Recently I've made a decision to stop watching Rated-R movies. This has been a tough battle with me and some friends because I personally do not believe that Rated-R movies are bad. Sounds odd to say that, but I think that the MPAA Rating system is an odd system to dictate what is morally appropriate to view at what age. It's odd to think that a group of arbitrary people can define what we should or shouldn't watch. But this is not the place to fight or defend the MPAA. I want to explain myself.
Some years back The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mentioned that people should stop watching Rated-R movies. This was a big issue with me because I didn't belive that Rated-R movies were bad. And some people that knew would condemn me over and over because I had Rated-R movies in my DVD collection or that I would go out and watch them in the theater. I had roommates who told me that I was being wicked because I would go to the movies and see a Rated-R movie about HIstory (Malcom X, Glory) when I would come home and they would be watching a PG-13 movie that was taking the Lord's name in vain over and over again. It seemed odd to me.
So I held on to my little viewing belief for a long time. Heck they show Glory during US History classes at High School and BYU? If that Rated-R movie can be shown why couldn't I watch my own movies?
Then came the edited movie craze. People could finally watch their favorite Rated-R movie in an edited PG format. That seemed odd to me. Now I know that it is nice to watch a movie that doesn't contain profanity, nudity and/or violence. But if you were worried about that to begin with why watch the movie in the first place? Did it really build up your life to watch the movie?
So I held on to my belief. Usually because the only arguement that I couldn't defeat with conviction was "The Church authorities told us not to." But then to watch those same people who would promote that arguement watch vile things just because it was an "OK" rating to watch seemed tragically hypocritical.
So why did I come to the decision? It has nothing to do with the Rating system. My thought was this:
My life is out of control!!!!
I live pretty much alone and have done so for a while now. I am self sustaining and have many things I can be greatful for, but I need boundaries. The simplest boundary I can put up right now is "No Higher Rating Content." I steer away from movies, tv, art, books, anything that can be misconstrued. The interesting thing is to take that time that was used to those pursuits and put it somewhere else. And sense I have a boundary now that I can guide myself against I can feel good about not steping into a grey world.
Does this mean that all Rated PG-13 movies are OK to watch? Heck NO!!!! I find some PG movies a little disturbing to watch. So what I do is research before I watch. Recently I've been watching a lot of kids movies. I just like to watch them to clean the soul a little.
So that's it in a nutshell. If you feel your life is out of control. Put a boundary in place and see what happens. I don't know if I'm a better person. I don't think I feel any different, but I do know that I no longer say to kids "You can't watch that movie" as often because I don't own as many movies that they shouldn't watch anymore.