Poll: A batman related morality question.

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DudeistBelieve

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I have a 3 year old nephew, is it okay if I start showing him the DC Animated Universe starting with the Batman? Should I show him the Superman cartoons first?

Like me, he is being born into this world absent of religion, and being a child of the 90's grew up basing my moral values from what I learned from television superheros. Some of it was good (Like Batman, Superman and Beast Wars) some of it impacted me negatively (Like Digimon season 02). I understand it's not really my place to put morals on the child but... there is also the part of me that would get the nostalgic pleasure from passing on these cartoons to the next generation.
 

RatRace123

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Dec 1, 2009
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In my opinion, 'tis never too early to introduce a child to the awesomeness of Batman.
 

Kopikatsu

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May 27, 2010
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If you're trying to teach a kid morals, then Big Blue is probably the way to go.

Batman's city is filled with homicidal psychopaths who're armed to the teeth with biological weaponry and have the best PR agents available, after all.



What?
 

DudeistBelieve

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RatRace123 said:
In my opinion, 'tis never too early to introduce a child to the awesomeness of Batman.
He liked bits of Arkham Ayslum, I sheilded him from the opening moments with Killer Kroc and the scary FMV of that first Joker Monster. I've even got him to call out "Batman" which made my heart just melt, frankly.

I'm just wondering if it's healthy exposing a 3 year old to the cartoon we all grew up with. I mean I'm sure if I presented to my sister with Batman she wouldn't bat an eye, but it is more or less trying to teach morality to a child no?

Maybe I should ease him in with some old Adam West Batman.
 

CrazyCapnMorgan

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Kopikatsu said:
If you're trying to teach a kid morals, then Big Blue is probably the way to go.

Batman's city is filled with homicidal psychopaths who're armed to the teeth and have the best PR agents available.



What?
I think "toHoba" just flipped you off in the weirdest way possible.
 

DudeistBelieve

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Kopikatsu said:
If you're trying to teach a kid morals, then Big Blue is probably the way to go.

Batman's city is filled with homicidal psychopaths who're armed to the teeth and have the best PR agents available.




What?
While I agree to a certain extent, because I loved Superman before Batman... Superman taught me what a hero was, Batman help me define it in terms of a human being.

But maybe you're right. Superman should come first, being the prefection of humanity and all...
 

Canadamus Prime

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Jun 17, 2009
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3 seems a bit early. My 3 year old nephew seems to be only interested in watching Caiu(or however the hell you spell that).
 

ultrachicken

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Dec 22, 2009
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Why not show him superman and batman simultaneously, and let the kid choose his favorite?
 

Kopikatsu

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SaneAmongInsane said:
Kopikatsu said:
If you're trying to teach a kid morals, then Big Blue is probably the way to go.

Batman's city is filled with homicidal psychopaths who're armed to the teeth and have the best PR agents available.




What?
While I agree to a certain extent, because I loved Superman before Batman... Superman taught me what a hero was, Batman help me define it in terms of a human being.

But maybe you're right. Superman should come first, being the prefection of humanity and all...
I actually don't like Superman for whatever reason, but...

Gotham is really just a messed up place. Your nephew would probably learn this: 'If you're crazy enough and kill lots of people on a regular basis, you get women! and money! and fame! Then you get punched in the face by some old guy in bat pajamas. Then you break out of the asylum/jail and start all over again! Woo!'
 

trooper6

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Since the kid is your nephew and not your actual child, I think you should ask the kid's parents rather than us. They may not want you to introduce them to either one.

If they don't have a preference, I'd go with Superman. Batman is a comic that valorizes vigilante justice in a way that Superman does not. Also, Superman is a boy scout.
 

DudeistBelieve

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canadamus_prime said:
3 seems a bit early. My 3 year old nephew seems to be only interested in watching Caiu(or however the hell you spell that).
That little asian chick right?

More support in favor of Superman then.

*sigh* I've never been a uncle this old before. Now while I'm agnostic, I dislike them raising the kid with out some sort of moral authority because I know how that really fucked me up at from age 5-20 once I realized the concept of death. I much rather he be raised in a faith he rejects at earlier age and discards then to struggle with those thoughts long before hand. The only guiding compass I had in my young life, aside from badass stories told by my father were superheroes and later profesional wrestling babyfaces.

