On the banning of things
From the last 50 years, let’s look at some things those who know what’s best for us [1] wanted banned.
We start with dime novels because they dealt with crime and mysteries. Then comic books because they promoted solitary behavior. Then movies, driving in a car with a woman and no adult supervision (because sex), then drive-ins (because sex), then TV (because kissing), then cartoons, radio, games, books, and music.
At some point, every form of media and entertainment gets labelled as taboo or unwholesome by this group.
Let’s take a peek at some of these shocking influences.
Jazz was indecent.
Comic books caused damage to children because they were reading alone.
Elvis was too sexual with his hip movements and couldn’t be shown on television.
The Beatles caused ungodly hysteria. Women wept at the mere sight of them.
Rock concerts spread mass hysteria with kids whipping themselves into a frenzy. They were so happy it was bad.
Dancing too close was taboo and must be done at arms length (because sex through clothing).
Listening to albums on your own is loner behavior.
If someone engages in a solo activity it’s considered unsociable behavior and one step away from suicide.
Anything that causes children to ask for independence and individual thought is dangerous. You want to go where? On your own? Without someone spying on your every move? How dare you!
What we really see are parents rebelling and lashing out against things they don’t understand, more to the point, a loss of control.
When parents get mad because their kids dismiss them, they consider the source to be dangerous and work to ban it. There is very little attempt made for kids to explain their interests and likes. If we need to ban things we don’t understand, how about Geometry and Calculus?
It’s amazing how powerless these parents act. Instead of taking up the mantle of parenting in their own homes, they demand others take action. Other people have to put a stop to their problems so they don’t have to do anything.
They don’t want video games made, books published, or music created they don’t agree with. It makes them feel awkward, therefore it can’t exist. They saw or heard something they didn’t like, and everyone has to pay for that offense. “It made me feel stupid, it has to go away!”
And before someone says, “Just wait until you have kids!” I have children and grandchildren.
I have no issue with selling and playing violent video games. It’s not my style so I didn’t buy them. Regardless, I didn’t play “dark” games in front of my kids. Look, problem solved.
I love detective mysteries, especially on PBS and the BBC, but I was selective in what my kids saw. We watched plenty of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. I knew the episodes ahead of time and skipped over certain ones.
I don’t care what anybody says, Scooby-Doo is awesome, and demonstrates ghosts and paranormal high jinx don’t exist, especially when there is an abandoned gold mine close by. Did Scooby and the gang prove a certain “guy in the sky” doesn’t exist?
Yes, Scooby-Doo got the stink eye because Bible thumping evangelists claimed it promoted the occult since it had “ghosts.”
If they had brains they would have noted every episode ends with them debunking ghosts, and Velma saying, “There’s no such thing as ghosts.”
Considering their whole belief system is based on the paranormal and spirits, seems a bit hypocritical.
This is such a tired story. Instead of saying, “This isn’t for me, I’ll pass,” Or sitting with their kids and asking, “What about this interests you? Explain it to me,” they ban and censor in the name of protection. All the while things that are truly dangerous are ignored.
Scooby-Doo is too much for society to handle, but a house full of semi-automatic weapons is perfectly fine?
Cyndi Lauper is out control with her reckless song about self-love? Somehow this caused children to engage in chronic masturbation and drove them to insanity?
Of course, it’s much better not to discuss sexual topics, shame children, and enforce abstinence. That makes them well adjusted adults for sure.
What I find ironic is how religious zealots take everything but the Bible literally. All song lyrics are black and white. All book ideas are meant to be taken just as they are. All songs lead to teen suicide.
But, when it comes to the Bible, oh no, that’s an allegory. That’s a parable. You’re not supposed to take those stories literally.
Contradiction much?
If you don’t want something in your house, that’s fine, your decision. Don’t watch that movie. Don’t read that book. Don’t buy that game. But stop kicking in my door and forcing me to agree with you.
I was recently reading the history of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise and parents were up in arms over the game. Yet, they knew their underage kids were playing it. Parents knew it was violent, they knew it had an adult rating, but they turned a blind eye. “This video game is in my house and I’m powerless against it!”
If something went wrong in life, time to blame the game. Nice scapegoat parenting.
When it wasn’t D&D it was Doom. When it wasn’t Doom it was GTA. When it wasn’t GTA it was Ozzy Osbourne. When it wasn’t Ozzy, it was Harry Potter. When it wasn’t Harry Potter, it was 50 Shades.
And on.
And on.
It’s amazing what the church going crowd wants banned and what they think makes for a better society.
Scooby-Doo bad.
Guns good. More guns even better.
Indoctrination good.
Emotional trauma good.
Gender shaming good.
Children shitting themselves in fear over God’s retribution, perfect!