"You're too old"

[BartWinkle]

Did it ever annoy you when a family member or friend got on your case when you liked to watch a cartoon because that person would say "you're too old"? It bugged me for a long time. I recall watching Mighty Mouse-the original cartoons-when the ABC station in Pittsburgh ran them in the afternoon back in '79 just as I was entering my senior year in high school and one of my brothers got on my back for it.

[TheGreenSparrow]

My reactions and thoughts usually depend on my mood.

Sometimes it'll bug me and other times I just laugh at their ignorance for thinking such a thing.

I do wish people would come to understand that cartoons are not just for children, though.

[Silverstar]

What gets me about that is why some people are so concerned with what you do with your own free time.

Besides, adults make cartoons, so why can't they watch them?

If someone is an adult with no kids and he/she ritually watches something that's actually intended for tiny tots like The Backyardigans or Dora the Explorer, then it might get a raised eyebrow from me, but still whatever a person watches is ultimately their business and no one else's.

Heck, I just turned 39 and I still watch cartoons, and I'll probably be 139 and still watching cartoons. I've always found cartoons to light years more entertaining than 95% of the live-action shows and movies out there, and I probably always will.

[Quacktoon]

Last year I was watching SpongeBob and my uncle said to me, "Aren't you a little old to be watching SpongeBob?" I was only 12 last year! I'm a kid... kids watch cartoons.

[Movie06]

Well, it's the assumption that "Animation is for kids" that makes people ask other people why they're watching something animation-related. But surprisingly, nobody has ever told me "You're too old to watch cartoons."

[Antiyonder]

Last year I was watching SpongeBob and my uncle said to me, "Aren't you a little old to be watching SpongeBob?" I was only 12 last year! I'm a kid... kids watch cartoons.

Yeah, but from my understanding, kids are for some reason either expect to or choose to grow up fast nowadays. And every sterotypical person knows that cartoons are among the childish things you have to give up to grow up.

[Blackstar]

Yeah, but from my understanding, kids are for some reason either expect to or choose to grow up fast nowadays. And every sterotypical person knows that cartoons are among the childish things you have to give up to grow up.

...and yet, cartoons are typical made by adults, not children. Adults who often slip in little bits of "adult" humor, hidden inside jokes and innuendos that the kids don't notice or understand until they watch the cartoons in reruns years later. :D

It's also worth mentioning here that the original theatrical shorts-Looney Tunes, MGM, Popeye, etc.-were not intended for children. It's a common misconception these days that LT, Tom & Jerry, and the like were always considered to be kids' shows, which they were not. They were made both by and for adult audiences. They weren't thought of as kids' shows until after the arrival of television when the shorts started being shown on weekday mornings and afternoons.

[Quacktoon]

Yeah, but from my understanding, kids are for some reason either expect to or choose to grow up fast nowadays. And every sterotypical person knows that cartoons are among the childish things you have to give up to grow up.

Tell me about it. In fifth grade I was made fun of for playing Pokemon games. Fifth grade!

[Antiyonder]

It's also worth mentioning here that the original theatrical shorts-Looney Tunes, MGM, Popeye, etc.-were not intended for children. It's a common misconception these days that LT, Tom & Jerry, and the like were always considered to be kids' shows, which they were not. They were made both by and for adult audiences. They weren't thought of as kids' shows until after the arrival of television when the shorts started being shown on weekday afternoons.

Unspoken rules suggest that entertainment has to feature a famous celebrity or be high on adult content (Drawn Together, Ren & Stimpy Adult Cartoon Party) to qualify as adult.

I don't agree with the sterotypical rules, mind you, I just recite them as I would the pledge.

[Old Guy]

I was only 12 last year! I'm a kid... kids watch cartoons.

12 isn't considered a kid anymore. You were a tween. Your uncle just assumed you had moved on to stuff like Drake & Josh. :confused:

In fifth grade I was made fun of for playing Pokemon games. Fifth grade!

I don't think it had anything with you being in 5th grade. It probably had to do with the fact that Pokemon hasn't been relevant since like 1999.

[AarHan3]

Yep, I've had to contend with that most of my life. Hasn't stopped me yet! :D

[Racattack!Force]

12 isn't considered a kid anymore. You were a tween. Your uncle just assumed you had moved on to stuff like Drake & Josh. :confused:
When I was 12 (which I was until six months ago), I enjoyed both cartoons and tween sitcoms...got a problem with that? :mad: Seriously, I don't really get the "Too old for cartoons" thing. :confused:

[Movie06]

Seriously, I don't really get the "Too old for cartoons" thing. :confused:

It's because of people's assumption that animation is for kids.

