I can remember it was in 1970, I was 13 years old. I was an avid reader and if a book I’d read was ever made into a movie, my mom and I would go see it. I had read Love Story the year before the movie. It was rated PG. I loved that movie. The phrase “Love means never having to say your sorry” came from this movie. It was so sad. I just bawled when it ended. We were both pretty quiet on the way home. I knew how it would end since I read the book but seeing it was different to me somehow. I read an average of 3 books a week and though I may get sad, I hardly ever cry. I just don’t seem to cry when reading. There was one sex scene in this movie but nothing was shown but Ali MacGraw’s back.
I had gone to bed and I heard my parents start to yell at each other and being the nosy person I am, I got up and listened at my bedroom door. My mom wanted to take me to Ryan’s Daughter and my dad said I wasn’t old enough and he “forbid” me to see that movie. I never did see it until this past year. I came upon it quite by accident when I was ordering a book for my mom and it was just “there” and I was dying to see what I couldn’t see back then. I almost hated it. It was so s-l-o-w moving and I thought, very boring. There was a small sex scene, same as Love Story, you couldn’t “see” anything but it was all done with innuendo’s. But, it was about an adulterous affair and maybe that was why my dad didn’t want me to see it. I’m not sure and he probably won’t remember.
My point is how times have changed and how movies and ratings have changed. There is more on TV now in prime time, at 7:00 PM than I was allowed to see in a movie theater at 13. I’m left to wonder why? Do you think all the sex and all the violence and innuendo’s that are on now so early at night is okay? Were we to sheltered back then about this kind of stuff because remember, we were all riding our bikes with no protective gear, climbing and falling out of tree’s, taking off and being gone all day left to do whatever we wanted and we drank water from the hose, we didn’t use seat-belts……..I think you get the point. I know Toby and Sue have stopped watching some of the shows they like if the kids are up just because they said they have just gotten to suggestive.
So do you think we are better off? Were we shielded to much or are the kids of today bubble wrapped in one way but treated much older in others?
Us Girls..Our Views 
I remember when I was 13, some of my friends were going to see Escape From New York at the drive in, and I wanted to go. I was not withy them that evening, yet I got to see Jaws at that age. I promptly bought the movie score (it’s an awesome score) and used it to terrorize my brother when it was dark. Mind you, he hadn’t seen the movie yet, but between the previews and the haunting music I had my fun.
As you said, now you can see worse stuff than either of those movies on prime time. I prefer Discovery Channel, History, A&E, etc anyways.
I dont think we were too shielded.I didnt see alot of movies back in the 70s,but I loved The Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family.I think that some stations now adays start shows way to early that kids should not be watching.I feel its gone to far in alot of shows.Start the shows not suitable for children after 10pm.Most young ones will be in bed.I feel,let kids be kids,cause time goes by so fast.They will have enough time to find out what our world has become soon enough.
Movies have changed alot.I remeber babysitting on a saturday night.Kids are in bed.Its midnight.I turn on the tv and watched “Twilight Zone”.I was so fricken scared,I froze on the couch till they got home.If you watch one of those now,it would probably not be as scarry as it was in 1974.Times have changed alot.Look at all those old movies.They are very slooowwwwwwwwww moving.
I remember my mom freaking out after watching The Omen. I watched part of it years later, and I couldn’t even finish watching it, it was so boring.
I also remember that the sitcom “Soap” which was a late-night show was absolutely off limits for us when I was a tween. Now you can’t even tell what the big deal was. A gay guy? A looney tune? A woman who liked the company of men she wasn’t married to? I don’t think they showed any skin or violence or foul language. Kids see worse things on child-oriented primetime shows nowadays; in fact, that sort of thing is considered educational in the “politically correct” entertainment world. Things surely have changed.
Let’s take Ugly Betty for example. I’ll bet a lot of people let their kids watch that. I consider that way over the line but I’m obviously behind the times.
I watch almost no TV other than a couple of taped shows, but last week I had houseguests and they were watching an old Friends rerun. It was about a woman who was about to give birth and, aside from the excessive use of foul and obnoxious language, the woman spent the whole time cursing her uterus and the baby inside. Not just a joke here and there, but a continuous stream of nastiness/hatefulness. I don’t get how people could have found that funny.
