Conference moira::parenting

I have to admit until about 3 months ago, I had never heard of Barney, although
we get a US PBS channel in Ottawa (WNPE/WNPI Watertown, NY), and 3 commercial
stations out of Rochester.

The first I knew of Barney were TV ads on commercial TV promoting Barney
products and videos as "The lovable dinosaur your kids have already fallen
in love with". PARDON ???  My kids had never *seen* Barney, let alone fallen
in love with him!!!  So, I was instantly put off by all this hype and all
the marketing ...

I actually saw Barney Live during a PBS fundraiser the other night here in
Colo. Spr. and, while I liked it in a way, even putting up with it being
sooo verrry sugary ... by the end of the hour Barney's chuckle / laugh
had me climbing the wall !

Somehow, I think my 4 year old can PASS on Barney! (I hope!)

Stuart

    I can relate, although I've been spared through much of it. The few
    times I babysat for my sisters 4 and 5 year old, she brought along the
    Barney sing-a-long video cuz she said it'd "keep them quiet". Well,
    little did I know that I would soon turn  into a robot-like specimen with
    glazed eyes, as I had to listen to this video over and over and over
    and over and over again...
    
    ahg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                             

    My son's former daycare used to let the kids watch Barney before nap
    time.  He now sings one of the songs all the time.  Fortunately he's in
    a different daycare now......
    
    marianne

    
    
    Oh come on everybody no one is sick of Barney's #1 song
    "I Love You" - MUCH!
    
    But it does allow me to take a shower or clean in another
    room.  The key is to put in the tape and leave the area
    as soon as possible ;-).
    
    My son likes Barney alot, but Winnie the Pooh is his 
    favorite.   Fortunatly he has been requesting to watch
    Pooh lately - so we are getting a break from Barney.
    
    Jeanne
    

    There was an article a week or two back in TV Guide which kind of
    explained the repulsion that adults have with Barney (and Baby Bop). 
    This show is unique in that it is geared entirely to the kids, unlike
    Sesame Street where they do things to keep the adults watching too. 
    Another thing the article stated was that the kids have to use
    their imagination which is something kids can relate to.
    
    I'm not particularly wild about Barney, but my 2 1/2 year old daughter
    loves the show and I don't really see any harm so she's a fan.  Heck,
    she got my husband to drive back to the store to buy her a Baby Bop a
    few weeks ago!  They went into Caldor's yesterday and apparently they
    have a display of Barney clothes and accessories, I think my husband
    was lucky to get her out without having to buy anything!!!
    
    I imagine the Barney show will probably be better than the Thomas show
    in that Barney can be brought to the stage a lot easier than Thomas.
    
    Jane

My major complaint is that although the shows themselves aren't commercialized,
the ads elsewhere are just too much.  When your kids start asking for Barney
this and Barney that and Barney the other items, you'll quickly discover
what is actually wrong with Barney! :-)

For a kid the shows are fine .. for an adult .... weeeeeelllll ?

But the advertising ugh |
			V

Stuart

    The first time I saw a Barney commercial 
    ("I love you, you love me") I waited patiently
    for the Energizer Bunny to appear. When he
    didn't, I figured it was a promo for Saturday 
    Night Live. You just couldn't convince me that 
    it was for real.
    
    I have never seen Barney, my kids (5 & 7) know 
    nothing about him and have told me they aren't
    interested in finding out. He comes on at 6:30am
    here. Way too early for my sleepyheads.
    
    Jodi-

    Maybe this should go under "True Confessions," but...
    
    ...Paige (age 4) and I both love Barney.  She has enjoyed him (on
    videotape) since before he came to PBS in Boston.  Santa did bring 
    her a stuffed Barney, but I have been oblivous to any massive
    commercialization.  Where are you seeing that?  PBS doesn't advertise
    (unless you count their fund-raising, which I bypass) and I guess we
    just don't bring her shopping that often.   But it is nothing, IMHO,
    compared to the advertising (and hence the pressure from Paige) that I
    experience for, say, Aladdin-related goods.  For a lot less "viewing
    pleasure."
    
    -Tracy
    

Re .0

Steve - that's the best description I have heard to date of Barney!  It
certainly captures my family's reaction to a T.


Re comercialization:

I don't think Barney is any more commericalized than, say, the Sesame Street
chatracters.  It's just that our little tots are SOOOO enamored of him that
they respond to the slightest bit of advertising  with zeal.

Perhaps I'm just jaded from years of exposure to commericalization of 
everything imaginable - but this is one issue I can't get excited about.

- Carol

    
    IMHO - I'll take the sugar over some of the 'BEST' Saturday morning 
    shows.  
    
    My 3 year old daughter is in preschool full time so watches very little
    PBS in the morning (watches no TV at school).  But, when she does get a
    chance (Sunday or Saturday) she watches and enjoyes Barney.  She is 
    bored with Seasame Street.  
    
    She recently request all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shreeder,
    when asked why, the reply was "so they can fight".  Now she has seen
    the Turtles a couple of times but when children at school started
    bringing in the Turtle dolls well, monkey see monkey do.  I prefer she
    mimic sugary sweet rather than mutant fighting!  
    
    From what I saw of Barney this weekend, he taught lessons about saftey
    and strangers...gee I think I'll tape that sugar from now on!
    
    Just MHO,
    
    	Rose Marie 

When I first saw this Barney stuff, I was in Ottawa, where we get PBS out
of Northern NY and commercial American TV out of Rochester.

What got me about the Barney commercialization was that for us the commercials
arrived before ever we saw Barney!!!  And Barney *products* are advertised
on commercial TV.  I don't know if Watertown NY PBS is running Barney even 
today!

Stuart

    The PBS stations that we get (from Boston and from N.H.) are currently
    running fund-raiser drives.  They stop most shows 5-10 minutes early 
    and ask viewers to send money because, they say, they don't get revenue
    from commercials.  But when I see all of the revenue that is generated
    from the sales of Barney-related, Sesame Street-related, etc.
    merchandise, it makes me wonder if PBS shows are really as "poor" as 
    they would like us to believe.  
    
    The other thing that really bothers me is that, during these
    membership drives, they display "thank-you gifts" that they will 
    send you if you pledge money.  My son watches this, seees the Barney
    doll or the Sesame Street blanket or whatever, and asks for them.  
    So, in a way, PBS IS advertising products that your kids will see 
    and ask for.  
    
    Don't get me wrong -- I LOVE PBS, we watch it constantly, and in the
    past when I had more free time (when I wasn't a parent yet) I volunteered
    some time to PBS.  But I just see a different perspective of their 
    fund-raising activities now that I am a parent.  
                                                 

My 3 year old just loves Barney.  In fact, at this time, she would love to
watch him every chance she gets.  From what I've seen, I think it's great for
small children.  It teaches them about imagination, safety, caring about others
and much more.  It might be sugar sweet but that is what 2-5 year olds need.
With all the violence on tv, even in cartoons, it is a blessing to have this for
young kids to watch.  My daughter enjoys it much more than Sesame Street.  

For all you parents that really can't stomach it, I'm told from parents of older
kids that by about age 5 or 6, kids seem to think it corny and stop watching.

Rosemarie

    I am on Barney's side too....I just have to start a song to get 
    Lindsay to grin broadly!  (14 months)  She starts grinning like
    crazy when the Network sign comes or whatever at the beginning 
    of the tape before she knows what's coming....or i guess she 
    knows and LOVES what's coming.....i love to watch her dance and 
    play along enjoying it sooooooo much!  and i will admit that i 
    spent the weekend trying to find a barney stuffed animal for her!

