I like Sesame Street. When there is NOTHING on I watch it. Elmo is my favorite...but now Sesame Street is destroyed JUST like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

BY BRINING A CHARACTER WITH AIDS TO THE SHOW!

I think PBS is going too far.

This is a kids show. Kids shouldn't be hearing about AIDS. They should hear about AIDS only when there is a kid in their class with AIDS. I think it's just not appopriate for Kids shows.

The whole Idea just sickens me.

Wow, I hadnt heard about this....
I dont think its appropriate for a show like Sesame Street that young (VERY young typically) children are exposed to.
I first learned about AIDS in the second grade when a student in the class below mine had HIV (its believed he got it from a blood transfusion when he was younger) Our guidence counselor came to class and read a story about a child w/ AIDS and then explained what the disease was. Children should be taught about it from a parent, doctor, or teacher...NOT television.
Many children are confused when they first hear about it because they think they can catch AIDS like a cold. What happens when a four year old sees it on Sesame Street and is from then on afraid of getting it too?
Whats this world coming to...
Thats all just my opinion.

~cara~

Whoa Rainman.... you might wanna cut that siggy down a little before TJ sees it ;)

Anywho, I can't imagine a 3 year old understanding AIDS...? I mean, one way of catching AIDS is through unprotected sex. Try explaining that to a pre-schooler

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever
Whoa Rainman.... you might wanna cut that siggy down a little before TJ sees it ;)

Anywho, I can't imagine a 3 year old understanding AIDS...? I mean, one way of catching AIDS is through unprotected sex. Try explaining that to a pre-schooler

And un-clean drug needles and it's associated with homosexuality in general... I'm sure kids are really gonna understand that.

Originally posted by tootieismyfav
And un-clean drug needles and it's associated with homosexuality in general... I'm sure kids are really gonna understand that.

Yeah I know. If my mother tried to explain that to me, I'd just be sitting there like "Uh.....right".

I was under the understanding such a character would only air over in Africa where aids is a very big issues for so many people.
I think some of the children over there in Africa who have either been exposed to such circustances or have aids themself will be able to relate to the situation. I kinda think it's a cool idea...








ks

Yeah, I heard about this. I'd have to actually see how they showed and explained the character with AIDS to give a really accurate opinion, but I think it's a good idea. Young kids have to know that life is not all fun and games, so it's a good idea to expose these kinds of things to children as long as it's done APPROPRIATELY. The character with AIDS hasn't shown up, yet, right? No one has seen him/her? I think we should actually view it first before we start putting it down.

Originally posted by Montana Ponine
Yeah, I heard about this. I'd have to actually see how they showed and explained the character with AIDS to give a really accurate opinion, but I think it's a good idea. Young kids have to know that life is not all fun and games, so it's a good idea to expose these kinds of things to children as long as it's done APPROPRIATELY. The character with AIDS hasn't shown up, yet, right? No one has seen him/her? I think we should actually view it first before we start putting it down.

Dittowise

I think its a good idea too. Maybe if younger kids see a character that is different on a tv show, they won't act so ignorant in real life. I hope this doesn't make me sound like I'm a bitch or anything, but you know how kids act. If they see someone different, they come up with that whole 'cooties' bit. It's pure torture for a kid if they get picked on. JMO.....

Originally posted by Jenny
I think its a good idea too. Maybe if younger kids see a character that is different on a tv show, they won't act so ignorant in real life. I hope this doesn't make me sound like I'm a bitch or anything, but you know how kids act. If they see someone different, they come up with that whole 'cooties' bit. It's pure torture for a kid if they get picked on. JMO.....

Exactly. That's a really good point.

Originally posted by Jenny
I think its a good idea too. Maybe if younger kids see a character that is different on a tv show, they won't act so ignorant in real life. I hope this doesn't make me sound like I'm a bitch or anything, but you know how kids act. If they see someone different, they come up with that whole 'cooties' bit. It's pure torture for a kid if they get picked on. JMO.....

that may be, but, why make kids grow up any faster than they have to?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I think it's a good idea....maybe for ten year olds...but, this is seasame street...why teach three year olds about things they don't need to knwo about yet if there isn't someone they know infected with the disease...Kids have to grow up too fast anyway. There are a lot of things that I have learned already that I wish I hadn't...

also...not to be a "bitch" or anything...but, even if kids do get picked on...they survive...I only say that cause I'm still picked on, because I'm different, and have been picked on since pre-school...but, if they have to learn about differences can't they learn about some other difference and work their way up to the big stuff?Can't we let kids be kids for a while?:confused:

Originally posted by Charlotte Rae Fan




also...not to be a "bitch" or anything...but, even if kids do get picked on...they survive...I only say that cause I'm still picked on, because I'm different, and have been picked on since pre-school...but, if they have to learn about differences can't they learn about some other difference and work their way up to the big stuff?Can't we let kids be kids for a while?:confused:

I don't think you are a bitch for putting out your opinion. Some people just handle being picked on in a different way. I remember a case awhile back when a little boy killed himself because kids were picking on him about his size. That's a cruel way for anybody to go, but for a little boy to feel that way- it just makes it even more cruel.

Or other kids may let it roll off on the outside, but in the inside really hate themselves because of their differences. They may have to have years of therapy in order to get over it.

I do respect your opinion though.

Okay everybody, HOLD ON!!

There is a lot of false information floatin' around in the upper posts of this topic...

