Cartoon network, Tom and Jerry, and gay men (mildly controversial)

[battlemaiden]

I know this may not bother many of you, but it bothers me!

 

I'm sitting in the family room while my kids watch Tom and Jerry on Cartoon network. I was telling them how I used to watch that show when I was a kid and they wanted to check it out. When the program ends I hear "it's a great time to be a gay man". :001_huh: On cartoon network?

 

Whatever your opinions on this topic, do you think cartoon network is the appropriate place for that type of topic?

 

They rarely watch cable TV but I just banned that channel for the duration.....

 

Sheesh.

 

edit: btw, I fully take responsibility for monitoring my children's TV time. I had never visited Cartoon Network before, perhaps I should have known, but I didn't. I thought perhaps there would be others like me that wouldn't know.

Edited November 26, 2008 by battlemaiden

[mo2]

Cartoon Network is iffy, at best. They have a lot of adult-oriented cartoons and commercials. We stay away from it. If you want Tom and Jerry, look around at WalMart and such. You can buy them super cheap on DVD.

[HRAAB]

I know this may not bother many of you, but it bothers me!

 

I'm sitting in the family room while my kids watch Tom and Jerry on Cartoon network. I was telling them how I used to watch that show when I was a kid and they wanted to check it out. When the program ends I hear "it's a great time to be a gay man". :001_huh: On cartoon network?

 

Whatever your opinions on this topic, do you think cartoon network is the appropriate place for that type of topic?

 

They rarely watch cable TV but I just banned that channel for the duration.....

 

Sheesh.

 

edit: btw, I fully take responsibility for monitoring my children's TV time. I had never visited Cartoon Network before, perhaps I should have known, but I didn't. I thought perhaps there would be others like me that wouldn't know.

 

Was the comment part of a Tom and Jerry cartoon, or was it from Cartoon Network? In what context was it used?

 

Later at night they have something I think is called Adult Swim???. No way is it allowed in our house. In fact, Cartoon Network for the most part is off limits.

 

Janet

[Jean in Newcastle]

Cartoon Network is iffy, at best. They have a lot of adult-oriented cartoons and commercials. We stay away from it. If you want Tom and Jerry, look around at WalMart and such. You can buy them super cheap on DVD.

 

I agree. We also can get Tom and Jerry, Donald Duck, Looney Tunes etc. DVDs from our library.

 

I take it they weren't talking about happy men? :D

[Daisy]

Huh. And you don't know if it was an ad or what? I agree with you. I wouldn't allow the channel without supervision. We only have a DVD player though so my children are always supervised in their viewing.

[Jennifer]

Great. My kids just finished watching T&J and I do believe it was the Cartoon Network. The TV is off now, though. I wonder what they heard/saw?? Maybe time to cross CN off the list.

Jennifer

[joannqn]

We don't have cable and the few times we've watched Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon at someone else's house or a hotel, I haven't been impressed.

 

I introduced my kids to the old cartoons via Netflix. They love watching Pink Panther cartoons using Netflix's instant watch on my laptop.

[Jenny in Atl]

Well, you could always say (if your kids are young enough) that the old meaning of Gay is happy. So it's a good time to be a happy man. If they are older, and you disapprove of the subject, talk about it/about your beliefs. Often making something taboo, makes it all the more alluring.

 

There are many things my kids are exposed to on a daily basis I disagree with, so we talk about them. I have not found it realistic to shelter my kids to the point it cuts us off from the rest of the world. Less TV is not a bad thing though.

[dragons in the flower bed]

I wouldn't consider Cartoon Network a safe channel for unsupervised kids. The advertisements are awful, the programming is worse, and I'm not judging from my spot on the political spectrum. I think they are aiming to single-handedly ensure that every type of media that educated, thoughtful people have ever posited might be bad for children continues to air.

 

Boomerang is much better, nearly commercial free, and has mostly the old stuff. We like that they talk about themselves, bringing people like Tex Avery and William Hanna to the attention of kids.

[Pretty in Pink]

just a word about those DVDs from walmart with the old cartoons on them...we got several of them off the dollar rack, looney tunes and such, they are all really old cartoons.

