Getting ready to can "Family Guy" and need feedbac

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I hate the show Family Guy. My 13 year old aspie son watches it nealy every evening. He laughs at the cruelty, violence, jokes and put-downs against women and minorities. I don't think its funny at all. I have tried to talk to him about it. I am an aspie too and may not be getting my point across too well. I think the show is bad for him and his 8 year old sister. I am not a prude and have used my share of foul language. But I can't let him pick up such foul values.

I am seriously thinking of censoring it by programming the local station that shows it off my TV. My husband and I have done this sort of thing in the past, when our kids were becomng addicted to certain cable stations. But now I'm worried because my son begins to have a meltdown when I even ask hm a question while Family Guy is on. He gets very close to a violent blow-up. Any advice?

so he is holding you hostage by his blowups? I am sorry to hear that.
it is good for children to know that a family is not a democracy. Parents know best for their children and that, as they say, is that.

I watch Family Guy because it's funny. But I know that it's just making fun of things. For instance, just because they made fun of the A-Team doesn't mean I should go and knock a tree down on someone's house just to save a cat. Now, that being said: I am 21, and know the difference between satire/humorous stupidy and being able to tell what's funny and untrue vs. what is actually done in real life. For instance, just because they put down women doesn't mean I agree with it.

Now, at 13...

At 13, that's a bit of different story, and especially at 8 :O

When I was 13, I wouldn't've been allowed to watch this show, nor would my brother (he's 14 now and still not able to watch it) because when you're young you tend to believe everything you see on TV and pretty soon you'll start taking up these values.

Bottom line: I would not, as a parent of a 13/8 year old, allow my kids to watch this show. Once I realized that they're old enough to see the difference between what they (Family Guy) say (e.g., put-down of women) vs. what is societally acceptable and what actually is (women are, in my opinion, some of the most beautfiul creatures on the face of this earth. That being said, some of them are bad apples--and SOME of them turn out to be what family guy says--but MOST of them are beautiful, intelligent, pretty to look at (I'm Asexual-ish), and so on). Basically, whaT I'm saying is: Make sure that you have instilled great values in you children's heads about women, violence, and the like. And keep it ingrained in themm until they're adults. Then, let them watch family guy. (God, I'd be an awful parent, wouldn't I? >.<)

That's as far as I go. As far as managing the meltdowns...I used to have this problem when I was younger and was off playing pretend in my head when I was 13, and constantly being disrupted. That went away. I still have meltdowns, but it's usually over things that I can't control (ie, my savings being used up to pay my parents' "rent" and my health insurance that I can't afford--COBRA--etc.)

Then stop letting them watch it.

I just need to feel I'm not over-reactng, because I'm afraid my 180 pound son will put his fist through a wall when he finds out I've done it. He has never destroyed anything but he pounds his desk and kicked a door on his closet last year during a homework-related blowup. I'm a bit of a chcken.

You're not overreacting. That show is vile. They had a "joke" about raping the dead body of a murdered teenage girl. Children should not be allowed to see it.



I would be afraid, too. Punching and kicking objects is a way that abusers control their victims. The message is clear: that could have been you. Whether he is doing this to control you, whether he is doing it because of his AS, or whether it is both is irrelevant to whether it needs to stop. There are certain behaviors that are unacceptable.

Can you get more adults into or near the household when you tell him? Be prepared to call the ambulance or police if the situation excalates. It is not your job to do damage control by allowing him to damage your home or your health.

Frankly, I would consider geting rid of television altogether: either he has poor behavioral controls, or he's gaming the system to get what he wants. If it's the former, television advertising alone will damage his emotional and interpersonal health: he'd be better off without it. If it's the latter, he shouldn't get TV anyway. No TV would probably benefit him in many ways.

Family Guy is rather boring and cliched but it's harmless.

I wouldn't suggest trying to censor your son's TV because;

a. It would make him see you as the "bad person"
b. He could get the show other ways (internet, dvds, friends)
c. He will learn that it's best to "hide" his behaviour from his parents
d. He may decide to watch it specifically because you don't like it.
e. He may switch to worse alternatives.

My children watch all manner of things and they don't imitate it or think it's real. They like family guy but we don't watch it much and since it's not "restricted", they don't go looking for it.

I guess that you really should be checking into his behaviour;

eg:
Limit his TV hours, not specific programs, let your son decide what he wants to cut.
If he's caught saying bad words (directly quotable foul language from the show) then he should miss a days viewing.

Why get rid of the show when at the moment, it's a great key to discipline.
If you can "punish him" by turning it off... then save it until he's naughty - but give it back when he's good. That way you can use the punishment whenever you like.

Family Guy is ok, but it is Soiuth Park that i do not like.

I found Family Guy funny in a "shock value" sort of way, but it just got to the point where it was being offensive for the sake of being offensive. It's run its course, so I don't watch it anymore.

am I the only one that thinks the TV show is the least of her problems?

I only think this show is funny on rare occasions, it is most of the time quite terrible, and I would imagine that for younger kids around your childrens age they should not be watching this. This show is an aweful show for someone so young even just because of the fact kids don't get satire, but for young kids probably would copy this show, and this does not have anything that a kid should become like.

I would ask if you're child is seeing a pediatrician or some other specialist that is helping you're son possibly to do with his apergers syndrome. Such a person should be able to help a disscusion including with your son about why this show is not good for him and possibly discuss solutions, his outbursts and alternative viewings or activities. He might need someone he looks up to and who he thinks can understand him, he might just see his parents as not understanding him and what he enjoys. It might just take an adult who is a friend that can explain why he shouldnt watch it.

Kids can be attracted to vile, it is something they don't quite understand, and it can make certain people feel more accepted if the show is makeing fun of other types of people. And they can feel like they are wrongly being prosecuted as they think they are ready for the content or other people they know might watch it and can think why can they and not me or want to be liked by watching the same show. But Family Guy is not something a 13 year old should watch and they are not mature enough in many ways to not pick up bad habits or see/hear things they are not ready for.

gbollard, your logic does not make much sense to me. It comes across like "don't make rules because the kid will just break them". Exactly, and when the child breaks the rules, they are punished. From this process, many children can learn learn boundaries and self-control.

... in front of you.

Family Guy is full of harmful messages: that women are objects, that rape is a joke, that injuring others/stealing from them/lying to them is funny, that violence shouldn't bother you, etc. Your children ARE affected by these messages.

I agree but are these 'blow ups' mearly temper outbusts or are they more than that to me it seems that family guy is the child obsession.. i would be more worried about his sister whacting these outbursts..

I would be concerned about the effect that these outbursts are having on the entire family.

As far as obsessions go, there are some obsessions that are not acceptable. What if a child became obsessed with photos of graphic violence, or with tying up their friends? No sensible parent would allow their child to pursue an obsession that could harm the child's developing psyche, body, or any other person.

the obsession you speak are uncommon but common enouth to be noted

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt104672.html here is a thread noting some darker obessions.. and im not sure there is much parents can do

I totally agree with you. Especially since the new run began, Family Guy has gotten just plain mean-spirited. I can support random humor and even a lack of a plot, but I can't support just being dicks to each other.