From: Christian.Walters@p0.f14.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Christian Walters)
Newsgroups: hsv.religion
Subject: Re: kids and morals
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 92 22:31:04 CDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:373/14.0 - The Aviation BBS, Meridianville AL

Quoth Jim Cobabe:
>> The problem is complex. We can't just start banning things. Kids are
>> going to find out about them one way or another, and if the subject
>> of sex or drugs is taboo at home, they will think there's something
>> to it all. Also, once you start banning books and movies, it's hard
>> to stop. Reverend Wildmon's crowd showed us how easy it is to find
>> something offensive in the most innocuous of books.
 
>I think you make it more complex than necessary.  If parents take a
>consistent and reasonable approach to this issue in their own homes,
>their children learn moral values gradually and relatively painlessly.
 
Well, yeah, but I was talking about steps society should take to keep
kids from growing up to be repressed perverts :)  I think the parents
should, of course, be the ones to deal with it, but as we've already
hashed over, sometimes they fumble their jobs, leaving kids unprepared
for the Outside.
 
>I guess the problem shows up when parents have not prepared their
>children to deal adequately with the challenges of becoming responsible
>adults.
 
Hey! There's an echo in here! We agree on something, Jim. This is deadly
serious - both of our reputations are in danger. I won't tell anyone if
you won't :)
 
>And an effective approach does not allow a vacuum to exist, so there
>is no subject that is "taboo at home".
 
Alas, this does not always happen. Some kids aren't allowed to talk
about sex or listen to certain types of music or watch certain TV shows.
 
>In my home, we just "know" when
>things are appropriate for us, and when they are not.
 
That's the way I was brought up, too. But that begs the question of
where your parents got strong morals, to be instilled in you. Maybe it
was just easier when no one even said "damn." A pox on Clark Gable and
his progressive radicalism, anyway :)
 
>We have taught them that we want to do "the right things",
>and they have internalized this idea.  Now they are becoming able to
>apply this concept to specific instances where judgement is required
>without any intervention from me.
 
Yep! If the parents have a clue, the kids have a chance.
 
>This approach is apparently only good with young children, however.
>I suppose if parents neglect the education of their children until they
>are teen-agers, they are preparing themselves for lots of grief.
 
This is a case of role models, I think. At least partly. I mean, I have
nothing personal against Axl Rose or any rap artist or whatever, but it
seems like teenagers are more impressed by them once their parents
impressiveness wears off. I had it easier, because I had Captain Kirk as
a role model - not only did he teach me about doing the right thing, but
I learned a great deal about sex :)
 
>> At least I think so, but who knows? I might turn out to be a lousy
>> parent someday.. :)
 
>Try it, you'll like it.  :-)
 
Maybe, but it's not exactly tops of my list of things to do right now :)
When I get a steady job, then I'll bend my thoughts to those of
procreation. (I mean serious thought, not the thoughts that you come up
with when you're lying in bed waiting for sleep :) )


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