ALL the Sesame Street characters can see the Snuffleupagus now? WtF? I always thought the whole point of Snuffleupagus was that he was a figment of Big Bird’s imagination.
So did a bunch of angry parents get together and demand that Snuffleupagus should be real, because otherwise children might learn to be imaginitive and creative, or did everyone on the Street start taking drugs?
I ALWAYS THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW MR SNUFFLEUPAGUS……I DIDNT THINK HE WAS A FIGMENT OF BIGBIRDS IMAGINATION..OR MAYBE I WASNT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT…..
Snuffleupagus
Mr. Snuffleupagus as you know him today is not how he was originally introduced on the show. Back in my day, he was big birds imagination. I believe at some point parents believed only big bird seeing Snuffleupagus would be detrimental to their childrends mental health.
Re: Snuffleupagus
I believe that imaginary friends in children are one of the indicators of sexual abuse or neglect. I guess I should say ‘persistant imaginary friends’. That’s not to say that every kid with an imaginary friend was sexually abused, but you can see how having a prominent children’s tv show character show such an indication of abuse might squick a few pbs directors and executives…
(I was pretty surprised when I realized Sesame Street had changed that, too.)
Re: Snuffleupagus
Funny thing is though, most preschool aged children (at least the ones I know) don’t necessarily concern themselves with the symptoms of sexual abuse, obvious or otherwise. Actually I don’t think The Suffelepugas was imaginary, perse, I always thought he just left before anyone else saw him.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW MR SNUFFLEUPAGUS……I DIDNT THINK HE WAS A FIGMENT OF BIGBIRDS IMAGINATION..OR MAYBE I WASNT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT…..
Snuffleupagus
Mr. Snuffleupagus as you know him today is not how he was originally introduced on the show. Back in my day, he was big birds imagination. I believe at some point parents believed only big bird seeing Snuffleupagus would be detrimental to their childrends mental health.
Re: Snuffleupagus
I believe that imaginary friends in children are one of the indicators of sexual abuse or neglect. I guess I should say ‘persistant imaginary friends’. That’s not to say that every kid with an imaginary friend was sexually abused, but you can see how having a prominent children’s tv show character show such an indication of abuse might squick a few pbs directors and executives…
(I was pretty surprised when I realized Sesame Street had changed that, too.)
Re: Snuffleupagus
Funny thing is though, most preschool aged children (at least the ones I know) don’t necessarily concern themselves with the symptoms of sexual abuse, obvious or otherwise. Actually I don’t think The Suffelepugas was imaginary, perse, I always thought he just left before anyone else saw him.
they changed it because they were worried that it was teaching kids that grown ups won’t believe them when they have something important or strange to tell them.
They thought it might set up a bad precident of kids not being able to talk to their parents.
And, in case you’re wondering, I’m responding to a two year old entry because, weirdly enough, I was looking up pictures of Mr Snuffleupagus to go with my LJ entry about the fact that everyone can now see him. Your post came up in yahoo with a search for Snuffleupagus
Weird. I think they underestimate the ability of kids to tell the difference between reality and fantasy.
But then, I grew up in a world where only Big Bird could see the Snuffleupagus, and there are plenty of things I wouldn’t tell an adult, so it just goes to show you something, I’m sure…
they changed it because they were worried that it was teaching kids that grown ups won’t believe them when they have something important or strange to tell them.
They thought it might set up a bad precident of kids not being able to talk to their parents.
And, in case you’re wondering, I’m responding to a two year old entry because, weirdly enough, I was looking up pictures of Mr Snuffleupagus to go with my LJ entry about the fact that everyone can now see him. Your post came up in yahoo with a search for Snuffleupagus
Weird. I think they underestimate the ability of kids to tell the difference between reality and fantasy.
But then, I grew up in a world where only Big Bird could see the Snuffleupagus, and there are plenty of things I wouldn’t tell an adult, so it just goes to show you something, I’m sure…