Are Superheroes bad role models for kids?

[The Sotoan Union]

http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com/geekine ... dels-kids/
http://sequart.org/magazine/16858/super ... superzero/
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/a ... ychologist

Are superheroes bad role models for kids? Surely it seems ridiculous, but more and more we can look at superheroes and see that they may not be the best role models for children. Paragons of justice and good perhaps, but not for children.

So what do you think NSG? Are superheroes still good role models for kids?

Personally I think they can be. However there are more mature themes now. Gone are the days of campy superheroes. Now superheroes are getting more and more violent, with darker and grittier themes. This can lead to graphic violence not appropriate for kids. Superheroes can still be family friendly, but we live in a world now where they aren't always. Superheroes are no longer inherently kid friendly.

[The Serbian Empire]

They're better role models than Niko Bellic or Franklin Clinton from the GTA series.

[Ifreann]

That rather depends on who's writing them, I expect.

[Benuty]

They're better role models than Niko Bellic or Franklin Clinton from the GTA series.

Because realism about how gamers play GTA is bad?

[The Sotoan Union]

They're better role models than Niko Bellic or Franklin Clinton from the GTA series.

But those games aren't advertised towards kids. Sure kids will still play them, but it's not like GTA toys are available at Toys R Us. Those are more geared towards adults.

[The Serbian Empire]

They're better role models than Niko Bellic or Franklin Clinton from the GTA series.

But those games aren't advertised towards kids. Sure kids will still play them, but it's not like GTA toys are available at Toys R Us. Those are more geared towards adults.

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

[Avenio]

Superheroes can still be family friendly, but we live in a world now where they aren't always.

We live in a world that very often isn't very 'family friendly', either. Why is it necessary to shelter kids from the way the world really is? Should we refrain from telling the story of Anne Frank because she ends up dying in a concentration camp?

It's one thing to cater content to kids based upon their understanding of the material (a show that's entertaining to 3-year-olds is probably not to 6-year-olds and vice versa), but to clutch pearls about content because the revelation of the existence of a world outside of their playrooms might somehow traumatize them is downright silly.

[The Sotoan Union]

But those games aren't advertised towards kids. Sure kids will still play them, but it's not like GTA toys are available at Toys R Us. Those are more geared towards adults.

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

Superheroes still have this kid friendly atmosphere around them, so that they will always be slightly geared towards kids. GTA never had anything like that.

[The Sotoan Union]

Superheroes can still be family friendly, but we live in a world now where they aren't always.

We live in a world that very often isn't very 'family friendly', either. Why is it necessary to shelter kids from the way the world really is? Should we refrain from telling the story of Anne Frank because she ends up dying in a concentration camp?

It's one thing to cater content to kids based upon their understanding of the material (a show that's entertaining to 3-year-olds is probably not to 6-year-olds and vice versa), but to clutch pearls about superhero stories that are anything but campy Adam West-esque romps is downright silly.

People aren't torn limb from limb very often in real life. I wouldn't look towards even gritty comic books as an example of realism.

[Blazedtown]

No. People who stand up for what's right are never bad role models.

[Avenio]

We live in a world that very often isn't very 'family friendly', either. Why is it necessary to shelter kids from the way the world really is? Should we refrain from telling the story of Anne Frank because she ends up dying in a concentration camp?

It's one thing to cater content to kids based upon their understanding of the material (a show that's entertaining to 3-year-olds is probably not to 6-year-olds and vice versa), but to clutch pearls about superhero stories that are anything but campy Adam West-esque romps is downright silly.

People aren't torn limb from limb very often in real life. I wouldn't look towards even gritty comic books as an example of realism.

People don't die of typhus or starvation in Nazi extermination camps very often, either. Does that mean we should stop turning to the story of Anne Frank as an example of the real life of a historical child?

[Dracoria]

I could swear we've had this thread before. At any rate, I don't see what's wrong with superhero role models, depending on which hero and which version thereof. In general, the ones who I'd least suggest as role models would be commonly referred to as 'antiheroes', and even a number of them have more redeeming features than many athletes and superstars who get idolized these days.

