Cartoons can't smoke no more

[CensoredAlso]

I agree that the goal shouldn't be just to lose weight. It does upset me when these so called "health shows" only focus on that. What's most important is being active so you turn fat into muscle and burn calories.

There is a problem with obesity in the country, that is a fact. There are some people who don't want to deal with it and that's a problem. Then there are others who focus on "pretty and thin" which is also a problem. There should be a middle ground here. People need to eat healthy (and not in excess) and find time to exercise. Or you will be unhealthy and risk your life, period.

To people on both sides of the issue: It's not about looks, it's about life.

 

[Drtooth]

Agreed, but the problem with all this is you can't force your beliefs down someone's throats or THEY WON'T LISTEN NO MATTER HOW LOUD YOU SCREEEEEAAAAM.

I think this is a big and deep subject and it's really hijacking the thought of censorship vis a vis cartoons... if you want to start another thread, your more than welcome to. I'd be glad to take this conversation elsewhere.

I'm basically saying we're at the point where cartoon characters have to say "Let's celebrate by going out for carrot sticks and colonoscopies"

 

[CensoredAlso]

Yeah it's true, the topic is supposed to be about cartoons and smoking, hehe.

You can't force your beliefs on people, definitely. I say all the time, if you're too judgemental or nasty, people will just walk away. People will find a way to smoke if that's what they want to do. People are very frustrating life forms, aren't they?

What bothers me is that some people take it too far and say you're not allowed to ever comment on anything people do. We have opinions and we should be allowed to state them (as long as it's not mean spirited). But sometimes we're not even allowed to do that for fear of offending people.

 

[Drtooth]

What bothers me is that some people take it too far and say you're not allowed to ever comment on anything people do. We have opinions and we should be allowed to state them (as long as it's not mean spirited). But sometimes we're not even allowed to do that for fear of offending people.

You're not refferring to me, are you? No... I mean the 99 million PSAs for excersize and healthy eating for kids and multiple "obesity epidemic" "news reports" for the adults. You should tell people your feelings. if you are frank and candid, they WILL listen to you. Telling them a million times they have to eat vegitables or give up something in a nagging manner (Like what the media is doing here) won't work. There are people who will do whatever they want no matter how much you coax them. But there are those who are willing to listen.

As for the smoking (back on the subject) I hate the entire idea and fact people smoke. I'd love to tell everyone that it's a filthy habit and that it also harms everyone in the near vicinity, but they would ignore me or beat me up or something.

I do NOT feel that it is the duty of censorship happy parental groups to tell kids the dangers of everything by editing the crap out of something someone created. I mean, I don't expect to see this...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LkNF-0QsQOE
or this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ntrsMAlIQWA

but I really wish that Funimation wouldn't edit out Sanji's ciggy ala 4Kids, especially since they've decided to rate it TV PG. Lemme tell ya, that thing came in pretty handy a couple of times.

 

[CensoredAlso]

No sorry, I wasn't referring to you. And it's true, people will often listen if you're frank and candid and don't nag.

I was just venting my frustration in general at the idea that you can't tell people your opinion without fear of offending them. Especially when it comes to things like health. A lot of smokers I know will tell ME it's bad. It's not like they don't know. And I will stop talking about it if they really get upset. But at the same time, I have little sympathy.

 

[Super Scooter]

I'm not a smoker, and I don't really approve of it, but I always thought it was kind of funny to see a cartoon (or even a Muppet) smoking. Comedy is always about showing man's faults or vices. If you're watching a cartoon character smoking whilst hacking up a lung, that just seems funny to me. The amount of smoke pouring out of King Goshposh's mouth when he talks on Tales of the Tinkerdee is mildly humorous to me.

There is a Looney Tunes episode on the Golden Collection that sort of comments on this similarly. The commentator notes how he couldn't understand why everyone had a problem with the cartoon when it was actually showing the downside of that particular vice (I can't recall if it it was actually smoking).

 

[Drtooth]

There is a Looney Tunes episode on the Golden Collection that sort of comments on this similarly. The commentator notes how he couldn't understand why everyone had a problem with the cartoon when it was actually showing the downside of that particular vice (I can't recall if it it was actually smoking).

Reminds me of the US dub for Ultimate Muscle. There was this one character who in the original version fell on hard times, got depressed and became an alcoholic. Now, I think it would have abeen a strong message if they left that in the English version. I mean, doing things like that to celebrate is pretty much an iffy thing, but if you show someone struggling with addiction, doesn't that show kids a good example of what NOT to do?

 

[CensoredAlso]

I agree it makes sense, if you show a character struggling with addiction, rather than enjoying it, it might send a good message and warning to kids.

I think there's some fear of doing that though. I've heard some stories of kids seeing stories like that on TV and not quite getting the full message. They see the drug or eating disorder or whatever and are intrigued by it, rather than turned off. Though, I imagine that's a rare occurance.

There are so many kids shows over the years that have pushed the envelope and allowed kids to handle difficult subjets. And they've been very successful. Yet every few years the media industry and parents suddnely get amnesia. They forget these shows ever existed and insist kids can't handle these things.

 

[Super Scooter]

Example: Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Eddie Valiant drinks through the whole movie, until that one scene when he realizes what he's doing, and dumps the remainder of his alcohol. I remember thinking about that as a kid. He realized drinking too much can be a bad thing, and stopped, and I understood that as a kid. But a lot of parents got offended by all the drinking in the movie.

 

[Drtooth]

There are so many kids shows over the years that have pushed the envelope and allowed kids to handle difficult subjets. And they've been very successful. Yet every few years the media industry and parents suddnely get amnesia. They forget these shows ever existed and insist kids can't handle these things.

Fat Albert, for example got into very intense subjects. Sometimes they'll do something more routine, like dealing with a new sibling... but sometimes they got into things like pornography, STD's, and drugs.