    Yes, Stuart,
    While I was out on maternity leave I spotted it one day on our
    PBS. 
    Its there!
    
    
    Monica Barney (!)

    
    
    When is Barney on in New Hampshire?  My daughter likes it, but I only
    seem to stumple across it every now and then.
    
    
    

    FYI...
    
    I went with my sister to see Barney at the Fitchburg Home show, and
    was disapointed. It was not the real Barney, but the kids are to small
    to know that, so they enjoyed the fake anyway.
    
    Sherry

    
    Another vote for Barney here...
    
    Sure beats Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ANYDAY!
    (IMHO)
    
    
    Chris
    

    I thought the sales of merchandise would benefit the CTW or the
    creators of Barney - surely not the TV station.  I know NBC does not
    get a cut of the profits for Miller Beer.  They do get paid per
    advertisting SPACE.
    
    -sandy
    

    
    I saw Barney in the parking lot of Burger King in Clinton last
    nite on my way home! Wonder if he's a permanent fixture there!
    

My 3 year old niece is inthralled with Barney.....when 
ever you say Barney or Baby Bop......a blissful look
comes over her face.  If you really watch the Barney 
tapes (if you can over look the sticky sweet exterior-
adults hate but kids love) you will find GOOD sound
learnings for children.....sharing, affection, love,
understanding, introduction of kids that are diversified,
lots of songs (Amy can sing ALL the words), cleaning
up after your self, not to wander away from adults,
what to do when lost and afraid, healthy foods, 
how to get along with others..........all the things
parents used to teach (some still do - but many don't
have the time or the skills needed).  I would rather 
see kids interested in this than in other so called
educational shows.  Also, her sister (6) doesn't care 
for Barney but will watch it okay with the 3 year old.
As for the advertising - it comes with everything, why
should childrens advertising be any different from
adult advertising - some of it is good and some of it
is bad (Beer commercials come to mind.....)Not that 
Beer is necessarily bad - but not everyone agrees with
advertising alchol on TV.  Also, 3 years don't tend
to "want" things with characters on them (except maybe
for the stuffed Barney) I think we as parents are more 
the ones to blame for buying these things.....after all
they are CUTE!!!! I love to buy them....and if we 
are all honest they really don't cost any more than
Sesame Street, Disney, Ninja Turtle, Stuff so why not.
This of course is coming from a very indulgent Godmother
and Auntie that doesn't have children of her own so 
some reality may not be exactly in line.
Also, when babysitting recently I had a ball watching
the Barney Tape about camping - we sang and danced and
had a great time - and I'm NOT ashamed to say so!!!!

    
    My youngest two kids love the show (2 yrs and almost 4).  They could
    watch the tapes all day long.  They will sit there and sing and dance
    along with the songs.  The youngest has a stuffed Barney and that is
    what he takes to bed with him instead of a stuffed bear.
    
    Barney is on during the week not sure what time but, he is on Sunday at
    10am channel 2 (in NH).
    
    I for one like Barney much more than Thomas, Mr. Rogers, or Seasame
    Street.  Sorry to say but the fund raisers happen with all the shows
    that are on PBS (channel 2 in NH).  
    
    						Carol

    Whoaa, a storm of controversy! Actually, my wife and I like for Stephen
    to watch Barney. We like all the messages the show teaches, we just
    can't stomach it ourselves. We dance with Stephen and sing the songs and
    have a good time, then leave the room and make dirty jokes about Barney
    and Baby Bop just to prove that we are still mature adults. ;^)

    We survived Barney at the home show, but not without trauma. This was
    clearly not the Barney Stephen knew (looked more like some of the older
    videos from 1988, different shape and shade of purple). He cried at
    first sight of him. "Do you want to see Barney?" "NO!". "Is Barney your
    friend?" "Yes". "Do you want to see him?" "NOOO!". Oh well!

    One of the things that turned me off originally was the kids' acting on
    the show. Some of it seemed awfully forced. Now I don't expect
    Shakespearean soliloquy, but some of these kids looked like the types
    who go to acting lessons Monday, dance lessons Tuesday, piano lessons
    Wednesday, singing lessons Thursday, and sincerity lessons Friday. You
    can just see their mothers herding them around saying "Now smile, honey,
    make sure people can see your dimples so you'll look CUTE!" They
    probably get into fights with each other about who's kid is more
    talented. Ecch! Of course, this is just my cynical adult mind reacting.

    As for advertising, I agree that the hype is a bit much, though probably
    on par with any other merchandising aimed at kids. The baldfaced
    assumption that this is so wonderful and good for you turns me off. Do
    the words sincerity and humility ring a bell? Probably not. I doubt that
    PBS gets much, if anything, of the proceeds from these products. The
    production company is the one who licenses everything and makes the
    money. Hopefully they give something to PBS since PBS is the primary
    venue for their program. One thing that strikes me as subtle with the
    Barney products is that with the marketing aimed at such a young age
    group, they take advantage of the doting parents and relatives who would
    not otherwise buy some of the older kid's toys. Plus, you can reason
    with a 5- or 6-year-old and explain why you don't want to buy something
    for him now. Try that with a 2-year-old! "I want it and I want it NOW!"
    is the motto. And what parent doesn't give in to that at least once in
    a while?

>    We dance with Stephen and sing the songs and
>    have a good time, then leave the room and make dirty jokes about Barney
>    and Baby Bop just to prove that we are still mature adults. ;^)


	8')'s

    
    There have been a few reports that the Barney's that
    are making appearances at local shopping centers etc.
    do not look like the Barney on TV at all.
    
    One incident that happned here in Nashua NH this past
    February.  A local hair salon advertised cheap hair
    cuts for kids and that Barney would be making an appearance.
    At the bottom of the ad there was even the Lyons Group 
    trademark.  This was false advertising.  It was a purple
    dinosaur that had purple glitter hair.  The kids that 
    showed up were disappointed.  Some were crying and wanted
    to know where the real Barney was.  One of the Mother's
    from my son's daycare said it was a disaster.  She will
    never take her daughters again, unless it's something like
    "Barney in Concert" where tickets are sold etc.
    
    Jeanne
    
    

    My almost 2 yr old loves Barney. I must admit I like it too. I
    personally would rather watch Barney than Mr. Rogers. That is one show
    I really don't care for.

    
    Well, here is another vote for Barney.  My 4 year old daughter
    absolutely loves him, but what surprises me the most is that my 14
    month old son, whose attention span is very limited (as with most 14
    month old kids) will sit there and watch Barney over and over and over!
    He really gets into it.  Sings the songs, dances to the music, and just
    generally loves it!  I feel it is great for them to learn about using
    there imagination and about being nice to your friends.  There are alot
    of good things that come out of the shows.
    
    I agree that the commercialization is a bit much, but I would much
    rather have my kids wanting a Barney doll or a t-shirt than Ninja
    turtle battle weapons and all that stuff.  
    
    Jim

    As you've probably already guessed, my 2 1/2 year old twins love Barney
    too.  I enjoy watching such a sweet gentle creature for a change of
    pace, maybe thats what attracts them also?
    
