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AIBU?

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Original poster

in thinking that allowing a 9 year old to watch Game of Thrones is wrong? [Contains spoilers -MNHQ]

32 replies

sweetkitty · 14/04/2015 08:36

Was talking to DD2s mum and she said her 9 year old DD has watched all 4 series of GOT, DH and I were ShockShockShock. She said she had watched the first 2 series online and she had a dilemma to allow her to watch the next 2 or stop her so she let her watch them.

Last night episode had swearing, naked writhing men, topless women, a close up of a man getting his throat slit with squirting blood, a man getting burned alive before getting shot by an arrow. Typical episode.

Her DD is plugged into her iPad 24/7 it seems and if she's watching that what else is she watching, DD2 and her are the best of friends and I don't want her to stop seeing her but I don't want DD2 exposed to it, GOT is hardcore adult viewing sometimes I'm shocked and can't get it out my head.

OP posts:
BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 14/04/2015 08:39

What makes you think your DD will be exposed to it ?

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 14/04/2015 08:43

I know a woman who lets her four year old watch the Walking Dead because 'she knows it's make-believe'. So, unfortunately, this isn't surprising at all Hmm

Ask any primary school teacher what it's clear their pupils are being exposed to at home, in terms of media, and you'll see that it's depressingly normal.

Original poster
sweetkitty · 14/04/2015 08:43

When she goes to her friends house they spend most of their time on the iPad, most of it is Minecraft granted but curiosity might get the better of them, I've told her GOT is for adults only, her friend might go oh I'm allowed to watch it, want to watch it?

I made the point that it's very hard to follow with all the complex plots and subplots, would a 9 yo get it but apparently her mother says she loves it Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetkitty · 14/04/2015 08:45

I work with primary school children and yes I know what a lot of theirs watch and play on computers sadly Hmm

GOT is just very violent and bordering on soft porn at times.

OP posts:
abigamarone · 14/04/2015 09:17

I'm fairly lax about age restrictions but my 13 year old won't be watching GoT any time soon.

rebelfor · 14/04/2015 09:18

Way too much for a 9 year old.

SaucyJack · 14/04/2015 09:18

WTF? That's genuinely appalling.

LaurieFairyCake · 14/04/2015 09:23

I don't know why people ignore age restrictions at all - do they think they're just made up by pearl clutching Mary Whitehouse types instead of properly linked to research about child mental health?

No one under age restrictions should be watching them. And 9 is ridiculous.

MustBeLoopy390 · 14/04/2015 09:23

We're like Abi, we 'parent watch' then decide what we find appropriate. Our 6 year old dd and 3 year old ds enjoy things like guardians of the Galaxy, the mummy etc, but they are not watching game of thrones etc for quite a long while yet. How did a nine year old watch two whole series of game of thrones online without parents knowing? Yanbu about not wanting your dd exposed to it, we always make sure both dcs are asleep before putting it on.

MrsTedCrilly · 14/04/2015 09:32

YANBU, GoT is pure filth! I love anything gory but it even shocks me.. 9 year olds worlds should be kept innocent for a while longer.

AmysTiara · 14/04/2015 09:42

Awful parenting. YANBU

waithorse · 14/04/2015 10:25

I've never seen GOT. My dparents watch it though and said there is to much violence in it and I wouldn't like it. Grin

YANBU.

Radiatorvalves · 14/04/2015 10:30

No way! I watched Poldark with DS1 and that's racy enough. I have let him watch WWII documentaries with a 16 recommendation, but only with him, and it is not gratuitous. He s 10.

Fauxlivia · 15/04/2015 10:09

GOT has passed me by. I thought it was a fantasy thing a bit like Terry Pratchett. Surprised it is so explicit

Shamalamalam · 15/04/2015 10:14

YANBU!

I'm not overly strict about age ratings. If I've seen a film and happy for my children to watch it, then I'll let the rating go a bit.

But Game of Thrones? Mine are nearly 11 and 14, there is no way, on this earth, that either of them will be watching GoT anytime soon.

I love GoT, but it's violent, graphic and gory, there's no way I'd allow a child anywhere near it.

Archer26 · 15/04/2015 10:24

I watch game of thrones and I am shocked by the violence and nudity in it at 28, and I wouldn't particularly say I'm a prude! I want to recommend it to my parents but feel awkward knowing they'd known I'd watched it if you see what I mean!

9 is far too young, it's terrible. I can't understand how her mum didn't know she had watched 2 series. Each episode is an hour long and there are about 10-14 in each series. That's a lot of TV watching to go unnoticed for a 9. Year old.

Yanbu at all. I'd have a word with your DD and say if she ever feels uncomfortable with anything her friend shows her in the iPad to walk away/say something.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2015 10:25

GoT - no way . I wouldn't even let my 15yo DS watch it Shock though he does watch The Walking Dead.

New series (DH is watching) - what I've seen so far is meh but some of the scenes in the previous episodes are stomach churning.
'Speshly if you're a horse.

muminhants · 15/04/2015 10:26

I've not seen GoT - what DVD rating does it have?

I remember asking for advice from Facebook friends about whether my son should be allowed to go to the cinema to watch the latest James Bond film as it was a 12A - the consensus was yes so I did, but he was only 9 or 10 at the time.

Doctor Who has a 12 rating on the DVDs, and so does the final series of Blakes 7, which I watched when I was about 9 (the first three series are PG). I also watched Secret Army as a child and that's rated 12 as well, as is Bergerac.

However, anything rated 15 or over is a definite no-no. My son is now 12.5 and I'd not let him watch or play anything rated 15 or over.

I saw the first series of Poldark when I was 3 ;)

pocketsaviour · 15/04/2015 10:29

If I had watched GOT at the age of 9 I wouldn't have slept for a year. Especially after the "Mountain and the Viper" episode in Season 4.

Can you sit your DD down and explain to her that her friend's mum allows her to watch certain things that you don't agree with, and if she was to watch them at her friend's place then you would be very disappointed because you think it would give her nightmares?

Shamalamalam · 15/04/2015 10:31

The DVDs are 18 I think.

The very first scene in the very first episode had me Shock. Red Wedding?

At 9!!!

Shamalamalam · 15/04/2015 10:33

According to Amazon the DVDs for series 1 and 2 are 18, 3 is 15

Original poster
sweetkitty · 15/04/2015 10:34

I will have a word with DD2.

Game of Thrones would definitely be an 18 rating, not counting the use of the F and C words, full frontal nudity, sex scenes, incest, rape, torture, graphic war scenes, violence, ripping out horses hearts and eating them, eyeballs being gouged out, penises being hacked off etc

Fantastic series but not family viewing.

OP posts:
Gatehouse77 · 15/04/2015 10:36

My 15 year old has read all the books but is still not allowed to watch the programmes - on the advice of my brother who has done both.
He's not molly-coddled (sp?) but there are some things that are not appropriate and some which are worth waiting for!

pocketsaviour · 15/04/2015 10:56

That's interesting Gatehouse, I find the books harder to deal with than the show. I have read and re-read them many times but there is one scene in book 2 I always have to skip as I find it so upsetting (it isn't portrayed in the show.) Theon's chapters are very hard to read, too.

BTW is your username from The Shadow Line? Great series.

TendonQueen · 15/04/2015 11:02

No way is it appropriate for a 9 year old. I think pocketsaviour's suggested explanation for your DD is good. One of my DS's friends has told him he is allowed to play Grand Theft Auto and we have said something very similar. They are younger than your DD as well Shock