Game of Thrones-How old should you be to watch it?

[Lemonademouth]

How many of you who restrict your teens from watching anything 'above their maturity level' actually believe they do? I'm not saying this to be negative or condescending or mean it is a real legitimate question as my husband and I have discussed it and want to limit tv in general when we have children, but we also discussed keeping it aged appropriate when we do allow them tv time. I pose my question because in our discussions we both had parents who said we couldn't watch certain programs, or programs/movies with certain ratings and yet we both did. Parents aren't always home, friends parents aren't always strict, and sone are even willing to say, 'no, we aren't renting any R rated movies for them to watch' or 'we are taking them to see Inspector Gadget, not that American Pie movie everyone's been talking about'. I watched the sopranos and six feet under at my aunts every week because she had a sopranos party and needed someone to sit with her dogs, because she didn't want them annoying her friends. So there are ways around this whole strict parent thing.

 

[Jennasis]

I didn't miss your point. But you're wrong, if you think Westeros is our world, and that this is "our world's history".

And who is to say that Westeros is taking place in a "real" world history? It could be our world's future. Or, taking place right now, on another world.

I thought that GoT took place in another world, at who knows what time? 2,000,000,00 of our years from now? Right now, in a parallel universe? The fact that that world also developed similar styles of clothing, weaponry etc., means nothing. That world also developed a way to create The Wall. And what we would call magic.

Just because it has jousting, like our Middle Ages, doesn't mean it's our world. Good Lord.

Developed a way to create the wall?? It was explained in the first book. Built painfully and slowly by hand. Lots and lots of hands. Just like the pyramids or the Parthenon or a castle.

Of course it's fantasy. It's not a real place. But George R.R. Martin IS a real man, and he borrowed quite a bit of his fantasy world building from elements of our past, as well as from his own imagination, and also from previous works of fantasy fiction.

 

[zurgswife]

I love GoT. I watch it with my 19, 20yr old boys and my hubby. My younger son is the one that got me hooked. I walked in on 6 17yr olds in my living room one spring break watching GoT. I was taken back for a second but then realized how much I liked the story.

Yes, it does have sex and violence galore and some people not be able to handle that but that is a personal preference. My kids have always been into TV and Films so we watch lots of stuff that most families probably wouldn't watch at their ages. My son who was probably 13/14 started watch Dexter with me...the sex scenes were a little awkward at first but it gave us an opening to talk about sex so it worked out fine I think.

It's a personal decision but it is an awesome show.

 

[Christine]

I didn't miss your point. But you're wrong, if you think Westeros is our world, and that this is "our world's history".

And who is to say that Westeros is taking place in a "real" world history? It could be our world's future. Or, taking place right now, on another world.

I thought that GoT took place in another world, at who knows what time? 2,000,000,00 of our years from now? Right now, in a parallel universe? The fact that that world also developed similar styles of clothing, weaponry etc., means nothing. That world also developed a way to create The Wall. And what we would call magic.

Just because it has jousting, like our Middle Ages, doesn't mean it's our world. Good Lord.

No, I'd say you missed my point. I was pretty clear in my previous posts that GoT is fantasy and I know that Westeros is not in our world's history.

But the clothing, weaponry, sports, style of housing, and transportation definitely mimic a period of history in, say, Europe where all of that stuff was identical. Sure, I have no idea what "year" it is in Westeros, if they are actually counting in "years" as we know it.

My point was that GoT reflects a time in OUR history where:

1. Women were second class citizens
2. Wagons and horses were used for transportation
3. Swords, scythes, and knives were used for wartime

Based on these things, I think the "violence" depicted as well as some of the sexual content in the show was fitting for the time period.

I'm not sure how I'm "wrong."

 

[dawnhaze]

I've read the books, and I love the show... I'd let a 16 year old watch it, but I'd take it as an opportunity to talk about rape and sexual violence. Appropriate for the time period/setting or not, those sorts of things are not something I'd want a teenager watching with no guidance on the topic.

This isn't a suggestion to watch it together, btw. I'm 27 and I would not want to watch Game of Thrones with my parents. Watch separately, discuss as appropriate, would be my suggestion.

 

[anelson81993]

I didn't miss your point. But you're wrong, if you think Westeros is our world, and that this is "our world's history".

And who is to say that Westeros is taking place in a "real" world history? It could be our world's future. Or, taking place right now, on another world.

I thought that GoT took place in another world, at who knows what time? 2,000,000,00 of our years from now? Right now, in a parallel universe? The fact that that world also developed similar styles of clothing, weaponry etc., means nothing. That world also developed a way to create The Wall. And what we would call magic.

Just because it has jousting, like our Middle Ages, doesn't mean it's our world. Good Lord.

Completely and totally but...

Actually, part of the GoT series IS based off our world's history. Martin himself has stated that the series is (very loosely) based off the War of the Roses. It's not an exact analogue, of course--the War of the Roses was not fought with dragons, but the political struggle of Westeros in the series is based on War of the Roses-era Europe. Westeros and A Song of Ice and Fire are indeed in another world at another time, but there are definitely elements of our own history interwoven into that time and world.

