It has always been a very American thing to regard anything remotely associated with a cartoon or even comic-like drawing with children. So much so that even the COPPA laws, which were designed to protect children's privacy on the Internet, use guidelines that associate a person's website with intending to attract children if it uses "cartoon" characters.
This is partly due to the legacy that comics have in this country. When they originated, they were intended for children only, and were marketed exclusively to them. But a lot of these kids that read comics grew up, fondly remembered their childhood heroes and villains, and inadvertently created a market for comics with a more adult edge. ("Adult" meaning more intelligent storylines, better writing and artwork. Not necessarily enhanced, or even any violence or sexuality)
But as a whole, this nation has been very hard pressed to accept that comics and cartoons grew up. Sure, there are still comics and cartoons that are expressly intended for kids. But for some reason, Americans in general can't make the distinction in their minds that there are comics for kids, comics for adults, and comics for families. And everything in between. They see a cartoon or comic book that has an act of violence, a sexy character or scenes of life that, while everyday, are of an adult nature. "They" automatically presume that the comic was expressly intended to lure young people. To expressly corrupt them. The notion that the originator is just telling a story for the sake of telling a story doesn't occur to them. Only their own personal perception.
TCGs perceptions are no different. I was once turned away from a free Toys R Us Yu-Gi-Oh! card giveaway because "it's for kids only". I could have, and should have, made a bigger deal about the matter, considering none of the fliers or promotional events suggested that you had to be a child to get the giveaway. I even asked, is this something management told them to do, but was repeated the same comment (with, I might add, no amount of veiled disdain). Had I been smart, and not so sleepy and sick that day, I would have just said it was for my kid(s). But the thing that bothered me was, I shouldn't have had to lie or twist the truth just to get a free giveaway. I come to the store and buy the cards with no argument, why should I not be entitled to a free giveaway too? It's not like I'm the only old man playing Yu-Gi-Oh! on the planet.
But again, without intending to go on a rant, it's part of the mentality of this society. They associate it all with children. And while that's certainly and undeniably a part of it, its not exclusively it. Comics, cartoons, TCGs, Video Games, their all subjects unto themselves, and not part of an exclusive segment devoted to children. No more then movies, novels and magazines are exclusively adult. Their all venues, with varying degrees of appropriateness for children, depending largely, of course, on the parent's personal standards. But somewhere and at some point, this culture is going to have to let go of outdated concepts. It's unfortunate the we've clung to it for so long, and adults as myself still have to explain myself in situations when I shouldn't have to.
This is partly due to the legacy that comics have in this country. When they originated, they were intended for children only, and were marketed exclusively to them. But a lot of these kids that read comics grew up, fondly remembered their childhood heroes and villains, and inadvertently created a market for comics with a more adult edge. ("Adult" meaning more intelligent storylines, better writing and artwork. Not necessarily enhanced, or even any violence or sexuality)
But as a whole, this nation has been very hard pressed to accept that comics and cartoons grew up. Sure, there are still comics and cartoons that are expressly intended for kids. But for some reason, Americans in general can't make the distinction in their minds that there are comics for kids, comics for adults, and comics for families. And everything in between. They see a cartoon or comic book that has an act of violence, a sexy character or scenes of life that, while everyday, are of an adult nature. "They" automatically presume that the comic was expressly intended to lure young people. To expressly corrupt them. The notion that the originator is just telling a story for the sake of telling a story doesn't occur to them. Only their own personal perception.
TCGs perceptions are no different. I was once turned away from a free Toys R Us Yu-Gi-Oh! card giveaway because "it's for kids only". I could have, and should have, made a bigger deal about the matter, considering none of the fliers or promotional events suggested that you had to be a child to get the giveaway. I even asked, is this something management told them to do, but was repeated the same comment (with, I might add, no amount of veiled disdain). Had I been smart, and not so sleepy and sick that day, I would have just said it was for my kid(s). But the thing that bothered me was, I shouldn't have had to lie or twist the truth just to get a free giveaway. I come to the store and buy the cards with no argument, why should I not be entitled to a free giveaway too? It's not like I'm the only old man playing Yu-Gi-Oh! on the planet.
But again, without intending to go on a rant, it's part of the mentality of this society. They associate it all with children. And while that's certainly and undeniably a part of it, its not exclusively it. Comics, cartoons, TCGs, Video Games, their all subjects unto themselves, and not part of an exclusive segment devoted to children. No more then movies, novels and magazines are exclusively adult. Their all venues, with varying degrees of appropriateness for children, depending largely, of course, on the parent's personal standards. But somewhere and at some point, this culture is going to have to let go of outdated concepts. It's unfortunate the we've clung to it for so long, and adults as myself still have to explain myself in situations when I shouldn't have to.
