Who can hate Barney?

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: Now I know some people are not fond of Barney, but there was a dad in the children's section at Barnes & Noble yesterday yelling at his child "Barney is NOT allowed in MY house"..."Is it your house? NO! It's MY house! And I don't allow Barney in MY house!"...and then he went on to say "Who's in charge? You're not in charge! She's not in charge! I'M in charge!"

I didn't see the kid's reaction, but of course could hear the dad loud and clear. I'm just wondering, would any of you actually have the guts to go over and say "Ummm, my child happens to like Barney and you're frightening my child"? Or would you just keep you mouth shut? I didn't say anything, but I was very sad for his kid and I am so thankful that Wil doesn't yet understand what he was saying. Wil loves Barney!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I would never tell anyone how to raise their child, but I found it very inappropriate to yell in the store and I was hoping at least a B&N employee would ask him to keep it down. What do you think? Just curious...No biggie or out of line?

1lilpeanut2love replied: I am sorry to say, but the guy seemed like a lunatic. What the heck is wrong with him!! LOL. I happen to like Barney and so does Kaylee. It is the only show she will really watch.

I don't think I would have the guts to speak up to that man. I hate when I am in public and I see a parent being so darn mean and yelling at their kid(s). It makes me want to say something so bad, but I usually don't have the courage.

That poor kid!!

I saw a kid at the store recently who had dropped a milkshake and the parent was yelling and slapping the kid. It broke my heart. I hate seeing that kind of stuff.

jcc64 replied: Fwiw, I have secret fantasies of Barney being disemboweled by a pack of rabid wolves, but I try to keep that on the down low when there are small children around.....

Momof3inMe replied: Emily loves Barney!! She likes that the songs we sing at story time are often on Barney also. I have older children who hear bad things about Barney and I have had to speak up to them and tell them to stop.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Alex loves Barney!!
I don't mind him, he sings some great songs!! My fave is the If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops!!
Teaches kids in a fun way and thats all that matters!

Some people!!

luvbug00 replied: ****Fwiw, I have secret fantasies of Barney being disemboweled by a pack of rabid wolves, but I try to keep that on the down low when there are small children around****


HAAAAAA!!!! I totally agree> I don't let Mya watch barney because of my opinion on the show itself. But I have always steared her away by saying " let's go look at __ instead" Never would raise my voice about a childrens video. The man's a looney.
poor kid and poor Wil

mckayleesmom replied: I have to admit....I tried to shield the kids from Barney for a long time. Mckaylee didn't discover him till about 6 months ago....THANKS TO MY MOM. But honestly....compared to alot of the other shoes they have now...Barney doesn't get on my nerves as much....especially that Calliou that needs a good spanking.

The reason he use to grade on my nerves is because the kids I use to babysit would watch him over and over and over and over and over again...ANNOYING.

MamaJAM replied: Well -- we actually have a "No Barney Allowed" rule in our house. But I would never yell about it in a store like that. If my kids would ever ask for something Barney while in a store - I would just tell them no....if they persisted I'd tell them we'd talk later and move them away from the display. There are several things our kids aren't allowed to do/have that they encounter when we're out...sometimes they ask for it -- a simple "no" is all I've ever had to do (they are used to a simple answer).
I definately think that guy was out of line by being so loud. If he doesn't want Barney in his house - that's cool (I totally understand that feeling)....but yelling when other kids are around is just not right.

MamaJAM replied:
Me too! I've lived through more than my share of Barney junk. DD#1 was into him when he was new on TV (early 90s) and they hardly had any episodes but it was on all day long. None of my other kids have been allowed to watch even a second of a Barney show....I will not go through that again.

Jamison'smama replied: For those that don't allow Barney, is it just annoying or are there other issues with the show? I guess I can't figure out what else it could be.

ETA. I don't mean to stear this off topic...that guy sounds like a nut. I don't like Bratz but wouldn't go that far to stear Jamison away from them. Sounds like dad just wanted to prove he was more powerful.

coasterqueen replied: We didn't allow Barney in our house until recently. Dh and I, both just don't like him, but Kylie has watched it on occasion lately and we've not cared about it. I won't purposely bring Megan up on the show though.

luvbug00 replied: I'm going to word this as best that i can I appologize if any of this comes out wrong. I'm not articulate at all!