    Lately, poor old Barney has had to take a back seat to the "Baby Songs"
    video.  They literally watch this 4 or 5 times before they will let
    anything distract them.  While the NEXT to the last song on the video
    is being played, they are already telling me that they want to watch it
    again!  If I have to sit through one more rendition of "Piggy Toes", my
    husband will have to peel me off the ceiling :').
    
    

    
    "Babysongs" videos have been my sons favorite since 4 mos!!! They beat 
    out Barney anyday (in his eyes) hes 17 mos now!
    
    I love the series of tapes! they do get boring after awhile, but its
    amazing how entralled the kids get with them. They are a real godsend
    to me when I just get home with Mike. We go to the frig and get some
    "juice" and then go put on a tape for him while I go and unpack the
    bags, start supper etc..  I don't know what I'd do without them!
    
    I'll never forget when he was about 6 mos and would start to fuss, all
    we would have to do is start singing the "walking" song and he'd
    immediatly quiet down.  Needless to say my whole family and his sitters
    soon learned all the words to the songs too!
    
    We're due to buy another one in fact, he wasn't thrilled with the last
    one (BabyRock). Its not set in the same way as the others (not as much
    animation, old rock tunes sung by original artists, etc)...  
    
    BabySongs addicts Mom,
    Chris
    

    This seems to be my week for naive questions, but:
    Tell me about "Babysongs" - what IS "Babysongs?"
    
    Monica                      

Re: .16

Barney is on EVERY morning at 8:30 on Ch. 2 or Ch. 11 (both PBS),
can't remember which one.  It's on after Sesame Street.  He's
also on Sunday mornings, check listings.  I've recorded a full tape
(6 hrs.) of Barney to play when he's not on the regular TV schedule.
The TV shows are identical to the tapes you buy, so save yourself some
money and set up the ol' VCR.

The only problem I have with Barney is that since he comes on after
Sesame Street in the a.m., when Brandon watches Sesame Street from 4-5
in the afternoon, he expects Barney to be on next.  Thank God for the
tapes.  I actually can get supper made without interruption.

Diane

P.S.  Does anyone know if the purple beast is coming to NH at all?

My 22 month old loves Barney and Elmo from Seasame Street. As 
soon as I pick him and his older brother up from the sitter 
all I hear on the way home is "Mom! Barneeey". Thank goodness 
the Providence PBS channel carries Barney on at 5:30pm.  
Both boys enjoy watching it, even though the oldest complains 
about having to watch it.

A friend of mine had Barney show up at his daughter's birthday.
All the kids loved it! My 22 month old wouldn't go near him
but my 5 year old had a great time singing, dancing and having
his picture taken with Barney.

One CD the kids love is the Disney CD for Children with Aids.
Lots of great artist singing wonderful songs. They especially
like Bob Dylan singing "This Old Man" and Little Richard singing
'Itsy Btsy Spider'.

Hi Monica.

   "Babysongs" is a series of video tapes of songs for babies and kids.  The
vidoes are of real kids rather than cartoons, which really drew my nephews
to them.  The songs typically have to do with activities that kids go through
themselves.  They deal with things like giving up diapers, having Mommy always
return when she goes away, taking baths, sharing, etc.  The tunes are very
catchy and hard to get out of your head once you've started singing them!

                                                 Tracy

    We *love* BabyRock !!!!!
    
    My daughter is nearly 3 and watches it quite a bit.  (Nearly every day,
    although Dumbo is her currently favorite video.)
    
    BabyRock has great old rock and roll--wonderful for us older parents.
    "I'm Walking,"  "Locomotion," "You Baby," "Blue Suede Shoes," and
    "Wooly Booly," just to name a few.
    
    The Blue Suede Shoes and Wooly Booly pieces are very clever.  In Blue
    Suede shoes, a clown, a ballerina, a basketball player, a boy, and a
    bride try to buy blue shoes, and the clerk gets them all mixed up.  
    
    In Wooly Booly, a bull comes to life to help kids clean up their room.
    
    Maybe your son will like that one better when he gets a little older.
    
    judy

Here's another vote *against* Barney.

I have two complaints.  First, the merchandising - Sesame Street is
also being sold everywhere, but at least it started out 20 years ago as a
project to demonstrate quality children's programming.  Barney is a
straight-forward for-profit show.  I'm definitely capitalist so I believe they
have every right to offer their product; I don't have to buy.  But I *am*
disturbed at PBS using this for-profit show to try and boost their funding.
During this last bout of fund-raising we called to complain about the indirect
advertising.  But, like I said, we don't have to watch it, and we don't have to
buy the stuff.  (It's on at times we have the TV off, so this isn't a problem in
our house.  It does amaze me how Elise knows all the Barney songs, and she's
only seen the show once.)

My second complaint, which some people have told me is really ridiculous, is the
title song.  It contains the phrase "won't you say you love me too?"  This is
one of my hot buttons - manipulation of little kids who are just learning what
feelings are.  Great! Let's teach them guilt!

(OK, OK, I'm picky. It's been a bad week.)

Pat

    
    
    I read an article somewhere of how Barney came to be.
    The people from the Lyons Group were selling videos
    in department stores.  A station manager from Connecticut
    young children used to watch the tapes at home and loved them.
    He got the idea to put the show on his station.  Soon
    the news travelled and other PBS stations wanted to pick
    the show up also.  It was never the original intention of 
    the Lyons Group to put this program on television.  
    
    Jeanne
    

To give some idea of how ridiculous the Barney craze has become, some group
has started a new church in Ohio ...

	the Church of Barney Dinosuar, Transcendent

moreover, they have taken Barney shows, and superimposed other messages onto
them and broadcast them in their town.  Suffice it to say that they were
forced to stop.

Stuart

    
    In Ottawa, we get "Barney" on the Watertown, N.Y. PBS station. I 
    note that when they are doing their membership campaigns,
    this station  goes to lengths to say "We COULD have sold
    Barney merchandise to boost our memberships, but we chose
    not to ensure that commercialism is kept out of our children's
    programming".  I really appreciate that. Paris is a Barney
    groupie as well (I have another one who gets the glazed look
    when singing along that "I looove youuu"). She also is a 
    Shining Time Station and Sesame Street lover. (There are a couple 
    Canadian shows as well)....Holy smokes! Writing down all this
    has just made me realize how much TV she watches !!!!
    
    Anyway, our CBC (the government owned network) broadcasts 
    commercial free children's programming every morning, so we
    can get lots and lots of kids shows with nary a cereal/barbie/turtle
    appearing in-between.
    
    Candace
    Candace

    There was a cartoon in this week's Boston "Phoenix" showing, basically,
    "Barney Meets Godzilla". I loved it; my sister, mother of a 3-year-old,
    and who has had to listen to Barney more than I have, _really_ loved
    it.
    
    -b

    
    There was a dinosaur float this w/e in the St. Pattricks day parade in
    South Boston that had an imitation Barney also, and I must say it
    looked more like the Barney on TV than the one that is showing up at
    malls, etc.  It was a riot to see how popular the float was (and it
    wasnt very dressy, etc). They were playing "barney tunes" on
    loudspeakers too. When the parade paused near us, you'd never seen so
    many people race their kids up to shake hands etc, and you'd never seen
    so many ADULTS singing along and rocking to the music!!
    (yep, I'm guilty! Couldn't resist the "Boppiddy Bop" song)
    
    Grama got Michael a stuffed Barney instead of a bunny for Easter this
    year. He loves it.
    