For more information: http://scifi.stackexchange.com/ques...ween-game-of-thrones-and-the-war-of-the-roses

 

[momto3gr8boys]

How many of you who restrict your teens from watching anything 'above their maturity level' actually believe they do? I'm not saying this to be negative or condescending or mean it is a real legitimate question as my husband and I have discussed it and want to limit tv in general when we have children, but we also discussed keeping it aged appropriate when we do allow them tv time. I pose my question because in our discussions we both had parents who said we couldn't watch certain programs, or programs/movies with certain ratings and yet we both did. Parents aren't always home, friends parents aren't always strict, and sone are even willing to say, 'no, we aren't renting any R rated movies for them to watch' or 'we are taking them to see Inspector Gadget, not that American Pie movie everyone's been talking about'. I watched the sopranos and six feet under at my aunts every week because she had a sopranos party and needed someone to sit with her dogs, because she didn't want them annoying her friends. So there are ways around this whole strict parent thing.

Kids are always going to test the waters and do, or try to do, things behind their parents' backs. Whether anyone in this thread is pro or against their teens watching certain shows and movies does not negate the fact that we know our kids will push the limits and break rules.

But by setting certain standards, limits, etc., your children will come to learn your values. They will test them, break them even, but somewhere in their conscience, you hope they hear your voice guiding them. OT, but growing up my parents made it well known they were against pre-marital sex. Totally archaic and unrealistic in my book, but they were firm. Did it stop us...well, you can make assumptions there, but I'll tell you knowing their stance the absolute worst thing that could have happened was an unplanned pregnancy. The awareness was always there and with four kids, no careless mistakes were ever made. I had an argument with my mom about it once...basically calling her old fashioned and claiming she didn't get it. She threw it back in my face (quite well, I might add) that every young person we knew who wound up with an unplanned pregnancy had parents who were lenient with pre-marital sex. I had to admit that the odds worked out that way and I wonder if all four of us would have been as insanely careful had we been brought up with a different lesson/value. Maybe it was dumb luck, maybe there was method to her madness. So, did she stop it from happening? No.. But she did place an expectation on us that we met.

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[Jennasis]

Kids are always going to test the waters and do, or try to do, things behind their parents' backs. Whether anyone in this thread is pro or against their teens watching certain shows and movies does not negate the fact that we know our kids will push the limits and break rules.

But by setting certain standards, limits, etc., your children will come to learn your values. They will test them, break them even, but somewhere in their conscience, you hope they hear your voice guiding them. OT, but growing up my parents made it well known they were against pre-marital sex. Totally archaic and unrealistic in my book, but they were firm. Did it stop us...well, you can make assumptions there, but I'll tell you knowing their stance the absolute worst thing that could have happened was an unplanned pregnancy. The awareness was always there and with four kids, no careless mistakes were ever made. I had an argument with my mom about it once...basically calling her old fashioned and claiming she didn't get it. She threw it back in my face (quite well, I might add) that every young person we knew who wound up with an unplanned pregnancy had parents who were lenient with pre-marital sex. I had to admit that the odds worked out that way and I wonder if all four of us would have been as insanely careful had we been brought up with a different lesson/value. Maybe it was dumb luck, maybe there was method to her madness. So, did she stop it from happening? No.. But she did place an expectation on us that we met.

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Every young person I know (both here in NC and back on Long Island where I am from originally) who has had an unplanned pregnancy has come from a conservative home where the parents were firmly against pre-marital sex.

Just sayin'.

 

[Hrhpd]

I can't imagine restricting the TV viewing of a 16 year old.

Or worse, a husband

I wouldn't let any teen watch it. My husband doesn't even watch it anymore because in our home, porn is equal to adultery and he watched the first season (he loved the books) and I felt very uncomfortable. I told him so and he has since stopped watching anything with nudity or sex in it. And the sex in that show is soft core porn. No doubt.

My 16 year old watches it. I also have absolutely no fantasies that if I say no at our house, he will go to another room at a friend's house if they are watching it. As others have said, I would much rather have him watch it at home and discuss it rather than have it being watched secretively at others.

 

[Hrhpd]

Your 13-year old can watch R-rated content with simulated sex, violence and gore? Just wondering. Maybe I'm sheltered, but none of my friends with teens allow them to watch r-rated content, especially not at 13.

All my friends with teens would have/ have allowed it at 13.

 

[Hrhpd]

Kids are always going to test the waters and do, or try to do, things behind their parents' backs. Whether anyone in this thread is pro or against their teens watching certain shows and movies does not negate the fact that we know our kids will push the limits and break rules.

