Skip to content
quotesby

There should be a notice ahead of the movie that says 'This movie is PG. Can you read? You are a Parent. Do you understand what Guidance is? Or are you just another stupid toddler who thinks they're an adult simply because they've grown older and, unfortunately, have developed fully-functioning sexual organs? Would you like some committee somewhere to decide *everything* for you? Get a damn grip, will you? And shut the wretched kid up !'

Terry Pratchett#17

MediaFamilyResponsibility

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote criticizes parents who expect rating systems to make decisions for them rather than using their own judgment.
In plain terms
Parents should guide their children instead of relying on movie ratings.
What can you take from it?
Parenting requires personal judgment, not just rules.

Where it applies

  • family decisions
  • media consumption

Putting it to work

  • Trust your judgment
  • Discuss media with children

Questions to consider

  • How do you guide children's media use?
  • What defines good parenting?

Another view

Ratings still provide useful context for parents.

More from Terry Pratchett

  1. 'They can ta'k our lives but they can never ta'k our freedom!' Now there's a battle cry not designed by a clear thinker...

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. ...while a book has got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the reader it's got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the writer as well.

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil... prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until Doom, no one seemed to have …

    Permalink to quote #15

Related quotes

  1. The basic mission of the rating system is a simple one: to offer to parents some advance information about movies so that parents can decide what movies they w…

    Jack ValentiJack Valenti quote #34
  2. The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we [journalists], too often are squandering our …

    Carl BernsteinCarl Bernstein quote #1
  3. 'When have you ever heard the United States take the blame for anything? This is no different.'

    Mel LastmanMel Lastman quote #1