JMS' Spider-Man causes controversy, to be removed from school library?

[Jan]

That was an interesting and thoughtful post, Marsden, thanks.

I think my main issues with that woman are that she's making a point that sex is something dirty that her kids should be protected from when a simple, factual explanation would satisfy her son if he had questions. Our Puritan background here in the States has never worn off and I hate to see parents perpetuating it. Secondly, she's managed to make a big public deal out of a very minor event. Why? I can't help but think that she's enjoying being in the spotlight.

When it comes to violence, I think there are degrees and parents really should monitor what their kids see. There's the bam-pow stuff that happens in Spidey, for instance and that's probably something any but the most sensitive kid could handle. I remember much more graphic horror-type stuff when I was growing up, though that didn't disturb me as much as it did you but I can understand why it did. Close-ups of weapons, wounds and pools of blood and that sort of thing are far more upsetting than a good sock to the jaw that sends the bad guy flying into a building.

At the same time (and bear in mind that I'm *not* a parent so my opinion counts for little in this case), I can't help but feel that kids are way overprotected from almost everything these days. Is it unfeeling of me to think that they should be allowed to take risks, to fall out of trees, to go someplace unaccompanied or play without being watched despite any perceived risks of all the things the media would like us to think are lurking in wait for every innocent in the world? A good parent should be there to teach and to guide but not to prevent all of the possible negative things that a child might experience. That's the nice thing about our society - for the most part kids can grow and experience in relative safety.

I'm grateful that my parents left me alone to explore and figure things out for myself and to let me read anything I wanted. There were times when it was too much and yes, disturbing and sometimes I got hurt. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and I wish they were still around so I could tell them so.

Jan

[Marsden]

Thanks, Jan, I appreciate your comments. I agree about trees and fun. I just like to watch from a reasonable distance so no boo-boo turns into an injury or worse.

Sorry I didn't mention, but it wasn't Spidey or I think even Marvels that really bothered me but some Horror type comic, I remember particularly, hope this isn't too graphic, but basically a panel showed a persons head being ripped apart with a big splash of blood and recognizable pieces all about. And if I saw it a few years later I would have been, "wow cool" but also I think by that age I was desensitized. Oh, well.


BTW, I didn't actually see the video, her motivation is unknown to me and I don't think I would posted the way I did before I had my daughter. So, take what you would, I agree with no censorship but not necessarily with access to children.

[AstroBoy]

Originally Posted by Jan

That was an interesting and thoughtful post, Marsden, thanks.

I think my main issues with that woman are that she's making a point that sex is something dirty that her kids should be protected from when a simple, factual explanation would satisfy her son if he had questions. Our Puritan background here in the States has never worn off and I hate to see parents perpetuating it. Secondly, she's managed to make a big public deal out of a very minor event. Why? I can't help but think that she's enjoying being in the spotlight.

When it comes to violence, I think there are degrees and parents really should monitor what their kids see. There's the bam-pow stuff that happens in Spidey, for instance and that's probably something any but the most sensitive kid could handle. I remember much more graphic horror-type stuff when I was growing up, though that didn't disturb me as much as it did you but I can understand why it did. Close-ups of weapons, wounds and pools of blood and that sort of thing are far more upsetting than a good sock to the jaw that sends the bad guy flying into a building.

At the same time (and bear in mind that I'm *not* a parent so my opinion counts for little in this case), I can't help but feel that kids are way overprotected from almost everything these days. Is it unfeeling of me to think that they should be allowed to take risks, to fall out of trees, to go someplace unaccompanied or play without being watched despite any perceived risks of all the things the media would like us to think are lurking in wait for every innocent in the world? A good parent should be there to teach and to guide but not to prevent all of the possible negative things that a child might experience. That's the nice thing about our society - for the most part kids can grow and experience in relative safety.

I'm grateful that my parents left me alone to explore and figure things out for myself and to let me read anything I wanted. There were times when it was too much and yes, disturbing and sometimes I got hurt. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and I wish they were still around so I could tell them so.

