Too Much Cruelty in Peanuts Cartoon Specials - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howilu · 02-20-2009, 11:46 AM

Last weekend, I saw Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and a few days ago on youtube.com I came across portions of It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown. All of them followed the trend of the specials, past and present and show a lot of childhood cruelty, especially from Lucy and the girls toward Charlie Brown. I used to watch those specials when I was younger, but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

Zoneboy · 02-20-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Last weekend, I saw Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and a few days ago on youtube.com I came across portions of It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown. All of them followed the trend of the specials, past and present and show a lot of childhood cruelty, especially from Lucy and the girls toward Charlie Brown. I used to watch those specials when I was younger, but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

Please tell me you're not serious, They're cartoons for crying out loud. What good is a Peanut's special if Lucy doesn't pick on Charlie Brown or yank the football away when he tries to kick it? It's no different than the road runner smashing Wile E. Coyote with an anvil when he tries to catch him. The so-called violence was what made cartoons worth watching and it's a shame to think that the same ones that I enjoyed as a kid can't be looked upon the same way today without someone complaining. In the immortal words of Charlie Brown...... GOOD GRIEF!

Chocoholic · 02-20-2009, 12:12 PM

We let the kids watch the Halloween special in the classroom as a treat for Halloween. I never realized exactly how nasty Lucy and the other girls were. It actually led to an impromptu discussion on bullying after. The kids enjoyed it, but certainly felt sorry for Charlie Brown and Linus.

I've been a fan of Snoopy ever since I was a child and plan to allow my own children (when I have them) to watch the specials. I think it can teach them valuable lessons about not giving up and treating others with respect.

MrCleveland · 02-20-2009, 01:33 PM

I sometimes feel like Charlie Brown, always getting rocks.

No wonder Charlie Brown is bald...he pulled all his hair out!

Chocoholic · 02-20-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

No wonder Charlie Brown is bald...he pulled all his hair out!

TripperFan · 02-20-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Last weekend, I saw Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and a few days ago on youtube.com I came across portions of It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown. All of them followed the trend of the specials, past and present and show a lot of childhood cruelty, especially from Lucy and the girls toward Charlie Brown. I used to watch those specials when I was younger, but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

That is actually the whole POINT of Charlie Brown cartoons! You never saw that as a child either? That's why I could relate to Charlie Brown - because we all I think get bullied a bit at some point or other. It was to teach kids that bullying to some degree is a part of life and despite that, you go on being yourself and true to yourself and are a good person (you're a Good Man Charlie Brown).

If you ever read anything on Charles Schultz (Charlie's creator) you'll see how prevelant it was to Charles in his childhood and that's why he created the character.

If you want to see outright cruelty in cartoons, just watch Tom & Jerry sometime!

Marvo301 · 02-20-2009, 06:23 PM

I certainly related to Charlie Brown as a kid. I dealt with a few bullies and was less than successful in my attempts to play sports. Charlie Brown helped me deal with those issues and survive childhood. That is why I chose to honor Charlie (and his creator Charles Schultz) by making him my avatar.

TripperFan · 02-20-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I certainly related to Charlie Brown as a kid. I dealt with a few bullies and was less than successful in my attempts to play sports. Charlie Brown helped me deal with those issues and survive childhood. That is why I chose to honor Charlie (and his creator Charles Schultz) by making him my avatar.

Yep - I'll always love the Peanuts Gang. Every kid you can think of was represented there - including Pigpen!

Always loved Charles Schultz too and found it sad when I heard he suffered from bi-polar depression his whole life. He seemed like such a lovely man.

Funny how in life I've found, that the kids we thought were nerds or wusses in middle school and got picked on are usually the ones that end up successful as adults. The ones who were "cool" in school so often end up being losers in adulthood. Their best years are being them by that time.

I loved drawing the characters too. They were great for kids because they're not that hard to draw. Snoopy was on every notebook I had! lol

Mr. Television · 02-20-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I certainly related to Charlie Brown as a kid. I dealt with a few bullies and was less than successful in my attempts to play sports. Charlie Brown helped me deal with those issues and survive childhood. That is why I chose to honor Charlie (and his creator Charles Schultz) by making him my avatar.

That's very true. I think alot of us kids could always relate to him. I used to have peanut records and toys. I used to wait every year for their Holiday specials to come on. I never thought of Charlie Brown as being bullied. Despite what Lucy did sometimes, most of the characters on that show were friends. The world is too pc nowadays. People look for things to be offended by. Good Grief indeed.

TJL · 02-20-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Last weekend, I saw Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and a few days ago on youtube.com I came across portions of It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown. All of them followed the trend of the specials, past and present and show a lot of childhood cruelty, especially from Lucy and the girls toward Charlie Brown. I used to watch those specials when I was younger, but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

I agree with you about the Valentine episode. Not one person would give Charlie a Valentine?
The episode is flawed because Marci and Peppermint Patty, who both like Charlie Brown, are in his class, but they didn't give him one either?

