Game of Thrones

[Alive]

For many years, we had no TV. We do now, but watch little else but news on regular channels. Reason? Primarily the commercials. The cultural things being pushed make me nearly ill.

We prefer reruns of old shows and movies with no commercials.

We pass on nudity and vulgarity. Violence is a reality of life and some is tolerated. I hate the gruesome. I never watch horror movies…not since I was young.

[Still Alive]

For what it's worth, I saw a video regarding nudity in television. It was making the point that women are nude three times as much as men. But then it added, after an apostrophe, "six times as much in Game of Thrones."

I've never seen the show, but I've heard some just call it "mainstream porn".

But again, I've never seen it.

I do know the Critical Drinker thinks the finale was awful, though he really liked the show in the beginning. It just sort of "lost its way". That's what I say about "The expanse". Watch the first three seasons. The story comes to a full end. Then it just becomes an episodic Sci-fi show that they appear to be making up as they go along. And they destroyed the characters as far as I'm concerned. I gave up on it to assure I had good memories of the great show I saw those first three seasons.

Edited November 5, 2021 by Still Alive

[Sower]

On 11/3/2021 at 10:14 PM, SIC said:

Should watching Game of Thrones be normalised in the Christian community?

I would think that this question is kind of a no-brainer, for a believer. Perhaps the responses here, will bring to light, to those who have been caught up in it.

[The_Patriot21]

What i find amusing here is virtually everyone in this conversation talking about the horrors of GOT falls into one of two categories-those who know about it because they themselves have seen it, and those who have not seen it, and have formed their opinions based upon what others have told them. So you either have the uninformed or the hypocrites lol.

Now before anyone gets offended i meant neither as an insult, just a amusing way of looking at it, to make a point. Is there a lot of garbage in GOTs? Probably. Ive never watched any if it, it didnt strike my fancy. However, it should be noted theres a lot of stuff out there on TV that isnt Christ like. 

And God doesnt do levels of sin. A actor taking Gods name in vain once in a otherwise wholesome movie is just as displeasing as cold blooded murder and pornagraphy in a movie.

And face it...we all see and do things that are displeasing to God. Hypocrisy runs strong in everyone. Which is why its a good thing we serve a merciful God who extends us undeserved grace. So instead of us all playing the "if you watch this your a horrible christian" card, let us remember were all saved by grace, and just because youve been convicted of something doesnt mean everyone else has.

[Jayne]

1 hour ago, The_Patriot21 said:

What i find amusing here ..... you either have the uninformed or the hypocrites lol.

 

I am neither uniformed nor hypocritical about this.

I made the decision not to watch based on the following information:

• My fellow Christians who watch it and can't get enough of it and have called themselves "addicted" to it in my presence have said things like this to me, "I'm so addicted to the show, but you can't watch it with Jesus sitting next to you." and "It's just a TV show" and "It's not for prudes."

 

• Based on those comments from Christians who attend church regularly, I looked at the parent guide to it.  The parent guide is not a Christian based site, but a clinical and secular site that simpy gives the sexual content, drug/alcohol content, profanity content, and violence content.  It's not promoting the programs nor pushing for boycotts.  It just tells you what is in the shows so that the consumer can make an informed decision.

 

• The nudity is blatant and excessive.  Rape, incest, gay sex, sexual violence, and non-sexual violence is at the limit of what soft core porn can be before crossing the line to porn.  All of this is described at the parent guide.

Based on this informed decision, I chose not to watch the program at all.  And I pray for my Christian friends who can't get enough of it as I hope they pray for me in my areas of weaknesses.

But my decision was not uninformed.

Edited November 5, 2021 by Jayne

[Guest]

There are no 100% Christian TV programs.  All have a viewpoint dictated by their non-Christian staff, or Christian staff and their interpretation of scripture which may or may not agree with your own.  Christian music is full of non-Christian interpretations of scripture.  And what we call classic rock is unacceptable for most people.