    Chris
    
    

    Barney was created by 2 Allen, Texas (city 20 miles North of Dallas)
    school teachers who were off on maternity leave.  They were originally
    going to use a teddy bear as the animal, but one of the teachers kids
    told her that teddy bears were boring and that dinosaurs were 'in', so
    they came up with a non-threatening dinosaur animal.
    
    The show is still filmed in Allen and uses kids from the local schools. 
    A few of the kids from my daughters school have been on the show.
    
    Now, the one thing I don't understand is why the show is distributed by
    a Conn. PBS station rather than a North Texas one?  I guess maybe the
    North Texas ones didn't realize what they had and passed on the deal.
    
    Bob

    >Barney was created by 2 Allen, Texas . . .
    
    My eye saw:
    
    >Barney was created by 2 Aliens
    
    Hah.
    
    L

    I haven't seen him there but I will look tonight.  I live in Clinton.
    
    This is another vote for Barney too.  My 3 1/2 year old loves Barney
    and loves the Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles because "they fight" and
    throw pizza!!!!   I'll take Barney anyday!
    
    Do yourself a favor tho, record all the Barney shows and save yourself
    money for the videos.  The videos are old too!  
    
    My son is also bored with Sesame but I love that too.  They show
    too many repeats tho.  It's time for some new stuff with all that
    money they have just raised!
    
    Those home-recorded videos sure help when it's time to make dinner
    when we get home each day.
    
    Nancy

    
    My 2 1/2 year old LOVES...Barney and Baby Bop. I think they
    are fun too. Sometimes thought it is hard to drag him away
    from the TV. I taped the "Barney Marathon" on PBS a few weeks
    ago, now we can travel with Barney. 
    
    I do however have one complaint. Matthew has never really been
    too attached to anything in particular (he gave up his bottle at 
    10 months, pacifier at 1 year but this week he has started 
    requesting his "blankie". Baby Bop carries around a blanket
    wherever she goes and she is always talking about "her blankie".  
    He really does not care which out of about 5 blankets that we
    have around the house, some are just antique throws that I have
    over a chair but now he seems to want a "blankie".
    
    Help!!!
    
    

    On the positive side, I bought my daughter a Barney bath towel.  Now
    she gets out of the tub on her own and dries herself off without any
    prompting.  Definitely worth the little money it cost.
    
    Laura

re: .44

I'd suggest you read topic 411, "Security Objects".  While the specific 
security object that your son has selected may have been related to his 
exposure to Barney, et al., the fact that he feels he needs a security object 
is very, very, common.  In fact, I'd suggest that you are actually fortunate, 
for a reason that I'll respond to in topic 411.

Clay

    Oh-oh.
    We've not had Barney on at all in our house; the other day Alan
    was carrying Charlotte through the livingroom when the commercial
    for Barney Videos was being aired - she immediately lunged over
    towards the TV waved her arms and started babbling.....
    
    Alan, of course is somewhat unhappy about the popularity of this
    creature - he muttered to himself during the story on Entertainment
    Tonight yesterday about how each generation of Barneys in his family
    has had to suffer by the popularity of some goofy character with
    the name of Barney.
    
    (Just when you thought the Flintstones were dead!) 8-)
    
    oh well.....
    
    Monica
          
    

    Monica,
    
    I hate to tell you this, but my 16-year-old nephew who lives
    in California uses the term "barney" to mean people who are
    hopelessly out of it (like his parents). Maybe this will be
    out of style by the time Charlotte is old enough to hear that
    kind of stuff, or maybe it's local to Santa Barbara ...
    
    Lucy

    I think we'll just have to stay out of Santa Barbara!
    (I have close relatives in Corona, Calobasas and Garden Grove 
    though!) 
    
    Besides, expression-of-the-month is likely to change 
    before Charlotte looks for a word to describe her totally
    out of it parents! ;-)
    
    Monica

    What a corruption ....
    
    Balmy ... to Barmy ... to Barney ???
    
    The English euphemism for someone not all there is to suggest they
    are balmy ...
    
    That was corrupted in Cockney and lazy English to barmy ...
    
    so it's only a short hop to
    
    Barney
    
    What a shame ...
    
    Stuart
    

    >>That was corrupted in Cockney and lazy English to barmy ...
    >>so it's only a short hop to
    >>Barney
    >>What a shame ...
    
    I'll say!
    
    Monica

    This has nothing to do with Barney, but a few earlier replies had
    mentioned the "Baby Songs" tapes.  Now, my son Matthew (2 1/2) has
    never watched much T.V. - we'll have Sesame Street on and once in
    awhile something will catch his attention, but never has he sat 
    down and actually watched anything all the way thru!   That was
    until I got the Baby Songs tapes!!!  I just got them last week and
    to my total amazement he watched the ENTIRE video (loves piggy toes!)
    and then asked to see it again!  What is it about this tape that
    keeps them so entranced?!   Anyway, Matthew loves it!!   The only 
    problem is that now Matthew insists Mommy sing "piggy toes" when we're 
    getting dressed or undressed!    I'm getting a little tired of "piggy
    toes"!!!!   I'm hoping that the "Today I took My Diapers Off" song
    will help him become interested in using his potty!   I'd recommend
    this tape to anyone!   Lila
      

    I saw a clip in the paper the other day that talked about some small
    group (can't remember what) that wanted to do some sort of Barney
    shindig.  The Barney owners in Texas found out about it via the
    shindigs ads.  The Barney owners immediately sent them a certified
    letter 'cease and decist etc' and a FAX or else they would be up to
    their ears in a lawsuit.
    
    I know that copyright infringements are illegal and that LEGALLY the
    Barney owners were right.  The INTENT of the small group was to put
    on a small kids show... maybe non profit.
    
    I was totally turned off by the Barney owners 'selfishness' and swore
    right their I wouldn't contribute a dime to their profits.
    
    Jeff

    Just had to relate that my cousin in North Reading (MA) had their
    daughter's third birthday party over the weekend.  The local Balloon
    Bouquet place sent BARNEY!  He had a bouquet of yellow and purple
    balloons, and one mylar one of barney.  Now this guy didn't just drop
    off the balloons and leave, I mean he must have stayed a good half
    hour!  He broke the bouquet apart, gave each child a balloon, and the
    Barney balloon he tied on the Birthday's girl's wrist.  He interacted
    very well with the kids, posed for pictures, even posed during the
    candle blowing, and even did most of the cake cutting.  (which must
    have been tough considering his furry paws!)  Just before leaving his
    assistant, the man who drove the van, pulled out a cassette player and
    had all the kids gather around in a circle to sing the  Barney theme
    song, he left after giving each child, and ADULT too a big hug!
    
    Great act, especially considering it was an outdoor party in the sun. 
    He must have been awfully hot in the furry suit!
    
    I don't really know the exact name of the place, but I can find out for
    those who are interested.
    
    Lyn

    But did he have that stupid Barney chuckle?
    
    Laura
    who will have 2 hours of Barney on tape after tomorrow's show

    Ilona and I went to a body shop to get an estimate on my station wagon. 
    Outside we spotted:  
    
    A purple car! 
    
    I told Ilona that it was Barney's car.  That it needed to be fixed. 
    
    Cynical Mommy that I am, I told her Barney must've hit a tree!  Luckily
    she is too young to get alarmed about such a notion.   Just a joke
    between me and the estimator.  I relish the picture:
    
    There's Barney cruisin down I93 - maybe he's had a few too many. 
    Turns to chuckle to his companion, and WHAM!  Bye bye Barney-mobile.
    The lesson is:  Don't chuckle and drive at the same time.  Heh heh.
    