Not cool.

Schmoopie · 10-05-2009, 01:51 PM

Wow I never thought of Peanuts having too much cruelty. I did notice one part of "Snoopy Come Home" last night in which Linus and Snoopy were fighting over Linus' blanket. It got pretty "rough" but it's NOTHING like the stuff on TV today. If you watch "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" that is an excellent example of how; yes, Charlie Brown was always down on himself and the others were always calling him a blockhead and so forth. He makes it all the way to the finals in the spelling bee contest, loses and feels like he let everyone down. But when he arrives, he realizes that everyone still likes him. I think that's a great lesson for everyone! Besides if no one really liked him, then why do they hang around him all the time?

comedyfreak · 10-07-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

No I don't, that is so silly.

DYNAMIC D · 10-12-2009, 09:05 AM

The line was crossed in the First Kiss cartoon, in which...
1. Even in a REAL football game, Lucy STILL pulls the ball away from Charlie Brown!
2. Peppermint Patty, who's just as ruthless as Lucy, turns a blind eye from Lucy's prank and lays the blame on Charlie Brown

And the coup de gras...
3. At the postgame dance, an incredible display of direct scapegoatism is shown. Just when we think Lucy couldn't be any more obnoxious that she already is, she has the incredible cheek to berate Charlie Brown for HER misdeed!

Charles Schulz received plenty of negative reaction from viewers and responded by making significant edits in the scene in which Lucy is rightfully blamed for the team loss.

KurtfromPitts · 11-07-2009, 01:48 PM

If I were Charlie, I would use those rocks to throw at Lucy.

MickeyMac · 11-07-2009, 04:37 PM

Cruelty are you kidding me

The Charlie Brown cartoons were good clean enjoyable fun, and were good quality (something you wont see in crap like the Simpsons and South Park).

How can anyone not enjoy the Peanuts???

02-20-2009, 11:46 AM	#1
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,961	Too Much Cruelty in Peanuts Cartoon Specials Last weekend, I saw Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and a few days ago on youtube.com I came across portions of It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown. All of them followed the trend of the specials, past and present and show a lot of childhood cruelty, especially from Lucy and the girls toward Charlie Brown. I used to watch those specials when I was younger, but now as i have got older, I have grown to dislike them because i feel the amount of childhood cruelty is way too much. Anyone else think so?

02-20-2009, 01:33 PM	#4
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,224	I sometimes feel like Charlie Brown, always getting rocks. No wonder Charlie Brown is bald...he pulled all his hair out!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

02-20-2009, 06:23 PM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	I certainly related to Charlie Brown as a kid. I dealt with a few bullies and was less than successful in my attempts to play sports. Charlie Brown helped me deal with those issues and survive childhood. That is why I chose to honor Charlie (and his creator Charles Schultz) by making him my avatar.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-05-2009, 01:51 PM	#11
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Wow I never thought of Peanuts having too much cruelty. I did notice one part of "Snoopy Come Home" last night in which Linus and Snoopy were fighting over Linus' blanket. It got pretty "rough" but it's NOTHING like the stuff on TV today. If you watch "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" that is an excellent example of how; yes, Charlie Brown was always down on himself and the others were always calling him a blockhead and so forth. He makes it all the way to the finals in the spelling bee contest, loses and feels like he let everyone down. But when he arrives, he realizes that everyone still likes him. I think that's a great lesson for everyone! Besides if no one really liked him, then why do they hang around him all the time?
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

02-20-2009, 12:12 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	We let the kids watch the Halloween special in the classroom as a treat for Halloween. I never realized exactly how nasty Lucy and the other girls were. It actually led to an impromptu discussion on bullying after. The kids enjoyed it, but certainly felt sorry for Charlie Brown and Linus. I've been a fan of Snoopy ever since I was a child and plan to allow my own children (when I have them) to watch the specials. I think it can teach them valuable lessons about not giving up and treating others with respect.

10-12-2009, 09:05 AM	#13
DYNAMIC D Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 139	The line was crossed in the First Kiss cartoon, in which... 1. Even in a REAL football game, Lucy STILL pulls the ball away from Charlie Brown! 2. Peppermint Patty, who's just as ruthless as Lucy, turns a blind eye from Lucy's prank and lays the blame on Charlie Brown And the coup de gras... 3. At the postgame dance, an incredible display of direct scapegoatism is shown. Just when we think Lucy couldn't be any more obnoxious that she already is, she has the incredible cheek to berate Charlie Brown for HER misdeed! Charles Schulz received plenty of negative reaction from viewers and responded by making significant edits in the scene in which Lucy is rightfully blamed for the team loss.

11-07-2009, 01:48 PM	#14
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,534	If I were Charlie, I would use those rocks to throw at Lucy.

11-07-2009, 04:37 PM	#15
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Cruelty are you kidding me The Charlie Brown cartoons were good clean enjoyable fun, and were good quality (something you wont see in crap like the Simpsons and South Park). How can anyone not enjoy the Peanuts???