upsets her when she has sex somewhere else, will she talk to you about it?

For almost any issue, with a 17-year-old, it's not as simple as issuing a you-may-not! edict and then they don't do it and the issue goes away.

[Anonymous]

I just looked it up. Game of Thrones is on HBO. We don't get HBO. Problem solved.

Yes, my older teen could drive himself over to a friends house if he really, really had his heart set on watching that show. But he would rather watch sports and play video games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year old niece mentioned to me that her favorite show is Game of Thrones and when I asked how her parents felt about her watching, she responded that they don't care. My kids are a lot younger, so I'm not sure how I will feel when they are that age, but my instinctive reaction was surprise that her parents would let her watch a show that is basically light porn.

Would I allow my 17-year-old, who will be a legal adult in less than a year, and who will probably out of the house in the next year (if not earlier), and who has plenty of opportunities to watch this show anyway even if I don't allow her to, to watch this TV show?

Yes, I would.

Exactly.

At 17 yo I don't think I could really forbid watching anything - it would more be a suggestion or maybe to in our house/presence thing. And Game of Thrones would not concern me. I'm much more concerned about certain video games (GTA!!!) and what they can find on the internet that anything on TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I would. I might start conversations about specific episodes, but I think there's much more to the show than "light porn" and 17 is pretty old.

--parent of a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old

I agree that there's much more to the show than light porn, but on a recent episode there was a prolonged and very explicit scene of two women engaged in oral sex. There was absolutely no legitimate reason that scene needed to be there. Call me a prude or old-fashioned, but that just does NOT seem to me to be acceptable viewing for a child under 18.

17 year olds are more young adults than children. Cunnilingus will soon be the least of their worries.

They may even <gasp> enjoy it.