Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

    I, for one, am more sick of the "I hate Barney" crowd than the purple
    dinosaur itself! Yes, my elementary school-age child pokes fun at
    Barney with her friends, but where is she when her preschool-age
    brother is watching it? Glued to the set next to him, of course!
    
    I wish people would just let up. I agree that the show can be sappy,
    but it's proven itself to be both entertaining AND educational for
    children. And isn't that the goal of children's television?
    
    If parents, other adults, or any others don't like the show, they
    should keep their mouths shut and walk away. When they don't, it's hard
    to tell the adults from the children!
    
    Just my opinion.
    
    Nancy- 

    I'm not particularly SICK of Barney, just as tired of seeing him
    plastered everywhere I go in the same way I was/am tired of Smurfs, 
    ET, and Yoda.....
    
    To cute to live. :)
    
    Michael

    Re .1 -- I agree.  Small children have found a warm, friendly, caring
    creature who likes them, offers acceptance, and for a few brief
    minutes shelters them from violence and other hazards of our society. 
    And then you have adults ridiculing this friend ...
    
    Now ... just between us adults ... a little Barney goes a long way .....
    
    Carel
    

  As I understand it, it's not so much the adults that are ridiculing Barny,
it's more adolescents and teen-agers. 

  From what I remember, it's really important during those years to be
identified with kids a very few years older than with kids a very few years
younger. It's a really big deal when a 12 year old is associated with 14 or 15
year olds and a real embarrassment when they are associated with 9 and 10 year
olds. Funny how 30 years later when those same people are 42 they won't think
twice about being associated with people who are 39 or 40.

  Since Barny is so obviously aimed at pre-adolescents, I think most of the
Barny bashing is based on adolescents and immature teens who are insecure about
being associated with younger kids. Hating Barny could be a way of showing they
are not attracted to pre-adolescent behavior.

  George

    He just got his Star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame"

    
    Get out...
    
    Jodi-

We encourage our 1�-year-old daughter to watch Sesame Street but we
don't allow her to watch Barney. There are some things about the
program that we find quite objectionable. 

My main problem is that it's mindless. The whole thing seems like it
was designed and created for the sole purpose of entertaining kids and
selling merchandise. It has none of the creativity, imagination, and
wit of Sesame Street. 

I also can't stand Barney's voice. Try turning off the picture and
just listen to the audio. He sounds like one of those sleazy
voice-over announcers. Home shopping club for toddlers.

My wife and I both resent the way Barney is being marketed. If you
walk into Toys'R'Us, it seems like half of what you see has Barney on
it. Sure, you can find plenty of Sesame Street toys as well but it's
much more subtle and it's not forced on you everywhere you turn.

And we object to the idea of replacing song lyrics. Once kids learn
the Barney lyrics, they'll always come ahead of the real lyrics in
their memories.

Barry

    
>And we object to the idea of replacing song lyrics. Once kids learn
>the Barney lyrics, they'll always come ahead of the real lyrics in
>their memories.
    
    	I was listening to "Another One Bites the Dust" and found myself
    	singing the lyrics to "Another One Rides the Bus" before I figured
    	out what I was doing.
    
    	8^)
    							GTI
    

    >>     I was listening to "Another One Bites the Dust" and found myself
    >>     singing the lyrics to "Another One Rides the Bus" before I figured
    >>     out what I was doing.
    
    Yep, I have the same problem with Eat It  - urr umm I mean Beat It

    Have you ever really sat down and watched Barney? Granted, I'm not a fan
    of the show but they teach things like brushing your teeth and cleaning
    up after yourself. My husband objects more to the kid actors then the
    Barney character.
    As to the show being designed and created for entertaining kids what do
    you expect it's a kids show after all. ;*) The merchandising aspect is
    what happens with any popular kids show, you have to expect it. The
    kids want something of their favorite things around. I don't think the 
    creators thought Barney was going to be so popular, but heck, why not
    cash in on some of it's popularity? I'd do it if I could wouldn't you?
     
    	As to comparing it with Sesame Street I agree it's no contest I
    just love the show. I still sing songs that were on when my oldest
    watched the show. Now the 2 year old is hearing them.
    
    Barney's voice is irritating I agree but Baby Bop's really bugs me.
    I remember when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fist became the rage
    they were everywhere. The hubub over Barney will die down. Who knows if
    it will be around in a few years. The manufacturers and stores are just
    doing what they need to do to make money that's why they're in the Toy
    buisness. As for the Sesame Street stuff being there people will look
    for what they want and Sesame Street stuff, I'm sure has been a good
    seller for what 25 years? 

    Sesame Street also replaces song lyrics. Cereal Girl and It's Hip to be
    a Square are to that pop into my mind right now. They also have one
    that's a parody of a ZZ Top song.
    
These are just my opinions.
    Barbara

    Perhaps I have been brainwashed from having seen several Barney's
    dozens of times with my 1� year old, but I actually like it. So much
    that is on TV (including kid's TV) involves violence, sex, and the
    seemy side of human existence. It's nice to have a group of characters
    with whom Emma can identify, who teach learning, cooperation, and love.
    
    I never thought I'd like Barney or let my kid watch it. But babies
    aren't adults, so we can't always inflict our tastes on them. Barney
    does a decent job of reaching kids at their own level, and teaches some
    good lessons in the process.
    
    Have any of you seen Imagination Island, one of the newer Barney tapes?
    Emma loves it, and (saints preserve me!) I find myself enjoying it too!
    There are some very cute and clever jokes in there ("Okay, maybe
    there's just *one* thing to worry about!", "I can't hear you; I'm
    ringing this bell!", "I just need some names for my guest book", etc).
    Proof that a show can be entertaining and wholesome at the same time.
    
    Barney's voice *is* annoying, though, but you get used to it. Baby
    Bop's voice always sounds much more like a little old lady than a
    little girl.
    
    Sesame street is far better, of course; I'm looking forward to getting
    a copy of their Christmas Carol.
    				See you,
    					Jim