Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

See no evil

March3

The American Medical Association is throwing a big old hissy fit about the movie He’s Just Not That Into You showing an identifiable brand of cigarettes on screen.  No one smokes a cigarette in the movie.  The character who is a smoker experiences negative consequences directly related to smoking.  But the AMA insists that seeing the pack of cigarettes will influence teens to smoke.  I’ve even heard rumblings that some would like to see smoking in a movie mean an automatic R rating.

This isn’t a Disney movie.  If this was a Hannah Montana movie I would better understand the upset.  It isn’t a movie targeted at the tween crowd.  Tell me what you think.  Do we need Hollywood and Washington to make everything vanilla and pretty so that kids don’t see these things at all or do we need to take responsibility for parenting our children and making decisions about what they watch and then discussing what they see?  Obviously, I am not unbiased here – I can’t even ask my question in a fair and balanced way.  But I am interested in what others think.  Give me your perspective.

posted under parenting
20 Comments to

“See no evil”

  1. On March 3rd, 2009 at 10:22 am Jody W. Says:

    There are all sorts of things I wish they’d stamp with an “R” rating a lot faster than they do, or at least PG-13 (scary crap and violence), but smoking isn’t one of them. Does drinking in a movie mean an automatic R rating?

  2. On March 3rd, 2009 at 10:24 am amy Says:

    Pffft. I saw the movie. They need to find something real to get their shorts in a knot over.

  3. On March 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 am Type little bizarro twin Says:

    WHATEVER! I hate this sanctimonious bullshit! I’m tired of smokers being vilified or treated as pariahs. It’s just a habit, OK? It’s like making people who talk with their hands or use the word “proactive” go outside. (God, though I wish they would!!!)

    As you know, I smoked for the better part of a decade, and it wasn’t because I saw it in movies. My dad smoked, and therefore I had a statistically higher chance of smoking myself. It’s significantly higher if both parents smoke. So a year (ish) ago, when my daughter asked how old she had to be before she could smoke, so she could be JUST LIKE MOMMY, that’s when I quit. She didn’t ask when she could be just like Kate Hudson (although the resemblance is UNCANNY, hardy har har), she asked when she could be like MOMMY.

  4. On March 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 am Malia Says:

    Oh noes! Not cigarettes! That’s a gateway drug you, dontcha know? LOL

    This is seriously messed up. Thanks, but I’ll take responsibility for my own kids (because someone needs to tell them that weed is so much more effective than tobacco! Kidding!!)

  5. On March 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am Stuperb Says:

    Sheesh. I think the fact that, like you said, the smoking character has *negative* consequences from smoking is proof enough that the movie doesn’t glorify smoking. Are we now going to give R ratings to movies that simply reflect reality?

    I’m glad the AMA is taking a stance against smoking and against its glorification, but they have to realize that not all references to the concept of smoking are harmful.

    Good post!

  6. On March 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm Kim Says:

    I agree with Jody – there are many other things I would like to see effect ratings then smoking. I’m not a smoker – never have been – think it is disgusting and can’t stand being around people who smoke (when they are smoking)

    BUT – I don’t see what the big deal is to have a pack of cigarettes in a movie – I really wouldn’t even care if they smoked.

    I’m with you on this 100%

  7. On March 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm Bobbi Says:

    I am wondering if maybe we could eliminate some jobs at the AMA. You know, the ones who get paid to watch movies and FIND something that MIGHT influence someone. I think that this is a stretch, at best. Like you said, if Hannah Montana was smoking it would be one thing, but this was an adult movie!!!! I agree with you!!

  8. On March 3rd, 2009 at 9:33 pm sig Says:

    Oy. Just plain OY with rolling eyes involved.

  9. On March 4th, 2009 at 12:38 am Jennifer Says:

    I Love the Flavor of Vanilla…
    But, I prefer my life full of all spice and interest.