[Racattack!Force]

It's because of people's assumption that animation is for kids.
Those people have never watched South Park or Drawn Together. :shrug:

[Old Guy]

got a problem with that?

I'm 20 and watch cartoons. Why would I have a problem with that? I was just explaining why his uncle was confused.

[Racattack!Force]

I'm 20 and watch cartoons. Why would I have a problem with that? I was just explaining why his uncle was confused.
...That is why I'm not a comedian. No one gets my jokes. :sweat:

[Movie06]

Those people have never watched South Park or Drawn Together. :shrug:

However, nowadays, teens who are like 15-18 watch cartoons especially South Park or Family Guy. Even Anime or Avatar. I know my friends who are like 17 and love Avatar.

[Deadman]

when people tell me that i just shrug it off.

[The Wolverine]

If someone is an adult with no kids and he/she ritually watches something that's actually intended for tiny tots like The Backyardigans or Dora the Explorer, then it might get a raised eyebrow from me, but still whatever a person watches is ultimately their business and no one else's.


I watch The Backyardigans whenever I possibly can... and I'm 21. I really don't see an issue with that.

[ROBOTRON]

I'm old.

I don't care what people think about my tv viewing habits.

I am not a reality show person, or a "60 Minutes" type of guy.

Toons are the best thing on tv right now, especially the mature toons.:sweat:

[Theking]

Yep, I've had to contend with that most of my life. Hasn't stopped me yet! :D

I agree totally. I am 40 now and my kids 8 and 5 find Boomerang much more enjoyable than say Cartoon Network, or Nick and those kinds of cartoons.

Just goes to show how well written they were.


TheKing

[Toony Loon]

I'm in high school, and I keep hearing people calling me immature because I watch cartoons!

A person can be 11,345,234.6 years old and still like cartoons.
I doubt that they've seen cartoons like "Blitz Wolf" or "Hare Ribbin" that are clearly not for kids!

[Silverstar]

I watch The Backyardigans whenever I possibly can... and I'm 21. I really don't see an issue with that.

Some people might, but not me personally. As I said, what one chooses to watch is ultimately his/her business, so who are we to judge?

[Toonfan2000]

Personally, I think the "cartoons are for kids" mentality is very stupid and prejudiced. So basically, the moment you turn 20, you're supposed to start getting used to live-action dramas, sitcoms, reality TV shows, the news, and LA movies (and as young as 11, you're supposed to start watching tween-coms). Psshh. I'm 13 (14 in 3 months) and I don't see anything wrong with anyone my age watching cartoons. In fact, I HATE most live-action shows.

[stargirl]

When I was little, my parents used to say to me "You're too old to be watching that stuff," or yell, "That's all you watch: cartoons, cartoons, cartoons!" A few times my dad has even got to the point where he's a bit frustrated about it.

Same goes for students at my school; the majority of students I've met say that they either used to watch cartoons when they were little, or they just didn't watch them at all. I feel like I'm one of those rare teens at my school that, to be honest, would choose an animated show over any show on MTV or any other channel (with the exception of a couple reality shows!)

[The Cartoon]

I'm 14 and my 11-Year old brother makes fun of me for watching cartoons all the time, but I could care less. :D

[Dr.Pepper]

I'm 18 and I still watch cartoons. I'll be watching them to the day I die. I just try not to tell anybody.

[Infusions]

I think it all matters on what I'm watching.

While my parents don't particularly like shows like Drawn Together and South Park, which I watch, they're usually a bit more relaxed when I'm watching something like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

But if I'm watching Toy Story, they'll probably throw me some "You still watch this?" look.

My older sister has most of the Disney DVDs and at times when she's not around, my family will make some remark about her like "She was watching Aladdin? How old is she now?"

[Taylor Karras]

I'm not too old.

Besides, who cares what your watching anyways?

[Caswin]

Just to throw something out there: Can we acknowledge that certain cartoons really are meant for kids? I think many people are beginning to forget that, both in terms of watching them themselves, and judging modern cartoons that are aimed at kids by the standards of their own demographic (such as, oh, The Emperor's New School comes to mind, but that's just one example).

Much as I might like to look at it through rose-tinted glasses, if someone asked me why I was watching Birdman - which was almost certainly not an all-audiences cartoon - I'd be a bit pressed for an answer.

