Nursery Rhymes....Do Some Promote Abuse??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Plata · 06-23-2002, 02:22 PM

I realized just today that some nursery rhymes had some lines that seemed like they were abusive. Like, in Rock A Bye Baby when the lines go:

When the bow breaks the cradle will fall.
And, down will come baby, cradle and all.

And, also who would put a baby in a tree, just like in the line,
rock a bye baby on the treetop?

What are your opinions???

TJL · 06-23-2002, 03:09 PM

I don't have any kids, so I really can't comment on the proper way to put a baby to sleep, although I'm pretty sure a cradle in a tree is not the best place to do it.

All I know is there's some crazy old woman running around hacking off the tails of sightless mice...

When will this madness end???

Kristina · 06-23-2002, 03:36 PM

Jack be nimble... That is practically telling kids to jump over a lit candle lol.

ks · 06-23-2002, 03:39 PM

Funny stuff.

ks

Kitt · 06-23-2002, 04:06 PM

Hansel and Gretel is about their parents getting rid of them either by killing them or taking them out to the woods and loosing them. Not to mention the hag at the candy house who wanted to bake them in the oven. Many of the original fairy tales are violent and brutal.

Bootsy Whoosh · 06-23-2002, 04:51 PM

I can concede that many fairy tales are violent, but to say they promote abuse takes it a bit too far I think. After all, many of our most belved Saturday morning cartoons are incredibly violent (ahhh, good ol' Looney Tunes).

But the question I would pose is, does it really matter? I think that people often don't give children credit. Many seem to think that children are idiots. I think the average child of average intelligence is aware that if an anvil were dropped on a human's head that they would be harmed. And for the below-average child who may not be aware of this, well, the parents are supposed to watch them.

I did a research paper back in high school that was basically just a literature review of the subject of violence on television, and the researchers found children who were asked to watch Barney and Sesame Street displayed much more violent behavior afterwards than children who watched more violent programs, such as the X-men.

TJL · 06-23-2002, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh
children who were asked to watch Barney and Sesame Street displayed much more violent behavior afterwards than children who watched more violent programs, such as the X-men.

If I grew up watching that purple dinosaur day after day, It would be safe to say my obituary would include the words "shooting spree."

ks · 06-23-2002, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

If I grew up watching that purple dinosaur day after day, It would be safe to say my obituary would include the words "shooting spree."

Honestly! Barney was a frightening show. I'm glad I never watched it as a child. However, when I babysit children and they turn on Barney I can't help but cringe---it's bothersome...

ks

Mossopp · 06-23-2002, 05:42 PM

Ditto to everything that Bootsy said.

hypr56 · 06-23-2002, 06:18 PM

OMG! That is the most stupidest thing I've ever heard! Nursery Rhymes are made for FUN!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

06-23-2002, 02:22 PM	#1
Plata Member Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Regina,Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 1,201	Nursery Rhymes....Do Some Promote Abuse??? I realized just today that some nursery rhymes had some lines that seemed like they were abusive. Like, in Rock A Bye Baby when the lines go: When the bow breaks the cradle will fall. And, down will come baby, cradle and all. And, also who would put a baby in a tree, just like in the line, rock a bye baby on the treetop? What are your opinions???

06-23-2002, 03:09 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I don't have any kids, so I really can't comment on the proper way to put a baby to sleep, although I'm pretty sure a cradle in a tree is not the best place to do it. All I know is there's some crazy old woman running around hacking off the tails of sightless mice... When will this madness end???
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

06-23-2002, 03:39 PM	#4
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Funny stuff. ks
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06-23-2002, 04:51 PM	#6
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	I can concede that many fairy tales are violent, but to say they promote abuse takes it a bit too far I think. After all, many of our most belved Saturday morning cartoons are incredibly violent (ahhh, good ol' Looney Tunes). But the question I would pose is, does it really matter? I think that people often don't give children credit. Many seem to think that children are idiots. I think the average child of average intelligence is aware that if an anvil were dropped on a human's head that they would be harmed. And for the below-average child who may not be aware of this, well, the parents are supposed to watch them. I did a research paper back in high school that was basically just a literature review of the subject of violence on television, and the researchers found children who were asked to watch Barney and Sesame Street displayed much more violent behavior afterwards than children who watched more violent programs, such as the X-men.
	__________________ Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny. - unknown

06-23-2002, 05:42 PM	#9
Mossopp asleep at the wheel Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 30, 2000 Location: Helensburgh, Scotland Posts: 3,726	Ditto to everything that Bootsy said.
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06-23-2002, 03:36 PM	#3
Kristina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 27, 2001 Location: CaLiFoRnIa, UsA Posts: 8,890	Jack be nimble... That is practically telling kids to jump over a lit candle lol.

06-23-2002, 04:06 PM	#5
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	Hansel and Gretel is about their parents getting rid of them either by killing them or taking them out to the woods and loosing them. Not to mention the hag at the candy house who wanted to bake them in the oven. Many of the original fairy tales are violent and brutal.

06-23-2002, 06:18 PM	#10
hypr56 Surfin' USA Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 03, 2002 Location: A house in Queens, NY Posts: 46	OMG! That is the most stupidest thing I've ever heard! Nursery Rhymes are made for FUN!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
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