 

anwyay, i had to throw a few of them out because of racism depicted in the cartoons which made me uncomfortable. i mean blatant racism, as in depicting black people as monkeys. in looney tunes cartoons. just an FYI.

[dawn of ns]

I'm sitting in the family room while my kids watch Tom and Jerry on Cartoon network. I was telling them how I used to watch that show when I was a kid and they wanted to check it out. When the program ends I hear "it's a great time to be a gay man". :001_huh: On cartoon network?

 

Whatever your opinions on this topic, do you think cartoon network is the appropriate place for that type of topic?

 

Sure. Partly because I know the Cartoon Network is not strictly for kids and partly because I have no objection to kids hearing about gay men. How you choose to address that when you talk to your kids is one thing but my kids have gay people in their life and I have no objection to seeing or hearing about them in the media.

[battlemaiden]

Well, you could always say (if your kids are young enough) that the old meaning of Gay is happy. So it's a good time to be a happy man. If they are older, and you disapprove of the subject, talk about it/about your beliefs. Often making something taboo, makes it all the more alluring.

 

There are many things my kids are exposed to on a daily basis I disagree with, so we talk about them. I have not found it realistic to shelter my kids to the point it cuts us off from the rest of the world. Less TV is not a bad thing though.

 

 

It was a campaign about HIV/AIDS, but the beginning of the service announcement was a man talking while showing gay men in several photos. It was from the campaign, Cable Positive, or something like that.

 

Fine. We discuss homosexuality and AIDS with those of our children who are developmentally ready. Cartoon network isn't the place I would have thought this organization would target. I have watched a good bit of TV lately (having my dh deployed tends to make me watch more), and I'm a major channel surfer. Not once have I seen a commercial like this on any other channel. :glare:

 

I agree that it is simply an opportunity for discussion. I was just surprised.

 

Jo

[muffinmom]

It seems to me that such a network that knows that a huge portion of their viewership is made up of children should not include such things as part of advertisement. However, there are plenty of people in that field who want to be the ones to introduce these topics to our children. They don't seem to respect the right parents have to bring up these topics at the appropriate time for their family.

 

IMO, it's the whole "I know better what your children need to know (and when) than you do, and I have a 'moral' obligation to indoctrinate them"--a perspective that many of us homeschool to avoid.

 

Our society is increasingly disrespecting parental rights.

[battlemaiden]

It seems to me that such a network that knows that a huge portion of their viewership is made up of children should not include such things as part of advertisement. However, there are plenty of people in that field who want to be the ones to introduce these topics to our children. They don't seem to respect the right parents have to bring up these topics at the appropriate time for their family.

 

IMO, it's the whole "I know better what your children need to know (and when) than you do, and I have a 'moral' obligation to indoctrinate them"--a perspective that many of us homeschool to avoid.

 

Our society is increasingly disrespecting parental rights.

 

This was my impression too.

[Garga]

Cartoon network-bleh! We watch Tom and Jerry and I turn it off as soon as it's done, but now I realize I don't know what they might have seen at the end in the commercials...

 

Boomerang--good. They only show the old stuff without the crazy commercials.

 

Buying the stuff on DVD--usually good, however those reeeeally old cartoons on the $1 rack are creepy. Avoid those. They include those old cartoons where Bugs Bunny was depicted as insane. (Remember then? Back when everything was in black and white--those cartoons are just as creepy as what they have on Cartoon network now.)

[Daisy]

My personal take on it is that many in society see the gay/lesbian issue as a "civil rights issue." So by targeting schools, children's tv programming, etc. they are attempting to educate children out of the perceived bigotry and intolerance of their parents. I think we'll see more and more of this.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Daisy

[imeverywoman]

My kids don't need to know about anyone's se*ual orientation. G*y or not, and especially not while watching cartoons.

 

Blasted television.

[Lovedtodeath]

I wouldn't consider Cartoon Network a safe channel for unsupervised kids. The advertisements are awful, the programming is worse, and I'm not judging from my spot on the political spectrum. I think they are aiming to single-handedly ensure that every type of media that educated, thoughtful people have ever posited might be bad for children continues to air.

