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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I stop my 11 DD watching Family Guy and Russell Howard.

60 replies

Jellybeanz1 · 01/09/2013 11:29

During the summer holidays my daughter often sleeps in my bed as my DH works away half the week. I watch late night telly and she came in whilst I was watching these shows. At the beginning I turned it off when language or content was too outrageous however gradually the bar got pushed and now she's complaining when I don't let her watch. I told her we'd have to stop when she goes back to school but as it's on at the weekend she says IABU as loads from her class watch them. I feel am very bad M but cant cure my addiction either. Should I stop?

OP posts:
BlackAffronted · 01/09/2013 11:30

Wouldnt let mine watch Russell Howard for sure! far too mature themes.

YouStayClassySanDiego · 01/09/2013 11:34

I don't know who Russell Howard is but I do know Family Guy which I love.

My ds did watch it at 11 because of his two older brothers who had it on.

I'd only be stopping if the late nights cause a problem with her schooling.

kali110 · 01/09/2013 11:34

Think yabu if you've let her watch them and are now saying no. Dont actually think either them are particulay bad. Most kids watch family guy now.

gallicgirl · 01/09/2013 11:36

Turn the tv off and put her to bed at 8.30.

wonderingsoul · 01/09/2013 11:37

no. i wouldnt.

but my eldest is only 7 and im torn between letting them watch the simpsons. as SOME are not suitable for children.

Original poster
Jellybeanz1 · 01/09/2013 11:40

Yes when I started watching it I wasn't too sure of the content myself. I think Family Guy can stay and no to Russell Howard.

OP posts:
Whereisegg · 01/09/2013 11:46

Wow I LOVE family guy and have a 10yo dd and no way will she be watching it next year!

The themes are far too adult for pre teens, well not the themes as such but the way they deal with and joke about them spattered with swearing, is just a no for me.

And if 'all my friends are allowed' means that we should let them do whatever they ask, then there wouldn't really be any rules for anyone.

If you do decide she's not allowed after you have let her watch some, then no it's not unfair, it's you re-evaluating a decision as a parent.

fackinell · 01/09/2013 11:52

Record it and watch it together earlier, FF past the unsuitable bits. Or just say no?

NoComet · 01/09/2013 11:53

Never seen Family Guy, doesn't appeal to me at all, don't thing the DDs (12&15) have ever watched it.

They are very fond of QI, Mock the Week and Russell Howard's Good News (which is I think the worst, and not really sutiable). QI is very dodgy too, but I love it and we all sit down and watch it with tea.

I'm afraid I'd much rather they watched totally inappropriate, clever, comedy than East Enders and Xfactors Got No talent and Big brother/Celebrity leave us all in the jungle Please!

In any case both have lap tops in their rooms and can watch what they like, so I'd much rather they don't feel a need to lie.

Original poster
Jellybeanz1 · 01/09/2013 11:55

Thanks W egg I think I use the school term as an excuse to re evaluate my initial poor choice. After all it is very late as well as very dirty.

OP posts:
BrokenSunglasses · 01/09/2013 11:59

I don't really watch Russell Howard so can't comment on that, but I don't like my 11 and 13yo watching Family Guy. They saw it about a year ago with their Dad (who I don't live with), I went apeshit when I found out. I doubt it's going to do any everlasting harm, but I don't want that to be their first introduction to some of the themes it deals with. I've chatted with them about some of the things they have seen on their and their Dad has now done the same as he can see where I'm coming from. I didn't want them thinking that it was a reflection of normal adult life outside what they already know, because it isn't, but being children they can't know that.

CatAmongThePigeons · 01/09/2013 12:01

I prefer RHGN to FG for younger viewers. Family guy is just so way over the mark IMO. Although some bits are very funny for younger ones

SkinnybitchWannabe · 01/09/2013 12:03

I dont watch either but my 14 year old ds watches Family Guy.
My other 2 ds are obsessed with The Big Bang Theory which I do watch.
I've got a friend who watches Celebrity Juice with her 13 year old dd..that makes me cringe.

catinabox · 01/09/2013 12:07

Neither. What happened to discovering this stuff and sniggering with your mates as a teenager?!

There is a reason these programmes are on late.

My poor DD is being raised Amish in comparison to some of her peers but i wouldn't have it any other way!

LaFataTurchina · 01/09/2013 12:07

I don't think either are massivly suitable for an 11 year old but personally I'd be more okay with Russel Howard (Mature themes but not generally offensive) than Family Guy (Mature themes and a blacker sort of humour which I think can be more offensive).

Maybe watch something like Big Bang Theory, QI or HIGTFY with her. Still technically for adults but much milder humour.

That said my mum used to let me watch The X Files with her and I turned out fine.

Capitola · 01/09/2013 12:11

I wouldn't let my 11 year old. Much as I love it, it's way too adult sometimes.

RoxyFox211 · 01/09/2013 12:26

I think both of them are fine for an 11 year old imo. But then it is up to you and you make the rules, decide what you're comfortable with and stick to it!

ShellyBoobs · 01/09/2013 12:59

Crikey no.

I'm very openminded but I wouldn't be letting an 11yo watch Family Guy.

It's very age inappropriate.

It's not so much the sex talk, etc, but the way minorities and the disabled, etc, are portrayed.

I don't think that young children would be able to understand the irony those themes are delivered with.

TurnOffTheTv · 01/09/2013 13:03

There is no way I'd let my 13yo DD watch Family Guy. I watch it, but there is far too much swearing/violence/sexual references for an 11yo

Rollermum · 01/09/2013 13:11

I don't have a DC (yet) but I can't imagine letting an 11 year old watch either of those - especially FG. I like them both but they are too sexual and FG is sometimes totally over the line with regards to women, disabled groups etc. I think I would have found it too much at that age.

snickersnacker · 01/09/2013 13:13

I used to like both but I've noticed a real shft in the humour in both recently, including a lot of casual rape jokes and references.

LJL69 · 01/09/2013 13:18

My nearly 10 yr old DD watches Mock the Week too. I agree with previous poster who would rather she watched that than Honey Boo Boo or the like. I make it clear that she shouldnt be using the language but it delights me to hear her laughing at this kind of stuff. I doubt she actually gets it but I can pretend to myself!

RedHelenB · 01/09/2013 13:25

My 11 year old watched RH & I think a lot of the sexual stuff went over her head ( she knew it was to do with sex but not what it meant exactly)

Longdistance · 01/09/2013 13:31

I'll say, no.

Let her watch it if she likes it. says she who used to watch the Young Ones at the age of 8

Never did me any harm, thought it was hilarious.

MrsWilberforce · 01/09/2013 13:35

Of the two I would say Family Guy is far worse - it's gone the same way as South Park, a lot of the 'humour' is pretty sick.

I wouldn't be happy with an 11 year-old watching it and she would probably be just as happy to watch something else - it's the shared bed and late-night aspect that they really like.

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