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Nov 26, 2021
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Hi Everyone,

I am busy researching how parents feel about the TV shows that their kids watch. I came across this forum and I think that your responses would be really helpful!

Please go to this LINK and share your opinion. The survey is really short and it should take you less than 1 minute to complete.

It is completely anonymous and I won't be collecting any identifying data whatsoever.

Alternatively, please just share your opinions in response to this thread!

Thank you so much for contributing, I really appreciate it!
 

MehGuy

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I would recommend the PBS show 'Arthur'. The program is very well written and genuinely hilarious at times. A show that parents can enjoy just as much as children do. The show premiered when I was 6 years old and I was instantly hooked. For whatever reason I have vivid memories of watching it, and seemed like it came at a time when I was starting to become aware of the world around me and I feel like the program helped accentuate that.

The show has been under some hot water at times. They had an infamous episode about cursing. Where some of the kids started swearing at each other. While they curse words were all bleeped, it was still shocking to see on a children's show. Funny and adorable though. They also had an episode where they naturized adult cartoons like South Park and Beavis and Butthead. A few years ago, the show was again under some fire by some conservative outlets because of an episode where their teacher *Mr. Ratburn* married a guy. Somewhat surprised me, but looking back at it he was a little "effeminate". His debut episode used to scare me as a child. Since he was initially perceived as a pretty mean and brutal teacher, but winded up being someone who cared but expected a lot from his students.

Another show I would recommend is 'Recess'. This show also has good writing and interesting social commentary. Probably my favorite children's show of all time. The movie they had still makes me tear up.

Not sure what kids are watching today, but I do feel like the 90s was a golden period for children entertainment.
 
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Nov 26, 2021
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I would recommend the PBS show 'Arthur'. The program is very well written and genuinely hilarious at times. A show that parents can enjoy just as much as children do. The show premiered when I was 6 years old and I was instantly hooked. For whatever reason I have vivid memories of watching it, and seemed like it came at a time when I was starting to become aware of the world around me and I feel like the program helped accentuate that.

The show has been under some hot water at times. They had an infamous episode about cursing. Where some of the kids started swearing at each other. While they curse words were all bleeped, it was still shocking to see on a children's show. Funny and adorable though. They also had an episode where they naturized adult cartoons like South Park and Beavis and Butthead. A few years ago, the show was again under some fire by some conservative outlets because of an episode where their teacher *Mr. Ratburn* married a guy. Somewhat surprised me, but looking back at it he was a little "effeminate". His debut episode used to scare me as a child. Since he was initially perceived as a pretty mean and brutal teacher, but winded up being someone who cared but expected a lot from his students.

Another show I would recommend is 'Recess'. This show also has good writing and interesting social commentary. Probably my favorite children's show of all time. The movie they had still makes me tear up.

Not sure what kids are watching today, but I do feel like the 90s was a golden period for children entertainment.


Thank you so much for all these recommendations. It seems that several shows these days are "generally" acceptable but seem to throw in a potentially controversial episode or two!
 
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MehGuy

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Thank you so much for all these recommendations. It seems that several shows these days are "generally" acceptable but seem to throw in a potentially controversial episode or two!

Another show suggestion would be the Magic School Bus. Helps children learn basic science facts in a fun way. While not the cleverest written show the concept is still interesting, and it is more adventure orientated. I enjoyed the show as a kid. Netflix has developed a modern reboot of the show. Many millennials on social media were whining about it. But let's be real here, it wasn't like the 90s version was ever a scripted masterpiece. The new version is probably just as serviceable as the original. Although like Arthur, the Magic School Bus was originally a children's picture book. In some ways the versions millennials grew up with as children were not the original.

Another science related show that is good is Bill Nye The Science Guy. I think they should make a reboot for that for modern audiences. They did and Adult one, but I think the show was better with children in mind. I don't hate Bill Nye, but it's a little creepy listening to him talk about sex. That's kind of like Mr. Rogers talking about his sex life with you... just "ewww". Speaking of Mr. Rogers... I found that show incredibly dull as a child. He's a nice man... but I never saw the appeal of his show.

