Cartoons: WHY exactly do we stop watching them?

Post Reply New Topic

Cartoons make us happy as kids, and usually they make us happy as adults
I know that they're made for "children" but I've noticed that as a teenager, it clears my mind of all the s**t thats going on in the world... Yet I get made fun of and criticized for watching them. Why is it so taboo to do something that harms nobody, and makes you happy? I really don't understand NT logic at all... If adults and teens watched happier, lighthearted cartoons, we'd be happier and maybe we would focus less on stupid trivial things like politics, religion, race, sexuality and humanity in general... Not to mention it always stops me being depressed when I am. If watching cartoons as an adult has all these possible benefits, then why is it so "bad" to watch them?

Well I still watch The Simpsons quite a lot, I like it because while it's supposed to be a kids show, it has such witty social commentary and political satire. I watch it for the same reasons as you just mentioned, it's lighthearted and makes me laugh, but it's great that it speaks on more than just the superficial level.

The simpsons doesnt seem at all like a kids show.

I'll get back to you after I have a crabbie pattie.

We do?

I seemed to have missed that memo...

I watch old episodes of cartoons on YouTube from time to time.

I never stopped watching cartoons.

They tend to be aimed at children, as you've already mentioned. I think that one of the contributing factors to the idea that cartoons in general (material not really in question) may be because picking up on early social signals like facial expressions and such are easier to do with animated (ambiguous, I know) faces and such. Can't be sure, though, but I just thought that up while reading this thread. Meh.

I still watch them.

I can watch only cartoons. Films with actors tend to scare me (except rare cases). I watch some cartoons for teen and adult (Metalocalypse, the simpson).
I still love cartoons like Smurfs or old Disney's
Thanks to cartoons, i can draw almost all facial expression i want, even if in real life i have difficult to understand them.

I love some cartoons....more or less the older ones, plus many of the Disney movies. They're fun & entertaining, & usually have a pretty decent story line. That said, I think people/society have the expectation that when one gets into their teen years, that childish things get put behind them. Kids are supposed to do childish stuff like play games, & watch cartoons, but as we near adulthood, we are supposed to do adult type stuff. Maybe kids who love playing with blocks when they're little grow up to be architects, or children who love to draw or paint become artists? Those people wouldn't exist if they outgrew their childish pursuits.

Whoever has been saying "kids only" around you is not very knowledgable about toon media. There are plenty of shows that are specificaly for adults, and alot of those are best discussed in the adult forum. Others, are just for mature viewers for other reasons. Then some are for anybody to enjoy. Lastly, we do have shows that are aimed at younger groups.

I still watch cartoons, but mostly cartoons from back when I was a kid. ex. Animaniacs * I'm starting to wonder if people are getting tired of me blabing about it? * Pinky and The Brain. Shows that just had one purpose.

Yes. The Simpsons is one of those things where kids like it, but it's not dedicated to kids only. It's popular with adults too. If it was for kids, they'd put it on Children's Programmes (which comes on at 3.30pm every week-day). So if an adult watches it, it doesn't look ''stupid'' or anything like that.

The Simpsons isn't aimed at kids only. It's aimed at all ages.

South Park is definitely not a kid's show, it's aimed at adult audience. But I have always found it ironic they use characters that are only children in an adult show.

I like Spongebob and I believe that is aimed at adults too because mom told me there is adult humor in there.

I never understood either why it's so taboo for grown ups to watch cartoons because it's a guilty pleasure. I know lot of grown ups still watch that stuff but they just don't say anything. When they do mention they do, it's always because they watch it with their kids or grand kids or kids they watch.

I don't watch that much TV as I used to but I still watch them sometimes.

I start watching cartoons because they're much better than BBC (national - local is ok) News in the morning and much better than watching any other channel's news. I stop watching cartoons because I then have to go to work.

I know lots of elderly people who settle down to watch Children's Programmes and Cartoon Network.