(Romans 12:2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  [ESV]

(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  [ESV]

This does not mean you hide your light under a cover, otherwise how can you proclaim the truth?

(Matthew 5:15)  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  [ESV]

(Mark 4:21)  And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?  [ESV]

(Luke 11:33)  “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.  [ESV]

If you're not in the world, you don't know what's going on the world.  Christians are in the world and need to know how to pray and what to pray for.  We should not get blindsided by our ignorance of what's going on.  Should we stop following politics, current events, etc.  Should we turn a blind eye to hypocrisy and hedonism?  Should we ignore the needs of others you are not as far along their Christian walk?  Where does it end?  Does anyone here read secular novels?  Should they be condemned?

[Marathoner]

I never condemned a soul for watching that show so perhaps it is best to address the posts themselves, and refrain from accusing members who post this or that. Be mindful of the TOS and address what was written.

I offered my impression which was articulated earlier in this topic. My impression of GoT is an informed impression, having witnessed portions of the programming passively by virtue of being in the same room as someone else who was a fan. It was shocking to my sensibilities, to put it mildly. 

I encourage everyone to refrain from judging individuals in this topic, especially considering how some, like myself, don't watch movies or television. Leveling accusations of hypocrisy, no matter the excuse offered in defense of such a thing, is precisely what we ought to avoid.

Edited November 6, 2021 by Marathoner

[Still Alive]

19 hours ago, Josheb said:

The amazing hope first instilled in the potential of television was not realized. 

Just wanted to comment on that one line. It really was "eventually" realized. But not with "broadcast TV". I unplugged from any broadcast TV in 1997, but about three years ago we noticed we had access to free streaming videos with our Amazon Prime membership. And we had had a smart TV for about six months, but used it solely for DVD's. 

And then there is Youtube. Between streaming and youtube, there is a plethora of information at my fingertips on every subject imaninable, and for immediate viewing. On youtube I have the Tony Heller channel on global warming, A ton of channels that have helped me immensely repairing my cars, sometimes regarding things I never would have attempted otherwise. And wiring my new shop building, wall framing, furniture building, how to properly cut down a tree without killing myself, very useful legal advise, etc. And the Ted talks. And all of this because it is so easy to search for what you need. 

And streaming gives me some of the same plus tons of documentaries on any subject I want, concerts, you name it. 

In fact, I was at a relative's house a few months ago, and all they have is cable. The concept of having to watch "what's on" was like stepping back into the 20th century. Fortunately, I played around and found "apps" and found Youtube and Amazon Prime. While the women were in the other room I got to watch some footage on how to refinish and paint old cabinets.

[Still Alive]

21 minutes ago, Josheb said:

I have to agree to disagree. It's been almost a century since the television was invented. It could have been used as a tool to eradicate illiteracy, poverty, behaviorally communicated diseases, other areas of fitness and general all-around stupidity. 

No disagreement there. The problem is that the audience ultimately set the tone, and resources were limited. They got what they chose to watch. But for it to reach its potential, it had to shift to "on demand", as it is today. It's not lost on me that the first big markets for on-demand viewing of any kind was always porn. It was true of home video tape and even CD-Roms. I remember going to a computer "swap meet" in the early 90's. CD players in computers were just starting to catch on at the time. There was a huge crowd gathering around a particular vendor. Yep. it was porn cd-roms.

But all of those formats and those today now cater to all needs - including how to replace the AC clutch in my car as well as biblical history. It's all there and we can choose for ourselves. 

Finally!

[Still Alive]

34 minutes ago, Josheb said:

I'm not buying it (no pun intended ). There are billions of dollars in resources and people will watch anything rather than nothing. 

RE Bolded: Not in the beginning. When there is a profit motive you give people what you can most cheaply produce and still get enough viewers to support via advertising. Then you have PBS, which had mostly pretty boring stuff for those that were interested. It got better as international sources improved. But even then, would a lot of that stuff existed on commercial channels? 

I loved the series, "connections", but then, I've always been into documentaries. A lot of people are not.