Opinions please: Maxim Magazine & My teenage son

Packerfan1 · #1 05-01-2005, 03:39 PM

Hi all:

My son, who is almost 15, has been busted twice over the last month for seeking out porn on his computer by his computer savvy mother.

For many reasons this is unacceptable. However, as the internet is that generation's version of "dirty" magazines, it is also completely expected and understandable (and frankly somewhat relieving to most fathers that their boys have interest in naked girls rather than other boys or Michael Jackson or their pet gerbil) [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Because of this, we're wondering if we should give/allow him an option that we can at least control the content of. Namely the psuedo-porn "men's interest" magazines like Maxim or FHM (the only two I know, feel free to suggest others) that I understand are very popular with the older 16-18 teen boys.

Does anyone here have comments regarding the appropriateness or inappropriateness of these magazines for a 15 year old?

Thanks.

Pack

PhatTBoll · #2 05-01-2005, 03:45 PM

Grab one and read it. It's Cosmopolitan for dudes. All the issues are pretty much the same except for the pictures.

Tron · #3 05-01-2005, 03:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
For many reasons this is unacceptable.

[/ QUOTE ]

The main one being, of course, that your 15-year-old isn't tricky enough to look at porn on the computer without getting caught. Come on, man.

Please don't tell me she busted him just by looking through the History folder.

I think getting him a subscription to Maxim is a bad idea... First of all, most of the articles are too mature and would probably give him bad ideas if he didn't take them with the grain of salt that an adult would (which he won't) and secondly, it'd be a waste of money... He'll probably continue to look for porn anyway.

Non_Comformist · #4 05-01-2005, 03:47 PM

I think it would only strengthen the desire to seek out porn. It really depends on what the rules of your house are. I would be against it at 15.

Brown Thumb · #5 05-01-2005, 03:48 PM

If your treat the topic of sex immaturely, your son will be immature about sex.

Why don't you have a real conversation about it. Find out why he likes it, and you can tell him that its cool, and that you like to look at hair pie when the old lady is sleeping. Of course, he may be confused, and you can tell him that you are not looking at the old lady's hair pie when she's sleeping, but you are out making snail tracks on the the front of the computer chair.

Men like to look at porn. If your son was still playing with Star Wars figurines, you might be scratching your head, or wondering if he's grown his balls yet.

You got nothing to worry about. Stop pretending that you weren't a teenager once.

young nut · #6 05-01-2005, 03:49 PM

hmmm...I have some reasons for doing it and some for not doing it.

Maxim would be better than most of the hardcore internet stuff thats out there. I mean, you don't want him to start thinking that choking women and tying them up and stuff is OK. So I think Maxim is a little more tasteful.

But on the other hand, Maxim is for adults. A lot of the content in there is related to sex. So if you don't mind him reading that than its fine. Hell, little 12 year old girls read crap like Cosmo and other explicitly adult magazines. But also look how slutty American girls have gotten.

I think its probably fine to get him the magazine, but it might be a little awkward to tell him.

dad: "i got you a subscription to Maxim"
childe: "why"
dad: "uh...so you can...uh..read it in the bathroom"

maldini · #7 05-01-2005, 03:53 PM

have the mom get off his case. get him a computer of his own. if he wants to pick up viruses or whatever the problem is, then fine. is there really anything wrong with a 15yr old looking at porn on the internet? i mean, 13yrs old is an issue, but 15? seems normal. would you appreciate your wife bothering YOU about such things? i pretty sure it beats victoria secret or whatever i was getting my hands on at the time, with the exact same downside (none).

of course, if he starts using your CC for paid sites then kick his ass.

i

Sponger15SB · #8 05-01-2005, 04:10 PM

I wouldn't let him read it.

DemonDeac · #9 05-01-2005, 04:17 PM

Maxim is awesome
although most of the stuff in there is above a 15 yr olds head, if u ask me

Duke · #10 05-01-2005, 04:19 PM

When I was 15 i used to look at Hustler and Penthouse.

Given that, I think my opinion is irrelevent, considering that you actually said: "For many reasons this is unacceptable."

I, personally, don't see anything wrong with it, except the virus thing. He should have his own machine because of that. Kids are stupid when it comes to computer security.

~D