[Movie06]

Does anyone think Speilberg might've been told if he's "Too old to watch cartoons"?

[SAMaine]

I never had this happen to me specifically, but I would probably say that most people should stay in touch with their childhood. I mean if and when I have a kid, I want to be able to approve of what he is watching, so that means sitting through an episode or two.

[Racattack!Force]

I think the only people that are rarely asked the question are the people who make them. :shrug:

[ROBOTRON]

:shrug: - Being told "You're too old to watch cartoons" really doesn't make sense if you think about it. I mean "adults" make the cartoons...so it only make sense that they watch them. I don't know of many 10 year olds who make, produce, or direct cartoons.

Now obsession is another story.

An adult "obsessed" with cartoons may be questionable, but I personally don't think theres anything wrong with that either, it all depends. If the person in question watches them for the entertainment factor...more power to them...however, if they have some sort of depraved pedo fascination with them (or some other odd reason) then it may not be ok.:sweat:

[Antiyonder]

Just to throw something out there: Can we acknowledge that certain cartoons really are meant for kids? I think many people are beginning to forget that, both in terms of watching them themselves, and judging modern cartoons that are aimed at kids by the standards of their own demographic (such as, oh, The Emperor's New School comes to mind, but that's just one example).

Much as I might like to look at it through rose-tinted glasses, if someone asked me why I was watching Birdman - which was almost certainly not an all-audiences cartoon - I'd be a bit pressed for an answer.

Even so, maturity is and should be based on how you behave (i.e. Keeping your voice down in a library, fancy dinner or meeting, etc), not whether you prefer a childrens cartoon over an MA rated show. Besides, there are plenty of Adult Shows that are childish, so what difference does it make if I watch a childish show for kid (Other than the former having content while the other has none).

[Caswin]

Even so, maturity is and should be based on how you behave (i.e. Keeping your voice down in a library, fancy dinner or meeting, etc), not whether you prefer a childrens cartoon over porn.Uh... nobody said anything about maturity or pornography. At least, I know I didn't. What does porn have to do with simplistic storytelling?

...okay, maybe I just answered my own question, but you know what I mean. :sweat:

[Antiyonder]

Uh... nobody said anything about maturity or pornography. At least, I know I didn't. What does porn have to do with simplistic storytelling?

...okay, maybe I just answered my own question, but you know what I mean. :sweat:

That's why adults are criticized for watching a children's cartoon. As I said before, maturity is based off how you behave, but the general public thinks that hobbies define our maturity, hence the whole "You shouldn't be watching something for children/You're too old to be watching that".

[Infusions]

:shrug: - Being told "You're too old to watch cartoons" really doesn't make sense if you think about it. I mean "adults" make the cartoons...so it only make sense that they watch them. I don't know of many 10 year olds who make, produce, or direct cartoons.

I was going to use that point too, but if you think about it, then that would be including shows like Dora the Explorer and Franklin the Turtle.

While there are teenagers, and even adults, who enjoy watching "Go Diego, Go!" I'm sure I would be throwing my friend an odd look if I saw her watching and happily enjoying Blues Clues unless she was with a little kid she's babysitting and just joining in with the kid to make it more lively for him.

[KCJ506]

A situtiaon(sp?) like this happened to be another board. It's not a cartoon but the kids are the target audience. I'm almost 24 and I still watch Power Rangers. And I made a thread about the new video game that came out last year and a couple people started making fun of me about it. And you wanna know what forum it was on? The Superherohype message boards. They're on a internet message board dedicated to superheroes and they wanna judge me?

Not very many people know I still watch stuff like that. Not even two of my best friends know because I know how they'll react if I told them and I really don't wanna hear it. I only tell people that I can trust.

Something like this also happened up at my job. I'm a big Spider-man fan and I have a Spider-man leather coat. I was outside checking the movie drop box(I work at a video store) and some lady asked my co-worker "How come he has a Spider-man coat? How old is he?" What does my age have to with me wearing a Spider-man coat? It doesn't matter how old I am.

[Antiyonder]

First off, I'm not aiming my post at you, just using it to help emphasis my point.

I was going to use that point too, but if you think about it, then that would be including shows like Dora the Explorer and Franklin the Turtle.

While there are teenagers, and even adults, who enjoy watching "Go Diego, Go!" I'm sure I would be throwing my friend an odd look if I saw her watching and happily enjoying Blues Clues unless she was with a little kid she's babysitting and just joining in with the kid to make it more lively for him.

