S/O - Is Spongebob EVIL? Why or why not? - Page 2

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by Thalia the Muse

I think Sponge Bob is pretty clever, actually. It's certainly no kind of a role-model, but neither are the cartoons I grew up watching -- Tom and Jerry is appalling! And the old Warner shorts (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck) were great, but do you remember Hanna-Barbera? They did a million series -- Jetsons, Flintstones, Yogi Bear -- and they were all dumber than dirt.

I do think Sponge Bob is more for eight-year-olds than two-year-olds.

Yeah, Tom and Jerry is awful. We had to ban it from the house after my 6 year old told me he was going to do something he saw on the show to his sister. I'd rather my kids watch something that is so far fetched that it can't possibly be real than having them watch something with violence that can be copied (even if the characters are faked).

[Addie]

I sort of love SpongeBob. Granted, I don't have cartoon-watching-age children quite yet, so I don't know how he translates to the younger set.

I enjoyed this article from the Atlantic about SpongeBob...

"Trotting along bright-hearted, laughing his spray-on headache of a laugh, he will not succumb to complication. His corner of the world is all levity. Embrace him, drained adult. Where you see his little yellow flag, salute it; it’s a sign of life. "

[amyjeans]

Well ya know...
EVIL actually stands for
E-very
V-illan
I-s
L-emons

Sorry, couldn't resist.

*insert spongebob maniacal laugh*

http://en.spongepedia.bimserver2.com...itle=Main_Page

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by thyra

I can understand that. I always figured it was ok though since its over their heads, and thought it was for the parents who are forced to suffer through kids television!

Kids pick up on A LOT. I can remember paying closer attention to shows/movies after my parents laughed at something I didn't understand...
But especially language. I know he's going to learn the word "stupid" and use it. I know that. But I don't want that to be one of the few words he knows YKWIM? DH has a step-nephew that when he was 3 or so and his brother was close to 1 would call his brother an "idiot" because he couldn't talk yet. He used the word A LOT...

[Purple Sage]

I like Spongebob. I think it's one of the least annoying and/or offensive cartoons on TV, and some episodes are really quite funny.

[Thalia the Muse]

One of the villains Mermaid Man fights is a manta-ray named Man Ray, so I don't see how Sponge Bob can be dismissed as insufficiently intellectual!

[Evergreen]

We don't have a TV so I don't see a lot of it but I love SpongeBob and so do my 7 and 4 year old children. I am admittedly pretty lax about media though.

[ChristyMarie]

Spongebob was my son's first cartoon. Thanks Grandma! But, I didn't specifically say no Spongebob so....

Other than being extremely annoying (that song gets in your head and never leaves) it isn't bad, especially compared to other stuff out there.

If you watch it you'll find:

1. Spongebob has an amazingly positive, cheerful, glass is always half full view on life. Refreshingly happy.

2. While they can be silly and stupid to each other, they always realize they care for each other at the end.

3. Spongebob himself gets very upset at anything mean or hurtful.

4. The "mean" characters usually get caught and reform themselves to an extent in the end. Lots of problem solving - just not obvious stuff.

5. The little violence there is is just so incredibly over the top that DS has always realized it is fake. We call it being silly.

You wanna talk evil? Let's talk Barney. That purple monster is not allowed in our house. Ever.

[EviesMom]

I find sponge bob annoying. Thankfully both of my kids, who have seen it at friends houses, feel the same. I don't think it's "bad" for the intended age group, but it is NOT intended for 2 and 3 year olds. I know many watch it, but it's a bit like Franklin in my opinion. (Sorry, I don't like Sponge Bob enough to make a specific reference, so I'll use Franklin).

A 7 year old can watch Franklin and understand the storyline and end moral. A 2 year old can watch Franklin and not follow the storyline, learn some teasing behaviors from the beginning behavior, see that everybody is happy in the end, and think teasing is fine and no big deal.