[The Serbian Empire]

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

Superheroes still have this kid friendly atmosphere around them, so that they will always be slightly geared towards kids. GTA never had anything like that.

I think the grittiness is increasing as the comic artists have to suit those adults in the marketplace. If one wants a thing that can be a role model for kids then it needs to be annoying enough that no adult can sit through it otherwise it will be corrupted by adults like superheroes or MLP. Adults damage the product.

[The Sotoan Union]

People aren't torn limb from limb very often in real life. I wouldn't look towards even gritty comic books as an example of realism.

People don't die of typhus or starvation in Nazi extermination camps very often, either. Does that mean we should stop turning to the story of Anne Frank as an example of the real life of a historical child?

But what does that have to do with say a Green Lantern story where characters are regularly brutally murdered for no real reason. What real world analogy do we get from that? It's just done to appeal to adults. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not appropriate for kids.

[Ifreann]

But those games aren't advertised towards kids. Sure kids will still play them, but it's not like GTA toys are available at Toys R Us. Those are more geared towards adults.

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

Yes.

[Infected Mushroom]

They are bad role models because they all suggest that the police are incompetent and can't protect the people/stop the criminals (nothing is further from the truth). It encourages kids to take the law into their own hands and thus become criminals themselves.

Superheroes encourage kids to become criminals. Think about it. Spiderman and Batman are all basically masters at the art of assault, false imprisonment, battery, property destruction, and trespass. Others like the Punisher are guilty of multiple murders in the first degree.

The only people we can trust to protect us are men in uniforms, men who are officially charged with the upkeep of Justice and Law and order, and who have sworn solemn oaths to protect the weak and the innocent in the name of the laws of the land and in the service of the great state.

[The Serbian Empire]

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

Yes.

Then what do we do about those cloppers? We can't have kids exposed to them.

[Dracoria]

Just because they're geared for adults doesn't lead to kids not playing the games. If superheroes aren't good then does that means the only good thing is My Little Pony for everyone?

Yes.

Kids shouldn't run around on all fours, nude aside from their tatooed asses. Well, not in developed countries anyway.

[Washington Resistance Army]

They are, we should all look up to villains and anti-heroes.

[South Pacific Republic]

Better role models than most politicians and celebrities

[The Serbian Empire]

They are bad role models because they all suggest that the police are incompetent and can't protect the people/stop the criminals (nothing is further from the truth). It encourages kids to take the law into their own hands and thus become criminals themselves.

Superheroes encourage kids to become criminals. Think about it. Spiderman and Batman are all basically masters at the art of assault, false imprisonment, battery, property destruction, and trespass. Others like the Punisher are guilty of multiple murders in the first degree.

The only people we can trust to protect us are men in uniforms, men who are officially charged with the upkeep of Justice and Law and order, and who have sworn solemn oaths to protect the weak and the innocent in the name of the laws of the land and in the service of the great state.

The police don't help matters when they act more like comic book villains with no knock raids, killing peoples dogs, and shooting the unarmed.

[Dracoria]

They are bad role models because they all suggest that the police are incompetent and can't protect the people/stop the criminals (nothing is further from the truth). It encourages kids to take the law into their own hands and thus become criminals themselves.

Superheroes encourage kids to become criminals. Think about it. Spiderman and Batman are all basically masters at the art of assault, false imprisonment, battery, property destruction, and trespass. Others like the Punisher are guilty of multiple murders in the first degree.

The only people we can trust to protect us are men in uniforms, men who are officially charged with the upkeep of Justice and Law and order, and who have sworn solemn oaths to protect the weak and the innocent in the name of the laws of the land and in the service of the great state.

Kefka has stated superheroes are bad role models, so they are in fact good role models. /thread

[The Republic of Merrimont]

They'd make better role models than our current president!

[Greater Istanistan]

Hmmm.

Some lines are intended for kids - Marvel Adventures, for example. Those ones provide role models to a certain extent. Simplistic stories of people standing up for what's right, no matter the costs, makes sense.

The others, such as the Punisher, are intended more to tell a story than provide role models. So don't expect morality out of plot/character driven works.

[The Serbian Empire]

They are, we should all look up to villains and anti-heroes.

Viva Caligula!