Has Mickey Mouse ever been proven evil? - Page 4

[nolonger]

Has anyone posted anything about McCarthyism or Union busting yet?

http://socialistworker.org/2001/387/387_09_Disney.shtml

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by noordinaryspider

Has anyone posted anything about McCarthyism or Union busting yet?

http://socialistworker.org/2001/387/387_09_Disney.shtml

I really don't get this. I mean, I understand boycotting a company for their current transgressions, but for those of their long-dead founder? Really? Do you research every company you do business with and make sure they have never had any less-than-desirable practices? Because I'd be willing to bet that most people have bought food that has originated at farms that once employed slaves.

[annettemarie]

Moving to the Television forum because, while it may not be a perfect fit, it seems a better fit than Parenting.

[Chamomile Girl]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

I really don't get this. I mean, I understand boycotting a company for their current transgressions, but for those of their long-dead founder? Really? Do you research every company you do business with and make sure they have never had any less-than-desirable practices? Because I'd be willing to bet that most people have bought food that has originated at farms that once employed slaves.

There is a big difference between farms that once employed slaves and farms that still do; and, yes, agricultural slavery still exists in our enlightened times. Disney as a corporation is famous for being anti-union...sort of like Walmart. or Whole Foods for that matter. Here is one more recent example:

http://www.salon.com/business/featur...on/index1.html

I personally hate Disney with a passion because of the gender roles that they purport in their movies. For example, why on earth is marriage the only happy ending for a female character? Yuck. I personally can't see the "fun" in going to Disneyland/world myself. Not only do I hate Disney, I can't stand motion rides. They make me :Puke.

My poor kid. No sugar, no TV and no Disney. And, yes, my mother is appalled!

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Chamomile Girl

I personally hate Disney with a passion because of the gender roles that they purport in their movies. For example, why on earth is marriage the only happy ending for a female character?

I do agree with the unfortunate gender representation; however, this is the case with the majority of Hollywood movies.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by chinaKat

Four grand? I'd go to Europe for two weeks.

I understand the choice to go to a Disney theme park rather than vacation elsewhere, even if costs are competitive.

North Americans are lucky to get a couple of weeks of family vacation time every year. If that's all the time you get, you want to make sure everyone has a good time. At Disney, it's almost guaranteed. I've never been to another resort or vacation place where every.single.thing has been considered, planned, and executed to achieve client satisfaction. The parks are clean, they work hard to provide a comfortable experience, there is a variety for every age and interest, and the employees seem to live only to please. Above all else, it's fun!

The lines can be long, but there are ways to deal with that. The weather can be unpleasant but with such a variety of things offered, there are ways to deal with it. The trashy souvenirs are aggravating, but there are ways to deal with it (we just said, "one souvenir each" and stuck to it).

I always thought that I would choose to vacation in interesting, exotic and historic places, but after a trip to Disney, I understand the attraction, and I understand why people go back. A lot of people don't want to risk their 2 week vacation on dodgy accommodations, bad food, and rude service people. Of course, for others - that's the charm of travel, lol! To each, his/her own!

[Landover]

Four grand? I'd go to Europe for two weeks.

I don't remember saying we *didn't* go to Europe? What makes you think that going to Europe and going to Disney are mutually exclusive? We probably budget more of our income to travel then the average family because.... well, traveling is awesome.

[anniegirl]

Wow, this was a fun read!

My kids are not much into Disney shows, but I let them watch when they want to.

I've never really understood the fear of kids asking for stuff they see in commercials. Why is that so terrible? I just say no! LOL! Sometimes they just want me to acknowledge that something looks fun, not that they want it. I'd much rather talk about advertising with them, how commercials are tricky and make stuff look more fun than it is etc., than spend my life trying to shield them from it. I want them to learn how to handle it so they can make healthy choices later on

The same goes for shows that have undesirable behavior. We talk about it. Like "Whoa! That guy sure was mean! What should he have done/said instead?"

Anyhoo, whether your kid watches Disney or not, I don't think it has much bearing on whether s/he'll grow up to be a good person.

[Kreeblim]

Anyhoo, whether your kid watches Disney or not, I don't think it has much bearing on whether s/he'll grow up to be a good person.

I agree. I would let them watch Disney...I am just overjoyed that they don't care to. Mickey creeps me out like overly in-my-face clowns do. I even went to Disney as a kid twice and I came out of it thinking Epcot was awesome, waiting in line in air conditioning was great, and there was one ride that was so cool I still tell people about it. Other than that I have no positive memories and got alot more out of our trips to water parks and more "ride-based" places like Busch Gardens and Cedar Point as a kid. Even Universal Studios was blow-my-socks-off awesome compared to Disney...though the Disney water parks like Blizzard Beach (if it still exists) are top-rate.

On the other hand, I like big fast rides. Like alot. Especially without creepy animatronic animals staring at me while I ride them. I might have a different outlook on theme parks if I got sick on rollercoasters (or godforbid one of my kids ends up being that way). I might also have a different outlook if I grew up liking any of the Disney franchises other than some of the newer movies that have only come out since I was an adult.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Kreeblim

I agree. I would let them watch Disney...I am just overjoyed that they don't care to. Mickey creeps me out like overly in-my-face clowns do. I even went to Disney as a kid twice and I came out of it thinking Epcot was awesome, waiting in line in air conditioning was great, and there was one ride that was so cool I still tell people about it. Other than that I have no positive memories and got alot more out of our trips to water parks and more "ride-based" places like Busch Gardens and Cedar Point as a kid. Even Universal Studios was blow-my-socks-off awesome compared to Disney...though the Disney water parks like Blizzard Beach (if it still exists) are top-rate.

On the other hand, I like big fast rides. Like alot. Especially without creepy animatronic animals staring at me while I ride them. I might have a different outlook on theme parks if I got sick on rollercoasters (or godforbid one of my kids ends up being that way). I might also have a different outlook if I grew up liking any of the Disney franchises other than some of the newer movies that have only come out since I was an adult.

Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, California Screamin', and Maliboomer are AWESOME big fast rides without animatronics. Not everything at Disneyland is character-based.

[Oriole]

enjoying the thread...

Originally Posted by Chamomile Girl

There is a big difference between farms that once employed slaves and farms that still do;

I think the point was that if someone is simply opposed to disney based upon what the founder did, then that's as silly of a reason as to be opposed to any other old company, because chances are, the founder did something not very nice by our standards as well.

Originally Posted by Chamomile Girl

I personally hate Disney with a passion because of the gender roles that they purport in their movies. For example, why on earth is marriage the only happy ending for a female character? Yuck.

I always find this argument against Disney fascinating, because most of its stuff is based on fairy tales, and if the princesses is what you don't like - then I guess reading folklore and classic tales from around the world is off the list and just as yucky?

Originally Posted by chinaKat

Four grand? I'd go to Europe for two weeks.

I have to jump in here.. DP and I grew up in Europe, and we have a list of places we'd like to go including China, a river cruise through Europe, and Peru. However, amongst other places to visit we DO have Disney World on the list. It might hold a different purpose than climbing Machu Pichu, but it is simply a different form of vacation. To me it's like saying one should not go skiing because one can go swimming, kwim? Can't one enjoy both, depending on what they feel like at the moment?