    Then!
    
    Loni had to take a closer look at the purple car before we left.  Turns
    out the tire was flat and the side was all rusted.  She looked
    disgusted and left in a hurry.  Her passion for the purple geek is
    undiminished.  I guess his poor driving skills haven't affected her
    feelings for him.
    
    Mom gone wacky,
    Laura

<snicker>

    No silly chuckle....
    
    But has anyone beside me noticed how "fashionable" the green and Purple
    colors are in kid, and grownups clothes this year?  I've even seen
    GROWN MEN in Purple shirts, it seems to be McDonald's "corporate" color
    for shirts!
    
    I actually had to go the the GIRL'S department at Calvert's last week
    to find a sort of gender free shirt in RED WHITE & BLUE!!  I stopped
    just short of WHITE shorts to go with them, I'm not that crazy YET!!
    
    Lyn

    What's wrong with GROWN MEN wearing purple shirts? I was wearing these
    purple shirts years before that obnoxious excuse for a dinosaur was
    even conceived! (insert many :^) here...) Although I will admit, those 
    teal green cars or purple cars are a nice change of pace on the road.
    
    Hey, wait a minute...does that put me on the cutting edge of fashion?
    
    Nahhh....that's too scary a thought even for me.

    I feel like we, as a family, are walking a narrow, perilous path
    among the traps laid by Barney. My older child disdains The Purple One 
    because he (the child) is too old for it. But the younger one would
    fall immediately under Barney's spell if we were to relax our guard
    for even a minute, and then all would be lost. So when I am out
    shopping with the kiddos and see the famous furry mug on a TV display, 
    I quickly call out "Look, a rabid bat has flown into the beach 
    umbrellas!" -- and when a pyramid of plush Barneys looms at the end of 
    the aisle, the stroller develops a flat tire and we must return 
    immediately to the automotive section for a repair. But what to do
    when my daughters' friends all show up at daycare with Barney
    barrettes, Barney bandaids, Barney bodysuits, and Barney bologna in 
    their Barney lunchboxes? EEEK!  
    
    Lucy

Lucy, you'll survive, just like we survived the Smurfs, Rainbow Brite, and 
the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Clay

    Clay,
    
    Arrggh -- don't remind me of the Ninja Turtles...gad, we're still
    trying to get over that one..those big sneering green smirks...
    
    And then there's Barbie yet to come....oh dear, what will I do.
    

    I guess you just had to be at the birthday party...
    
    Outside of three adorable outfits, from two relatives, and the plush
    white bunny in the sailor suit from me, I think every other present was
    a BARNEY something or other.  Towels, toys, clothes you name it.
    
    Oh I'm not completely free of guilt, I was bit by the BARNEY bug while
    standing in the checkout, I bought a BARNEY nightlight and used it on
    the package instead of a bow.
    
    Still crazy!
    Lyn

    I've got it!! Here's what we should all do: amass as much of this
    stuff as possible. Stash it in long-term storage lockers, and bequeath
    it to the children who caused us to buy it all. Then when they reach
    middle age they can open cute little shops, sell the stuff as
    collectibles and enjoy a wealthy old age, thanks to the foresight
    of their doting parents! Whew, I knew there was a solution.
    
    My husband is certain that his Nolan Ryan rookie card* will bring him
    a huge fortune someday...maybe a complete set of Barney melamine will
    finance college in the next century.
     
    Lucy
    
    * send me mail if you're interested

	Thanks,

	You've all convinced me *not* to open that Barney video
	Emily just got as a gift. 

	What grandma doesn't know won't hurt her... :-)

    
    I see that I am still in the minority in this notesfile when it comes
    to Barney. That show is still not seen in our house and I absoluately
    refuse to even consider buying *anything* that has Barney or that
    rediculous Baby Bop on it.
    
    	I'd rather save my money for Sesame Street toys. ;-)
    
    				Wendy

Well, I personally, still dislike Barney.  But in the interest
of fairness, Elise and I watched a whole episode together
the other day.  I see why toddlers like it; lots of music
and singing, and very simple stories.

Actually, the layout of the show reminds me greatly of
pornography. :-)

In pornography, what plot there is exists solely to get the
participants clothes off and into the action.

On Barney, what plot there is exists solely to get the
participants singing and dancing. :-)



Pat

    RE:  .67
    
    > On Barney, what plot there is exists solely to get the
    > participants singing and dancing. :-)

    Not to go down a tangent (well, doing it anyway), but by your analogy
    most Broadway shows are like pornography.  Oh Calcutta fit the bill,
    but Oklahoma??  ;-)
    
    Laura

Wendy,

Add three more to your minority list. Patrick shows absolutely no interest
in the television, much less Barney. In fact when he met the 'real' Barney
in person while we were shopping at Barnes and Noble, he screamed and ran
away.

Chris

    For those who are interested, the Barney character came from the
    Balloon place at Assembly Mall in Somerville.  (remember the party was
    in North Reading, quite a traveling distance).  I didn't ask, but it
    did sound a little pricey.
    
    Lyn

    For all you Barney sufferers...Check out Soapbox note 14.1196...
    
    Cracked me right up!
    
    -/Andrea

    Sorry - I mean 14.1193
    
    

    For thjose of us who don't access SOAPBOX, how about posting a copy
    here?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Freddie

    Personally, I love Barney.  My three year old son is totally infatuated
    with the character and has learned quite a bit by watching the shows
    and the many Barney videos he owns.  I even have a Barney audio
    cassette in my car that we listen/sing to while on long trips.  Keeps
    my son quiet.
    
    Lori 

	Well Parents, I have to tell you , even if you hide your
	child from Barney, he/she will toddle home one day murmuring
	"barney" to all her stuffed animals...

	Emily never watched Barney at home.  She got a Barney video
	in May (1st birthday), which I neglected to show her.

	Grammy, however, thinks Barney's a great idea.  Even has her
	own stuffed Barney to intice the children.  Emily came home
	one day and called her stuffed cow Barney, then her teddy bear,
	then every toy in the house.  She spotted the video one day, and
	proudly announced "Barney", as she began to sing the theme song
	(singing at 15 months amounts to saying the word "I" and holding
	the note ;-)  ).  Dad gave in to the pressure, and shows her the
	video every now and then...

	oh well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em

	"I love you, you love me..."

    The big purple guy will be at a benefit in Hudson MA this Saturday at
    the Hudson Elks Pavilion.
    

Thanks for the warning, Joyce.  ;->


Actually, 3 year old JC, doesn't seem to be interested in Barney
these days.  He's more into GI Joe, The X-Men, Batman (The Animated Series),
Ninja Turtles, etc...  more 'action' type programs.  He *still* really 
enjoys Shining Time Station, though.

Hamp

    Yup, Sarah (17 mos) has surrended to Barney mania, too.  I think it
    started at the babysitter's because we certainly didn't watch it at
    home.  Just one day she started calling everything Barney would run up
    to the tv, pat the screen and call out "Barney".  We have one Barney
    tape that she got as a birthday present, I don't plan on buying any
    more, although, maybe we'll tape some shows.  I think it's the music
    she really likes, she dances to the theme song and all the music, but
    as soon as they stop singing she will play with something until more
    music comes along.  Sarah also has a Barney doll (how could I say no
    when I saw how tenderly she was cuddling him in the store 8^) ) and a
    Barney and Baby Bop (who I can't stand) rain coat, courtesy of
    great-grandma.  
    
