Plugged in

Plugged in
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Publisher: Focus on the Family
Salesrank: 2196
List Price: $24.00
Our Price: $24.00
Media: Magazine
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Customer Reviews:
Freedom of Opinion–Ratings that Actually Tell You About the Stuff You Want to KNow (2007-03-24)
Yes, it is detailed… so when you screen movies for your kids–or yourself–you can know exactly whether is “violent” and what that means, whether there is sex or bad language, type of humor, what spiritual content is, against a biblical template…and,can decide for yourself whether to go or not. I do not always agree with the conclusions, but often do…and find the details helpful in assessing what our family may choose to watch. My older teens have read it for years, and use the data to decide what is worth their time. Again, they do not always reach the same conclusions as the magazine, but find it helpful. Unlike another reviewer, I did not find political content, but did find clear descriptions, followed by opinion, on the various categories of content. As a Christian parent, especially of younger kids, it has been useful in its descriptions and screening criteria often lacking in most other reviews. Nowadays, we still use it because time is a precious commodity.No surprises (2006-06-29)
I subscribed to Plugged In for many years, from about the time our oldest was 12 or 13. I valued the magazine and later the website for allowing us the opportunity to preview the details of movies, tv shows and music, without being surprised. This was especially true with the PG-13 rated movies that our kids at first assumed they would be allowed to watch once they turned 13. I’m of the belief that you’re a child only for a short time and that innocence should be protected and preserved as long as possible. When the time comes, my husband and I have felt that it’s our responsibility, not the movies, tv or music, to educate them about certain issues, sex among them. I have often referred to pluggedinonline.com and screenit.com to determine what movies our entire family watches.Must Have Resource (2006-05-31)
Plugged-In is a welcome resource in our home. We have used plugged-in online for years to obtain reviews on movies, music, games, tv shows, etc. Let’s face it parents, we don’t have time to do all the reviews ourselves. I for one, am thankful there is a trusted source out there that states the facts; good, bad or indifferent. That’s exactly what Plugged-in does. They rate a movie, for instance and highlight the pro-social content, objectional content and end with a summery/advisory. Of course, it’s a magazine published by an Evangelical Ministry so there are articles relating the the world of Christianity. If you’re easily offended by the teachings of the Jesus Christ, or view points of Christians, go easy on the articles and stick to the reviews. But don’t blast the magazine for doing exactly what it set out to accomplish and reach the target it intended. As parents, when we have questions regarding our kid’s friends, we go to the source - those who know the friends. Regardless of their faith, I want to know what they know about “Johnny”; the analogy is the same w/ entertainment. After reading the magazine or going online, my husband and I, along w/ our children can make wise decisions regarding what goes in their heads in the name of entertainment. Some may call that “legalism”, we call it wise parenting. You know the old cliche - garbage in, garbage out! We wouldn’t fill their bodies w/ garbage, why fill their precious minds w/ garbage?very legalistic (2005-12-09)
I subscribed to this magazine for one year but in less than six months I was sick of it. My subscription has run out and I haven’t renewed. The magazine is published by Focus on the Family, and its clearly aimed for conservative christians whom are Republicans. It seems that in trying to live a lifestyle where christians try to choose good things and good entertainment, it sometimes misleads them and makes them legalistic. I have noticed that in the christian church, there is so much judgement towards members.

People judge each other whether or not they’ve seen a certain movie, slip out a bad word, or have different opinions on theology. It seems that people judge each other on the smallest things. This comes out on Plugged In magazine. It judges the movies and entertainment on how many bad words there are, sex scenes, violence. They judge the actors on what they’re doing and make them out to be “bad” but if they’re reviewing a christian film, cd or other christian media then they congratulate it as if it can do nothing bad.

A lot of the movies that are recommended are family movies, and that’s fine if you’re in the mood for that. Often I just want to see a dramatic movie or a romantic comedy. For a time I have felt so guilty because of the influence of the church and this magazine for seeing a movie that has a few bad words or several “immoralities” - I once felt guilty for watching “You’ve Got Mail” and when you compare it to other romantic comedies its pretty tame. Its really not that bad at all.

No one’s perfect, characters aren’t perfect, and if they were then they wouldn’t be realistic at all. Who wants to watch a movie where the characters are just so perfect in every way? We’d just roll our eyes and pick another movie. I don’t think ethic behavior should be ignored, but lets not expect the movies to be perfect. Now, I just choose movies on whether or not they’re good overall and for the most part, they haven’t got anything to do with the “bad” content of the film. In other words I don’t focus anymore on the bad words, the sexual content or the violence. I focus on the overall quality of the film and make my decisions based on that. Sometimes I don’t want to watch a movie with too much violence like The Passion, and I even got criticised by other christians for not going to see it.

So this is the freedom of a relationship with Jesus Christ and having the church as “family”? Seems more like a legalistic organized religion than anything else. So I’m no longer a Christian, I don’t know what I am but I know that there’s more to life than being judgemental and legalistic. The Plugged In magazine staff give many of bad reviews towards secular entertainment. I know that their aim is to help christians make “wise” choices in entertainment but its just so legalistic. Most of their articles and reviews are so negative. Why focus on secular entertainment if they’re just going to be negative all the time? Conservative Christianity isn’t for me and I have let go of this magazine. I’m tired of feeling guilty about ridiculous things.

I don’t know about others, but I’ve read the new testament and Jesus didn’t go around saying, “this is bad and this is bad, and you shouldn’t associate with this one because they said a bad word.” No he didn’t go around saying that or doing that. He also didn’t go around showing signs and going to rallies, and pushing his way into a crowd and trying to shove his opinion and ways down other peoples throats like conservative christians do nowadays.

Oh and if christians want to have pure entertainment then they shouldn’t read the bible, because if you really read it from beginning to end, cover to cover…its a book full of weird and strange stories. It has everything from child sacrifice, stoning, incest, rape, etc. I find it kind of strange how religious folks don’t belittle their own book, after all its full of “immorality.” They excuse it by saying, “the bible doesn’t condone it, we’re supposed to learn from others mistakes.” Well why don’t they apply the same theories and arguments to the movies? I’m sorry I went off on my own soapbox. I have nothing against conservative christians or republicans, or both but I do have a problem with religious folks who think they’re so perfect and with organized religion.If this is the word of the Lord, I’d rather go to hell…… (2004-06-10)
The parenting tool magazine, Plugged In may promote itself as being awareness about teenagers today- the morally questionable music, TV and films that they’re choosing as entertainment, the activities they get up to and the subcultures they have formed.

But essentially what it all boils down to is something grossly disgusting- with morbid concentration it spends its time focusing and picking apart every little bit of fun outlandishness and liberal thinking, “immodest” fashion and harmless flirtation that teenagers do and telling them repeatedly how dirty and unloveable they are for it. Its abusive parenting to live by it. Raising children and teens to believe they can’t do right for being wrong. Whether they want to find a partner or even just a friend of the opposite sex, or whether they want to challenge the War in Iraq, or even dance in a club.

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