Offensive staues at Discovery Green ? ? (Houston, Austin: middle school, live, moving)

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by Murk

As a parent it blows my mind that other parents wouldn't want to teach their children about everything in the world.

It's about the convenience and preparation of parenting. As a parent I've taken the time to prepare for the classic awkward questions my children will eventually ask me. What is inconvenient (and downright frustrating) is when I'm blindsided by such questions, in this case while at a public park, where I would have taken my children with no intention of them encountering such "art" or me having to subsequently answer questions about the subject.

Let's be real, no sane parent actually wants their pre-pubescent child to stare at an adult male's penis - whether it's considered "art" or not. At least put that "art" indoors where parents can choose if and when to allow their children to view it. Would any of you as parents have the same open mindedness if it was not that statue but perhaps instead a sleeping bum who carelessly left his junk hanging out? Only if some jerk first called it art, then would it be okay for your kids to stare at his anatomy?

[TVC15]

Can't we all just learn to get along?

[elnina]

Originally Posted by gsmj

Let's be real, no sane parent actually wants their pre-pubescent child to stare at an adult male's penis - whether it's considered "art" or not. At least put that "art" indoors where parents can choose if and when to allow their children to view it. Would any of you as parents have the same open mindedness if it was not that statue but perhaps instead a sleeping bum who carelessly left his junk hanging out? Only if some jerk first called it art, then would it be okay for your kids to stare at his anatomy?

Why stare? Why are we afraid of naked body? Why not accept as normal? Nudity is definitely not shocking or even arousing. It's time to stop thinking that nude is naughty, and nudity is regarded as sexual, or even pornographic. It's 21 century, not some Stone Age. Why people in America are so backwards?
Obviously puritanical prudishness didn't stop America from having the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. Perhaps healthy attitude to nudity as well as sex, might have a positive impact as more exposure typically leads to greater information.
In other countries neither moral outrage nor public disorder greets nudity. Men don't go wild, women remain safe, and kids don't stare. Nudity is normal, and that's the way it should be.

[bayou_boy]

Originally Posted by elnina

Why stare? Why are we afraid of naked body? Why not accept as normal? Nudity is definitely not shocking or even arousing. It's time to stop thinking that nude is naughty, and nudity is regarded as sexual, or even pornographic. It's 21 century, not some Stone Age. Why people in America are so backwards?
Obviously puritanical prudishness didn't stop America from having the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. Perhaps healthy attitude to nudity as well as sex, might have a positive impact as more exposure typically leads to greater information.
In other countries neither moral outrage nor public disorder greets nudity. Men don't go wild, women remain safe, and kids don't stare. Nudity is normal, and that's the way it should be.

I agree! I think the statues actually make Houston more interesting and reflects us "growing up" to the world city many say we are finally becoming. In other large cities these statues wouldn't get a second glance.

[texas7]

We had to have a display of a bible removed from downtown because it offended some. Apparently I guess it had some other worldly pull and forced people to walk over and look at it. Now we have statues that somehow force people to look at them. I haven't seen them but perhaps it is just changing their location in the park to a still highly visible location but away from the playground if that is what is causing all the unnecessary offensiveness reaction from a select few. There are so many worse things in the world to keep your kids away from. Most kids would just giggle and point and then move on.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by texas7

We had to have a display of a bible removed from downtown because it offended some

Only applies when in a government building or land
That's why you have a building in downtown with a huge white cross and nobody says anything about it.

[cockermom]

Apparently the man who is offended has never been to Europe where "naked" statues are considered art and are in abundance. I feel sorry for him if he's not able to decipher the difference between art and porn.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by cockermom

Apparently the man who is offended has never been to Europe where "naked" statues are considered art and are in abundance. I feel sorry for him if he's not able to decipher the difference between art and porn.

Sadly, these kinds of people likely make up at least half of the city of Houston.

[curbur]

Originally Posted by gsmj

It's about the convenience and preparation of parenting. As a parent I've taken the time to prepare for the classic awkward questions my children will eventually ask me. What is inconvenient (and downright frustrating) is when I'm blindsided by such questions, in this case while at a public park, where I would have taken my children with no intention of them encountering such "art" or me having to subsequently answer questions about the subject.

Yea.. god forbid you have to deal with raising the kids you've brought into this world when it's not convenient for you right?

[elnina]

Originally Posted by gsmj

It's about the convenience and preparation of parenting. As a parent I've taken the time to prepare for the classic awkward questions my children will eventually ask me. What is inconvenient (and downright frustrating) is when I'm blindsided by such questions, in this case while at a public park, where I would have taken my children with no intention of them encountering such "art" or me having to subsequently answer questions about the subject.

Let's be real, no sane parent actually wants their pre-pubescent child to stare at an adult male's penis - whether it's considered "art" or not. At least put that "art" indoors where parents can choose if and when to allow their children to view it. Would any of you as parents have the same open mindedness if it was not that statue but perhaps instead a sleeping bum who carelessly left his junk hanging out? Only if some jerk first called it art, then would it be okay for your kids to stare at his anatomy?

Now I am curious. What awkward/shocking question parents expect to hear, that needs a lengthy preparation?
Point and ask? Just say the truth in a plain language, without getting offended, nervous, blushing, stuttering or trying to change the subject. Don't elaborate and keep in mind that your reaction to your child's curiosity will tell him or her whether these questions are "acceptable" or "shameful."
Pre-pubescent kids should not be shocked and stare at an adult male's penis, or ask awkward questions. At that age they should already know what that is, and what's for
Maybe those statues are there for a reason....