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AIBU

Inappropriate present for 12 year old niece

(50 Posts)
Ellie13 Tue 20-Dec-16 20:55:16

AIBU, my sister has given me my 12 yr old nieces Christmas list. One of the things she wants is a box set of The Walking Dead. Frankly I'm a bit shocked, I've watched this occasionally and thought it was very, very violent and explicit, certainly not suitable for a 12 year old. Her parents don't seem unduly concerned, what do other people think?

Ana Tue 20-Dec-16 20:59:17

I wouldn't want my 12 year old relative watching the series, but I don't think you should say anything, just buy your niece something else from the list.

Grannyben Tue 20-Dec-16 21:21:44

I have always purchased age appropriate presents for my own children and, now my grandson. I most certainly wouldn't feel comfortable buying that for a 12 year old and so I wouldn't, just get her something you feel more comfortable with

Lisalou Wed 21-Dec-16 05:03:13

As others have said, get her something else off the list. I think the show is not only inappropriate, but also quite unpleasant at any age, and a bit silly, to be honest. On the other hand, I am probably quite old fashioned in terms of what is appropriate, anyway. I really don't get this thing with giving kids technology such as mobiles at the age of eight/ten, tablets when they are five, etc. What happened to playing outdoors, dolls, balls and bicycles?

Nelliemoser Wed 21-Dec-16 07:35:04

Absolutely NO. From me as well.

f77ms Wed 21-Dec-16 07:46:42

Just don`t buy it if you are uncomfortable about it .Lisalou, times have changed - dolls , balls and playing outside on bicycles is not what most 12 year old want to do .
She will watch it anyway but at least it won`t be down to you . I wouldn`t have much of a problem with her watching it , the News is more distressing in my opinion.

glammanana Wed 21-Dec-16 08:02:12

I certainly wouldn't buy it for her at any age pick something else from the list and since when did nieces/nephews issue Christmas lists ?

gettingonabit Wed 21-Dec-16 09:20:29

The parents are ok with this, as is the niece, so, in your shoes, I'd probably get it. Your niece is not watching through your eyes, but the eyes of a 12 year old and many kids these age seem to love this kind of stuff. Remember if she has access to a computer she's probably watching far worse.

shysal Wed 21-Dec-16 09:47:32

My DGD loves the series, but she is a bit older. It is apparently cult viewing for school children. I have even ordered a birthday cake topper for her, making for easy decorating (Pic snipped from Ebay advert, GD isn't called Paul!).
I would go along with the request as the parents are happy, or you could just choose something else from the list instead.

Cobweb01 Wed 21-Dec-16 09:53:51

We believe my stepdaughter and her partner are often buying the children gifts that are not in any way appropriate for their age and have slid some comments into conversation but generally keep quiet and just make sure our choice of present is age appropriate regardless and ignore any suggestions that we feel are not.

silverdragon Wed 21-Dec-16 09:54:03

Sounds as though your sister really wants it!

DotMH1901 Wed 21-Dec-16 10:01:42

My grandson is 13 and my daughter allows him to watch The Walking Dead - he records the series on the Sky box. He has an x-box as well and most of the games he has for that are, to my mind, violent and usually full of swear words. But things have changed since my children were their age - I remember banning some videos that my daughter wanted to watch only to be told she had gone to a friend's house for a sleep in and been allowed to watch them there! If you feel uncomfortable buying them as a present then pick something else or just buy what you feel is appropriate. As to being given a list - well you could look at it that at least if you buy from the list you know your gift will be what your niece wants.

Legs55 Wed 21-Dec-16 10:12:40

I agree with many of the points raised - yes she'll watch it anyway but I would not buy a gift I was not comfortable with. If there is nothing else on the list you want to buy why not get her an Amazon voucher (or similar) at least that way she can choose what she wants & you haven't directly given her something you disapprove of.

