History Main / ThinkOfTheChildren

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', "The Scare Your Pants Off Club!", has an organization called PAWS (Parents Against Weird Stories) ban Scare Your Pants Off books from the local library. Muffy's parents founded it because Muffy had a nightmare after reading the books and they hope banning the books will save other kids. When Arthur and his friends start petitioning, Mr. Crossfire refuses to listen, saying that he's doing it for the kids' own good. It turns out at the end that the books didn't give Muffy nightmares, but [[AcidRefluxNightmare eating ice cream did]].

** Then there's "[[Recap/SouthParkS8E1GoodTimesWithWeapons Good Times With Weapons]]" where the kids get ninja weapons, and Butters accidentally gets a shuriken to the eye, but what are the parents up in arms about? Cartman being naked in public.

** The 'Sandy Hook' school shooting was arguably the most famous incident of the mass murder of children with firearms in the USA in 2012. It made [[UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics the USA's policy on armaments]] a full-on FlameWar again, with ''everyone'' turning the event into a "for the children" argument. More specifically those wanting stricter gun control blamed USA's uniquely easy access to so-called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "military-grade weapons"]] for its uniquely bloody culture of suicides and massacres with firearms. At the same time, gun-enthusiasts blamed trends in news and mass media for "raising a generation of serial killers". Others argued that something as precious as children should have more posted security or ways to defend itself.

* Utterly and shamelessly mocked (like everything else) in ''ComicBook/{{Rat-Man}}'':

Subtrope of AppealToFear and AppealToPity. AllGaysArePedophiles is when this trope is used to condemn homosexuality. For [[JustifiedTrope justified]] examples, see HarmfulToMinors and WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids

--> '''Cinzia:''' [[OncePerEpisode "Hi there! I'm Cinzia, and I'm a]] [[{{Transgender}} Transsexual!"]]

** The 'Sandy Hook' school shooting was arguably the most famous incident of the mass murder of children with firearms in the USA in 2012. It made [[UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics the USA's policy on armaments]] a full-on FlameWar again, with ''everyone'' turning the event into a "for the children" argument. More specifically those wanting stricter gun control blamed USA's uniquely easy access to so-called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "military-grade weapons"]] for its uniquely bloody culture of suicides and massacres with firearms. At the same time, gun-enthusiasts blamed trends in news and mass media for "raising a generation of serial killers". Others argued that something as precious as children should have more posted security or ways to defend itself. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that is all we have to say about that.]]

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content.[[note]]They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].[[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on SlashFic and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content.[[note]]They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[Administratrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].[[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on SlashFic and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

* This was the public reason why Creator/{{Socrates}} was executed: his teachings had "corrupted the youth." In actuality, it was more likely because he was on the bad side of a lot of people because he'd called them on their various shortcomings. A couple of his students had been members of the Thirty Tyrants, a dictatorship the Spartans installed in Athens after beating then in war. They conducted a bloody purge of Athenians who defied them before being overthrown, with Socrates it seems being a scapegoat as they blamed him for supposedly inspiring his students' acts. Socrates had asserted (without refutation) that he refused to cooperated with the purge at all (recounted in the ''[[Literature/ApologyOfSocrates Apology]]''), so historians generally see this as guild by association (possibly inspired by people who found him dangerous as a result of his questioning the authorities).
* Anita Bryant's campaign against gay rights laws in Florida was literally known as "Save Our Children."

* This was the public reason why Creator/{{Socrates}} was executed: His talks that he gave had "corrupted the youth." In actuality, it was more likely because he was on the bad side of a lot of people because he'd called them for their various shortcomings.
* Anita Bryant's campaign against gay rights laws in Florida was literally known as "Save Our Children."

* The "bathroom bills" that several [[DeepSouth southern US states]] have been enacting, that require people to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their birth sex, are ostensibly done in the name of protecting women and children from sexual predators claiming to be transgender. This despite the fact that trans people have been using the bathrooms that match their gender presentations since there have been sex-segregated restrooms and there has never been a case of someone claiming to be trans in order to enter an opposite-sex restroom for the purpose of assaulting someone.