    This marketing hype is too much, though.  One day we were stopped at a
    red light, all of a sudden Sarah started screaming, my husband and I
    whipped around in our seats to see what was wrong and we saw Sarah
    pointing out the window at a store window that was plastered
    with Barney paraphenalia.  It's the same at the grocery store, too.
    
    Ok, now I'll 'fess up, Barney isn't all that bad (there are worse
    things for my daughter to like) it's Baby Bop and those kids that I
    can't stand!
    
    Susan

    The first time my husband & I watched Barney with our 2 years old, we 
    looked at each other and said, "this is lame".  Since then I let
    Natasha watch with me on Friday mornings because seeing her so happy
    makes me happy.
    
    About a week ago I was on the portable phone talking and sitting on the 
    floor with Natasha. She then gets up and starts walking around, next
    thing I know she comes up behind me hugs me tight then goes into the 
    Barney theme song, when she got to hug & kiss part.....she gave me the
    best hug & kiss ever.  Her little voice singing so crisply, accurate 
    and sweet could melt butter.  I only wish she hadn't done it while I
    was on the phone.........then I could have really got cooky with
    her...instead I just replay the memory in my mind...and I can't help but
    smile and feel loved my little one.  Life is good!
     

>    The big purple guy will be at a benefit in Hudson MA this Saturday at
>    the Hudson Elks Pavilion.

Hope he has a bodyguard.  There was a little snippet on the news -- don't 
remember where from -- that a fellow wearing a Barney costume (I assume at 
some sort of store opening or benefit) was physically assaulted by some 
teenagers.

Clay

    FWIW:
    
    My kids don't read this notesfile

In the 25th anniversary year of Sesame Street, Barney pales in comparison on
all fronts.  Somehow I don't mind buying Sesame Street items when I know that
the copyright belongs to the Children's Television Workshop.  Who owns the
copyright on Barney stuff, and why haven't they put money back into the show
to improve it's quality?

michael

    FWIW add me to the Barney-Haters (purple, not Monica!).  On general
    Lameness-Avoidance principles, but specifically because I hate to see a
    perfectly wonderful childhood tune plagiarized into purple pap.  (How
    did they get away with that?  It must be in the public domain....)
    
    Hey, I'll even listen to "This is the Song that Never Ends"  |-P 
    before I'll put up with Barney!
    
    Leslie

I think I read somewhere that JC Penney owns all the marketing 
rights to Barney. Wait, my sister is a marketing director for a mall in 
VT. I think she may have mentioned it.

daryll

    
    	I think the song is funny (but then you kinda expected me to say
    that right? ;-))
    
    	Two years and we are still Barney free (we are also relatively Lamb
    chop free as well) Two weeks ago, we finally make the leap and
    disconnected our cable. TV watching is not as attractive when the
    reception is not as good. (of course that means that lately we've been
    watching "Dots" (101 Dalmatians) over and over and over......
    
				Wendy
    

Wendy, we've been cable-less for over a year now.  It's great!  We've been
stocking up in videos for us and the kids with the saved money.

We still get Barney on PBS however....

Dave

    We've minimize Charlotte's exposure to a t-shirt that Alan's 
    parents sent us for her first birthday (sort of a family joke;
    no one else has DARED send us Barney stuff 8-) )
    and I bought a little rubber figurine for her when we were in
    California last week, since she seemed to be interested in him when
    we were in a toy store (it was either that or the huge $50 stuffed
    bear. I think I made the right choice 8-) ).
    After gathering my purchases and paying with my credit card the woman
    at the cash laughed at my name and I gave the line about having 
    to explain to Charlotte when she got older that the Dinosaur was NOT
    a member of the family. 
    She replied "I don't know, I'd like to claim I'm family with someone
    THAT rich!"
    
    She has a point!
    
    Monica, 
    (who, incidentally, loves purple......)

Sorry folks. But these "new variations" of the song must be making
the rounds. We were at a cookout this summer when the 2nd-3rd graders
started singing to the preschoolers. We stopped them before they
went past the first verse. Maybe the previous posting is further
into the song...

	I hate you
	You hate me
	Let's tie Barney to a tree

You may not like it, but the kids are hearing it. Better that you
know than not.

						Mark

    A couple of weeks ago the Wall Street Journal, of all places, had an
    editorial column about Barney. The gist of the column was that the
    author didn't like Barney because the messages of the show
    were only presented at the child's level, unlike Sesame Street, for
    example, where there is both an adult's level and a child's level to the
    messages and humor in the show.  Anyway, the author speculated about
    a new Barney product of the future, Barney condoms.  The slogan for
    these condoms would be "I love you, You love me, But we're not ready
    for a family..."  Sounds like a winner of a product to me.

    Marc

	Are there more than 3 Barney episodes in existance ?  Anytime
	I've seen a glimpse of it, it's one of 3 (I've seen 'em all ! ;-)  )

    There were 13 (?) original episodes made.
    New episodes being airing next week, on Monday I believe.
    
    	Linda

   This is a little bit of a digression, but when has that stopped me... 
   
   You know that Barney has hit the big time when Letterman plays part of
   Barney's "I Love You" song on his show (last night) ....   :-)
   
   fwiw,
   
   - Tom

    
    Here's another vote for
    
    "Kinda lame, but much better than most of the TV fare that's "kid
    appropriate". "
    
    I like the song (Yes, I'll admit it) and I think it's great there's
    something that was designed with the kid in mind (SS can be fairly
    cynical, sometimes)
    
    Obviously, mileage varies :-)
    JAmd
    @>-;--

   For all those households where Barney has taken residence... the new
   season started yesterday... so now you don't have to be subjected to
   the same episodes we've all been watching forever...  they have some
   new kids, some of the props are newer, Baby Bop is shorter, the
   "veteran" kids are older (yes, Michael's voice *is* changing!!)...
   
   So... get a new blank tape, and fire up those VCRs to record the new
   shows... :-)
   
   fwiw,
   
   - Tom

    
    
    	oh God, no.
    
    			Wendy

You guys, I have *great* news!!!  Our TV broke!  I'm
so happy!  Elise is having some withdrawal, as is her
father, but I think this is wonderful!

However, this may cause the Marriage Fight of the
Decade.  I see this as an opportunity to stop this
budding TV addiction Elise seems to be getting.
My husband, however, sees this as "the Opportunity
To Buy a Big-Screen TV".

I am holding the trump card - on Sunday mornings,
Barney is usually on when my husband stumbles down
looking for coffee.  This is an enormous shock to
his system - he nearly swoons :-).  I will merely
ask him to imagine a *Large-Screen Barney* (in
stereo, perhaps?) first thing on Sunday morning... 

Pat

    
    BARNEY was on Saturday Night Live last week.  He played
    Charles Barkley in a little game of one on one.  (Barney replaced
    Godzilla who couldn't make it.)  Barney came out all bruised and
    battered by Charles but at the end they were buddies and were
    singing...
     	"I love You....."
    
    It was funny.

    	Oh Pat, what wonderful news!

    	(about the broken TV and subsequent withdrawal that is, not so good
    to hear about the possibility of a large screen TV, I know, that would
    be a disaster in our house ;-)).