Sometimes I like to watch a Matt Walsh video. While not a social conservative I do find him entertaining, and I like to expose myself to different stances. He occasionally reviews modern "woke" children programming. Some of the content he shows is a little shocking to be honest. I watched him review a recent episode of Blue's Clues (a show that was on when I was a kid) and they had a recent episode where they go to a pride parade with a Drag Queen singing an acceptance song. Something that would be unheard of 20... even 10 years ago. Personally, I am somewhat mixed about this. While I consider myself a progressive, I do have my own thoughts. I believe some of this gender fluidity is potentially dangerous. Especially coming from a mindset that has no respect for evolutionary psychology. You have to be careful with young developing minds. A lot of this gender identity stuff is shallow anyways. All these different kinds of genders just look like feminine personas to me. The trans communities I've visited are pretty psychologically boring to me. They all act feminine, even the trans-men. Anything masculine is often just viewed as "toxic".

This stuff is probably more dangerous for young boys than young girls. Telling boys that they can act just like girls won't pan out when they start becoming older and lose neotenous features. Or noticing that acting a certain way hurts their chances with women. Modern feminism still operates under the woman (child) man (parent) dynamic. They promote women always having it worse and men always needing to "do better" and take on all reasonability. The occasional male celebrity like Harry Styles showing himself in a dress and mocking the working class for not being as "openminded" as him doesn't actually mean anything. He's still going to be expected to damsel and protect women and be stoic when it comes to male victimhood. That's the problem with many progressives. They just craft a shallow image, inside they're just full of hot air.

While biology isn't that easy to sweep away, that doesn't mean you still cannot sow psychological confusion in a lot of people (probably mostly men).

Here is one clip I found of a modern children's show.

Gonzo can wear a dress, but his harsh voice isn't going to illicit a lot of feminine sympathy in his daily life. Neither from the conservative or the progressive. One will just tolerate you wearing a dress, lol. If you ever find yourself in a domestic dispute with a woman Gonzo... don't expect any progressive to cry when the cops automatically assume you must be the aggressor and take you away in handcuffs... lol.

 
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Nov 26, 2021
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Another show suggestion would be the Magic School Bus. Helps children learn basic science facts in a fun way. While not the cleverest written show the concept is still interesting, and it is more adventure orientated. I enjoyed the show as a kid. Netflix has developed a modern reboot of the show. Many millennials on social media were whining about it. But let's be real here, it wasn't like the 90s version was ever a scripted masterpiece. The new version is probably just as serviceable as the original. Although like Arthur, the Magic School Bus was originally a children's picture book. In some ways the versions millennials grew up with as children were not the original.
]

I remember seeing some the original Magic School bus. I was unaware they made a modern version. Now I'm very curious to see if/ how the themes have changed to cater to the current viewers!
 
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MehGuy

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I remember seeing some the original Magic School bus. I was unaware they made a modern version. Now I'm very curious to see if/ how the themes have changed to cater to the current viewers!

From what I can see, the tone is still very much there. Sadly, the animation is done on a computer. The movements are much stiffer compared to the 90s version. One big complaint that I have with some modern animation, it looks so bad.

It works for shows like South Park, but for many others... I'm just yearning for something better.

As far as children shows I did not like and still do not for the most part is Ren and Stimpy. I was too young to remember when the show first aired, but I was a pretty big Nickelodeon fan from the mid-90s on. I do not remember the show ever really airing during the daytime. The only time I watched the show was early in the morning before my father went to work. He was a big fan of the show. While I was not, the show was incredibly creepy and frightening for me. My father said he was disappointed that I didn't like it, lol.

When I was a teenager, they did an adult revamp of the show. That included swearing and censored nudity (at least on the broadcast version). I actually liked it back then. I don't think my father would have... ironic... sort of. It was more insane and heavily panned... I personally thought the show had some potential. but it was cancelled after a few episodes. Certainly not child friendly. And personally, I think even the kid friendly version of Ren and Stimpy shouldn't have been on a kid's network.

Knowing John K. now and his allegations of grooming teenage girls... he's a pretty sick man who never had children's psychological wellbeing at heart. I know Nickleodeon had pretty sour relations with him. He wanted to go a lot further than what actually aired. He planned to do an episode where Stimpy gets pregnant and wanted the birth to be extremely graphic.

Sorry... I can sympathize with Nickelodeon firing him. SpongeBob in my opinion ripped a lot of elements of Ren and Stimpy off... but it did it in a much better way IMO. Never went too over the top, and in my opinion was consistently a lot more hilarious. The creator also wasn't John K.. which isn't saying much I guess... lol.
 
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