• Genius@lemmy.zip
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    19 hours ago

    What happens when your kids want to buy merchandise from a store? When they get older and decide to spend their own money on DVDs? What about the racism and misogyny these books teach to children?

    • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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      19 hours ago

      If the worst you have to worry about your kids’ interests is whether they spend their allowance on things that somehow benefit an asshole person you are really very lucky.

      • Genius@lemmy.zip
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        19 hours ago

        Personally, I only prevent the one single worst thing that I can think of happening to my kids. As long as they don’t become Hitler, I’m happy. My son murdered and raped a family of 4 last week and is in prison, but I don’t think I need to worry about that because he’s not Hitler.

        • irmoz@lemmy.world
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          7 hours ago

          Sad you were down voted, because you perfectly summarised the awful place “it could be worse” inevitably leads

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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      19 hours ago

      When they are old enough to make their own decisions they can. I’m able to seperate the art from the artist, without introducing them to hateful commentary that they aren’t able to properly process yet.

      Not showing them Harry Potter does not mean they won’t be exposed to the media or the merchandise through friends and shops.

      • Genius@lemmy.zip
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        19 hours ago

        It would take a saint’s patience to stop the book at every racist moment and explain why it’s wrong.

      • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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        18 hours ago

        Why not skip the books then? The movies were made by hundreds of awesome people while the books were written by just her. The movies cut out a lot of the controversial stuff too.

        • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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          17 hours ago

          Because reading the books is a good educational experience for kids. I don’t allow them watch the movies until the books are read. Movies can miss nuance and have less information and world building. There is racism and bigotry and horrible things happening in life. I explain it to my kids at appropriate times.

          When I first discussed the holocaust(very broadly), for example, they didn’t understand why someone would hate others for religion only, as religion is not important to us. Nor was it a good reason to not like someone from their understanding. They understand simpler concepts like absolute good and absolute evil. Goodies and baddies. More complex topics like themes in Harry Potter books being problematic is beyond their understanding completely.

          Other books with good themes but problematic authors or themes include Enders Game, starship troopers, religious texts. Authors include Neil Gaiman, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Dr Seuss, Enid blyton, Shakespeare, Stephanie Meyer, etc etc

          That doesn’t make the books useless. Rhoal Dahl has problematic parts. Rhoal Dahl was also racist. That doesn’t mean we skip Charlie and the chocolate factory.