    				Wendy

Heard on the news this morning that a 4-year-old girl in Toledo, Ohio got
up through the night to use the potty, and smelled smoke.  Evidently, she's
a big Barney fan and remembered that Barney says if you smell smoke, you should
go get your Mommy or Daddy, so that's what she did.  She (and Barney) are 
being creditted with saving the entire family's lives as the house was on fire
and I guess it could have been a real tragedy.  So I guess the kids are 
learning some good lessons from Barney!

Barney should tell the parents to make sure they have working smoke alarms.

    
    I can smell smoke from burning toast long before my working fire alarms
    detonate.
    
    Most parents don't watch Barney.
    

I have to tell ya that I LOVE Barney.  I have two 16 month old boys -- very
busy.  When I come home from work, after picking them up from the babysitter,
I have a number of chores to get done.  

Barney comes on at 6:30pm here.  We arrive home around 6:15.  We get settled.
I provide them with a snack (a graham cracker or grapes) and we turn on
Barney.  I have a good 15 minutes to start dinner, change clothes, toss in a 
load of clothes (and go to the bathroom).  

I then come back to the den with them and we sing the songs together.  I know
them all!  

I love Barney because "he" provides me with just that much space to get some
essentials accomplished.

    
    re a few back.. Barney  and the smoke alarms.
    
    I would MUCH rather have a CONSTANT diet of Barney than "Beavis and
    Butthead", or nearly any sitcom on the tube these days.
    
    Jamd

    Jamd,
    
    	BRAVO!  I said those exact words to my husband
    	just last night!
    
    		Linda  

    I second that Jamd!
    
    Monica

DOESN'T mean I support Beavis and Butthead (which I have never seen by the way).
I guess I'd just like to see more of that marketing money making it back into
the production.  I'll take a steady diet of books over both!

Michael

>    I would MUCH rather have a CONSTANT diet of Barney than "Beavis and
>    Butthead", or nearly any sitcom on the tube these days.

Is television mandatory?

	-Neil

No, but if it 'is', cable isn't.

Dave

    I love Barney, and would happily watch the entire show with Andy.
    
    Still, I fully agree with .112, who says:
    
    >> I guess I'd just like to see more of that marketing money making it
    >> back into the production.  
    
    Although I have to admit to having purchased
    
    	o  One Baby Bop (Andy can take or leave Barney, but loves Baby Bop)
    	o  Two video tapes
    	o  one music cassette
    
    It still bothers me to hear "Barney was brought to you by xyz, and the
    help of viewers like you".  I don't understand why viewers like me have
    to subsidize getting Barney on the air, when it provides so much free
    advertisement for a "for profit" marketing company.
    
    I'd much rather hear "Barney was brought to you by xyz, and all that
    money you've spent on stuffed animals, dishes, towels, bedding, tapes, 
    backpacks, stickers..."
    
    Am I understanding this relationship wrong?  Does much of that money
    for all the Barney merchandise we buy actually go back to PBS?

Barney is not owned by PBS, just broadcast there.  The owner of the copyright
gets the money and has the sole right to keep what they want, or put money 
back into the production....from it's quality it looks to me that they are 
laughing all the way to the bank (nice thing to teach are kids eh).  It seems
that the only money put into the show is on the Children's Litchfield dentists.

michael

>    It still bothers me to hear "Barney was brought to you by xyz, and the
>    help of viewers like you".  I don't understand why viewers like me have
>    to subsidize getting Barney on the air, when it provides so much free
>    advertisement for a "for profit" marketing company.

As for the merchandise, I think .116 has it right.

I believe that PBS uses a statement like the one above when a part of the 
cost of production is provided by xyz, and the rest of the cost of production 
is provided by viewer contributions -- hence the "viewers like you".  It's an 
inaccurate statement, since many viewers of PBS don't contribute, and since a 
lot of (in fact my guess is most of) the contributions come from people who 
never watch Barney.  I imagine, though, that there are some donations that 
are specifically earmarked for "Barney".

Clay

Ok....someone just informed me that Barney's birthday is today.  Is that
true?  Can someone please confirm?

Hamp

how much do we love Barney......


the figures are in....to the tune of $200 million dollars in merchandizing last
year!.....still think they should at least spend a couple of bucks for some 
new songs.

source WBZ's Dave Maynard who featured the president of the I hate Barney 
secret society.

michael

    And some new shows.  I think I havwe seen all of them two or three
    times.
    
    Meg

Barney's show at Radio City music hall was all sold out today.  People who
were still in line paid up to $300 for the normally priced $30 tickets.

pull the PBS plug.....this show should be on regular TV where it can be
merchandised better ;-)


/michael

    I am looking at finding a Barney to come to my 3rd daughters birthday
    party.  We live in Littleton MA.  Any suggestions on where to call.
    
    Thanks
    Dawn
    Buodev::miller

    Is this too late, please read my reply earlier in this string...
    
    In synopsis, my cousin's wife hired a Barney who worked out of a
    Baloonery in the Assembly Square Mall in Somerville.  I don't have a
    specific store name, but I figure you could call the Mall office.  They 
    came in a van from somerville to North Reading, a good distance, gave
    the birthday girl baloons, helped her cut her "barney" cake, stopped
    and posed for pictures for anyone who requested, and at the end his
    assistant (the van driver) pulled out a casette player and everyone
    gathered around in a circle and sang the "barney theme",  I guess I'm a
    softy at heart and even got some enjoyment out of it!
    
    Lyn

   This is just a head's up for folks who like to watch the evening
   news...
   
   Someone in a Barney outfit got punched by a college kid recently in
   the Worcester area.  I know it was on the front page of Sunday paper
   in Worcester (MA) yesterday.  Anyway, my wife called me to warn me
   that Channel 7 is using this story in some of their promo spots
   advertising the evening news.  
   
   So... it looks like at least one of the Boston stations is planning on
   making this one of their "top stories" for today's evening news.  If
   you have kids like mine who are big fans of Barney, you may want to
   consider *not* putting on the evening news tonight... I know that my
   kids would *not* take it well if they heard a news report talking
   about someone who punched Barney and knocked him over.
   
   Peace,
   
   - Tom

re: .124

In today's Boston Globe, there is a discussion of the incident and of the 
fact that Barney seems to evoke strong negative feelings in some people.  I 
wonder whether it's something unique to Barney, or whether it's a sign of the 
times.  

    I think it's unique (to Barney) in that a big deal has been made in here for
    example of how strong emotions are felt towards him - some positive and
    some negative.
    
    -sandy
     

       (Barney) was one of the characters at the Centrum Sunday and my
    4 year old grandson said to me . "Meme, look it's my Barney, I love
    him so much.!" We went over and he shook the characters hand. We
    were walking away and he said "Can I go hug my Barney.?" So I let
    him. He loves the Barney character.
          
       
       Rose Marchand

    WHY do people hate Barney so much?  I actually like him, my
    daughter loves him and I think his songs etc. are cute...
    
    

I suspect that most of the complaints are stated in previous replies.  The 
most commonly mentioned ones in the Globe article are the overmerchandising 
and the saccharine image.  But that still doesn't fully explain it to me; the 
Smurfs were merchandised just as heavily and Rainbow Brite was even more 
sickeningly sweet.  American culture has a peculiar way of turning on people 
and things with "sweet" images; if you have such an image, you must be 
*perfect*.  Nancy Kerrigan is a human example; she was highly exposed, 
she was commercialized, and could do no wrong until she showed a bit of 
impatience and perceived bad sportsmanship, and now she gets booed at Red Sox 
games.  So if the volume of exposure and commercialization of Barney indicate 
a flaw in the image, some folks have turned rather strongly on Barney.

