Dad's
Brownies
A
father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend
PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular
movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13. The teens
interviewed friends and even some members of their family's church to find out
what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about
the movie to use to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it.
The con's were that it contained ONLY 3 swear words, the ONLY violence was a
building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said), and you
actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex - it was
just implied sex, off camera.
The pros were that it was a popular movie - a block buster. Everyone was
seeing it. If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when
their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot. It
had some great adventure and suspense in it. There were some fantastic
special effects in this movie. The movie's stars were some of the most
talented actors in Hollywood. It probably would be nominated for several
awards. Many of the members of their church had even seen the movie and
said it wasn't "very bad".
Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens said they were asking
their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have
permission to go see it.
The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He
said he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request.
He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his
decision.
The teens were thrilled thinking; "Now we've got him! Our
argument is too good! Dad can't turn us down!" So, they happily
agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.
The next evening the father called in his three teenagers, who were
smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate
of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he
had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie
then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the
brownies had pros and cons.
The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other
good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them.
The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on
top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And
best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own
father.
The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit
of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of
dogpoop. But he had mixed the dough well - they probably would not even be
able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or
germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed.
Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which
included just a "little bit of crap" and not be affected by it, then
he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of
smut"and not be affected. Of course, none of the teens would eat the
brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Only Dad was smiling
smugly as they left the room. Now when his teenagers ask permission to do
something he is opposed to the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip
up a batch of my special brownies?"