    I love the other commenters statements about growing up to be like Mommy.
    I did the same thing for a while, with smoking in reflection of my Mommy.
    I trashed the cigarettes. They stink anyways. I always hated the idea that I smelled bad. My health came next -as a reason to want to quit. The top was to be an good example to my daughter.
    I will NEVER expect anything out of hollywood to be an example.

    The AMA can shove their opinions and censorship where the sun don’t shine.

  10. On March 4th, 2009 at 8:15 am Ashley J Says:

    ummm… Dumbo gets drunk (or was it the mouse- or both) and it is labeled a classic . I do believe that we need to have strong sensorships to protect our children, but if they are going to see it in the grocery… then seeing it on the big screen is not that big of a deal. ( so I think I am safe until some big boob wonder starts walking around in my publix without her shirt on) Like you said, it is the parents responsibility to check it out (screenit.com) or to discuss it afterward and tell them how you feel and how you believe. Personally, I say good grief… if you want to get down to it I think you could find sensorship in everything out there. I mean does watching Wall-E advocate the fact that we should all trash our planet and get fat and lazy and the rich will fly us off to a space ship and keep feeding us????

  11. On March 4th, 2009 at 10:23 am ani Says:

    seriously? i mean, seriously? do they not have anything else to get all upset about?
    jeez!

  12. On March 4th, 2009 at 2:52 pm carla Says:

    Im SO WITH YOU entirely. personal responsibility. not targeted at your in even a small way (like some adult fare subtly is) and I hurt for myself Id no idea this was even happening.

  13. On March 4th, 2009 at 4:53 pm Musings of a Housewife Says:

    UM. HELLO. Let’s ban sex in movies before we ban cigarettes. SHEESH!

    (By the way, I’m here b/c you left a witty comment on some blog that I cannot now remember because I have read several and have also had a glass of wine. AHEM. But anyway, I’m glad I found your blog!)

  14. On March 4th, 2009 at 7:17 pm Stephanie Says:

    Give me a friggin’ break. Why don’t they focus on some REAL problems.

  15. On March 4th, 2009 at 8:48 pm kim/hormone-colored days Says:

    I think about a year or so ago some big study came out that showed kids who saw people smoking in movies are more likely to take up the habit. I read this after we’d been showing my boys loads of old holiday classics in which every main character smokes in at least every other scene. Oh well.

    But you said they don’t even smoke in this movie, so it does seem like an odd thing to fuss about.

  16. On March 5th, 2009 at 2:26 am Hanlie Says:

    Do they R-rate movies that depict identifiable brands of candy or fast food? Many more people die from those than from cigarettes… I’m not encouraging smoking (which is NOT just a habit, it’s an addiction), but let’s not make it the scapegoat for every health problem in the world!

  17. On March 5th, 2009 at 7:03 am Ale Says:

    Loved Hanlie’s point…isn’t obesity a more serious problem now than smoking? should they ban fast food, too?

    My father has smoked most of his life (he now hides it from us, since he had a heart attack at 49 and then continued to have problems). My siblings and I are as anti-smoking as they come, just like mom 🙂 We grew up watching people smoke, and cigarette commercials are still run here in Guate, so…let people raise their children, comme on. A movie won’t change things anyway.

  18. On March 6th, 2009 at 8:04 am mama k Says:

    I’d rather keep my kids sheltered from sex and violence than seeing a pack of ciggys. Heck he sees that at Grandma’s house.
    Kids smoke because their friends smoke. Not because they see a pack on the screen. Sheesh.

  19. On March 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am Dawn from old AB Says:

    I have always thought the US was weird with their censors, sex is bad, grisly murders completely fine. Oh and yes I agree with you about the cigarette thing.

  20. On March 6th, 2009 at 5:59 pm Andrea Says:

    Seriously? Wow. I think there are a lot worse things to worry about, AMA. Let ME be the parent and decide what’s appropriate for my child (or myself) to watch and decide what will be the influence. Yikers. And honestly, did that many people even SEE the movie? I think they’re okay, there. Really, I do.

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