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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Squid games

352 replies

Poppetts1234 · 02/10/2021 17:51

I know a mum that allows her 9 year old to watch this.

I’m really interested to see how many parents are ok with this?

AIBU to be a bit shocked about this?

Yes I should mind my own business but I’d be really interested to hear others opinions

OP posts:
backoffice · 02/10/2021 18:58

I’m surprised at the horror around young teens watching it but I’m only four episodes in. I think it’s nice psychological horror but the violence is quite slapstick and I don’t find it disturbing.

They watch Blair Witch project and found that horrendous!!! We’re not at all into horror or gore but this felt almost more like Hunger Games …

Bagelsandbrie · 02/10/2021 18:58

I’m genuinely shocked by people letting their kids watch this.

backoffice · 02/10/2021 18:59

I found Strange Things TERRFIYING. Maybe it’s supernatural stuff I find traumatising…

Bagelsandbrie · 02/10/2021 19:01

I’m 40 and I found the scene with the man being stapled into the coffin horrifying. And I’m really not easily horrified, at all. I’ve seen everything from wolf creek to human centipede and nothings really ever got to me. It may only be a few seconds but that’s all it can take for these things to play on your mind.

Rollergirl11 · 02/10/2021 19:04

DD 15 is watching it. She is a seasoned horror watcher. DS 13 isn’t watching but has seen a lot of the game scenes on TikTok anyway. A 9year old watching is preposterous and utterly slack parenting.

IdLoveToButCantBeArsed · 02/10/2021 19:08

I was unsure about watching it with my 15 year old in the room until she told me she'd already watched it! Most definitely not suitable for a 9 year old.

PippaOwl · 02/10/2021 19:11

@Coronawireless no, Why not look it up for yourself? It's easily searched online.

Unless your googling skills are as lazy as your parenting ones

Coronawireless · 02/10/2021 19:16

[quote PippaOwl]@Coronawireless no, Why not look it up for yourself? It's easily searched online.

Unless your googling skills are as lazy as your parenting ones [/quote]
In other words, you don’t have any evidence.

Original poster
Poppetts1234 · 02/10/2021 19:18

Allowing a CHILD to be exposed to images like squid games or whatever program that involves violence or sex scenes is child neglect.

People shouldn’t use their kids as horror movie buddies!

I used to watch horror movies when I was about 15/16. My mum asked me not to but I told her I liked them and they didn’t scare me. Well now I’m 35 and they still play on my mind to this day!

Just because a child says they are ok with it doesn’t actually mean they are

OP posts:
Original poster
Poppetts1234 · 02/10/2021 19:20

Can’t help but think of Venables and Thompson. Their parents exposed them to extreme films like Chucky and IT and we all know that outcome

OP posts:
BadgeronaMoped · 02/10/2021 19:20

Mental. Why the rush? It's not going anywhere is it?! I'm sure my 8 and 10 year old would love Rick & Morty (for example), but they can watch it when they're older and have the comprehension skills to properly enjoy it.

winterchills · 02/10/2021 19:21

9 way too young. It's quite brutal

Coronawireless · 02/10/2021 19:22

@Bagelsandbrie

I’m 40 and I found the scene with the man being stapled into the coffin horrifying. And I’m really not easily horrified, at all. I’ve seen everything from wolf creek to human centipede and nothings really ever got to me. It may only be a few seconds but that’s all it can take for these things to play on your mind.
Wolf Creek and HC (18s) involve people being held against their will and tortured. This is not the case in squid games. For me it’s about the theme rather than the actual fake blood. I did fast forward the coffin scene so she was unaware of that. Everyone has their parenting red lines. For me, I’m liberal about what they watch while being supervised by me. I’d rather they see it with me than with another older child. I accept it’s not for everyone.
Bagelsandbrie · 02/10/2021 19:22

I think this is also worth linking here -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4363047-Why-is-no-one-mentioning-violent-pornography-and-Wayne-Couzans

Some of the comments are relevant.

furbabymama87 · 02/10/2021 19:24

My 13 year old has watched it. I didn't know until he said he'd seen it, said it was violent but not scary. He's watched a few 15 rated films and enjoys them and isn't scared. I think it's a personal thing and you should go by your own child, I don't think they have to be the exact age to watch something as it's just a guide. But I think 9 is too young.

DumplingsAndStew · 02/10/2021 19:30

Definitely not suitable. I had it paused last night when my 13 year old and her 12 year old friend came in. Friend said she'd been kind of thinking of watching it but wasn't sure as it sounded a bit scary. I was very honest with them and said it's not scary, scary but very gory and that I don't think it's at all suitable for them, knowing both their age and their processing ability.

Friend is sleeping over tonight, and I've asked my daughter if they are planning to sneakily watch it tonight and my 13yo said no way, Definitely not, that it sounds awful.

I get that it's appealing when other kids are talking about it at school, but most kids just aren't ready for this kind of thing at that age. My 16 year old still wouldn't be able to handle it.

AnotherName456 · 02/10/2021 19:30

Brilliant series but not appropriate for a child to watch, it is seriously violent.

furbabymama87 · 02/10/2021 19:33

@Poppetts1234

Can’t help but think of Venables and Thompson. Their parents exposed them to extreme films like Chucky and IT and we all know that outcome
It won't be down to this. Their childhoods were very complex.
Blueemeraldagain · 02/10/2021 19:43

I teach in a small SEMH school and a member of my tutor group (year 8) told me he had watched it and when I expressed surprise at him watching it at his age he hurriedly assured me he’d fast forwarded through the sex scene…..

lawofdistraction · 02/10/2021 19:51

@Coronawireless what's the point in her watching it in the first place if you have to fast forward through so much of it? Surely she ends up missing a lot of the intricacies, for example the relationship between the two who had sex. All that you've ended up letting her watch is some disjointed violence, missing key themes and dialogue. She wouldn't have understood very much of it. What's the point?! Either you think your child is old enough to understand and deal with something in its entirety or not at all.

Peanutsandchilli · 02/10/2021 20:13

My daughter is almost 14 and I'm ok with her watching it. I'd say no to my 11 year old though, so 9 is way too young imo.

thenightsky · 02/10/2021 20:16

Most of the deaths happen by gunshot though and overall its no worse than a lot of other shows and films out there

But those gunshots were incredibly real. The expression on the victims face at the point of death and the exit wound bloodbath. I've seen pics of ISIS executions and this mirrored them exactly.

Smashingspinster · 02/10/2021 20:24

Jesus no! I am shocked at the number of people who think 12 is an ok age too.

PegasusReturns · 02/10/2021 20:26

It is quite slapstick and tongue in cheek violence

JFC it’s not. The gunshots are brutally graphic: exist wounds, blood splatter in peoples faces and terror and pleading.

My older teens watch it but no way is it ok for teh tweens.

Sparklesocks · 02/10/2021 20:28

Even aside from the gore/violence I think kids that young would be upset because the series is good at establishing likeable characters you root for and then quickly dispatches them in horrible ways. It’s quite upsetting even for adults!