 

Boomerang is much better, nearly commercial free, and has mostly the old stuff. We like that they talk about themselves, bringing people like Tex Avery and William Hanna to the attention of kids.

 

:iagree:

[Rosie_0801]

We're completely open about homosexuality. After all, the kids' godfather and great aunt are gay. I don't think a cartoon channel is the time and place to be airing such issues though. I wouldn't mind the gay thing so much in this situation if it was about tolerance, but I would certainly mind that it's about STDs. I don't think STDs are appropriate for cartoon channels and I wouldn't like anyone giving my kids the impression that homosexuality is only about diseases. There's much more to it than that (Uh, they are people, not diseases on legs,) and the rest of us straight people get those diseases too if we aren't careful. It's the appearance of information, but really isn't proper info at all, kwim?

 

Rosie

[Alenee]

My kids don't need to know about anyone's se*ual orientation. G*y or not, and especially not while watching cartoons.

 

Blasted television.

 

:iagree:Thankyourverymuch!

I'm perfectly capable of handling the information and giving it to my kids when they are ready. This just disgusts me. It would likewise disgust me had they shown something equally se*ual from the other pov. The attempt at targeting children through tv for all manner of things is one of the main reasons our children have very limited viewing.

[Jennifer3141]

Sure. Partly because I know the Cartoon Network is not strictly for kids and partly because I have no objection to kids hearing about gay men. How you choose to address that when you talk to your kids is one thing but my kids have gay people in their life and I have no objection to seeing or hearing about them in the media.

 

:iagree:

 

And it's really never too early to start talking about STDs, either. I'd rather my kids had too much information for that issue than not enough. My kids are too marvelous NOT to have the information. :)

 

Jen

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

It seems to me that such a network that knows that a huge portion of their viewership is made up of children should not include such things as part of advertisement. However, there are plenty of people in that field who want to be the ones to introduce these topics to our children. They don't seem to respect the right parents have to bring up these topics at the appropriate time for their family.

 

IMO, it's the whole "I know better what your children need to know (and when) than you do, and I have a 'moral' obligation to indoctrinate them"--a perspective that many of us homeschool to avoid.

 

Our society is increasingly disrespecting parental rights.

 

Well, but on the other hand, parents make the decisions -- usually the express decisions -- about a) whether or not to have television in the home, b) whether or not to have *cable* television in the home, c) whether or not to let their children have access to certain channels, and d) whether or not to pre-screen viewing . So it's not that difficult (IMO) to avoid having, via television, one's child introduced to topics that they want to broach later on. Television, IMO, should not be mistaken for "society." (Although I admit that's fully just my own take on the matter, and it isn't meant to slam anyone else's take.)

 

Pre-screen, record ahead to watch later, block channels, don't have TV. We can all opt out of a great deal of this interference and just let them learn about such topics the way nature intended -- from their cousins on the day before Thanksgiving. ;)

 

I don't know of any cable channel that I let my young kids have access to without me being there because of the commercials. Commercials for WWE angry cage matches, Judge Judy dystopia, Jerry Springer dysfunction, Cialis dys -- er -- function, highly sexualized sit-com ads. I just don't care to go there. (And that's just me for my family, so YMMV, no judgment intended on anyone else's family, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear, etc.)

Edited November 27, 2008 by Pam "SFSOM" in TN

[Another Lynn]

I didn't read all the responses, but just wanted to say that we sometimes watch Tom and Jerry on "Boom" - I've never noticed anything like you described. We do sometimes catch a show on cartoon network, but not very often - the commercials/previews are ridiculous.

[hsmamainva]

My kids also love Boomerang -- and I find myself watching along with them! Reliving my childhood! :lol: No commercials and Pink Panther, too! :D

 

My youngest watches Nick Jr and I haven't noticed anything objectionable. It stops airing in the early evening though -- I think around 6 or 7. Then it switches to Nickelodeon. Before then, it's shows like Dora the Explorer and Blues Clues.

