That was the worst advice I've ever read. By labeling it "Private" Prudence is begging the children to look at it. The correct answer is to label it with the most normal dull sounding title you can grab... "The Alamo" part 2 on TBS 8/12/97 or "Suddenly Susan" season finale - that video goes right in the trash when you die.

I agree. It should be labeled in such a way as to engender the opposite of curiosity. But whatever the label, Grandma should get rid of that video at some point. Nothing could ruin memories of the grandparents in a more dramatic way than that video. It may be a fond memory for her, but it absolutely is for her eyes only...

FBH:

But whatever the label, Grandma should get rid of that video at some point.

Why? She enjoys watching it. I can see how a lonely person who misses her spouse would feel that way.

FBH:

Nothing could ruin memories of the grandparents in a more dramatic way than that video.

Well she's "mom" not "grandma", but I disagree in either case. While I'd really prefer to never see a video of my parents (or what the hell, my grandparents) having sex, it wouldn't ruin my memories of them. We all know that our parents and grandparents had sex. Why should proof beyond biological children wreck a relationship?

Are people really that weak?

I disagree; I think she should treat the children as adults, and expect them to respect a privacy marking.

Tom_Tildrum:

I disagree; I think she should treat the children as adults, and expect them to respect a privacy marking.

And likewise, if they don't respect it (and what are the odds?), she should expect that they'll survive learning their parents were (gasp!) sexless drones.

Duh. That's not sexless drones, obviously.

Oh, I can't agree with this. My siblings and I, though well into middle age, are as hopeless as a seven-year-old when it comes to resisting curiosity. I'm actually much better than the rest, and I'd look! But if the tape is frankly labeled "Martha & George in a private interlude," there's not a one of us who'd be tempted. There's mysterious, which drives people crazy, and then there's private, which any normal adult will respect.

Several posters here pretend that the issue of a parent or grandparent's sex tape is just a biological deal, with no other implications. That sounds very enlightened and mature and blah blah blah. But the notion of sorting through a lost loved-ones personal effects only to find such a tape is well, unappealing at best.

Fine, pretend watching grandma and grandpa in action on video is the same as the Discovery Channel if that makes you feel superior. But fact is, no one's a prudish "drone" for not wanting that image stuck in their memory. I doubt I speak only for myself here...

FBH:

But the notion of sorting through a lost loved-ones personal effects only to find such a tape is well, unappealing at best.

No more unappealing than sorting through and finding underwear, dentures, and other unmentionables. When someone dies and you have to help/lead the clean-up afterwards, it's unpleasant.

FBH:

Fine, pretend watching grandma and grandpa in action on video is the same as the Discovery Channel if that makes you feel superior.

One would hope that you wouldn't watch the tape until the end.....

FBH:

But fact is, no one's a prudish "drone" for not wanting that image stuck in their memory. I doubt I speak only for myself here...

If you don't want it stuck in your head, don't dwell on it. Many people have walked in on their parents having sex, and for the most part they seem to come out OK.

FBH:

Fine, pretend watching grandma and grandpa in action on video is the same as the Discovery Channel if that makes you feel superior.

If I found a video labelled "Mom & Dad's sex video, you bet I couldn't destroy it fast enough! Assuming they were both already dead, of course.

However, if I found one marked "private", it might mean not for non-family members' eyes. I might put that one in. In fact, with as many different tastes as there are in my family, even something innocuous like, "Days of Our Lives, March 2002" would make someone put it in, or at least take it home to tape over. Ever notice when you use the same tape for your kids' cartoons, you often get a few seconds at the beginning of whatever was on it first?

If I put in a tape, however it was labelled, and it showed one of my parents naked, no way would I "watch" the video. I think about one second is all it takes to figure out whether a video is something you don't want to have around, in a case like that.

I totally agree. Wrap it in a note that says "This video is of your mom and dad having sex. I wanted to get rid of it before you found it, but here it is. If you don't want to find yourself hunched over the sink scouring your eyeballs with Comet, just throw this out now."

Not to mention, that if they find it after she's dead, I'm PRETTY sure she's not going to care.

Just label it "Ishtar" or "Basic Instinct 2" or judging from that contest Slate just did about Netflix, "Hotel Rwanda." Apparently, this guarantees a movie will never be viewed.

Hey, we watched "Hotal Rwanda"!

carjack wrote: The correct answer is to label it with the most normal dull sounding title you can grab... "The Alamo" part 2 on TBS 8/12/97 or "Suddenly Susan" season finale - that video goes right in the trash when you die."

It will then become the Great Grand kids little secret!