Was The Premise To 'Diff'rent Strokes' Borderline "Offensive?" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-13-2011, 10:05 PM

"Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?

Marvo301 · 09-13-2011, 10:27 PM

If Mr. Drummond had treated Willis and Arnold differently than he treated his own daughter Kimberly that would have been offensive. But he treated then like they were his own children which to me makes this a heartwarming story not an offensive one.

Retro4Life · 09-13-2011, 11:06 PM

It's not as if the show was asserting that every black child was poor or that all old white men were rich; just the ones featured in that show. The kids weren't portrayed as stereotypes and neither was Mr. Drummond.

Tempest in a teapot, if you ask me.

704Hauser · 09-14-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?

The critics who slammed the racial differences on Diff'rent Strokes back in the late 70s were more than likely your Archie Bunker-types, the type that were shocked back in the 50s when they saw a black lady on Sing Along with Mitch.

Larenz09 · 09-15-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?

I don't find it offensive at all, even though some of the eps' topics were about racism, bullying and pedophilia.

dummytree · 09-20-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?

I don't find it offensive either. It's true, now everything has to be PC...It did offend back in the day.Todd Bridges said they got complaints "from white people, from black people" because they went "across so many barriers and so many lines"

And Conrad Bain even received a letter from the Klan...(and I don't mean the Wu-Tang Clan)

marlins3 · 10-10-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?

No

ThomasE · 01-17-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dummytree

I don't find it offensive either. It's true, now everything has to be PC...It did offend back in the day.Todd Bridges said they got complaints "from white people, from black people" because they went "across so many barriers and so many lines"

And Conrad Bain even received a letter from the Klan...(and I don't mean the Wu-Tang Clan)

Hope he told the Klan to shut their traps...and I don't mean Wu-Tang either...

skel8tor · 01-18-2012, 01:31 AM

I was offended at first. It illustrated something which didnt happen, white humans have been very unkind to black humans, to me it was a farce to have this fake family on tv while in reality things weren't so good.

However, I was wrong, and the show was excellent, and as you know dealt with many worthy issues. in non-offensive ways.

Eventually coming to believe the show would improve race relations.

(did it?)

09-13-2011, 10:05 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	Was The Premise To 'Diff'rent Strokes' Borderline "Offensive?" "Poor black kids move in with rich white family" Is that offensive in any way? Could this show be made today without the PC police complaining? I guess it did offend some critics back in the day, so I ask, is this a borderline offensive show?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-13-2011, 10:27 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	If Mr. Drummond had treated Willis and Arnold differently than he treated his own daughter Kimberly that would have been offensive. But he treated then like they were his own children which to me makes this a heartwarming story not an offensive one.
	__________________ 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

09-13-2011, 11:06 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	It's not as if the show was asserting that every black child was poor or that all old white men were rich; just the ones featured in that show. The kids weren't portrayed as stereotypes and neither was Mr. Drummond. Tempest in a teapot, if you ask me.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

01-18-2012, 01:31 AM	#9
skel8tor Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 16, 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 6	I was offended at first. It illustrated something which didnt happen, white humans have been very unkind to black humans, to me it was a farce to have this fake family on tv while in reality things weren't so good. However, I was wrong, and the show was excellent, and as you know dealt with many worthy issues. in non-offensive ways. Eventually coming to believe the show would improve race relations. (did it?)