[Snickerdoodle]

We can all opt out of a great deal of this interference and just let them learn about such topics the way nature intended -- from their cousins on the day before Thanksgiving. ;)

 

 

:smilielol5:

[charlotteb]

I would be shocked if I saw that! My kids have also watched Tom and Jerry on there before; I hope they never saw anything that I didn't notice.

 

Someone else also mentioned the racism on old cartoons. That bugs me as well! African Americans and Native Americans are treated so disrepectfully.

 

oh well, There's always Veggietales :)

[Lizzie in Ma]

When we first got cable it was the Family Channel that made me blow my stack of all things. Commercials are not something I care to have my kids watching regardless of what they are for or about.

We do Netflix and DVR. I do love many of the shows on cable but we use our dvr and ff commercials. We are fairly safe on the Food Network, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel.

[amy g.]

I must be living in Rosie's alternate universe, because my kids also have a gay aunt and a gay godfather. Nothing is in the kids' faces, but we talk about it when appropriate.

 

I don't allow T.V. or commercials here because I don't want the to think they should want junk food and toys that are going to break the second they come out of the box.

 

We also love the pink panther on NetFlix streaming. It is a much safer option.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I don't think the point is knowing and interacting with people with many different lifestyles, values and s*xual practices. In our family we have 3 children born to teen cousins. But while we have generally talked about certain things related to all that with my older child esp. (to answer some questions he had, not to bash the cousins) it isn't like we sit down with the cousins and discuss their s*x life. We had gay neighbors too and while they didn't hide it or anything, they weren't talking about their s*x life either. These commercials have an agenda - something that I haven't found in casual relationships with other people.

[Colleen]

"it's a great time to be a gay man"....Whatever your opinions on this topic, do you think cartoon network is the appropriate place for that type of topic?

 

Yes, I do. We watch virtually no television and don't have cable. I've never watched The Cartoon Network (even as a child I wasn't crazy about cartoons). My boys do look at it, somewhat, when we're at my parents' house. Like this morning, when I came into the living room, they were watching something on there. Doesn't thrill me, but there ya go.

 

My dad wants to help keep them occupied and thinks The Cartoon Network means "Fun stuff for kids". He is from the era that assumes no adult in their right mind would watch animated programs. In reality, though, there are a slew of cartoons that aren't oriented toward or ideal for children. So, with that in mind, I wouldn't expect The Cartoon Network to direct its programming solely to kids ~ ditto the advertisers.

[Confuzzled]

We don't get cable so no Cartoon Network here. I do think much of the advertising on TV is inappropriate for children, including PSA's about STD's.

 

However, doesn't the violence on Tom and Jerry bother anybody except me? My daughter has checked out T & J cartoons from the library and they make me cringe! The whole cartoon is the two beating up on each other.

 

Kris

[Kris]

I don't allow T.V. or commercials here because I don't want the to think they should want junk food and toys that are going to break the second they come out of the box.

 

I'm with you. The latest dramatic "healthy" McDonald's commercials come to mind. My son thinks they're moronic -- but the gay/AIDS/condom, etc., etc., etc. commercials barely register on his radar.

[Colleen]

I would be shocked if I saw that!

 

Shocked if they saw what? What did children in the original post actually "see"? They heard the words, "It's a great time to be a gay man". What exactly are you referencing?

[Donna T.]

We banned Cartoon Network a long time ago. They very often flash (usually very quickly, really a flash) occult symbols for no reason at all. Like really quickly between shows there will just be a pentagram or an inverted cross or some other weird symbol that is flashed on the screen. Their cartoons are just plain ugly.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Donna T.

[mo2]

just a word about those DVDs from walmart with the old cartoons on them...we got several of them off the dollar rack, looney tunes and such, they are all really old cartoons.

 

anwyay, i had to throw a few of them out because of racism depicted in the cartoons which made me uncomfortable. i mean blatant racism, as in depicting black people as monkeys. in looney tunes cartoons. just an FYI.

 

Well, yes, but I handle those instances by saying to my kids, "Can you believe people actually used to believe that?...and that some people still do?" We have some black people in our family, and Filippinos, and have some gay friends, so things like racism actually are discussed quite frequently in our house. I just don't like CN because most of the cartoons are crap and kids really don't learn anything (good) from them.