I am a huuuuuuuuuuge Muppet fan (that's Janice from "The Muppet Show" in my avatar, my fave), and at Muppet Central's message board (www.muppetcentral.com) there has been a RABID debate over this.

Now, let's look closer here:


1. This is ONLY happenin' in South Africa right now---there are no plans to do the same in the U.S. at this point.

2. In South Africa, 40% of the women are infected with HIV---yes, women. HIV is not "just a gay thing", it affects people all over. And in a country like South Africa, that's even truer than here in the U.S.

3. The female Muppet character will NOT have AIDS---it will be HIV positive. There is a difference.


RainMan, I know you wanted to bring up this topic, just please make sure you have the facts right before you post things, especially in such a sensitive issue.

Well I agree with the people who said we should see it before we condemn it.

Personally, I can see both sides of the issue, as far as children in the U.S. are concerned. I can see the argument that children should learn that people with HIV shouldn't be feared, and they're NOT all "dirty" as some posters here would have our children believe. But I can also understand the argument of not being forced to grow up too fast. However, I think that Sesame Street has proven itself to be a wonderful children's program, and if there is ANY television show that I would trust to handle this subject matter in a sensitive and intelligent way, it would be Sesame Street.

Now as for the children in South Africa, I really can't comment because I don't know much about children in South Africa. However, I do know that AIDS is well beyond the crisis level in sub-Saharan Africa, and if a muppet is going to help those poor children understand why many of the people they know are different and dying, or worse, why they are different, then I think that's a good thing.

Rainman. What is up with your poll? No, but I wish I did? If that's supposed to be funny, it's not.

Originally posted by Ricky Ricardo
Rainman. What is up with your poll? No, but I wish I did? If that's supposed to be funny, it's not.

I was gonna say something about that poll too, but I was so taken aback by its utter bad taste, that frankly, I was at a loss for words.

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh


I was gonna say something about that poll too, but I was so taken aback by its utter bad taste, that frankly, I was at a loss for words.

I was surprised that no one said anything before I did. But I see what you mean.

The puppet with AIDS is only gonna be in the African version. The American version doesn't plan on bringing in the AIDS puppet at this time.

<< Sesame Street Is Soooooo Dirty! They Are Bringing An Aids Puppet 2 The Show! Unclean! >>

...dirty? What's SO dirty about education? Unfortunately, AIDS is a reality!

I would say that the idea is a little rediculous...but what's 'dirty' is that most kids have no clue when it comes to AIDS!

pontoon :cool:

Originally posted by Will and Grace Fanatic
The puppet with AIDS is only gonna be in the African version. The American version doesn't plan on bringing in the AIDS puppet at this time.

It won't have AIDS, it will have HIV...

Originally posted by Ricky Ricardo
Rainman. What is up with your poll? No, but I wish I did? If that's supposed to be funny, it's not.

I didn't even see the poll the first time I posted, but the second time I posted I saw it. It is kind of an odd poll, but I kept my mouth shut too.

For South Africa, it is understandable that Sesame Street is introducing an HIV-infected character. I don't think the U.S. needs one of those characters, at least not yet.

POLL:
Rainman is tacky?
Rainman is ignorant?
Rainman has bad taste?

Right on to Chris for bringing up the lousy poll.

HIV is at epidemic proportions in South Africa. That, not Muppets, is something to be outraged about. I doubt that I or any of us really has a clue as to how much suffering is going on because of that, and who knows how much worse it could get? If education could help slow it down, or help little kids feel less frightened, then that would be good.

Originally posted by kittflynn
HIV is at epidemic proportions in South Africa. That, not Muppets, is something to be outraged about. I doubt that I or any of us really has a clue as to how much suffering is going on because of that, and who knows how much worse it could get? If education could help slow it down, or help little kids feel less frightened, then that would be good.

Yea. In my opinion, I think it's a good idea to learn about a disease and what it's effects are. Just to be prepared for what might happen.

i could go both ways on whether this is right or wrong. some of these kids' parents never tell them about sex or hiv or puberty for that matter (that's the way my parents were) so i had to learn everything after it had already happened. and it was confusing, stressful and you didn't know what to do. so this way they'll be exposed at an early age and they'll know about it if they're ever in a potential situation.

but.....there're four year old kids watching that show and that's too young of an audience. 8 and up is okay, but not preschoolers.

Originally posted by kittflynn
POLL:
Rainman is tacky?
Rainman is ignorant?
Rainman has bad taste?

.

can i had in a "d" option of "all of the above"?

Originally posted by JoJoJoJoJoJoJoJoJo


can i add in a "d" option of "all of the above"? Yes but for the sake of fairplay let me rephrase it first.

Rainman's POLL is:
Tacky
Written ignorantly
In bad taste
All of the above

Originally posted by InspectorExstead
i could go both ways on whether this is right or wrong. some of these kids' parents never tell them about sex or hiv or puberty for that matter (that's the way my parents were) so i had to learn everything after it had already happened. and it was confusing, stressful and you didn't know what to do.

I can relate to that, my dad thought he could handle the whole puberty/sex/dating/etc... thing with a couple of library books. Needless to say, it didnt work too well and I was very disallusioned for awhile.

Anyways....
Now that its been cleared up that this is the African version, I'd say that it is a good idea. Most children over there already know someone with HIV (or have it themselves) I'd still be interested in seeing how they handle it bearing in mind that Sesame Street has a VERY young audience.


~cara~