Comments on: Why We Feel The Need To Tame The Wild Things? http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:11:53 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Abbie http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3151 Abbie Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:09:44 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3151 I really liked this article, Leigh, and I totally agree with you - the safe world definitely inhibits growth at some level. As a teacher, I see both the overprotective and the not-very-involved-at-all parents. I really liked this article, Leigh, and I totally agree with you – the safe world definitely inhibits growth at some level. As a teacher, I see both the overprotective and the not-very-involved-at-all parents.

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]]> By: Laura http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3145 Laura Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:54:20 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3145 This thread reminds me of the movie "Away we go" (Sam Mendes, 2009). One of the characters, a father, shows his children (he has many children: infants, toddlers, teenagers) a light version of The Sounds of Music (a movie not made for children). For that family, the movie ends with the "So long, farewell". The father says his children will have time to learn about the Nazis later...:) This thread reminds me of the movie “Away we go” (Sam Mendes, 2009). One of the characters, a father, shows his children (he has many children: infants, toddlers, teenagers) a light version of The Sounds of Music (a movie not made for children). For that family, the movie ends with the “So long, farewell”. The father says his children will have time to learn about the Nazis later…:)

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3143 Leigh Shulman Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:31:43 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3143 Hey there Cheap, Most definitely. We all define fear differently. Personally, I don't like scary movies. Never went to see any of the Saws or Hostel, though I have friends who love them. And yes, I also once had to carry Lila out of a movie screaming. Oddly, that was A Bug's Life. Yet she loves the Harry Potter movies. It's very difficult for us to define for someone else what frightening will be. As parents, we can only be there to support and help out when necessary and even there, it's a fine line to walk. That's also the reason why I don't want to define fear for Lila based on my own. Hey there Cheap,

Most definitely. We all define fear differently. Personally, I don’t like scary movies. Never went to see any of the Saws or Hostel, though I have friends who love them. And yes, I also once had to carry Lila out of a movie screaming. Oddly, that was A Bug’s Life. Yet she loves the Harry Potter movies.

It’s very difficult for us to define for someone else what frightening will be. As parents, we can only be there to support and help out when necessary and even there, it’s a fine line to walk. That’s also the reason why I don’t want to define fear for Lila based on my own.

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]]> By: Leigh Shulman http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3142 Leigh Shulman Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:26:29 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3142 I agree, Laura. Movies aren't the only or best way to teach children about fear, adventure or any other emotion. It's more the idea of keeping people away from a movie made specifically for children because they're afraid of being afraid. We parents are always placed in the position of making decisions for our children that later in life they will make for themselves. Going to a scary movie is one of those choices. My main point is that our kids can make the decision for themselves -- even at a very young age -- but that decision making process is too easily subverted by parental fears that may not be justified. Whatever the case, thank you for your comment, Laura. I am quite a fan of your website as well. I agree, Laura. Movies aren’t the only or best way to teach children about fear, adventure or any other emotion. It’s more the idea of keeping people away from a movie made specifically for children because they’re afraid of being afraid.

We parents are always placed in the position of making decisions for our children that later in life they will make for themselves. Going to a scary movie is one of those choices. My main point is that our kids can make the decision for themselves — even at a very young age — but that decision making process is too easily subverted by parental fears that may not be justified.

Whatever the case, thank you for your comment, Laura. I am quite a fan of your website as well.

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]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3139 Cheap Like Me Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:41:46 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3139 I too have heard the movie is traumatizing children and scaring them, although I have not yet heard an explanation of why. The content? The meaning? The cinematography? When I was little, I thought "Where the Wild Things Are" was boring. When I read it to my daughter, I thought it was one of the loveliest pieces of prose ever. We haven't seen the movie yet, but we probably will see it as a family. I find it fascinating what is scary to any given person. The book doesn't bother my daughter at all. On the other hand, she burst into hysterics in "Benji" when the bad guy kicks a dog, and we had to leave "March of the Penguins," carrying a screaming, hysterical child, when the baby birds were threatened by sea eagles. The comedy "Shaun of the Dead" gave me nightmares. That is to say that all of us have our own wild things, don't we? It's scary to watch someone else confront theirs, whether it's a child or spouse or friend. Maybe that's why parents are worried about the film. I too have heard the movie is traumatizing children and scaring them, although I have not yet heard an explanation of why. The content? The meaning? The cinematography?

