For the record, the argument that The Simpsons is not good for kids is not a valid criticism because children are not the intended audience. (The Simpsons is not a children's show; it is a smart show for adults.) As for the show's merit, the overall effect on culture is positive because the multi-layered humor demands more of its audience than regular sitcoms. How many other shows compel their viewers to Google jokes? In addition, the show is smart and satirical. Good satire inspires its audience to critically think through political and social issues, and if a cartoon can get people to do that the way The Simpsons does on a continual basis, it's done more than TV is expected to do, including most news programming.

I've been watching the Simpsons since I can remember. South Park as well.

Now, these shows (especially South Park) aren't for kids, but as simpsonology pointed out, that's not the point.

They're witty and funny. Whether kids should watch the show is up to the parents. My mom used to pre-watch South Park episodes before letting me watch them when they first came out... after a few weeks, she decided that the show was too obscene for me, so I stopped watching it for a few years. when the movie came out, I sneaked a peak on HBO and loved it (even though I didn't get most of it).

Luckily, because of the existence of South Park, the Simpsons didn't seem so bad (really, it usually isn't). Sure, there's subtle sexuality and sometimes some blood, but never anything too serious (especially since I was hearing way worse things in school from other kids).

I remember when, in the South Park movie, Stan asks what a clitoris is. I didn't know what a clitoris was at the time, but repeated the south park quote to friends. I knew not to say any reference from South Park in front of teachers, but clitoris is a scientific term. Pussy, on the other hand, is a derogatory term that we said in Elementary school, and we knew what it referred to.

Elementary School is an interesting time for cartoons like the Simpsons, and we didn't always know what was going on in these shows. But if people are worried about corrupted youth, merely sending your kids to school is enough to corrupt them.

Both the Simpsons and Futurama usually have some sort of moral or lesson to tell. They are not meant for young children, that's why they air both shows after kiddie bedtime.