From the age of 5 onward all I can remember on TV was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mighty Max, Big Bad Beetle Borgs, Batman/Superman Adventures, Beast Wars, Pokemon, Digimon, Justice League and finally WWF Smackdown. Those were the shows that impacted me the most. Honestly, I only want the kid to avoid the pit falls that fell me.
 

DudeistBelieve

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trooper6 said:
Since the kid is your nephew and not your actual child, I think you should ask the kid's parents rather than us. They may not want you to introduce them to either one.

If they don't have a preference, I'd go with Superman. Batman is a comic that valorizes vigilante justice in a way that Superman does not. Also, Superman is a boy scout.
Good point. Good point. Fact is, I don't think either or them would object to them by name value. I mean, if I say Batman to you in the casual sense would you really object? the most you could understand is that it's a guy that dresses up in costume to fight crime. I'd like to hear the real opinions of people hear that watched it with me before I expose him to it.

Though I am starting to warm up to Superman as the opener. He's more kid friendlier and I think a better hero for a 3 year old then Batman sadly... the only thing that bothers me is that Superman isn't human... I really like to stress home to him what a real human is capable of doing against evil, but maybe you're all right. Maybe Superman is the hero a 3 year old needs and Batman is what the wiser older child deserves.
 

trooper6

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SaneAmongInsane said:
*sigh* I've never been a uncle this old before. Now while I'm agnostic, I dislike them raising the kid with out some sort of moral authority because I know how that really fucked me up at from age 5-20 once I realized the concept of death. I much rather he be raised in a faith he rejects at earlier age and discards then to struggle with those thoughts long before hand. The only guiding compass I had in my young life, aside from badass stories told by my father were superheroes and later profesional wrestling babyfaces.
I grew up without religion, but I didn't grow up without morality. The two are not synonymous.

My parents taught me morals. A sense of right and wrong. And I grew up healthy and happy. It can be done. Parents just need to parent.
 

DudeistBelieve

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trooper6 said:
SaneAmongInsane said:
*sigh* I've never been a uncle this old before. Now while I'm agnostic, I dislike them raising the kid with out some sort of moral authority because I know how that really fucked me up at from age 5-20 once I realized the concept of death. I much rather he be raised in a faith he rejects at earlier age and discards then to struggle with those thoughts long before hand. The only guiding compass I had in my young life, aside from badass stories told by my father were superheroes and later profesional wrestling babyfaces.
I grew up without religion, but I didn't grow up without morality. The two are not synonymous.

My parents taught me morals. A sense of right and wrong. And I grew up healthy and happy. It can be done. Parents just need to parent.
Not saying it can't sir, because I am a product of it, just as you.

I am just saying that I learned most of my strongest morals from fictional TV heroic characters then my parents before the age of 5th grade.

I am also just saying I went threw what you no doubt avoided from your parental upbringing the overall sadness and isolation brought upon by the idea of the atheistic death. Truthfully, that crippled me for many of my youthful nights to the point I really wised I was raised in a religion if only to deal with it later. It's a horrible experience to imagine if you're a child trying to understand the atheist view of death.

If nothing else, I'd like him to avoid that fear that I dealt with in my young youth every night.
 

Canadamus Prime

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Jun 17, 2009
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SaneAmongInsane said:
canadamus_prime said:
3 seems a bit early. My 3 year old nephew seems to be only interested in watching Caiu(or however the hell you spell that).
That little asian chick right?

More support in favor of Superman then.

*sigh* I've never been a uncle this old before. Now while I'm agnostic, I dislike them raising the kid with out some sort of moral authority because I know how that really fucked me up at from age 5-20 once I realized the concept of death. I much rather he be raised in a faith he rejects at earlier age and discards then to struggle with those thoughts long before hand. The only guiding compass I had in my young life, aside from badass stories told by my father were superheroes and later profesional wrestling babyfaces.

From the age of 5 onward all I can remember on TV was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mighty Max, Big Bad Beetle Borgs, Batman/Superman Adventures, Beast Wars, Pokemon, Digimon, Justice League and finally WWF Smackdown. Those were the shows that impacted me the most. Honestly, I only want the kid to avoid the pit falls that fell me.
No, the bald animated toddler kid.