But by setting certain standards, limits, etc., your children will come to learn your values. They will test them, break them even, but somewhere in their conscience, you hope they hear your voice guiding them. OT, but growing up my parents made it well known they were against pre-marital sex. Totally archaic and unrealistic in my book, but they were firm. Did it stop us...well, you can make assumptions there, but I'll tell you knowing their stance the absolute worst thing that could have happened was an unplanned pregnancy. The awareness was always there and with four kids, no careless mistakes were ever made. I had an argument with my mom about it once...basically calling her old fashioned and claiming she didn't get it. She threw it back in my face (quite well, I might add) that every young person we knew who wound up with an unplanned pregnancy had parents who were lenient with pre-marital sex. I had to admit that the odds worked out that way and I wonder if all four of us would have been as insanely careful had we been brought up with a different lesson/value. Maybe it was dumb luck, maybe there was method to her madness. So, did she stop it from happening? No.. But she did place an expectation on us that we met.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Hmmm... our experience is different.

With my friends and with my kids friends, it was/is overwhelmingly the kids with super strict parents that take the most risks, engage in drugs/drinking and sex to an extreme.

However, I don't think you can use such a broad brush and paint lenient vs strict parents that way. It is just as much about the personality of the child on how hard they are going to push their boundaries.

But, that said, every lenient parent I know also teaches their children values. Values are not limited to strict parents. A lenient parent will say this is not ok, but they then trust their children to respect their values. They don't forbid them.

I just asked my 16 year old if he ever watched it. He said his group of friends (jocks) watched it a couple of times but really didn't care for it, too much sex and violence. They rather go play basketball or football outside.

 

[aprilgail2]

I wouldn't let any teen watch it. My husband doesn't even watch it anymore because in our home, porn is equal to adultery and he watched the first season (he loved the books) and I felt very uncomfortable. I told him so and he has since stopped watching anything with nudity or sex in it. And the sex in that show is soft core porn. No doubt.

Why couldn't he just watch it when you were not there so you would not feel uncomfortable watching it with him???? He is not "allowed" to watch it because you feel uncomfortable??

 

[Arsenal1982]

I wouldn't let any teen watch it. My husband doesn't even watch it anymore because in our home, porn is equal to adultery and he watched the first season (he loved the books) and I felt very uncomfortable. I told him so and he has since stopped watching anything with nudity or sex in it. And the sex in that show is soft core porn. No doubt.

Sounds like a fun home.

 

[Arsenal1982]

I didn't miss your point. But you're wrong, if you think Westeros is our world, and that this is "our world's history".

And who is to say that Westeros is taking place in a "real" world history? It could be our world's future. Or, taking place right now, on another world.

I thought that GoT took place in another world, at who knows what time? 2,000,000,00 of our years from now? Right now, in a parallel universe? The fact that that world also developed similar styles of clothing, weaponry etc., means nothing. That world also developed a way to create The Wall. And what we would call magic.

Just because it has jousting, like our Middle Ages, doesn't mean it's our world. Good Lord.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

My 15 year old son watches GoT. Last night he fell on the floor in a fetal position after The Red Wedding. Poor baby.

After reading this thread I did make it a point to discuss with him how rape, torture and beheadings are not allowed in this household.

 

[JenM]

My 15 year old son watches GoT. Last night he fell on the floor in a fetal position after The Red Wedding. Poor baby.

After reading this thread I did make it a point to discuss with him how rape, torture and beheadings are not allowed in this household.

Don't forget the inbreeding!

 

[shortbun]

At 17, the theaters allow them to buy tickets to anything. I'd watch with him and 17 would be my age. It's raw but there's lots of fantasy and yes-full nudity, violent sex. The violence is suprising too. I'd find some other, less graphic stuff to watch with him first to gauge his maturity. My son just turned 18, yesterday. He's been watching GoT and True Blood and Sons of Anarchy for a year or so.

 

[wvjules]

My 15 year old son watches GoT. Last night he fell on the floor in a fetal position after The Red Wedding. Poor baby.

After reading this thread I did make it a point to discuss with him how rape, torture and beheadings are not allowed in this household.

Good thing you clarified or else he might not have known better.

Should they have "don't try this at home" in the beginning credits? lol

 

[ZephyrHawk]

She threw it back in my face (quite well, I might add) that every young person we knew who wound up with an unplanned pregnancy had parents who were lenient with pre-marital sex.

Every young person I knew who wound up with an unplanned pregnancy didn't use birth control.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Good thing you clarified or else he might not have known better.

Should they have "don't try this at home" in the beginning credits? lol

I know it is easy to joke about these things, but it isn't always a joking matter. We recently had 2 boys 13 and 14 who sexually assaulted a girl in their class. One of the things that came out during the trial was what they were watching on tv and their ipod/ipad. Some of the shows, the parents knew about and thought they were mature enough to handle it, some of it they didn't know about.

The boys confessed to this and admitted that they wanted to try out some of what they had watched--particularly the violent, forceful aspect. The judge came down very hard on the parents and the boys are now locked up in the Department of Corrections.

I'm not saying GoT is what they were watching. I just don't think it's always easy to determine how certain images are impacting children, even if it seems they are mature enough to handle it. I would bet money their parents are now wishing they had paid more attention to what their sons were watching.