Last week a friend bought a video on sale because she thought my kids might like it. It was “Dr. Doolittle” starring Eddie Murphy. Well, I know enough to check the small print if it’s an Eddie Murphy film, and sure enough, it promised foul language etc. But what bugs me is that the larger print says this is a terrific movie for the whole family. Eddie Murphy’s uncensored mouth in a “family” movie? Not MY family, thanks.
On the other hand, we’re no longer allowed to have cigarettes, guns, or gender/racial stereotypes in shows meant for kids. It’s a topsy-turvy world.
I think maybe a happy medium erring on the side of not so suggestive. I am amazed at how much TV has changed. It is shocking and if I had kids I would be concerned. I wouldn’t say how it was is particularly good going to the extreme of freaking out over everything, but now a days it’s a bit much. That my 2 cents.Maybe if some of the stuff that’s on prime time was moved to late night. I don’t know.
I remember my dad not taking me to see “Grease” because he heard from somone at work that the “F” word was used once. LOL I wanted to see that movie sooooo bad!! LOL
I think movies and TV have gone too far in what they show and the language they use. It’s their way of making more money though. Horror movies have REALLY gone overboard if you ask me. Maybe if we had some of the values of yesteryear and kids weren’t exposed so much to what they are now, we wouldn’t have kids with so many “adult” problems.
I have heard stories about 12 year olds that kill one of their friends because they saw it in a moive and they wanted to know what it was REALLY like to see someone die. WTF is that?
I think it’s all the “if you don’t like it you can turn it off” mentality. Seems like every time somebody complains about the content of a show, that phrase is the way to shut down any conversation and dialogue on the situation.
I still sit and watch reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, and agree with the song… “I miss Mayberry”.
I only allowed my kids to watch family movies. My daughter, especially, hated the horror/violent movies. She still won’t watch them. I personally, don’t feel kids need to see all the crap on TV. I am happy that my daughter won’t use TV as a babysitter. I would rather see kids playing outside or doing arts and crafts. My kids don’t feel that they were deprived because they couldn’t watch much TV. My daughter plans on bringing up her daughter the way she was brought up.
I feel as long as parents do theri job, in ALL aspects of child rearing, you should feel confident, as a parent in making the right decisions!
Honestly? I think a bigger problem is the advertising. Yeah, shows and movies are much more risque, ‘pushing the envelope’, etc., but I’m prepared for that.
What I’m NOT prepared for (and yes, I should be) are the Viagra ads during NASCAR. Aside from that stupid bathtub scene (WHO puts their bathtubs on the edge of a cliff? Am I the ONLY one who sees potential problems with this? Especially since I never see any towels around??? but I digress)… where was I? Oh, yeah, ads. I’ll be sitting and re-enacting the race Hot Rod and I are watching on TV, and suddenly, we’re hit with Viagra ads, and GoDaddy! Ads, and others with scantily clad women, all filled with innuendo. Most of the time, still, the innuendo is over his head, but it’s pathetic that I choose something that *should* be clear for him to watch – a car race – and I have to shield him from the ads.
I hate those ads too Laura. I just hope I don’t have to explain what “seek medical treatment if an erection lasts for more 6 hours” means.
So far, I haven’t had to explain that one yet!
We have stopped watching some of the shows on at 7pm b/c they are not suitable for kids. And that pisses me off b/c at 7pm they should be! Things have changed since even I was a kid and it’s not for the better sometimes.
I’m wondering WTH I was doing in the 80’s to not realize what was going on with movies that would now have a Rated R sticker on it and back then was PG???
HOLY COW..we stuck in Sixteen Candles last night…that has a PG sticker on it. The “F” bomb was in there at least 1/2 dozen times and there was a nude scene…boobage (BLAH)…WTH???
I so do not remember all of that going on back then. And Valley Girl …WOW…not at all how I remember that movie. I mean we watch it anyhow but dude the language was raw for that time period and all they were giving it was a PG???
Are we more flax now with ratings? That’s what I want to know. I mean there are some pretty graphic movies now that are only rated R. Maybe there needs to be something in between the R and the xxx’s? Or is there? Or was like PG back in the 80’s the RAUNCH? I can’t remember..hell I was under the influence most of the time back then anyhow..but wow!
nice video. thank you