Mya is not allowed to watch barney because there is no reality in it. No kids in real situations it's all based arround a back yard at a school. And a fake dino who's songs get on my last nerve.. anyway They have tried to incorperate real situations like new babies or the kids being angry but they are soo unbelievable. for example; joey is mad becuase cindy took his toys they end up busting out in song and all problems solved.. At least in sesame street they face their problems and talk threw things. that's another thing the language is so limited on barney. Oh and the songs...

BTW I lothe bratz too . way too boy crazy for my taste..

Edward's Mommy replied: I personally HATE Barney. And I don't allow Edward to watch anything but Dragon Tales and Read Between the Lions. On occasion, I'll let him watch Seaseme (sp) Street, but very rarely. I don't like Barney because I think it's mezmerizing to children (I've seen what it did to my cousins) and I don't think that's heathly. Nothing should get your attention like that!

ETA: I do think the father went a little over board with it. There's no reason he couldn't just sit his child down and talk to him/her about it instead of going mad about it!

ediep replied: Jason still likes Barney, I'm not a huge fan, but he likes it so I'll let him watch it if he wants.

Thats crazy about the dad at B&N, what a loser!

C&K*s Mommie replied: Thanks for that explanation, Nadia. I never really understood the disdain of Barney from the beginning years ago, until now.

The man was out of line by shouting that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and can share them wherever they please as long as it does not incite riots, etc. But I think he was out of line, children do not know the difference, they may be happy to have Barney as a 'friend' and older children may have felt belittled by his comments. No, I would not have approached him, personally. But a B&N employee or manager could have had a word with him, letting him know to keep his voice to a minimum.

Jamison'smama replied: Thanks for the explanation. I still wonder what children's show or any show for that matter is truely based in reality. The idea of Barney is about imagination. I think he is pretty annoying myself but the Wiggles are right up there too.

kimberley replied: what a jerk!

i admit, i am not found of that purple singing dinosaur but i would never say those things to a child. my goodness, it's only common sense!

i don't know that i would say anything to the man, cuz it is not my business but i would give him a dirty look.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
That's the perfect way to handle things IMO...this is what we do. There's no sense in causing a scene.

My2Beauties replied: While I find Barney, Dora, Wiggles, Teletubbies, and basically every kids show out there annoying myself I wouldn't have liked to have heard anyone say stuff like that out loud at any place. Especially a bookstore, IMO those are meant to be quiet as people are there reading and stuff. It's not a place to raise your voice. I will let Hanna watch all of these shows especially Dora and Sesame Street and stuff because they are educational but they get on my ever lasting nerve

luvmykids replied: My biggest issue is not with Barney, although he gets on my nerves, but the way that father put his child down for having a certain like that didn't agree with his. Now if it comes to an issue of morality or something thats one thing but we try to "allow" our kids to have their own likes/dislikes separate from ours and at the very worst "steer" them in another direction. What humiliation that kid must endure over peeing in his pants or spilling a glass of water!

luvbug00 replied: true that this poor kid must have been terrified and embaressed and hurt by his dads outburst.

I do think sesame street is more then dancing puppets and stuff they teach things, letters, numbers, they talk about real issues and face them head on..( I'm such a promoter for this show..) Dora teaches also,they learn the spanish language, problem solving skills , repeitive learning and tests memory. Between the lions teaches how to read, spelling and stuff. I have seen plenty of childrens programs that teach more then barney in it's whole 10 year run..

gr33n3y3z replied:
I couldnt agree more lol

ashtonsmama replied: I can understand not being FOND of Barney, but YELLING at your child in a public store about hating Barney?!?



Crazy guy-jeez. I can't believe someone would actually yell at their child for liking Barney...heck, I don't even have a child who's old enough to watch TV yet, and I probably won't pick Barney as my first choice, but I'd never yell at Ashton in a store about it...

