Self-Evaluation (was Re: Harry Haters...)

[naamagatus]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
<snip> 
>Trouble is for
> many lazy parents, it's much easier and much safer to allow your
> thoughts to be dictated to, rather than risk actually thinking and
> making decision for yourself. It is far better parenting to guide 
your
> children through the HP series and a multitude of other aspect of
> life, than it is to say anything goes or nothing goes, or to simply
> ignore it all and hope for the best.
> 
A small and general point here: I don't think it's realistic to 
expect people to personally check each and every item their children 
consume. What about food? Is every parent supposed to take samples of 
every type of food to the lab, to check for harmful substances? 
Nobody can personally check all the books, films, computer games, 
Internet sites, games, toys, clothes, food, television programs, etc. 
their children might consume or be exposed to. You have to trust some 
of the filtering to the advice of other people (experts, teachers, 
pastors, scientists, critics, friends ... ).I see it as quite 
reasonable for people to follow the guidance of people who they think 
know what they are talking about (of course, *I* think that regarding 
Harry Potter these people *don't* know what they are talking about). 


On a different note. I have to say that as a person who doesn't have 
children, but who remembers her own childhood very well, the thought 
of parents censoring their children's reading raises my hackles a 
bit. I would have hated my parents to do that to me. I won't take an 
oath on it, but I think that if I had children, I'd let them read 
whatever fell into their hands. Children definitely need protection 
in the real world, but I'd prefer to give children freedom in the 
realm of imagination. Just my IMO (and I reserve the right to a 
complete change of mind when and if I have a child. <g> )


Naama, who survived with soul intact a short enthusiasm for Ayn Rand 
at 13