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content. [[note]] (They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[Administratrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].) [[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. (Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on SlashFic and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

* ''WebAnimation/{{Robotzi}}'': In one episode, F.O.C.A. threatens Mo with a gun for stealing his invention (which happens to be unstable). Mo begs for mercy by telling F.O.C.A. to think of the children, to which the latter responds that he doesn't have children. Mo aas talking about children in general, despite the series itself being too inappropriate for real-life kids.

* Helen Lovejoy is a parody of this character on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Frequently, when something stirs up public outcry in Springfield, she screams "Won't somebody ''please'' think of the children?" in a panic. Ironically, [[PreachersKid her own child is a kleptomaniac hellion who has to be sent to boarding school for her crimes]] - but, of course, MamaDidntRaiseNoCriminal.
** However, this happens rarely in the later episodes, probably because the voice actress for Helen Lovejoy (who was also the voice actress for Ned Flanders' wife, Maude) left the show and the writers pretty much kept her in the background and only bring her out in crowd scenes. Though the writers started subverting the natural pattern, an indication of an attempt to keep the joke fresh. In "Natural Born Kissers", Homer and Marge (who are rekindling their sex life by getting busy in public places) get cornered in the miniature golf course and flee before being seen, leaving their clothes for the crowd to find. As the crowd gasps at the idea of two people running around naked, [[BorrowedCatchPhrase Moe says the line]] while Helen is in the frame just to fool with the audience.
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E2BrothersLittleHelper Brother's Little Helper]]", Bart got his hands on a [[TankGoodness tank]] and was initially making it seem as though he was going to use it on the school. Mrs. Krabappel's reaction is a [[DeadpanSnarker deadpan]] "No, stop, think of the children" while smoking a cigarette. [[spoiler:He was actually intending to fire at an MLB satellite that was spying on the town, something of which only Bart seemed to be aware.]]

--> '''Cinzia:''' [[CompletelyMissingThePoint "Hi there,]] '''''[[DeliberatelyMissingThePoint kids!]]''''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint I'm Cinzia, and I'm a transsexual!"]]

* The '''Right to Censor''' was the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]]'s response to criticism by the Parents Television Council over the WWF's storylines and threats to boycott its sponsors, over storylines that frequently included extreme violence ([[WouldHitAGirl including against women]]), profanity and scantily clad women. (The PTC had pointed out that children were frequent viewers of the WWF's television programs.) Led by [[Wrestling/StevieRichards Steven Richards]], members of his faction – including Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather (Wrestling/CharlesWright changing his gimmick from the "Ho"-loving Godfather), Wrestling/ValVenis (whose original gimmick was of a [[WrestlingDoesntPay wrestling porn star]]) and Wrestling/{{Ivory}} – frequently interrupted matches that involved aspects the PTC criticized, including Tables-Ladders-Chairs matches and matches involving scantily dressed women. In storyline terms, the group reached its peak when they began harassing The Kat (Wrestling/StacyCarter, Wrestling/JerryLawler's then-wife) for trying to get naked on TV. In contrast, the Right to Censor members wore conservative uniforms: a white button-up shirt and black tie, with black slacks for the men (although Val Venis wore white slacks on occasion) and a long black skirt for the women, which parodies the look of a Mormon missionary.

** The 'Sandy Hook' school shooting was arguably the most famous incident of the mass murder of children with firearms in the USA in 2012. It made [[UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics the USA's policy on armaments]] a full-on FlameWar again, with ''everyone'' turning the event into a "for the children" argument. More specifically those wanting stricter gun control blamed USA's uniquely easy access to so-called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "military-grade weapons"]] for its uniquely bloody culture of suicides and massacres with firearms. At the same time, gun-enthusiasts blamed trends in news and mass media for 'raising a generation of serial killers". Others argued that something as precious as children should have more posted security or ways to defend itself. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that is all we have to say about that.]]