I'm sure that many people will testify that their own 2 year old follows the whole storyline and gets it completely and doesn't think it's good to tease others. Child development research though, shows that *most* two and three year olds do not get that sort of thing.

[Needle in the Hay]

No, no, no...Spongebob isn't evil, Plankton is!

We don't have TV at home but lots of DVDs (and TV other places we spend time) and I tend to like a lot of what DS likes. I will probably never love Tom and Jerry but Spongebob (first introduced to us as spongebob schwammkopf) Animaniacs, scooby doo, studio ghibli, it's all good. Oh except for iCarly. Ugh.

Eta: I'm pretty sure Spongebob is supposed to be annoying. It's part of his schtick.

[Evergreen]

Originally Posted by Needle in the Hay

No, no, no...Spongebob isn't evil, Plankton is!

We don't have TV at home but lots of DVDs (and TV other places we spend time) and I tend to like a lot of what DS likes. I will probably never love Tom and Jerry but Spongebob (first introduced to us as spongebob schwammkopf) Animaniacs, scooby doo, studio ghibli, it's all good. Oh except for iCarly. Ugh.

Them's fightin' words! iCarly is awesome.

[Needle in the Hay]

Originally Posted by Evergreen

Them's fightin' words! iCarly is awesome.

Actually there are things about the show I like. Spencer is an awesome brother and I like Freddie, and Gibby cracks me up, but Sam makes me feel queasy. Plus I think I got iCarlied out this past summer as it seemed the iCarly marathons were far too frequent. I'll take it over Total Drama World Tour marathons any day though! I think people who think Spongebob is awful would change their minds after a hearty dose of Cartoon Network.


I do still find some redeeming value in just about anything my son likes though.

[EdnaMarie]

Cons:

1. Does things that we consider really over-the-top rude in our house.
2. Irrrrrritating.
3. Too many product tie-ins.

Pros:

1. Actually has storylines that are far, far superior to Dora, Diego, and some other really boneheaded baby shows, aimed at children that ought not be watching TV at all.
2. Does not have storylines (again, a la Dora and the Backyardigans, which I despise) that appear to be written solely to promote video games.
3. Some parts are truly funny.

I agree that it's just for older kids. The TV is on once every couple of weeks in our house, unless it's CNN. My kids are allowed to watch what they can stomach. They are afraid of Looney Tunes but love Sesame Street. It's all about context and moderation.

You know what I think is evil? Hannah Montana. Wow. Talk about materialistic nonsense and sexualization of children. That show is inappropriate for nearly everyone.

[Jaxinator]

I don't mind Spongebob. He's kind of fun. And apparently educational:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6571681.shtml



There are a couple things that I don't like about it. When they do "close ups" it always really gross looking. But I have a boy who thinks it's funny. That, and for a little bit my kiddo was doing that SB "laugh". I hated it.
I like it a lot more than the Nick cartoons. (Or at least I think I do, I haven't seen them in awhile.)
My DS now says things like "Barnacles!" or "Tartar sauce!" instead of things like "Darn", which I think is cute.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by christymarie

you wanna talk evil? Let's talk barney. That purple monster is not allowed in our house. Ever.

amen sista!

[Jaxinator]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

Cons:


3. Too many product tie-ins.

Oh so true. I seriously just bought a SB taco kit
It was the same price as the other one though, in my meager defense.

[Needle in the Hay]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

You know what I think is evil? Hannah Montana. Wow. Talk about materialistic nonsense and sexualization of children. That show is inappropriate for nearly everyone.

Hannah trashin' EdnaMarie say what?

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by ednamarie

you know what i think is evil? Hannah montana. Wow. Talk about materialistic nonsense and sexualization of children. That show is inappropriate for nearly everyone.

omg yes!!!!

[mamazee]

I don't have an opinion about Sponge Bob. Older dd watches it sometimes. No big deal.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Evergreen

Them's fightin' words! iCarly is awesome.

DS1 and dh both love iCarly.