should 13-yr.-olds watch it?

My son, 13, wants to start watching Seinfeld because of its Emmy awards; he's otherwise not familiar with it, though a few of his friends watch it. Most of the shows, I think, would be suitable for him although perhaps a bit over his head, but some are obviously a little risque. He'd understand them, but I'm not sure he should be watching them, and I don't consider myself a prude. Also, as someone wrote here recently regarding watching the orgasm episode with her/his mother, I'd feel awkward watching these particular episodes with him (and perhaps he with me!). Anyway, what do people out there think about young teenagers watching Seinfeld, either with or without their parents?

writes:

My personal opinion (and only that!): *with* parents: definitely OK; without parents: probably OK for most families, unless sex is a touchy or taboo subject.

In article , writes...

Now-a-days most 13 year olds already know just about everything about that "stuff". I would assume your 13 year old son knows almost as much as you know about that "stuff".

[email] (B.J. Guillot) writes:

Good point. I saw a real-life TV show recently in which 3 13-year-old girls were being interviewed. One had slept with 10 boys, one with 8, and the third with 5. They said they were less experienced than their classmates. This came as a big surprise to me (an old fogey of 34).

writes:

Gee, mayber this cold has really gotten to me and that is why I am so darn irritable, but here it goes (maybe any flames I get will keep me warm and make this cold go away).

But, why don't you take the responsibility and watch the show your- self instead of asking us what we think about your kind watching it. I don't know you, I don't know your kid so I can't tell you what to let him do.

I think part of the problem with television and censors is that some parents don't monitor their children's viewing/listening preferences and then go non-linear when they finally take the time to do so.

I do think it is the right thing to be concerned, but I think it is also the right thing to make decisions based on your own personal set of criteria.

Mike

PS I would let my 13 year old son watch the Sein.

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In article , wrote:

Well, maybe you *would* be a little uncomfortable...but so what? Myself, I'd want my kid to think he could ask me about that kind of stuff. (Easy for me to say...) I don't think I've ever seen anything on the show I didn't know all about when I was 13, & it's probably the same for your son. I wouldn't say the characters are good role models for a young man, in terms of their loose morals, but surely it's no worse than anything ELSE on tee-vee!

[email] wrote: ..I'd feel awkward watching these particular episodes with him (and ..perhaps he with me!). Anyway, what do people out there think about ..young teenagers watching Seinfeld, either with or without their ..parents?

Identical problem here except with us it's our daughter. For the originals, we say "no way." If on re-runs we know the content and think it's suitable, it's ok. Explaining "the tap" to a 13 year old? I don't think so.

Just use the line my parents always use: "It's one of those things you'll understnad when you grow up."

Oh yeah. I always hated that, didn't I? :-)

My nine year old son watches Seinfeld (he thinks Kramer is hilarious) and I have no problem with it. IF he asks "Mom, what are they talking about" then I'll give him a simple straight-forward answer. I've always handled the subject of sex that way with him and consequently he has no hang ups, doesn't feel unconfortable, etc. with the whole thing.

It's homes where the subject is treated as something to ignore or shove under the rug that the kids start feeling "maybe there's something more to this thing called sex". When a child asks a simple question, usually they just want a simple answer and it satisfies their curiosity. Half the time he doesn't even notice the implied subject of the program ... he just laughs at Kramer.

In article writes:

I think he should be okay... the "risquee" stuff on the show is handled in such a way so's that if you know what they're talking about then it is funny but they never fully explain it. (ie. The Contest, "going south of the equator") They have mentioned the word "orgasm" though... you may have a problem with that.... (who knows?)

In article writes:

I get uncomfortable when I watch some of the shows with my little sister, who is 13. For me, my morals are already pretty much set, so I let some of the stuff slide, since the majority of the show is hilarious. But I don't want her to think I approve of everything on the show, when she is still trying to figure out what's right and wrong for her. This is not a judgement on anyone who doesn't see the least bit wrong with the show.

In article , Eddie Howell wrote:

So *explain* to her what's wrong with it.

I had to laugh at the last line of your post. Reminds me of: "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

Of course, there is. But god forbid we should say it!

Love the Sein'...

[email] (Eddie Howell) writes: }I get uncomfortable when I watch some of the shows with my little sister, who }is 13. For me, my morals are already pretty much set, so I let some of the }stuff slide, since the majority of the show is hilarious. But I don't want }her to think I approve of everything on the show, when she is still trying to

What on the show don't you "approve" of?

}figure out what's right and wrong for her. This is not a judgement on anyone }who doesn't see the least bit wrong with the show.

Ken.

I don't agree with all the characters sleeping around and I wouldn't my little sister doing that. But really, my post wasn't about what yours or my morals are. I'm going to assume that putting approve in quotes wasn't a slam on my beliefs, because that would have been childish.

No, not a slam on your beliefs at all, but a comment on some folks' assumption that they are in a position to pass judgement on anyone else's (specifically, the characters on the show) victimless behavior. True, if you're one of the people raising your young sister, it's part of your responsibility to judge her behavior, until her values are pretty much set, at which point there's not much more you can do.

"Agreeing" or "disagreeing" with the characters sleeping around seems pointless to me. Even if they were real people, what's it to you? They're not your sister. Why would you care what they do?

Ken.

In article [email] (Ken Gacioch) writes:

You're right. I could care less if George or whoever sleeps with just anybody, because he's not a real person. But, c'mon, kids do what they see other people doing. Now, I know one tv show is not going to turn her into a nympho or anything, but every little thing adds up. Hopefully, my sister respects me and my opinions, so I would want to put my vote in for her not sleeping around.

Actually, I had never thought a great deal about this subject; I just knew that I felt uncomfortable watching it with her sometimes.

I haven't been followig this thread, so this may have already been covered, but although the characters do seem to sleep around a bit, they *do* use condoms (albeit discount, defective condoms).

And, really, I don't think they sleep around more than any other single person their age. Has anyone tallied it up yet?

This is an interesting question. Do Jerry Seinfeld and his fictitious friends sleep around more than I, a single person who is just 11 days younger than Jerry, do? If someone would like to tally it up and post the results, I'll let you know. 8-) BTW, what units are used for measuring sleeping around?

Ken.