Trib Article Re R-Rated Movies

[blackstrap]

2 hours ago, The Nehor said:

you are getting invited to petting parties.

Who let the dogs out ?

[Kenngo1969]

Certainly, I would be the last to hold myself out as any kind of a paragon of virtue.  For me, the question when it comes to trying to decide what to read, what to listen to, what (as here) to watch, and so on, is whether I am going to be better off having spent whatever time I spent doing that particular thing.  I don't always make the best choices or decisions, and, sometimes, (often, in fact) I have regrets.  Did it edify?  Educate?  Amuse or entertain in a worthwhile way (that's always a tricky one)?  So many pastimes are such a mixed bag these days. 

As much as, personally, I might've found the "What would Jesus do?" trope to be valuable in some ways and on some occasions when I ask myself that question, and as judgmental as I know this sentiment is going to make me seem, nevertheless, l'm tempted to wonder if too many people using it on others aren't smug, smarmy, self-righteous types who ask it because they're absolutely convinced that they know just what Jesus would do, while the people they ask are clueless.  (After all, Jesus dined with Re-publicans and sinners ... not to mention braiding a whip, overturning tables, and throwing the money changers out of the Temple. )

For what it's worth, the older I have gotten, the more I've realized that if I had the chance, I would be tempted, sorely, to upbraid my younger self severely for some of the ways in which That Foolish Young Lad chose to spend his time.  

But ... live and learn!  

Edited April 27 by Kenngo1969

[2BizE]

Sounds like gaslighting to me.  
 

[CV75]

12 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Probably best to avoid R-rated movies. Watching them can lead to an unhealthy interest in necking and once you go down that path the next thing you know you are getting invited to petting parties.

Let's see if we can find some ways  Jesus used the media of His day for recreation and to entertain the people, or entertained the people directly, or provided them with what generally might be construed as "R-rated" entertainment, as part of His ministry and leisure activities!

[CV75]

10 hours ago, InCognitus said:

I get the point you are making.  But "watching adultery or murder" may not be just for "entertainment".  Obviously it depends on the reason why those things are in the film (and how explicit they are portrayed), but sometimes it is essential to the story telling.  Take the Bible for example.  It is full of examples of adultery and murder, but is that "entertainment"?  I personally enjoy reading the Bible.  Is that  considered "entertainment"?   The lessons I learn from reading it are what I value.  Couldn't the same be true for a movie under the right circumstances?

This is why I think the general guidance is sound,individual application is always the key to success.

[rpn]

I think it hilarious that members think God would require we rely on the opinions of a United States group related to the film industry to determine for us what we should or shouldn't watch.   There are lots of movies that teach or support ideas and experiences contrary to the laws of God.   There are really good movies which include intentionally bad content (gratuitous violence, language or sexual innuendo)  because they don't fair commercially without a PG-13 rating.   Many of the sex scenes in any movie offer purely gratuitous sex.  

But Ezra Taft Benson did talk about no R ratings, and For the Strength of Youth for a time was taught no R rated movies.   The harm to our spirit is likely most damaging when the bad conduct is gratuitous, and much of the sex and almost all of the language IS gratuitous in any movie.

There are several places I now use to learn whether a movie includes bad things just to do that, and how much language, sex, nakedness, and criminal behavior without being held accountable, and unkindness is included.    And thankfully, now it is hard to afford taking the entire family to shows anyway and at home we can fast forward or turn off as necessary. 

Edited April 27 by rpn

[CV75]

33 minutes ago, rpn said:

I think it hilarious that members think God would require we rely on the opinions of a United States group related to the film industry to determine for us what we should or shouldn't watch.   There are lots of movies that teach or support ideas and experiences contrary to the laws of God.   There are really good movies which include intentionally bad content (gratuitous violence, language or sexual innuendo)  because they don't fair commercially without a PG-13 rating.   Many of the sex scenes in any movie offer purely gratuitous sex.  

But Ezra Taft Benson did talk about no R ratings, and For the Strength of Youth for a time was taught no R rated movies.   The harm to our spirit is likely most damaging when the bad conduct is gratuitous, and must of the sex and almost all of the language IS gratuitous in any movie.

There are several places I now use to learn whether a movie includes bad things just to do that, and how much language, sex, nakedness, and criminal behavior without being held accountable, and unkindness is included.    And thankfully, now it is hard to afford taking the entire family to shows anyway and at home we can fast forward or turn off as necessary. 

I'm not sure the general population had these advantages in 1980 (Kimball) or 1986 (Benson):

Kimball (to college-age): "Speaking of things of the moment and social diversions, let me add one word of caution. The other night, Sister Kimball and I watched, by means of video cassette, an older movie, The Sound of Music. It was delightful. The music was beautiful, the acting superb, the scenery magnificent. It was wholesome and entertaining in every way. We had a wonderful, relaxing evening together. However, as you well know, it is difficult nowadays to find such entertainment. I would warn you against the R- and X-rated movies that unfortunately seem to be so prevalent these days. For the most part, they are filled with violence, sex, profanity, and crime. I can hardly imagine that any young man at the BYU, or elsewhere in the Church, would ever think of taking his lovely date to such a movie." Acquiring Spiritual Literacy - Spencer W. Kimball - BYU Speeches

