Who Do I Think I Am??

This one's about sex, violence, and forever.

30DBC PROMPT: "Give your opinion on the age "children" should be allowed to read material about death, killing, sex, recreational drugs, etc. In your entry, discuss your thoughts on the WDC rating. Is it enough?"

Wow! How's it goin' out there? Tough prompt we've got staring back at us from the blank recesses of the text input panel thingey. Why? Cuz asking me for advice on how to raise your kids is like asking a criminal for financial advice.

It's true. I'm a shortly-grown adult with no kids. I hardly have the frame of reference necessary to get myself out of bed sometimes, let alone try to answer this prompt. But, since toying with prompts is kinda what I do anyway, here goes.

I think, as much as it was intended to be shielded from me for as long as humanly possible, I was probably exposed to death, killing, sex and drugs earlier than those presiding over me would've liked. (In the interest of not typing so damn much, these vices will hereby be referred to as "DKS&D". Keep the snickering to a minimum.)

The prompt, however, only suggests exposure through reading, and not through other mediums such as television or movies. I have to argue it's almost harder to control what kids read rather than what they watch; there's little parental guidance going on at the library of your kids' schools. You can set limits on televisions over what stations they can and can't flip to, but you can't keep a 13-year-old out of the romance, mystery or sci-fi sections of bookstores, ya dig me?

Here's my real point. I was 11, maybe in sixth grade, and all the rage was the book Forever by Judy Blume. This book was so popular maybe ten years after it was first published that there was a waiting list at my school's library for it, and all the copies at the local library were out. If you're not familiar with the book, here's the Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever..._(novel)

Why was this book so popular? What was it really about? Nobody could actually tell you, because the only pages anyone ever read were the 10-12 pages of "good parts" that someone took the time to underline with a pen. And by "good parts", I mean the graphic sexual content. Now, I understand that this stuff happens in real life, and this book was geared for young adults, but shouldn't someone, say, a librarian, have known that this content probably wasn't appropriate for the mostly 10- or 11-year-olds in my school, and had the copies sent from the middle school to the junior high? Just sayin'.

My thoughts? It's hard to put a physical age on what's right for a kid to come across, let alone control what they're reading. I think a better gauge would be the emotional maturity of the kid, and hopefully, hopefully, a parent knows that. Then again, doesn't the teenage pregnancy rate rise almost every year? You can't just say, "13 is the legal age to expose kids to DKS&D" (stop snickering!), because not all kids are ready to process that stuff the same way. Even if I read Judy Blume's softcore pseudo-porn at age 11, and I turned out just fine.

As for the WDC rating system, I don't have many qualms with it. That's not to say I haven't butted heads with it from time to time, or come across something where the rating was inappropriate. As important as it is for an author to have a "ratings guideline", it's just as important to someone policing the policies to be fair and consistent. That's all I've ever asked when someone's raised a question about my ratings.

FUN FACT! One of the original pilot episodes for the children's television series The Muppet Show was actually targeted to an adult audience and was called "Sex And Violence". No joke. If you watch the first season on dvd, it's one of the bonus special features. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELHkePIEJnk That's a link to the first part of the episode...not too far off from the actual Muppet Show we know, but not too close either.

BCF PROMPT: "What is your greatest weakness?"

I'm not applying for the job, I was drafted for the mission . No, seriously, that does kinda sound like something you'd expect to hear in a job interview, or while seated on the couch at The Tonight Show. Luckily, I won't be taking any silver bullets soon, so I don't mind exposing any weaknesses in fear of someone trying to take me out.

I think too much, too grand, and exhibit dissatisfaction at my lack of follow-through. Sounds like a lot. Maybe it is. And perhaps if this were a chaotic and crippling weakness, my entry would end here, and I'd sulk for the rest of the day thinking how sucky today was.

But I am learning to overcome my weaknesses! Growing mentally, and being strong in the face of my unaccomplishments! (Not a real word, so don't bother.) Pushing ahead! Going forward! Being a better person. Even if I read 10-12 pages of Judy Blume's softcore pseudo-porn at age 11!

Oh, and I also have a weakness for girls with corkscrewy curls, preferably blonde.

MUSICAL BREAK!!

Could there be a more aptly titled song for today's entry? Probably. I'm just too lazy to look for one.

VITAL STATS:

Eh, I got nothin' today. Haven't seen a newspaper yet, so no crazy stories to share. Yes, I still disseminate most of my news through a physical newspaper. You know...news, but it's printed...on paper. Sounds crazy, but it's true. Shocking.

Ok, you've had about enough of me for another day. I'm off to try and stay out of trouble, but I'm not exactly counting that among my strengths. I'll catch you all later. Peace, check the expiration dates before you buy, and GOODNIGHT NOW!!