I also think that a part of it is that other shows, like Sesame Street for 
example, were aimed at different levels.  *I* enjoyed watching Sesame Street 
sometimes.  I laughed at different things, and for different reasons than my 
kids, but I laughed nonetheless.  Barney, on the other hand, seems to be 
aimed purely at toddlers.

Clay

    Samantha gets Sesame Street magazine every month.  They also send a
    parents magazine every month to go along with it.  There was an article
    in one of the previous months issues that said Sesame Street was aimed
    at parents as well as children.  Thats why they have the celbrities
    (sp) and some hidden comments that parents find funny.  The reason was
    that they say children learn better from the show by watching it with
    and adult...FWIW - I thought that was interesting.
    
    I guess I *kinda* understand why people are so negative towards Barney.
    I just think it's silly.  I grew up singing all those kids songs on
    roadtrips with my parents - maybe that's why I like the show.  Besides
    the fact that Barney gives me those few extra minutes to get supper
    ready just about every night :*)

                BARNEY: AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD

From: "Barney, 'The Purple Messiah,'" by Dr. Joseph R. Chambers, a
      "sermon booklet" published last December by Paw Creek Minis-
      tries, in Charlotte, North Carolina.  This excerpt was prin-
      ted in the March 1994 issue of _Harper's_.

Barney is much more than just a fun creature of kids' imaginations.  He
is a politically correct teacher of everything on the liberal left's agen-
da, from New Age evolution to radical ecology.  To many children, Barney
has become a guru of sorts.  He constantly teaches transcendental thought
and mystical ideas.  Nothing comes through Barney's teachings more clearly
than the New Age idea of using our minds to create miracles.  No one should
deny that positive or negative thinking can tremendously affect our lives.
But such powers are clearly physical and end with the normal experiences
we enjoy.  *God alone is supernatural.*

The idea of a seance is at the forefront of almost every Barney program.
On one show, about Mother Goose rhymes, Mother Goose talks to the children
from one of her books.  Led by Barney, the children commune with Mother
Goose and conduct a seance to bring her to them.  As they sing and dance
their little ditty, she - poof! - appears in their presence.  The Bible
calls that necromancy and says that a person who participates in such be-
havior is an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).  This kind
of occult activity fills the Barney material.  *Conjuring someone up is
certainly not kid's play!*

The book, *Just Imagine with Barney*, is also completely immersed in New
Age messages.  It starts with a little girl named Lori, who is crying be-
cause her family plans to move to another city.  She hugs her toy Barney,
her "very best friend," and says, "'I don't want to move.'"  Then the giant
Barney appears amid "sparkling stardust and dancing magical colors" and
says, "'You loved me so much that your love made me real!'"  Then he leads
Lori into a world where your imagination creates whatever you desire.  Bar-
ney tells Lori, "'Sometimes I imagine that I can fly like a bird and..Zoom!
Up I go!  Now, you try it.'"  Lori closes her eyes and imagines that she
can fly, too.  Then Barney says the magic words, "'Shimbaree, Shimbarah!
Shimbaree, Shimbarah!'" and, "*Zoom!* Lori flew up into the air right next
to Barney."

Lori is told that she can do whatever she wants with her imagination.  This
is exactly what is being taught through New Age techniques known as "cen-
tering," "quieting reflexes," and "guided imagery."  These programs have
been labeled by sensible psychologists and psychiatrists as dangerous and
misleading.  Guided imagery has been rejected by almost every school dis-
trict in America due to protests by parents.

At the end of *Just Imagine*, Lori and Barney fly back to Lori's house.
Barney disappears so that her parents won't find out about him.  Lori is
all bubbles and happiness.  *Clearly, Barney has replaced her parents as
the source of her peace of mind and stability.*  This book is one of the
most subtle attacks on the family that I have ever witnessed.  It certainly
leaves no room for the Lord Jesus Christ to be a child's best friend.

In another book, *Barney's Magical Picnic*, Barney multiplies food much
like Jesus.  Instead of fish and loaves of bread, Barney uses a peanut-
butter sandwich; with imaginations, stars, and rainbows, the sandwich be-
comes "magically big enough for everyone."

*Barney's Campfire Sing-A-Long* is a video in which Barney and the Back-
yard Gang go on a camping trip.  Tina gets separated from the group, but
she remembers that Barney told them to hug a tree if they got lost and to
blow their whistles.  When Tina hugs the tree, the gang suddenly hears her
and returns to save her.  You often see bumper stickers that read, "Have
you hugged a tree today?"  This is the work of the most radical ecologist
New Agers in this nation.  They believe that "God is all and all is God;"
it is raw occultism and the antithesis of the Holy Scripture.

When you mix captivating entertainment, catchy songs, and emotionally
satisfying music with a message that glorifies the creator of it all,
you have the makings of a cult.  Barney has become the leader of a chil-
dren's cult.  When Barney appears, the children joyously proclaim, "When
he leads the way, everything is A-OK!"  As a society, we have become more
and more fascinated with wild fantasy and less and less disciplined about
responsibility.  We are on a mindless trip created by our unbridled imagi-
nations.  Barney is an excellent gauge of where we are headed.

       .131
    
        I don't watch or listen to Barney, I just know that my grandson
    loves him. The only thing I see is this purple thing. I think I may
    watch it a few times to see it for myself. I used to watch Sesame
    street all the time when my kids were younger. I don't watch any
    of that stuff now. I think I'll start watching it so's I can better
    understand this.
    
       Rose

I'm not sure that watching the show will help you better understand 
that person's views, Rose.  :-)

     Carol

   Re: .131
   
   Wow.  I'll have to print that one out to read it a little better...
   
   This guy really must hate Smurfs, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, My Little
   Ponys, and a myriad of other animated children's shows if he has that
   much negative stuff to write about Barney.
   
   - Tom

re: .134

not to mention what he thinks of Santa Claus, or trick-or-treating.

>These programs have
>been labeled by sensible psychologists and psychiatrists as dangerous and
>misleading.  Guided imagery has been rejected by almost every school dis-
>trict in America due to protests by parents.

Whatever you think of the sermon as a whole, statements like this are worth 
paying attention to.  His defintion of "sensible" may not be the same as 
yours, and the parents he refers to may very well be a very vocal minority.
There is a very, very, thin and difficult to define line between protection  
and censorship, between teaching values and teaching intolerance, between 
rejecting educational theories and methodologies that are harmful and those 
that are merely unorthodox.

Clay

    Carol,
    
    all of a sudden Barney is a lot more appealing.  Goodness, I never knew
    he was such a radical.  ;-)
    
    meg

I found that one of the local Atlanta FM stations carries a 15 minute show 
'Bedtime with Barney'.  It's on at 7:25 p.m. Sundays on WPCH (94.9 FM).

Samantha (3 yrs) and I listened to it last night.  Not too bad, just a short 
story and not too much Barney......

Dave

    On WSSH, from Boston (99.5), at 7:30pm on Sunday is also "Bedtime with
    Barney"
    
    

    Any suggestions on stores with lots of Barney stuff in the Nashua,NH area. 
    It's a gift for someone who hates Barney.  I saw a poster at Paperama,
    but would like something smaller, maybe a balloon or nightlite or small
    stuffed barney...
    
    thanks,
    
    sandy

They've GOT to have some of that stuff at Toys 'R' Us...