Benson (to young men): "We counsel you, young men, not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards. Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading." To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright” (churchofjesuschrist.org)

These seem to be reasonable counsel for the times, under the circumstances as is For the Strength of Youth today (young men and women): "Seek that which uplifts, inspires, and invites the Spirit. As you make choices about what to watch, read, listen to, or participate in, think about how it makes you feel. Does it invite good thoughts? Stay away from anything that mocks sacred things or that is immoral. Don’t participate in anything that dulls your judgment or sensitivity to the Spirit, such as violence, alcohol, and harmful drugs. Have the courage to turn off a video or game, walk out of a movie or a dance, change your music, or turn away from anything that is not consistent with the Spirit." Walk in God’s light (churchofjesuschrist.org)

If a young man or young woman in 1980/86 didn't know how or what to seek, or lacked the wherewithal to self-reflect and understand their feelings, or didn't possess, recognize or desire good judgement and spirituality, or lacked courage, what practical counsel might have they been given concerning movies?

Edited April 27 by CV75

[MustardSeed]

12 hours ago, 2BizE said:

Sounds like gaslighting to me.  
 

What does that mean? I see that term used quite a bit. My understanding is that gaslighting means to trick somebody into thinking they are insane.

[Amulek]

Quote

Which R-rated or TV-MA productions would you add? And which do you think Latter-day Saints not only could watch (without any remorse) but indeed should watch?

How is one going to watch a film or television program with content they find offensive without any remorse when said entertainment does, in deed, include content which offends them?

I mean, if you find violence and foul language offensive, how on earth are you going to sit through a Quentin Tarantino film like Pulp Fiction without any remorse?

Look, I get what the author is saying about "disproportionately infantile content," but let's not pretend that the only choices available to consumers are (1) R-rated / TV-MA productions, or (2) Hallmark Christmas movies.

And let's be honest, while it's true that a lot of prestige programming today does include mature content, it's doubly true that most of the programming being produced with mature content - just like most content, in general - happens to be garbage.

 

[GingerRed]

I'm bad........my two favorite shows are  Glee and Outlander!    ( with Outlander though......I  always watch it after it first airs so I can go back and fast forward thru the  'bad' stuff   I am my own VidAngel  lol! )

I love Dancing With The Stars too! 

Edited April 28 by GingerRed

[bluebell]

15 hours ago, Amulek said:

How is one going to watch a film or television program with content they find offensive without any remorse when said entertainment does, in deed, include content which offends them?

I mean, if you find violence and foul language offensive, how on earth are you going to sit through a Quentin Tarantino film like Pulp Fiction without any remorse?

Look, I get what the author is saying about "disproportionately infantile content," but let's not pretend that the only choices available to consumers are (1) R-rated / TV-MA productions, or (2) Hallmark Christmas movies.

And let's be honest, while it's true that a lot of prestige programming today does include mature content, it's doubly true that most of the programming being produced with mature content - just like most content, in general - happens to be garbage.

 

Too often content tries to look “prestige” by added language and nudity and it’s it’s kind of embarrassing that American adults fall for it.

Especially since sometimes the “mature content added“ doesn’t even manage to make something less infantile. Sometimes it makes it look more childish, especially when it comes to swearing. It starts to sound like you’re walking down a seventh grade hallway surrounded by a bunch of kids trying to sound adult, rather than the communication of actual adults.

I noticed this comparing the night agent with the recruit on Netflix. The night agent took itself very seriously, and tried to be gritty, but it relied on adult language to make it seem edgy and less PG13. But its use of the F word felt especially awkward and silly to me.  

The recruit took itself much less seriously, had way more humor and fewer F words, but managed to actually come across, to me at least, as a mature spy thriller for adults.

Both were entertaining but the one trying hardest to use adult language to add maturity and gravity is the one that had the bigger “let’s pretend to be serious” vibe to me.

 

[Hamilton Porter]

wrong category dude. Nobody cares about rated R movies.

[Tacenda]

On 4/28/2023 at 9:12 AM, Hamilton Porter said:

wrong category dude. Nobody cares about rated R movies.

🤔

[Kenngo1969]

While, again, I'm not attempting to justify watching (or not watching) any particular movie, any movie with any particular rating, or consuming any other type of media, as a follow-up to my previous comment, the 13th Article of Faith does come to mind also:

Quote

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Speaking for myself, there are quite a few things that I have done, and that I do, about which, after the fact (Alas!), I say to myself, "Well, there go(es) [fill-in-length of time here] I'll never get back."  Regardless what the rating is, what bad words or bad scenes or whatever might be in it, does it pass the "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" test?

[MustardSeed]

8 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

While, again, I'm not attempting to justify watching (or not watching) any particular movie, any movie with any particular rating, or consuming any other type of media, as a follow-up to my previous comment, the 13th Article of Faith does come to mind also:

Speaking for myself, there are quite a few things that I have done, and that I do, about which, after the fact (Alas!), I say to myself, "Well, there go(es) [fill-in-length of time here] I'll never get back."  Regardless what the rating is, what bad words or bad scenes or whatever might be in it, does it pass the "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" test?

Internet use as well.  I often ask what the heck I’m doing with my life. 

[The Nehor]

On 4/26/2023 at 10:36 PM, blackstrap said:

Who let the dogs out ?

Thank you for making that wholesome somehow.