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content. [[note]] (They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[Administratrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].) [[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. (Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on {{Slash}} and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

->'''Homer:''' Mr. Mayor, I hate to break it to you, but this town is [[BearsAreBadNews infested by bears]].\\
'''Helen:''' Think of the children!\\
(''The mayor sets up a Bear Patrol, which predictably costs tax money. One week later, the complaints are back'')\\
'''Homer:''' Down with taxes! Down with taxes!\\
'''Helen:''' Won't somebody '''please''' think of the children?
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

MoralGuardians using an argument to create a [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] — doing something will somehow, indirectly, hurt children. Somehow. You don't have to make a rational argument as long as you can appeal to {{Mama Bear}}s, {{Papa Wol|f}}ves, [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smothers]], {{Overprotective Dad}}s, and {{Knight Templar Parent}}s emotionally. This is a great way to rouse up an AngryMob, and the best/worst part is you don't even need any proof of your target's guilt or innocence; just use LogicalFallacies to make your target out to be a monster, then use "''the children''" as a ChewbaccaDefense (or would that be [[AbominationAccusationAttack Chewbacca Prosecution]]?). In comedies, this type of character usually actually doesn't even care about the children at all, and in the worst-case scenario, [[StrawHypocrite is actually the one who's actively harming children]] [[BlameGame while deflecting blame off onto others as a scapegoat]].

* On the 8/30/2007 ''[[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] Impact'', Karen Angle, trying to find a TagTeam partner for [[Wrestling/KurtAngle her husband]], tried to get Wrestling/{{Sting}} to go for it by saying they had the same value and talking about everything they could do for children with the influence that comes from being champions. Sting did become Angle's partner, but ''not'' because of Karen's sales pitch.

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content. [[note]] (They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[AdministratriviaRuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].) [[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. (Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on {{Slash}} and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

* The infamous Website/{{Livejournal}} purge known as "Strikethrough '07." In the mid 2000's, LJ went from being an independent blog site to being sold to an up-and-coming software company known as Six Apart. Six Apart was approached by a group of (largely Christian) MoralGuardians and {{Media Watchdog}}s calling itself "Warriors for Innocence." Warriors for Innocence used this kind of plea to persuade Six Apart to start policing the content of journals and communities, and to remove objectionable content. [[note]] (They specifically mentioned [[PaedoHunt child pornography]], though whether or not that was ''really'' their target remains...[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]].) [[/note]] Six Apart bowed to pressure from them, and began using algorithms to look for [[ScunthorpeProblem certain buzzwords]] and began [[ThePurge purging accounts]] with no warning. Not only did this affect things that were ''actually'' HarmfulToMinors, but other types of content, too. (Including, but not limited to, fan communities with a focus on {{Slash}} and {{Yaoi}} fanworks (even perfectly G-rated ones), ''at least'' one online support group for ''survivors'' of childhood sexual abuse, an online support group for nursing mothers, blogs containing information about sexual health and birth control, cosplay and fashion blogs, and many more. And although many of those accounts removed in error were eventually restored, this wasn't an isolated incident, and many users lost faith in the website and left for greener pastures.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants''

->'''Homer:''' Mr. Mayor, I hate to break it to you, but this town is infested by bears.\\

MoralGuardians using an argument to create a [[YouCanPanicNow moral panic]] — doing something will somehow, indirectly, hurt children. Somehow. You don't have to make a rational argument as long as you can appeal to {{Mama Bear}}s, {{Papa Wol|f}}ves, [[MyBelovedSmother Beloved Smothers]], {{Overprotective Dad}}s, and {{Knight Templar Parent}}s emotionally. This is a great way to rouse up an AngryMob, and the best/worst part is you don't even need any proof of your target's guilt or innocence; just use LogicalFallacies to make your target out to be a monster, then use "''the children''" as a ChewbaccaDefense (or would that be Chewbacca Prosecution?). In comedies, this type of character usually actually doesn't even care about the children at all, and in the worst-case scenario, [[StrawHypocrite is actually the one who's actively harming children]] [[BlameGame while deflecting blame off onto others as a scapegoat]].

--> '''Cinzia:''' [[OncePerEpisode "Hi there! I'm Cinzia, and I'm a]] [[{{Transgender}} Transsexual]]!"

--> ''([[BeatPanel beat)]]''

* The ''WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded'' spoof of the teaser for ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has Film/IronMan exclaim this, while begging Ultron to stop quoting such Disney songs as "[[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} I've Got No Strings]]" in his creepy MachineMonotone voice. Instead of stopping, Ultron quotes the then-newest Disney animated musical, ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''.