Should restrictions be applied to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by those who are under the age of 17?

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Law Debates

17 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
88% of users

  • Restrictions must be applied to the viewing of NC-17 rentals by minors, because they are rated NC-17 for that reason.

    If an adult, parent, or guardian decides that a minor is allowed to watch a certain video rated NC-17, then there is no problem. However, in the absence of a consenting adult, the movie rental provider must enforce the viewing age, by refusing to rent videos with parental discretion warnings. Perhaps rental establishments should require patrons to enter a birth date and/or present identification when renting a video, much like the law requires cigarette retailers.

    Yes GoodJerold49

  • Movies are rated NC-17 for a reason, so no someone under 17 should be able to rent or purchase them.

    NC-17 is an even higher rating then R. That means that it is restricted for anyone under 17. Therefore there is no reason someone under that age should be able to rent or purchase these films. If that person's parents rent it for them, then it's on the parent, but the child should not be able to.

    Yes HumdrumMilo83

  • I support the restriction of sales and rentals of NC-17 movies to those under 17, because the rating states that the content is not suitable for people under the age of 17.

    While the age restriction is not a law, such as those for alcohol or tobacco, there is a board that decides that the content is not suitable for those under the age of 17. The standards used by the board may change over time, but the standards represent what is currently deemed acceptable for the age group.

    Yes ScarceLowell

  • Restrictions should certainly be applied to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by those under the age of 17, since there is a moral obligation to protect minors from negative influences.

    Movies are given ratings for a reason. As a parent, I look to the rating system as a guide for overseeing what content my children observe via movies. When a movie is rated G, for instance, I am comfortable with all members of my family viewing the film. If the movie has a more adult rating, then I research the content before letting my children watch it. So I would expect that if my fifteen-year-old son walks into a movie store, the clerk would ask for identification, should my son try to purchase an NC-17 title. There is simply no purpose of a rating system if no attempt will be made to respect and reinforce the moral views of parents.

    Yes SquealingSeymour

  • What is the purpose of having an NC-17 rating if someone under 17 can rent it or buy it without restriction?

    The same reason why the R rating exists so that children can't watch movies without adult supervision, the NC-17 rating exists as an even stronger safeguard for their protection. If this rating doesn't carry the necessity of proof of age in order to rent or buy it why even have the rating in place?

    Yes MariaR

  • Absolutely, as a parent should be able to expect their children can be safe from material that isn't supervised directly by the parent.

    If the parents were to deem that their child was mature enough for the material, the parent could purchase the material for them. NC-17 movies are full of crude language, violence, sexual content, and extremely mature jokes. Parents should be able to be secure in the belief that these subjects would be addressed under their advice, with education and understanding. Parents can't decide how the child takes in the material, but they at least need to be the authority to decide if they are ready for it.

    Yes daveyxh

  • The MPAA board has reviewed the material and determined that the contents are not suitable for those under 17 years of age, and that decision should be enforced.

    The MPAA board reviews all movies based upon a set of criteria and issues their recommendations concerning the proper age of viewers of the material. Psychologists have shown that exposure to certain material at a certain age can have detrimental effects. Until adulthood, a majority of people have not yet developed a full understanding of certain actions and their consequences. Therefore, access to material depicting such actions should be restricted to adults.

    Yes RaymoCanyons

  • I support restrictions being applied to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by those who are under the age of 17.

    NC-17 movies generally deal with a subject that is best viewed by those audiences who are very mature. Generally movies with the NC-17 rating will depict scenes of extreme violence or explicit sexual content. Many feel that this would be inappropriate viewing by those who have yet to reach the age of seventeen years of age.

    Yes Purf3ctRenc

  • I agree to restrictions being applied to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by those who are under the age of 17 because the movies are classified NC-17 for good reasons and people should respect that.

    I believe movies are categorized the way they are because it's general consent that some contents are inappropriate for certain age groups. If a 15 year old is allowed to watch R rated movies, they will be watching things and learning things that are inappropriate for their age. The restrictions should be maintained even while purchasing products other wise the point of categorizing movies is lost. By putting restrictions they can watch it under parental guidance if their parents think their child is mature enough to watch adult content.

    Yes MeierM0n

  • There are so many things they have yet to learn and this would only provoke unwanted behaviors if they were to get aroused when watching.

    They still have a lot of growing and learning to do and I think a book or conversation with an educator can help control urges causing consequences.

    Yes SareBeach

  • No one under the age of 17 should be able to rent or buy NC-17 movies as they are made for adult entertainment purposes.

    Movies are given an NC-17 rating when the content within is too graphic or adult in nature for a child to view. As with any rating, there are guidelines. I believe these guidelines to be fair and ethical. I feel that most parents would agree that they would not want their children watching a movie that closely approaches the pornographic line.

    Yes babonanae

  • Yes, I thought that was the purpose of the NC-17 rating was to restrict those movies to people over 17.

    The NC-17 rating definitely should be strictly enforced. This is the level between an R-rating and an X-rating, and people under 17 shouldn't be allowed to see this stuff until they are more mature than a typical 17 year old. The graphic nature of movies in this ratings category, be it violence or sex, really shouldn't be seen by teenagers. It is often glorified and completely unrealistic, but young people may not be able to distinguish this.

    Yes PinkMych

  • Exposing minors to porn and violence is never a good thing and should be limited.

    No matter how 'savvy' kids are today, no matter how much access the internet gives them to all manner of unsavory things, we can't just open the floodgates and let them have unfettered access to 'adult' films. The argument that 'they will just find some way to see it anyway' is just a way of abdicating responsibility, like so many parents have already done.

    Yes Th4Fire

  • I agree that restrictions should be in place regarding the rental or purchase of NC-17 movies by individuals under the age of 17 because NC-17 movies are not appropriate for children.

    The NC-17 distinction was created to cover a section of movies that had themes and content inappropriate for children. These films should be kept out of the hands of children as they would provide a negative influence if not seen under the guidance of a parent. There is no reason why a child under the age of 17 should be able to purchase or rent these titles. If their parents are okay with them watching the film, then the parent should be the one to purchase or rent it. Otherwise restrictions should apply to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by children under the age of 17.

    Yes VampireShu

  • Underage persons should not be allowed to purchase or rent NC-17 movies for the same reasons that they are not allowed to see them in theatres.

    Movies are rated NC-17 due to excessive sexual content, violence or other materials deemed unsuitable for immature, under-aged children. Accordingly, they are prohibited from viewing these movies in a movie theatre. The exact same reasons apply to the films whether the movies are viewed in the privacy of one's home or in the theatre. If a parent thinks their child is mature enough to watch an NC-17 movie, they can purchase it for the child. Otherwise, a child should not be able to purchase or rent them.

    Yes A Shelton
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No
12% of users

  • I don't believe there should be restrictions on the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies, in that I don't believe it would accomplish much.

    Nearly any film, of any rating, is available online for anyone to download, if they are willing and able to do so. Restricting NC-17 films for purchase or rental is a useless gesture toward morality, when this same customer can go online and find the movie for free. The rental company has just lost a customer, and the "impressionable" youth will see the film anyway.

    No BrownDustin82

  • No.

    If kids can just go watch them in the theatre with a parent and they and their parent like it, they should be able to buy and watch it for their parent or both of them. If their parent is sick or bed ridden they should be able to do something for their parent. It may be the last movie they ever see. Would any of you be able to deny them that?

    No Anonymous
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Should restrictions be applied to the purchase or rental of NC-17 movies by those who are under the age of 17?
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