Anyway, who says that one's moral authority has to come from an external source?
Also, take it from a 4X Uncle, it's not your job to raise the kid, it's your brother/sisters job. If you try to take over or interfere, you'll usually just get them pissed at you.
I know it's not easy to do, believe me I know.
 

trooper6

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SaneAmongInsane said:
Though I am starting to warm up to Superman as the opener. He's more kid friendlier and I think a better hero for a 3 year old then Batman sadly... the only thing that bothers me is that Superman isn't human... I really like to stress home to him what a real human is capable of doing against evil, but maybe you're all right. Maybe Superman is the hero a 3 year old needs and Batman is what the wiser older child deserves.
Actually, I think politically and morally, Batman is sort of creepy.

Superman is an immigrant from a small town who grew up without a lot of privilege. He grew up with a strong family in Ma and Pa Kent who loved him. He has an honest average job and works hard. He is motivated by love. He tends to work on saving people/the planet etc. He is a rescuer.

Batman is a privileged guy motivated by revenge who used his wealth to be above the law and be a vigilante. Batman projects a disrespect for law enforcement that Superman does not. He is not a rescuer, he does not tend to do what he does out of love. He is a psychologically messed up person.

In terms of things to strive for, "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" (or even "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility") beats Batman's Revenge Fantasy any day.

But, in our current cynical age and dark batman is awfully popular...along with figures like Wolverine or the Punisher.

Too Bad we don't have more love for figures like Superman.
 

DudeistBelieve

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Ultratwinkie said:
SaneAmongInsane said:
I have a 3 year old nephew, is it okay if I start showing him the DC Animated Universe starting with the Batman? Should I show him the Superman cartoons first?

Like me, he is being born into this world absent of religion, and being a child of the 90's grew up basing my moral values from what I learned from television superheros. Some of it was good (Like Batman, Superman and Beast Wars) some of it impacted me negatively (Like Digimon season 02). I understand it's not really my place to put morals on the child but... there is also the part of me that would get the nostalgic pleasure from passing on these cartoons to the next generation.
If you want to give him values EXCLUSIVELY from cartoons, no. Batman is a terrible moral role model, like every other hero in DC comics. Teach his morals yourself, and don't rely on the man in a rubber suit with a little boy in panties to teach him morals.

- Drawn fictional man in rubber suit fighting crime with a little boy in panties using flawed morality.

- Old man on a cloud in a religion with bronze age morality.

What's the difference, really? Don't base morals or views based only on television, ever. That is how faith healing, and organic food became popular.
Exclusively? I am not his parent, and it takes a village to raise a child... or so they say.

I'm just saying, in a world where this 3 year old asks me "who should I aspire to be in this world, uncle" whom should I show?

Maybe I shouldn't show him the man that desired to avenge his parents death or the first christ character I ever knew in optimus primal, but I should at least point to him somethine I
canadamus_prime said:
SaneAmongInsane said:
canadamus_prime said:
3 seems a bit early. My 3 year old nephew seems to be only interested in watching Caiu(or however the hell you spell that).
That little asian chick right?

More support in favor of Superman then.

*sigh* I've never been a uncle this old before. Now while I'm agnostic, I dislike them raising the kid with out some sort of moral authority because I know how that really fucked me up at from age 5-20 once I realized the concept of death. I much rather he be raised in a faith he rejects at earlier age and discards then to struggle with those thoughts long before hand. The only guiding compass I had in my young life, aside from badass stories told by my father were superheroes and later profesional wrestling babyfaces.

From the age of 5 onward all I can remember on TV was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mighty Max, Big Bad Beetle Borgs, Batman/Superman Adventures, Beast Wars, Pokemon, Digimon, Justice League and finally WWF Smackdown. Those were the shows that impacted me the most. Honestly, I only want the kid to avoid the pit falls that fell me.
No, the bald animated toddler kid.

Anyway, who says that one's moral authority has to come from an external source?
Also, take it from a 4X Uncle, it's not your job to raise the kid, it's your brother/sisters job. If you try to take over or interfere, you'll usually just get them pissed at you.
I know it's not easy to do, believe me I know.
You have opened my ears sir. what should I do?