Modern Cartoons - Bad for Children

Hi All -

Our son has Saturday morning as a much-anticipated day to watch cartoons, without the usual time limits we impose during the week. I have been thinking on this, though, for some time: modern cartoons not only suck, they're horrible for children. Specifically, when I am in the other room, I hear what to my ears is an almost maniacal cacophony of intense sound and violence. I come to watch what he's watching, and I see images that flash on the screen for a second; tiny, frenetic little sound and image bites...part of what I think is wrong with modern life, this addictive thirst for bigger, louder, faster.

Yeah, I know - bugs and company was also based in violence, a la 3 Stooges. Somehow, it seems different now - like a video game in tempo, and just as mind-numbingly chaotic, and not a story, no artistry.

Don't know if this makes any sense. But I'd be curious to hear from others, especially parents - what do you think? Am I just being an old fart, and there's nothing wrong with today's children's animation programming? Or, yep, there is a difference in kind and not just degree between today's and yesterday's programming, and the difference is harmful to kids?

 

I disagree. Modern cartoons are much milder. Do you know how violent tom and jerry cartoons are?

 

I think modern cartoons are not bad,but tom and jerry are the best cartoon ever.

 

I should clarify - I am talking about a kind of fractured, frenetic pacing - images that fly at lightning speed, with a similar sound and music patterning. I totally agree on the violence thing. But - and I am open to being totally wrong here - somehow, thinking back, I was able to see how "cartoonish" this all was, say, when Bugs hammers Daffy with a frying pan - so that it was "theatre." I "got" its fiction. It feels to me like today's cartoons are just not only part of a very fractured, insanely frenetic life, but contributing to it. To take your example, WB's modern Tom and Jerry - on only moments ago - is nothing like yesterday's.

Please understand I appreciate your input and freely admit this may just be a generation gap thing. But I wonder if not.

 

I find todays' cartoons for the most part much more mild, not only violence but also hate and racially related. How many Popeyes for instance have been banned because of racist agenda's within the cartoon themselves?

I'm not so sure I'd say they are 'good' for kids however, maybe some of the educational ones.

 

And the old cartoons, yes, there was violence, but it was more animal against animal. Today's cartoons have the same violence, but it seems to be more man against man. I suppose that makes it worse, but IDK, maybe violence is just violence whether it's animals or people.

 

some cartoons/anime do have violence.. but as those cartoons are played on most TV Shows.. they add PARENTAL GUIDANCE.. for me cartoons/anime are very entertaining.. but those kids should be guided by their parents to avoid them in doing those violence to other....

 

Ya bad for young kids.Nowdays they r showing XXX in cartoon as well.

 

TV is bad period, why should cartoons be any different?


I guess I haven't seen many new ones. We watch pretty mild stuff anyway since she's only 4 and I am only twice that (mentally)

 

i just cant follow them anymore. the american/japanese produced ones are the worst!

 

Just turn the little fellow loose and let him catch up on a few episodes of Southpark.

 

Giving yourself extra credit aren't you?

 

By the way, I've imposed the Hammer of Thor - moratorium on this kind of programming. Krypto and Johny Test were made part of history and we went on a three mile hike through a Northern Illinois bog. Even the dogs are quiet tonight.

 

Well I'm 50 so I grew up with Top Cat, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Deputy Dawg, etc etc. I thought they were brilliant but my grandparents thought they were 'bad for us'. In turn when my Grandad was a boy he used to buy 'penny dreadful' comics (this was obviously well before TV!) which HIS parents thought were appalling.

So either civilisation has been on a downward moral spiral since the Renaissance period or it's just a generational thing. Personally if I was a boy now I love Spongebob Squarepants.

 

Cartoons are fine for kids! Kids are watching X rated stuff by the time thier 13. You should just let him watch his cartoons.

 

The stuff I see today on cartoon network is far more aggressive than it used to be and it sets a wrong example on kids. I think entertainment for kids should be light and meaningful (carry a moral message) so that they grow up at their own pace.

 

your treachery know no bounds!

 

Well,Modern children should enjoy modern cartoons,but it is disgust to provide children XXX rated cartoons.

 

Todays cartoons are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE!!!!!!!

The cartoons from the 80s and before ARE MUCH BETTER!

The kids of today have NO IDEA what GOOD is

I agree with you northpointaiki!!!!

 

I dont think cartoons are bad for kids. I think its just taking the blame off of the parents and putting it somewhere else. The parent is the one responsible for their own child's behavior, not TV executives.