Are Aunt Patty, Aunt Selma and Krusty the Clown Encouraging Young People to Smoke? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-01-2009, 09:55 PM

KRUSTY the Clown might have a pacemaker, and Selma and Patty raspy voices, but that doesn't mean children will be repelled by the cigarettes hanging out of their mouths on The Simpsons.

A study of the US cartoon - rated one of the most popular TV shows in history - has raised concern that a high incidence of smoking among the characters might encourage young viewers to pick up the habit.

Researchers Dr Guy Eslick, an international fellow of the International Union Against Cancer, and Marielle Eslick, analysed 400 episodes of the first 18 seasons of the show.

They found a whopping 795 instances of smoking or references to smoking.

More than half involved male characters, a fifth female characters, and about 16 per cent non-gender characters such as animals.

Smoking was mostly portrayed in a neutral way, but in 35 per cent of cases it had negative connotations and 2 per cent of the time it was shown to be positive.

The research found that although Laramie cigarettes have been out of production in the US since the 1950s, the brand is widely used on cigarette packets in the series.

Laramie's corporate mascot, "Menthol Moose" - a parody of Joe Camel, the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes - also sponsors a children's beauty pageant and appears in Springfield parades.

While the researchers acknowledged the move may have been intended as satirical, they said that even when smoking is portrayed in a negative way, it can still influence young people's behaviour.

"Previous studies have highlighted the influence of on-screen use of tobacco by movie stars on adolescents, and the increased likelihood of these adolescents taking up smoking," the researchers write in the Medical Journal of Australia.

"Moreover, other research has found that very young children (aged 3-6 years) see, understand and remember cigarette advertising, and the use of cartoon characters like Joe Camel by RJR Nabisco has been reported to be more effective in marketing cigarettes to children than to adults."

The researchers concluded that "just being exposed to The Simpsons characters smoking in so many episodes may prompt children to consider smoking at an early age".

The study was published as the Cancer Council Australia yesterday urged the Federal Government to increase the size of graphic warnings on tobacco products.

The call was made on World No Tobacco Day.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entert...708383091.html

Marvo301 · 06-01-2009, 10:02 PM

Hey I grew up watching Popeye and I don't eat spinach!!

catlover79 · 06-01-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Hey I grew up watching Popeye and I don't eat spinach!!

Chocoholic · 06-05-2009, 03:18 PM

:LOL:

My question is, where are the parents and why aren't they talking to their kids about the dangers of smoking?

catlover79 · 06-05-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

:LOL:

My question is, where are the parents and why aren't they talking to their kids about the dangers of smoking?

BINGO!!

Marvo301 · 06-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

:LOL:

My question is, where are the parents and why aren't they talking to their kids about the dangers of smoking?

Well said Kristen!

06-01-2009, 09:55 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Are Aunt Patty, Aunt Selma and Krusty the Clown Encouraging Young People to Smoke? KRUSTY the Clown might have a pacemaker, and Selma and Patty raspy voices, but that doesn't mean children will be repelled by the cigarettes hanging out of their mouths on The Simpsons. A study of the US cartoon - rated one of the most popular TV shows in history - has raised concern that a high incidence of smoking among the characters might encourage young viewers to pick up the habit. Researchers Dr Guy Eslick, an international fellow of the International Union Against Cancer, and Marielle Eslick, analysed 400 episodes of the first 18 seasons of the show. They found a whopping 795 instances of smoking or references to smoking. More than half involved male characters, a fifth female characters, and about 16 per cent non-gender characters such as animals. Smoking was mostly portrayed in a neutral way, but in 35 per cent of cases it had negative connotations and 2 per cent of the time it was shown to be positive. The research found that although Laramie cigarettes have been out of production in the US since the 1950s, the brand is widely used on cigarette packets in the series. Laramie's corporate mascot, "Menthol Moose" - a parody of Joe Camel, the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes - also sponsors a children's beauty pageant and appears in Springfield parades. While the researchers acknowledged the move may have been intended as satirical, they said that even when smoking is portrayed in a negative way, it can still influence young people's behaviour. "Previous studies have highlighted the influence of on-screen use of tobacco by movie stars on adolescents, and the increased likelihood of these adolescents taking up smoking," the researchers write in the Medical Journal of Australia. "Moreover, other research has found that very young children (aged 3-6 years) see, understand and remember cigarette advertising, and the use of cartoon characters like Joe Camel by RJR Nabisco has been reported to be more effective in marketing cigarettes to children than to adults." The researchers concluded that "just being exposed to The Simpsons characters smoking in so many episodes may prompt children to consider smoking at an early age". The study was published as the Cancer Council Australia yesterday urged the Federal Government to increase the size of graphic warnings on tobacco products. The call was made on World No Tobacco Day. http://www.theage.com.au/news/entert...708383091.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-01-2009, 10:02 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,465	Hey I grew up watching Popeye and I don't eat spinach!!
	__________________ 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

06-05-2009, 03:18 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	:LOL: My question is, where are the parents and why aren't they talking to their kids about the dangers of smoking?