Yesterday I went to see Matrix II. I gave a quick review of it earlier. This post is not about the movie, but about what I observed before and after it. As is my habit, I took a book with me and read in my seat until they dimmed the lights. Then I put my book away.
By the light generated by the previews, I could vaguely see people entering the theater. My attention was drawn by a small figure; perhaps because the boy was about the same size as my five-year-old son. I hoped I was wrong, as I could not imagine anyone allowing a boy this young to see such a movie. Someday I will write a post on some of the research that reveals how media influences people (a good book for the layman is The Media Equation by Reeves & Nass), but many studies have repeatedly shown that the minds of children under the age of seven treat video images as being real (and children under seven seems to be a minumum). Even if the children say they know it is make believe, psychologists have reasons to believe that most children still internalize movies as if they were real. (In fact, some psychologists think adults internalize movies as if they were real. This has some scary consequences if true, but this is yet another post).
I bring this up because when the movie was over and I was exiting the theater, I saw that the boy indeed was quite young and he looked exhausted. I am not certain he was even five. As I looked closer, I felt like I had been gut-punched. I am not what one would call a very sensitive person. I can be literal to a fault and I am sometimes cynical about human nature. My past experiences (such as answering 911 calls and dispatching police officers) have exposed me to some poor examples of humanity. Yet I was astounded by what I saw.
Not only did this family bring a young boy to this R-rated movie, they brought a toddler. I would estimate the toddler was between 14 and 18 months of age. By the time I got near the family, the movie had been over for about two minutes. The family was still there because the parents were comforting the toddler who -- quite understandably -- looked scared out of his or her wits. I walked on by without saying anything, something I will regret for the rest of my life. At the time I did not know what to say, and after thinking about it for a day, I still do not know exactly what I should have said. But exposing young children to this movie was child abuse!
In hindsight, at a bare minimum, I should have followed them to their vehicle and reported them to Child and Family Services. At best, I should have come up with a way to politely let them know what they were doing was harmful to their children. Not only will the children have nightmares for weeks or longer; but who knows what this has done to their mental development? I discussed this with Lady Quixote when I got home, and she wondered if it was occurrences like these that increased the chances of children growing up to kill other children. (For an interesting perspective on the media’s role, see what this journalism professor has to say. Of course, like the overwhelming majority of journalists I have known, he could not resist blaming guns, but I agree with the rest of it).
I am leery of allowing the government to have more say in our lives, but sometimes people seem to be so stupid they need to be protected from themselves. And yes, I know that makes me seem like a liberal on this issue, but so be it. This is why I consider myself an Independent. For myself I am doing two things. First of all, if I am ever in a similar situation I will take some action. Hopefully I will think of a polite way to approach the issue by then, but I will not observe child abuse and do nothing.
Secondly, I am writing my representatives and asking them to pass a law setting a minimum age for those viewing R-rated movies in theaters. I will work on such a letter and post it at Solport when I am done. If you agree with me, I hope that you will do likewise.