While I certainly don't make it a habit to watch preschool shows, I sure that some have some entertainment value to adults. The thing to keep in mind is that the only reason a program is given a demograph is because it's easier to market a product to a specific group rather than everyone.

I mean Gargoyles, Avatar and The Spectacular Spider-Man are aimed at the 6-11 age group officially. Yet they've proven to gain a huge follow of people past their 20s.

Besides, as I said above, the people who fire out the words "You're too old to enjoy that" strike me as the type to judge someone based off their viewing habits.

I mean, just because someone watches something like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, that doesn't mean that they have a slacker mentallity. Just because someone enjoys slasher films don't mean that they are blood thirsty.

See, a person's mindset should be determind by how they act in public or serious situations. The type of shows a person watch do not always determine one's personality. Heck I bet some people who watch say slasher films might just like the suspensefulness of the character encountering a killer.

[Caswin]

I mean Gargoyles, Avatar and The Spectacular Spider-Man are aimed at the 6-11 age group officially. Yet they've proven to gain a huge follow of people past their 20s.Officially, yes, and I'm sure the 6-11 group has great fun with them, too. (I know I would.) However, we're not talking about "official" designations here - even if you could gain some level of enjoyment from it, somehow, there are shows out there that really aren't aimed at anyone higher than kindergarten at all. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, of course, but that's the issue here.
Heck I bet some people who watch say slasher films might just like the suspensefulness of the character encountering a killer.Uh... yes, I think that's supposed to be the point of such films to begin with. Nothing unusual there.

[Antiyonder]

Uh... yes, I think that's supposed to be the point of such films to begin with. Nothing unusual there.

The point I'm trying to make is that the majority who criticize adults for viewing children animation do so because they believe that a persons entertainment preference determines their personality and maturity level. That's why you get comments like "You're too old to watch that". Because they think that watching a children's program will diminish said person's maturity.

[ROBOTRON]

I was going to use that point too, but if you think about it, then that would be including shows like Dora the Explorer and Franklin the Turtle.

While there are teenagers, and even adults, who enjoy watching "Go Diego, Go!" I'm sure I would be throwing my friend an odd look if I saw her watching and happily enjoying Blues Clues unless she was with a little kid she's babysitting and just joining in with the kid to make it more lively for him.

Good point, but the toons you mentioned specifically targets an age specific group that includes toddlers and pre-schoolers. Spiderman, Batman, X-men, etc. are slightly advanced for toddlers and preschoolers...although I'm sure they watch them and probably enjoy them. But how many toddlers or preschoolers actually could comprehend the complexities of say, The Cadmus arc of JLU? Or some of the adult humor in Ren & Stimpy? Heck, even the older Popeye and Bugs Bunny toons had adult subject matter such as smoking, and "sexy girl" humor I doubt a child could handle.

Personally, I don't watch Go Diego or Blues Clues...but I'd guess about 80% of my tv watching habit consist primarily of toons. Boomerang being tops on my list. Sprinkle some Smallville, A&E (1st 48, City Confidential) and a movie or two and that makes up the other 20%.

TV today mainly consist of reality shows (which I hate mostly), drama and sitcoms...which I like, but most stink.:raven:

[Caswin]

The point I'm trying to make is that the majority who criticize adults for viewing children animation do so because they believe that a persons entertainment preference determines their personality and maturity level. That's why you get comments like "You're too old to watch that". Because they think that watching a children's program will diminish said person's maturity.Thing is, I never saw it that way, and I don't think I've heard that from any critics. It might speak poorly for their maturity level in general, if anything, but the main issue, I think, is just that something too simplistic (and yes, Robotron, this does include genuinely preschool-level shows) isn't fit for an adult to be watching.

That having been said, what you watch actually does have an impact on your psyche, if not a defining one. I think watching such material on a regular basis without thinking about it too much or exposing yourself to much else actually could make your maturity take a hit, in the same way that while they don't strictly make you into an ax murderer, those slasher movies you brought up can desensitize you to violence and so forth.

[Senshi Mizaka]

My older brother used to get on me all the time for watching Tom and Jerry. This was when I was 15, so I can see why. I haven't gotten any of the "Aren't you too old to be watching cartoons?" comments. I'm sure that most people understand nostalgia and how anyone can appreciate classics despite age.