[Deidre in GA]

 

Shocked if they saw what? What did children in the original post actually "see"? They heard the words, "It's a great time to be a gay man". What exactly are you referencing?

 

i've been wondering the same thing. if you feel the announcement would prompt your child to ask what a gay man is, you can spin your answer to whatever your values demand.

[Laura K (NC)]

Cartoon Network is largely unacceptable for us.

 

There's just no point in seeing so much of the garbage that's on TV. I don't care what the real or perceived realities are. I have no reason to trust that Cartoon Network or most other channels is going to show edifying programs. They have consistently and increasingly shocked me over the past 10 years or so.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Laura K (NC)

[pqr]

i've been wondering the same thing. if you feel the announcement would prompt your child to ask what a gay man is, you can spin your answer to whatever your values demand.

 

 

You should not need to "spin" answers because an ostensibly children's network makes comments that have no place on children's TV. My values demand that young children not be exposed to comments or discussion on that topic which is yet another reason my children will not be watching that channel.

 

Anyway, I try to be honest with my children on most things, which is why we do not discuss homosexuality. I do not usually "spin".

[muffinmom]

Well, but on the other hand, parents make the decisions -- usually the express decisions -- about a) whether or not to have television in the home, b) whether or not to have *cable* television in the home, c) whether or not to let their children have access to certain channels, and d) whether or not to pre-screen viewing . So it's not that difficult (IMO) to avoid having, via television, one's child introduced to topics that they want to broach later on. Television, IMO, should not be mistaken for "society." (Although I admit that's fully just my own take on the matter, and it isn't meant to slam anyone else's take.)

 

Pre-screen, record ahead to watch later, block channels, don't have TV. We can all opt out of a great deal of this interference and just let them learn about such topics the way nature intended -- from their cousins on the day before Thanksgiving. ;)

 

I don't know of any cable channel that I let my young kids have access to without me being there because of the commercials. Commercials for WWE angry cage matches, Judge Judy dystopia, Jerry Springer dysfunction, Cialis dys -- er -- function, highly sexualized sit-com ads. I just don't care to go there. (And that's just me for my family, so YMMV, no judgment intended on anyone else's family, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear, etc.)

 

Certainly I understand your point. I absolutely believe that the parents must turn the TV off--the buck stops there. But I just don't believe that gets all other adults off the hook. How nice it would be if TV/ad executives would acknowledge their HUGE child viewership and respect their young minds. Just because you're in TV or in the adv. field doesn't mean you have to be irresponsible. I mean, let's be honest, most of the people who watch Cartoon Network, particularly in the daytime, are children. The programming even would indicate that. I believe instead of respecting children and their parents, they are wishing to overstep their role (providing entertainment) and influence and manipulate thinking.

 

We all need to be respecting parents' rights. Entertainment field included. Just because they won't doesn't mean we shouldn't hold the standard out there.

 

I have no objection about talking to my children about these things at the right time. I just don't think a network that gears itself primarily to children (at least in the daytime) should advertise adult themes during that programming. It's just not responsible.

[Colleen]

You should not need to "spin" answers because an ostensibly children's network

 

Is it ostensibly a children's network, though? I honestly don't know since I pay it no heed. My assumption, though, has always been that it's not directed primarily at children.

 

My values demand that young children not be exposed to comments or discussion on that topic which is yet another reason my children will not be watching that channel.

 

Makes sense.

 

I try to be honest with my children on most things, which is why we do not discuss homosexuality.

 

Doesn't make sense. How is avoiding a topic altogether on par with being honest? Do you never go out in public? If you ever saw a gay couple and your child asked, for example, "Why are those men holding hands?" would you simply tell him/her to be quiet and not ask questions? Would you refuse to answer since your values deem that you not even discuss the issue? I don't understand. Honesty is acknowledging that something exists, that something takes place. Acknowledgement and discussion needn't mean approval on your part.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Colleen

[pqr]

 

 

 

Doesn't make sense. How is avoiding a topic altogether on par with being honest? Do you never go out in public? If you ever saw a gay couple and your child asked, for example, "Why are those men holding hands?" would you simply tell him/her to be quiet and not ask questions? Would you refuse to answer since your values deem that you not even discuss the issue? I don't understand. Honesty is acknowledging that something exists, that something takes place. Acknowledgement and discussion needn't mean approval on your part.