If we all think back to our teenage years we all pushed the boundaries - going to see an 18 film underage, going into Pubs under 18 & generally doing things we knew our Parents wouldn't approve oftchgrin Also children now have access to programmes we didn't, greater freedom to watch - Families are no longer 1 TV set owners but most children have TVs in their bedrooms, tablets etc

sue01 Wed 21-Dec-16 10:26:57

Haha. I'd heard various people talking about Walking Dead... asked my SIL what he thought... and he said, definitely not one for you Sue.

I'm 65.

Oh well - back to Sean Bean as Sharpe then !

meandashy Wed 21-Dec-16 10:49:50

I watch this series. I would under no circumstances condone a 12 yr old watching it!
Kids can be desensitised to aggression and violence which scares me.

Nelliemaggs Wed 21-Dec-16 10:51:11

Haha Dot. We made a decision not to have a TV, never having had one before the children arrived and never as a child. Now my daughter loves to tell me the 'unsuitable' programmes she watched at her friend's house where mum was a schoolteacher.

Zombie programmes are mystifyingly popular and watched by children much younger than 12. I have never understood people enjoying frightening films but all my offspring do and one of them (and we) got into trouble when he took a Stephen King library book into school aged 11 and another parent complained.

If the parents of the OP's 12 year old niece are happy with it I would buy what the child wants if there is nothing else on the list that will do. She has probably watched some episodes already.

We did get a TV BTW when middle child was 8 and said he couldn't join in playground games because he didn't know the TV programmes they were based on and if anyone then became TV fixated in our house it was probably the adults

Christinefrance Wed 21-Dec-16 10:54:57

Times have changed I know but I would not buy this for a 12 year old. Do what you think is right Ellie13.
I so agree about Sean Bean sue01 yummy smile

grannyactivist Wed 21-Dec-16 10:56:51

I just looked it up (never heard of it) and it has a TV Rating of 14, which has been challenged as being too low by a group of parents who say that it should be adult-only viewing. There is a lot of explicit violence including shots of blood and gore apparently.
I don't think I would be shocked that your niece's parents allow her to watch this, but I wouldn't be buying it for her myself.

Takingthemick Wed 21-Dec-16 11:05:26

What a pity we don't allow children to be Childern for as long as possible

HannahLoisLuke Wed 21-Dec-16 11:05:48

She may well watch it anyway but you don't have to facilitate it. As others have said, buy something else from her list.
I'm afraid that I think all this violent junk is contributing to the way society is these days. Rude, violent pornographic and everything nasty you can think of.
Sorry everybody, it's Christmas. Love and peace x

radicalnan Wed 21-Dec-16 11:30:11

Please stop watching Sean Bean, you re wearing him out and he is mine, all mine................

MinniesMum Wed 21-Dec-16 12:06:42

Remember the Lone Ranger anyone? Someone got shot and killed, rolling on the floor in agony in every episode. It didn't turn us into trained killers. I haven't seen the series but don't underestimate peer group pressure - up to a point anyway.
My granddaughter (aged 7) wants a Lego Friends set for Christmas which I have bought for her. Both her parents and I would prefer her to have something she can design and construct herself but ..... "all the other girls are getting a Friend's set for Christmas". I well remember being the odd one out as my parents couldn't afford the latest toy.
A few months ago I bought an original Muffin the Mule on Ebay as this was one of the things everyone had but I didn't!! Well I have now so there.

Christinefrance Wed 21-Dec-16 12:41:23

No sorry radicalnan Sean Bean and his breeches are promised to me so there ! !tchgrin

lefthanded Wed 21-Dec-16 12:57:42

I remember the Lone Ranger, but the thing I remember most of all was that in almost every episode he lost his hat - but then a few scenes later he would be wearing it again. And we never saw him going back to retrieve it. I suppose that there must have been people getting shot as MinniesMum says, but I don't remember that at all.

sarahellenwhitney Wed 21-Dec-16 13:00:32

Ellie 13 You are not your nieces mother.

Ask if anyone else has brought that particular item if not get a gift voucher for its value from where it can be purchased.Leave the rest to your niece
I am sure you will be in your nieces eyes favourite aunty of the month.