[veemonjosh]

My sister gets this quite a bit, considering she's a 12 year old who still watches Nick Jr. :sweat:

I've never really gotten this type of this from my parents, probably since I still act a bit immature anyways, but they did give me weird looks when I wanted to buy the Season One set for PPG, but that probably has more to do with their assumption that PPG is just for girls (they used to question if I was possibly homosexual or bi when I watched it as a kid...). :shrug:

[Antiyonder]

Thing is, I never saw it that way, and I don't think I've heard that from any critics. It might speak poorly for their maturity level in general, if anything, but the main issue, I think, is just that something too simplistic (and yes, Robotron, this does include genuinely preschool-level shows) isn't fit for an adult to be watching.

That having been said, what you watch actually does have an impact on your psyche, if not a defining one. I think watching such material on a regular basis without thinking about it too much or exposing yourself to much else actually could make your maturity take a hit, in the same way that while they don't strictly make you into an ax murderer, those slasher movies you brought up can desensitize you to violence and so forth.

Except that you have many mature successful adult that watch simplistic shows and don't become worse for the wear. The only ones who are effected by the programs they watch were most likely weakminded to begin with. It's simply easier to blame the tv set than the fragile mind of a human.

As for watching preschool shows, I check them out every now and then, to expand my viewing selection. Some preschool shows can and have been entertaining. I mean simplicity doesn't always equal stupidity.

Besides, many adult programs are just as juvenile/stupid/simple. Only reason the audience overlooks their simplicity is because the shows in question have sex jokes and profanity. I mean aside from King Of The Hill and Futurama, can you point out any adult cartoons that are high on complex writing and low on adult content? Heck, in my opinion, The Spectacular Spider-Man is more mature than the Spider-Man cartoon for MTV that was meant for adults.

[Caswin]

Except that you have many mature successful adult that watch simplistic shows and don't become worse for the wear. The only ones who are effected by the programs they watch were most likely weakminded to begin with. It's simply easier to blame the tv set than the fragile mind of a human.Good point; not the main thing I was debating anyway, but there is that. Like I said before, if you are going to watch genuinely simplistic shows (which is to say, not one of Spider-Man's more popular incarnations or anything like that), though, it's healthy to mix it up with something else.
Besides, many adult programs are just as juvenile/stupid/simple. Only reason the audience overlooks their simplicity is because the shows in question have sex jokes and profanity. I mean aside from King Of The Hill and Futurama, can you point out any adult cartoons that are high on complex writing and low on adult content?"Adult cartoon" is hard to define. And many of them do have adult content, whether they need it or not; the issue is more the complexity of their writing. (By contrast, a simple, poorly-written show that tries to make up for it with adult content certainly isn't going to be worth watching; I rather hope that the same kind of person who would play the "you're too old" card to begin with would see that. Well, maybe.)
Heck, in my opinion, The Spectacular Spider-Man is more mature than the Spider-Man cartoon for MTV that was meant for adults.I haven't seen much of it, but... I think I'm inclined to agree.

[Antiyonder]

Good point; not the main thing I was debating anyway, but there is that. Like I said before, if you are going to watch genuinely simplistic shows (which is to say, not one of Spider-Man's more popular incarnations or anything like that), though, it's healthy to mix it up with something else.

Agreed.

I haven't seen much of it, but... I think I'm inclined to agree.

Which one were you refering to? But to specify my comment. The MTV Series while entertaining struck me as a Saturday Morning cartoon with Adult Content placed in to justify it's placement on MTV, though the finale is probably the one that oozes of maturity (no forced content and strong story).

[Caswin]

Which one were you refering to? But to specify my comment. The MTV Series while entertaining struck me as a Saturday Morning cartoon with Adult Content placed in to justify it's placement on MTV, though the finale is probably the one that oozes of maturity (no forced content and strong story).I was referring to Spectacular, and I look forward to watching the MTV series' finale somewhere down the line after all I've heard about it. Yeah, forced adult content is bad and shouldn't be mistaken for maturity, but I think we've drifted from the original topic - not that I particularly want to keep pursuing it.

[ThePeterNetwork]

To me, people's opinions don't really matter. In fact, I feel most peoples opinions are dumb and stupid. You should be able to watch whatever you enjoy the most, and if it involves cartoons, then that's great. Why should we care what other people think anyway?

[Daphne Blake]

I either get two reactions when I mention I love cartoons - either that I'm too old but mostly people get excited too because what I'm into is what they grew up with and reminds them of their best memories.

It does annoy me though when they say I'm too old, I get intense enjoyment so why does it matter? And as most people have mentioned the cartoons I watch have got humour which reaches both adults and children. The hidden innuendos are brilliant.