 

 

You might not like what I would tell my children.

 

Fortunately where I live this is not an issue. Were my children to see such a display yes it would be discussed, but the point is I live in an area where they will not see such a display and have managed to shelter my children from this.

 

I certainly do not need a cartoon network introducing this topic.

 

My values and desires are that my children remain children for as long as possible. They do not need to know about porn, premarital sex, STDs, homosexuality or any other "adult" topics.

[Colleen]

You might not like what I would tell my children.

 

I'm not talking about what you (or I) tell our children. That wasn't my point.

 

Were my children to see such a display yes it would be discussed

 

I understand.

 

They do not need to know about porn, premarital sex, STDs, homosexuality or any other "adult" topics.

 

I don't know your faith. Is reading the Bible not part of your value system?

[pqr]

 

I don't know your faith. Is reading the Bible not part of your value system?

 

 

Certainly, but there are psalms and passages which are perhaps better kept for later years. The various books of Children's Bible Stories show that this practice is fairly common.

[Colleen]

Certainly, but there are psalms and passages which are perhaps better kept for later years. The various books of Children's Bible Stories show that this practice is fairly common.

 

What ages are your children, btw?

[TracyR]

Cartoon network is totally off limits in our house. For quite some time I had to fight to get my girls off the t.v and into their school work. The cartoons at best are very violent and there are very little "good" cartoons on this network. When it came to trying to compete with Cartoon Network I was losing and so therefore I fought back and won and got rid of the cable.

 

We can get Looney tunes and such on DVD. The rest of the cartoons on there are very violent and serve no educational purpose. Not that all cartoons in our house are educational.

[Daisy]

I guess I don't expect tv programming to conform to my values system. As a matter of fact, I assume they are in direct opposition to my values system, which is why we ditched the tv. I think we err in assuming most folks "think" like we do.

 

My children are 9 & 6. Both of my children understand issues such as homosexuality, abortion, etc. but within a certain context. Basically since we haven't discussed sex ed in great detail, they just think that homosexuals are individuals of the same sex who wish to act as married people (of course we add our own moral convictions to that conversation just as we would with ANYTHING). The discussion of STD's has not even entered our radar yet. Homosexuality had to be discussed as we live in CA. Abortion was brought up by a pastor during a sermon so it was time for a talk...

 

Anyway, my point was simply that we cannot expect the majority of society to conform to our ideas of right and wrong, especially as this nation moves farther and farther away from Judeo-Christian values.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Daisy

[pqr]

 

What ages are your children, btw?

 

All pre-teens.

 

I had no idea about many of the topics I referenced above till I was in my teens. As such I was fortunate enough to have a rather wholesome childhood. I intend that my children have the same.

 

There is no need for them to know about these topics for several years yet.

[mcconnellboys]

Honey, I was having lunch with my son last week and CNN had a news story on about the pregnant "man", who is now having "his" second child..... Television is not to be trusted at any time, on any channel....

[LauraGB]

Honey, I was having lunch with my son last week and CNN had a news story on about the pregnant "man", who is now having "his" second child..... Television is not to be trusted at any time, on any channel....

 

Dd picked up a copy of People at the orthodontist a few months ago dicussing his first baby - I just about died! She asked if men could acutally have babies...I said "Heck No...its one of those tabloids, you know, like at the grocery store...where they found the juice drained carrots and the vampire rabbit who did it." :blush5: Compeltely at a loss!

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

Dd picked up a copy of People at the orthodontist a few months ago dicussing his first baby - I just about died! She asked if men could acutally have babies...I said "Heck No...its one of those tabloids, you know, like at the grocery store...where they found the juice drained carrots and the vampire rabbit who did it." :blush5: Compeltely at a loss!

I see that you have 12 year old children. Why not just tell them the truth? And then add whatever your faith and/or personal viewpoint compels you to add.