Why Don't Adults Watch Cartoons?

[Avichal]

Society deems adults who watch cartoons as childish and immature. Why is this?
Some of the cartoons contain clever pop culture references and have nice humour. Then why don't adults watch it?

Google-ing gave me the following answers:-
- Some of the humour in cartoons is childish and doesn't entertain adults. I somewhat agree on this even though I don't clearly understand what childish humour is.
- Adults have less time for entertainment.

What are your thoughts?

 

[arildno]

They read cartoons as children.
They were spoonfed as children as well, hence the logic.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Adults watch the Simpsons, family guy, American dad and things like anime so I'd say they do watch cartoons.

 

[Drakkith]

Society deems adults who watch cartoons as childish and immature. Why is this?

Because many of the things that children do we tend to grow out of. So, in general, when someone does something that they did as a kid, it's considered immature and childish.

Some of the cartoons contain clever pop culture references and have nice humour. Then why don't adults watch it?

For me, a lot of it is just that it's too simple and childish. I do enjoy a good silly cartoon every now and then, but overall I'd prefer something a little more mature.

 

[turbo]

When I was a kid, going to the movie theater involved watching cartoons between the main features. It wasn't that odd.

 

[turbo]

Most of the time, it was Warner Brothers, but sometimes Woody Woodpecker (Lantz), etc.

 

[dlgoff]

Parent => Adult cartoon watching

 

[ZapperZ]

I watch Phineas and Ferb, Pinky and the Brain, and Looney Tunes cartoons. So who says that adults don't watch cartoons?

Zz.

 

[FreeMitya]

I think adults generally don't watch cartoons made for children because they don't find them entertaining any more. However, plenty of adults watch cartoons like the Simpsons because, for example, the first six or seven seasons of the Simpsons are the funniest television ever produced, and it was made to appeal to all audiences.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Depends on the cartoons. I'll watch any cartoon movie Disney makes. I'll watch the good anime movies that come from Japan.
When I was a kid, I had different tastes in entertainment. As a kid I could watch almost any cartoon and play any video game. Now, cartoons bore me, and most video games bore me. But there are things I do now that would have bored me as a kid.
The ebb and flow of interests as one ages is an interesting topic that I've put a lot of thought into.
It could be comparable to the changes in tastes for sweets. As a kid, I enjoyed eating all kinds of candy. I actually enjoyed the fruit candies more (not real fruit, just flavored and colored). Now, the only candy I'll deign to eat is chocolate candies, like Snickers and the like.
I was at work and a coworker was eating a small bag of gummy snacks, and he asked me if I eat them. That was a strange moment for me. I not only thought to myself "no, of course not", but I thought "why the hell would I waste my time eating something like that?" It seemed to me like eating those would be pointless. Sure they have a nice taste for a few seconds, but... so? The pleasure associated with that is extremely brief and miniscule. Chocolate provides much greater and longer lasting pleasure, which is why I think I still like eating it.

 

[Avichal]

Depends on the cartoons. I'll watch any cartoon movie Disney makes. I'll watch the good anime movies that come from Japan.
When I was a kid, I had different tastes in entertainment. As a kid I could watch almost any cartoon and play any video game. Now, cartoons bore me, and most video games bore me. But there are things I do now that would have bored me as a kid.
The ebb and flow of interests as one ages is an interesting topic that I've put a lot of thought into.

I wonder what marks the changes in interests. Why things that entertained in childhood don't seem to provide pleasure when we grow up? Is it the intellectual stimulus or something?

 

[WannabeNewton]

I would watch all the cartoons I watched as a kid in a heartbeat.

 

[Drakkith]

I would watch all the cartoons I watched as a kid in a heartbeat.

I do with some. Others I don't care for anymore. Typically the more "dark" and "mature" a show was, the better I enjoy it now.

 

[arildno]

I watch Phineas and Ferb, Pinky and the Brain, and Looney Tunes cartoons. So who says that adults don't watch cartoons?

Zz.

Ah, well.
But nerds are expected by the general public to like cartoons.
So, "we" don't really count in the equation..



PS:
I think this dismissal by the general public of cartoons as inherently "childish" is an irrational attitude, but it most definitely is a fairly widespread sentiment, which is somewhat interesting to understand why occurs at all.

I believe that structurally, this is connected with a similar dismissal of the value of, say, science fiction and/or fantasy literature.

 

[lisab]

Ah, well.
But nerds are expected by the general public to like cartoons.
So, "we" don't really count in the equation..



PS:
I think this dismissal by the general public of cartoons as inherently "childish" is an irrational attitude, but it most definitely is a fairly widespread sentiment, which is somewhat interesting to understand why occurs at all.

I believe that structurally, this is connected with a similar dismissal of the value of, say, science fiction and/or fantasy literature.

But why does the general public see cartoons as "childish", but so many adults waste time with idiotic reality shows ?

 

[boiledhotdogs]

Always liked Dexter's Laboratory

 

[Enigman]

http://yfrog.com/gywgludoj:iphone

Maybe only a few will laugh but for those who do it will be worth it...

 

[Evo]

Yeah, include me as one that doesn't like anime.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

http://yfrog.com/gywgludoj:iphone

Maybe only a few will laugh but for those who do it will be worth it...

Hahaha, that's one of the few anime I've ever watched.

 

[reenmachine]

What do you mean with cartoons? Do you mean cartoons made specifically for children?

Anyway , I do watch a lot of cartoons made for adults such as:

South Park
American Dad
Family Guy
The Simpsons (not as much as I used to though)
Beavis & Butt-head
King of the Hill

and others that I can't think of right now...

 

[arildno]

But why does the general public see cartoons as "childish", but so many adults waste time with idiotic reality shows ?

Because their true desire is to ogle at porn, but feel embarassed at admitting it.
Watching reality shows is a socially acceptable second best for them.

 

[consciousness]

http://yfrog.com/gywgludoj:iphone

Maybe only a few will laugh but for those who do it will be worth it...

That's an anime I can watch again and again! I doubt I will ever stop being a fan of Deathnote and DBZ.

 

[theoristo]

That's an anime I can watch again and again! I doubt I will ever stop being a fan of Deathnote and DBZ.

That's so good ,even people who hate anime watched it.

 

[Jonathan Scott]

I watch Phineas and Ferb, Pinky and the Brain, and Looney Tunes cartoons. So who says that adults don't watch cartoons?

Zz.

Phineas and Ferb - absolutely one of the best things on TV!

 

[dlgoff]

Phineas and Ferb - absolutely one of the best things on TV!

Best watched while having a cheese burger? Nice to hear from you JS. :thumbs:

 

[meBigGuy]

I watch cartoons, from South Park to Sponge Bob to Betty Boop, lots of old loony toons, and Anime. I guess I'll watch Deathnote based on the posts here.

Hopefully not many children watched Team America World Police!

Favorite Betty Boop is Minnie the Moocher (at internet archive)

 

[Chronos]

Real life experience eventually surpasses cartoon caricatures.

 

[meBigGuy]

Real life experience eventually surpasses cartoon caricatures.

That's so sad. Must be what they call "maturity". For me the two are completely orthogonol.

 

[ainster31]

I'm an adult and I watch exclusively cartoons.

I can't watch any show that tries to take it self seriously.