Poll: A batman related morality question.

[trooper6]

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.

There are many different ways of looking at death. The idea that when you die, you just die...that isn't exclusive to atheist thought (and not all atheists look at it that bleakly either). The Ancient Anglo Saxons...of Beowulf thought when you die, you just die. Immortality was being remembered, so it was important to do good deeds so you would maintain immortality. And they had gods.

Similarly, you could be an atheist and think that death is part of the cycle of life. The first law of Thermodynamics says that energy can neither be created or destroyed, so you could see death as merely a) natural and good and b) not final, but that the energy then goes to renew other parts of the ecosystem.

If you don't want you nephew to be lonely or isolated, then you can either tell him some religious story that you don't believe in, or you could explain it in way that doesn't make him feel isolated or lonely. But really, that is something his parents should do. And Batman, Superman, etc--none of those are going to help him deal with mortality.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

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?

I can't tell if you're being serious or if your mocking me. I'm going to assume the former.
My advice, just play with him, take him places, do stuff with him. If you ever had a favorite Uncle growing up, think about why he was your favorite uncle and do that for your nephew.

 

[Meanmoose]

Seems a tad bit early. He might not be old enough to fully, appriciate the awesomness of batman.

One word though: Totoro!

 

[ManaCrazed]

you know what... show him the justice leauge... it's got them all superman, batman, wonder woman, flash, hawk girl and Jon they all compliment each other in the ways or morals and personalities... and i didn't mention green lantern cause GL is just a massive twat that thinks he's god's gift to heroism.

OR you COULD show him 'The Batman' the 2003 version it actually portrays batman as a normal person that cant handle more then 3 guys at once and gets the piss beaten out of him but still trys even though he's out classed and it has decent humour and Bruce Wayne acts more like a human ie actually fucking smiles.

that's my 2 cents right there

 

[trooper6]

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?

Side note: I'm also an Uncle.

When the 3 year old asks you, "who should I aspire to be"--which is unlikely, tell them to be the best person *they* can be.

But also, why do they need Superman, when they have you? You are a role model..and you will be their role model. You be a good man of high moral character, they will watch you and learn from you.

Also, who do *you* admire? Show them a world of history. Teach them about people who created great works of art, who survived terrible odds, who discovered amazing things, who helped others, who stood up for principles. The world is full of real life inspirations of all sorts. But in the end, I can't be my Drill Sergeant, but I can be disciplined like him. I can't be Rosa Parks, but I can stand up for equality like she did. I can't be my mother, but I can be kind like her. I can't be my advisor, but I can be generous in spirit like he is. Encourage your nephew to be a good person, to follow his dreams--wherever they may take him. And, as we say in the NCO corps, Lead by Example.

By the way, when I was 11 or 12, I first read the Athenian Boys Oath...written by Solon, that all Athenian young men took when they turned 18. It always made an impression on me. Maybe you can keep that for your nephew for later:

"We will never bring disgrace to this, our city, by any act of dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the city's laws and do our best to incite a like respect and reverence in those above us who are prone to annul or set them at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit this city not only less, but greater than it was transmitted to us."

 

[Choppaduel]

Interesting you mention religion, because I remember (watched the whole series a few months ago) Batman TAS being rather unsubtly pro-Christian & pro-Conservative.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

As awesome and amazing Batman is, 3 seems a little bit early. It's a little too violent for that age and he might not understand what's going on. He certainly won't get any of the messages or backstory presented.

Wait a couple years. Yes, Batman the Animated Series was and still is awesome, but he should be shown it when he can truly appreciate it.

 

[Mechsoap]

Batman teaches us that justice is important. And you don't need to be a alien to fight evil.

so yeah... GO BATMAN!

 

[Agayek]

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.

I'd say start with Batman TAS. It's a fantastic cartoon, there's not a whole lot that would be too scary for a little kid, and it'll be a good time.

You might want to start with Superman, from a purely "less dark" standpoint, but it's 6 and 2 3's from where I sit.

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

Go for it, just be sure to show him the less violent comics. The coolest thing about Batman is all the fun characters and villians it has.

 

[Naix99]

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).

Haha you mean Caillou. It's french and it means rock.. But on a smaller scale.

I don't know how baby works at all (I'm learning since my brother just had his first baby and already waiting for his second one), but I think if you to show a comic... Batman is the way to go!!!!! He's the best and he does it with style.

Go for it!!!




Ps. i think it's a little bit too early to show him no??? I really have no clue.

 

[Jodah]

Start with some of the kid friendly versions and it will be okay, stuff like the ones from the 70s and 80s or the newer ones. Just don't subject him to some of the darker versions of the show that have come out. Keep in mind that at 3 he may not learn, understand, or remember anything.

 

[TheAmokz]

To me, batman is most selfish superhero in existence. He repedeatly refuses to kill joker even though he could easily do it. He is pretty much indirectly responsible for thousands of deaths he could easily have prevented simply by killing joker.

 

[LoFr3Eq]

Just show him Captain Planet, that'll teach him good stuff lol.

 

[KarlMonster]

you know what... show him the justice leauge... it's got them all superman, batman, wonder woman, flash, hawk girl and Jon they all compliment each other in the ways or morals and personalities...

Adam West and Justice League.
Justice League stuff can be a little complex for a kid, but they usually involve team building, and solid writing. My favorite was focused on a minor character doing 'crowd control' when you see Superman get knocked back from a very high place. Then the reveal - its half Superman, half Batman, and with Wonder Woman's voice. Comedy gold!

However... you do need to prepare for some awkward questions. For example, in Batman:AA, there are live guards on the island at the beginning of the game, but not at the end. Batman tells everyone to stay where they are. Then they get dead. Also the game actively ignores that the island was full of administrative staff that's also been either killed and raped by the end. Gotham is an ugly town.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

To me, batman is most selfish superhero in existence. He repedeatly refuses to kill joker even though he could easily do it. He is pretty much indirectly responsible for thousands of deaths he could easily have prevented simply by killing joker.

It's not Batman's job to kill him. If the city of Gotham wants the Joker dead, they can ask for it.

Check out Batman: Under the Red Hood for that argument being made to his face though, good flick too.

I always thought that would be a cool comic storyline actually: Bruce Wayne endorses a candidate for Mayor who will reinstate the death penalty in Gotham City and its first customer is good old Mistah J.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

I don't think teaching a child morality through cartoons is such a great idea.