Jan

Jan I have to agree with you here. When I was growing up in the early to mid '70s my parents (who are both avid readers) never censored anything that I read. they let me read anything I wanted to and if I had questions etc... to come to them with them.

My dad had subscriptions to Playboy, Oui and a few other adult magazines, but they were never kept from me either. I remember reading Playboy when I was 8, and while the pictures were of minor interest at that age, the articles and interviews are what I really went for.

Playboy is where I 1st found out how to tie a tie, read about Porsche and other cars, and yes learned about sex.

At the same time I was reading books on science, politics, Biographies, hell anything I could get my hands on. My mom got me an adult level Library card when I was 10 since I had long passed the kids section reading level.

I have taken the same tack with my two sons. I never censored what they read, but my wife (being more religious and puritanical than I) would try to.

So yes I too am grateful to my folks for letting me discover stuff on my own. I should tell them that one day.

[Doom Shepherd]

Has there ever been a study that has in any way indicated that children are psychologically harmed by experiencing such harmless sexuality as walking in on their parents having sex?

As the son of a psychology teacher, I can tell you the answer. No.

Unless, of course, the child's parents actually inflict the psychological damage themselves by freaking out and punishing the child, or have already made the error of implying that sex is somehow "evil and dirty" (rather making the parents hypocrites), or both.

Nor is there any evidence that seeing sexuality in photographic form has any significant effect on child sexual behavior. (In other words, if that 12-year-old starts going out and having sex, it won't be because he saw a woman in her underwear in a comic book. Or a Playboy. Or in a Sears catalog. or as a JC Penneys mannequin)

You'll notice my next point in that last parenthetical: sexuality is so pervasive that eliminating a comic book will have zero impact on the number of sexual images any child is exposed to.

Lastly, what talk of violent and sexual imagery for children would be complete without a good reading of the ORIGINAL Grimm's Fairy Tales? Talk about violence and death and scary crap.

[raw_bean]

Originally Posted by Marsden

Thanks, Jan, I appreciate your comments. I agree about trees and fun. I just like to watch from a reasonable distance so no boo-boo turns into an injury or worse.

Sorry I didn't mention, but it wasn't Spidey or I think even Marvels that really bothered me but some Horror type comic, I remember particularly, hope this isn't too graphic, but basically a panel showed a persons head being ripped apart with a big splash of blood and recognizable pieces all about. And if I saw it a few years later I would have been, "wow cool" but also I think by that age I was desensitized. Oh, well.


BTW, I didn't actually see the video, her motivation is unknown to me and I don't think I would posted the way I did before I had my daughter. So, take what you would, I agree with no censorship but not necessarily with access to children.

It would be fair enough if the woman was complaining about something like the comic you're describing, but she's not. She's complaining about an all-ages Marvel comic book with a woman in a bikini.

_______________________________

I too was allowed to read whatever I felt like it, and pretty much exclusively (I did love my Asterix books though ) read books aimed at adults from age 10 or 11 or so, even if a lot of them went over my head. It was at that age that I read Lord of the Rings, all six Dune novels (they definitely fell into the 'most of them went over my head' levels, but I lapped them up anyway!), and started reading Terry Pratchet and Stephen King. Since this is all stuff I continue to love today, I should probably also thank my parents.

[Karachi Vyce]

Originally Posted by vakie

This is pretty funny..

"Mom Protests 'Sexual' Spider-Man Comic"
http://www.ketv.com/video/19030628/index.html

http://www.ketv.com/education/19030671/detail.html

How about banning JMS' Spider-Man issues because they just turned to shit.

Seriously, I really would like to punch that woman's dogs, and their little sweaters. Right in their little stomachs.

[vakie]

Originally Posted by Karachi Vyce

How about banning JMS' Spider-Man issues because they just turned to shit.

Seriously, I really would like to punch that woman's dogs, and their little sweaters. Right in their little stomachs.

Charming, as always.