When I was little, I thought “Where the Wild Things Are” was boring. When I read it to my daughter, I thought it was one of the loveliest pieces of prose ever. We haven’t seen the movie yet, but we probably will see it as a family.

I find it fascinating what is scary to any given person. The book doesn’t bother my daughter at all. On the other hand, she burst into hysterics in “Benji” when the bad guy kicks a dog, and we had to leave “March of the Penguins,” carrying a screaming, hysterical child, when the baby birds were threatened by sea eagles. The comedy “Shaun of the Dead” gave me nightmares.

That is to say that all of us have our own wild things, don’t we? It’s scary to watch someone else confront theirs, whether it’s a child or spouse or friend. Maybe that’s why parents are worried about the film.

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]]> By: Paul Sullivan http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3136 Paul Sullivan Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:20:48 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3136 Leigh, I applaud thee. Great piece! Leigh, I applaud thee. Great piece!

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]]> By: Michelle http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3130 Michelle Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:14:29 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3130 Wonderful thoughts, Leigh! I love this line: "I see it when I hear adults complain of the endless routine in their lives, but they are scared of what lies beyond what they already know." Book censorship/banning, particularly with children's books, strikes a big nerve with me. Same with movies. The warm/hot debate is ridiculous in the extreme. Wonderful thoughts, Leigh! I love this line: “I see it when I hear adults complain of the endless routine in their lives, but they are scared of what lies beyond what they already know.”

Book censorship/banning, particularly with children’s books, strikes a big nerve with me. Same with movies. The warm/hot debate is ridiculous in the extreme.

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]]> By: Laura http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3129 Laura Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:02:30 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3129 The only thing that terrified me about this book is that Max (called "a monster" by his own mother), is sent to his room without eating his dinner, as a punishment...The combo "time out + no dinner" sounds scary to me. It's a way of parenting that should be sent to Monsterland and stay there for ever! :) I don't necessarily agree that going to the movies is the best way for young kids to explore their emotions. Specially with today's movies, so fast and loud for their developing senses. As you have pointed out, real life can be full of emotions, negative and positive, if we the parents live an adventurous life, and specially if we share our feelings and talk about our own emotions with our kids. Thanks for this powerful article! The only thing that terrified me about this book is that Max (called “a monster” by his own mother), is sent to his room without eating his dinner, as a punishment…The combo “time out + no dinner” sounds scary to me. It’s a way of parenting that should be sent to Monsterland and stay there for ever! :)
I don’t necessarily agree that going to the movies is the best way for young kids to explore their emotions. Specially with today’s movies, so fast and loud for their developing senses.
As you have pointed out, real life can be full of emotions, negative and positive, if we the parents live an adventurous life, and specially if we share our feelings and talk about our own emotions with our kids.
Thanks for this powerful article!

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]]> By: Fanie http://matadorlife.com/why-we-feel-the-need-to-tame-the-wild-things/comment-page-1/#comment-3128 Fanie Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:35:04 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=2339#comment-3128 This is such an interesting article. We live in such a fear-centric society, unfortunately. :-/ In this Halloween week, it reminds me how Halloween now starts and end early in the last years. I don't know what people are afraid of, there's never been a safer time for kids to go outside in the dark. This is such an interesting article. We live in such a fear-centric society, unfortunately. :-/

In this Halloween week, it reminds me how Halloween now starts and end early in the last years. I don’t know what people are afraid of, there’s never been a safer time for kids to go outside in the dark.

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