Debate:Propaganda in childrens' television

I was editing the article on the Wombles a while ago, and it occured to me that the program is in some ways liberal propaganda. I didn't want to sound paranoid so I didn't give much further thought to it, until it occured to me that a lot of childrens' programs seem to be suspicious in that regard. There is the very blatent Captain Planet, for a start. Then while reading the article on starfish here I noticed some have concerns regarding Spongebob Squarepants - though I cannot verify this myself as I refuse to watch such trash. Even the classic Sesame Street has that couple who appear worryingly like cohabiting homosexuals, and it's famous episode on death had a distinct lack of Christian worldview. Perhaps Conservapedia members should investigate for other examples? Parents rarely pay great attention to childrens' entertainment, so it's quite possible we are missing this hidden way in which values counter to our own culture are being slipped under the radar. I'm not suggesting that there is a great conspiricy here (Maybe a tiny one) - only that program producers tend to include their own values in the programs, and most people working in childrens' TV production seem to be leftists and lukewarm christians at best. - NewCrusader

Yes!!!! Ugh! Soon they are gonna talk about how bad and evil war is, I'm allmost about to throw up! --Nabroon 19:18, 16 August 2008 (EDT)

That's probably attributable more to wanting to avoid contriversy. Show realistic war in a childrens' program, and get accused of traumatising them - thus programs are forced to take either the 'world peace' route of having all the characters oppose the war, or the 'toy soldiers' route where there is plenty of fighting, glory and patriotism but it's all really dumbed down and sanitised so much even the enemy doesn't die, and the good guys have a brilliently fun time playing with the guns and saving the country. Could you find some examples for me? NewCrusader 20:08, 2 September 2008 (EDT)

Captain Planet has been off the air for 15 years, Bert and Ernie are NOT gay, and what's your concern with old SpongeBob? As a parent and teacher, I'm more concerned that kids TV are nothing but commercials for toys. CraigC 10:02, 7 September 2008 (EDT)

I still see it on reruns sometimes, but 'niche' is insufficient to describe how rarely. My concern is that we really don't know what is on the TV. Adults do not watch a lot of children's TV, and is the classic programs of yesterday could conceal a liberal bias, can be be sure there isn't one today without actually spending weeks watching children's TV channels? I grew up on the Wombles and later watched Captain Planet every morning. It served as a timer: mid-way through the episode was time to finish breakfast and get ready for school. I still don't know how most of them ended. What are children today growing up on? I don't watch childrens' TV, I really have not the faintest idea what programs today teach, and I expect many parents to have a similar lack of knowledge. This ignorance is a concern. If liberalism could get into TV fifteen years ago, why couldn't it get in today?

Bert and Ernie... while not gay, are still two adult men who live together, which looks very suspicious and at the very least will create the impression that this is a normal arrangement. As for spongebob, no idea - someone else made that accusation on another page, I just repeated it here. I would never watch such rubbish. Also, you are right about them being over-commercial - but that's a completly seperate concern. NewCrusader 13:04, 7 September 2008 (EDT)