Muppet Propoganda

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
5
36
London, Ontario
We were in a store in Orillia the other day. There was a kid, all of 8 years old, talking to his dad about what he did that morning on Call of Duty.

The message isn't always corporate. Sometimes it's just violence. I may be an old prude, but I just don't think a child of roughly 8, is capable of processing that level of violence.

I find the violence is way too realistic now a days.

But, playing devil's advocate here, I do seem to remember a lot of noise being made about Road Runner cartoons when I was younger too. Now I'm not comparing the two at all but there probably a point to be made about the 'it was better when I was a kid' arguement here.

Which by the way I'm just as guilty of.


Tell me about it. Especially this time of year. I want I want I want, is all most parents hear. Between advertising and peer pressure. I don't know what's worse, lol.

When I see the kind of blatant messaging in a kids movie like the one mentioned in the OP, it makes me uncomfortable. But in all honesty, I'm frankly as uncomfortable with the whole 'toys in the happy meals' idea too.

Are there lines to be drawn by society collectively here? Or is everything left up to the discretion of the parents? I really don't know the right answer here at all. I just wonder about it sometimes.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
193
63
Nakusp, BC
Tell me about it. Especially this time of year. I want I want I want, is all most parents hear. Between advertising and peer pressure. I don't know what's worse, lol.
When ever I hear some kid going on and on about what they want (some actually sound more like demanding) I will get down in their face and say, "well then, get a job."
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
I find the violence is way too realistic now a days.
That is the difference, IMHO, between Road Runner, and things like Call of Duty, or any number of children's shows these days. Where we watched cartoon animals bash each other, kids now see live actions, and cartoon people, bash each other.

When I see the kind of blatant messaging in a kids movie like the one mentioned in the OP, it makes me uncomfortable. But in all honesty, I'm frankly as uncomfortable with the whole 'toys in the happy meals' idea too.
Why? That toy would be the healthiest part of the happy meal.

Are there lines to be drawn by society collectively here? Or is everything left up to the discretion of the parents? I really don't know the right answer here at all. I just wonder about it sometimes.
Here's where we run head long on into free speech. I'm uncomfortable in regulating content, or what have you. But as a parent, I have no problem limiting my child's intake of that content.

When ever I hear some kid going on and on about what they want (some actually sound more like demanding) I will get down in their face and say, "well then, get a job."
We need more parents like you Cliffy!!! I do the same thing. Especially when it comes to things I deem to be crap. Video games, gaming systems, electronic crap, and those stupid card critters, pokemon!!! I'm so glad the boys grew out of that.

On a side note, has anyone else notice the rather pleasurable conversation, now that the kid with the tractor, took his tractor and went home?
 

Corduroy

Senate Member
Feb 9, 2011
6,670
2
36
Vancouver, BC
There isn't a company in the world that sells consumerism to kids more than Disney. The Muppets movie is made by Disney; Fox news is run by idiots.
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
5
36
London, Ontario
That is the difference, IMHO, between Road Runner, and things like Call of Duty, or any number of children's shows these days. Where we watched cartoon animals bash each other, kids now see live actions, and cartoon people, bash each other.

Oh I completely agree, I view it the same way myself. But sometimes I wonder what will our kids be nostaligic for when they have their "good old days" moments, you know?

Why? That toy would be the healthiest part of the happy meal.

LOL, that's a valid point.

Here's where we run head long on into free speech. I'm uncomfortable in regulating content, or what have you. But as a parent, I have no problem limiting my child's intake of that content.

If push comes to shove, yes I'd have to agree. But I still at times have a hard time reconciling the notion of "free speech" with "commercial advertising".

When ever I hear some kid going on and on about what they want (some actually sound more like demanding) I will get down in their face and say, "well then, get a job."

Good for you! If they have the kind of parents that will let them go on and on about what they want, that's probably the best advice they've ever had. :)
 

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
12,822
49
48
11
Aether Island
I think Miss Piggy is a capitalist!
Kermit is a mole (er, frog) for Greenpeace.
Animal is a Republican.
Fozzy is a writer for Fox.
And, Morley the Mole is a mole
 
Last edited:

DaSleeper

Trolling Hypocrites
May 27, 2007
33,676
1,666
113
Northern Ontario,
The automatic reaction of many who let ideology control their thinking as soon as they see the logo "Fox News" or "Sun News"..........


 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
5
36
London, Ontario
I think Miss Piggy is a capitalist!
Kermit is a mole (er, frog) for Greenpeace.
Animal is a Republican.
Fozzy is a writer for Fox.
And, Morley the Mole is a mole

I remember when the muppets were just fun.

Sigh, good times.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
15,441
150
63

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
38
kelowna bc
When the political right takes the long road down, they use up every land.
Here I thought the Republicans and their minions were busy making fools
of themselves and didn't have time to go after puppets called the Muppet's.
Remember when they teamed up with the religious right to go after a little
purple teletubby because he was gay? That's right he was purple and
had a triangle above his head. but he didn't really exist he was an animated
character.
If we want to get down to it, remember a Wonderful Life the Christmas show?
In 1946 the story was the little guy against the miserable banker and greedy
businessman. It is a classic.
The people are fed up with both government and the business community and
that is coming to the fore more and more. It is my opinion that the media and
the programming reflects the views of people more than they become the first
influence. I am quite happy to have the business community come under the
spotlight. Has it occurred to you that we have been howling about the politicians
and governments while the business guys have been getting bonus checks for
more that politicians will ever see. Those bonus tallies appear on the price tag
that you and I pay for goods and services and its time we spoke up. Government
and business has been wasteful and out of control.
Of course we know a puppet can be blames for the irresponsible actions of the
business leaders. Give me a break
 

shadowshiv

Dark Overlord
May 29, 2007
17,545
120
63
52
From your link.

Thanks for the help proving my point cannuck.

Just because a game doesn't have educational value, doesn't mean that it can't be a useful tool. There are games out there that can stimulate your braincells as well as your hand-eye coordination. Obviously there isn't much to games such as Call Of Duty besides entertainment value(and there's nothing wrong with that either), but some adventure games, RPG, or strategy(either RTS or TBS) games can stimulate the thought patterns. Some of them are downright challenging!:)

I realize that you just posted a comment from the link provided, but I just felt that I had to put another viewpoint out there.

Also, can both you and Cannuck please stop turning almost every thread you both post in to a poop-flinging fest? You can both make excellent points, but those points can be lost when you are arguing over things not worth arguing over. Thank you both in advance.:)
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
Just because a game doesn't have educational value, doesn't mean that it can't be a useful tool. There are games out there that can stimulate your braincells as well as your hand-eye coordination. Obviously there isn't much to games such as Call Of Duty besides entertainment value(and there's nothing wrong with that either), but some adventure games, RPG, or strategy(either RTS or TBS) games can stimulate the thought patterns. Some of them are downright challenging!:)

I realize that you just posted a comment from the link provided, but I just felt that I had to put another viewpoint out there.
All the games that are popular, pushed and directed at kids, as far as I'm concerned are crap. There isn't a single gaming console in my house for that very reason. They're my kids after all. And all the proof I need as to whether or not it was the right decision, is where my kids are today. Compared to the bulk of the rodents that run around our area.

I didn't like the crap I heard kids talking about, such as Grand Theft Auto, before I started working with kids. I really don't like it now that I work with kids and hear the crap that comes out them, and watch the behavior they mimic.

If you want to talk simulators, then we're talking useful training tools.

The mass marketed crap that I was referring to, is just that, brain rotting crap, IMHO.