That's overboard. I agree.
I probably would have been to chicken to go talk to the dad about it, I probably would have tried to move away or something while he was yelling about him...but that's just me, I'm a little wimpy. But I probably would LIKE to say something about it!

ilovemybaby replied: Sounds like one of those... you know the type that is all big and macho and doesn't want his son or daughter watching things like Barney or the Carebears. UGH Unless it has guns or violence or something macho in it then they don't like it.

How inappropriate though to yell in a store in front of other kids. And he shouldn't be yelling at his child either.

ilovemybaby replied: I don't have a problem with Barney. I've watched a few episodes... make that many, when I worked at the daycare centre. They would put it on every day in the afternoon before the kids got ready to go home.
I don't see what's wrong with it... it's not going to harm them. Imagination is good. Important IMO
I would let Abby watch it. I won't let her watch anything that incorporates violence or guns. Like eg. Digimon, Pokemon, Transformers, TMNT (even though I watched it when I was a kid), etc....

I am into the 70s cartoons like My Little Pony, The Carebears, Fraggle Rock and Strawberry Shortcake and I'm hoping that Abby will like those too. She already loves The Carebears and Strawberry Shortcake.

Brias3 replied: Oh, totally inappropriate in my opinion! And what's more is that I would never think to argue with my kids about something like that. He sounded ridiculous I bet! Granted, I can't stand Barney, in fact I can't stand quite a few characterse/toys/books my kids might have but I'd never think to "ban" them from the kids or our house! Some people just don't have the "parent" gene I guess

MamaJAM replied:
We don't allow Barney -- partly because we've been down that road and I just can't handle having to watch even 5 seconds of that annoying voice and songs anyore. As I mentioned in a previous reply -- DD#1 was a Barney-nut as a toddler. This was back when Barney was new and there were 10-15 episodes to watch and he was on 2-5 times per day....I got so sick of those shows (and had them all memorized). Top that off with the fact that my mother went over-board and bought DD everything Barney that the stores sold (DD's bedroom was an explosion of purple and green). I just can not handle anything related to Barney (honestly - I can't even match outfits that are green and purple).
But -- just because we don't allow Barney in our home is no reason to act like that father did out in public. If any of my kids were to ask for a Barney thing while we were out -- I'd just quietly tell them no...I would NEVER yell like the father in the OP.


As far as other things....there are many things we do not allow in our home -- all for various reasons. We don't allow Bratz or Barbie...no Elmo, etc. Again - if one of my kids asked for a Bratz doll - I would start yelling about the 'evils' of Bratz or how horrible I think they are -- I'd say a simple "no" and we'd continue walking. Just because I don't like Bratz doesn't mean the kid in the next isle shouldn't be allowed to like them. kwim? Along the same lines - I wouldn't want to hear some father or mother yelling at their kid about how horrible SpongeBob is - since that is something we allow our kids to watch/enjoy.
We do, obviously, stear our kids away from things we don't like. I will NEVER buy my child a Bratz doll.....and I will not allow my kids to keep a Bratz doll if one is given to them (we either exchange it or throw it away...I won't 'regift' anything I won't allow my own kids to have). Again...I don't make a scene about it....and when my one DD was given a Bratz toy - she was grscious and thanked her friend...then we exchanged it.

does that make sense?

MomToJade&Jordan replied:


I too have had visions of this, but I wouldn't make a scene in public about it. Jade doesn't watch Barney really so it's never been an issue. That father is looney.

MyLuvBugs replied: Oh wow! I'm a hater of Barney and Elmo and ....well, there's some others too. But, if Lorelei wanted a book or a toy with one of those characters, I would NEVER make a scene like that. I might say "Are you sure that's the one you want?".......then buy it, and once the toy got annoying take the batteries out, but if it's what the kid wants and likes, then that's what matters.

MommyToAshley replied: I never really understood the dislike for Barney. It's a fun way for kids to learn... and it teacher more than the ABC's. I really like that they focus on things like sharing, using your manners, and it emphasized that using your imagination is ok. Ashley loved the show, although I think she is out-growing it now.

But, even if I disliked Barney, I would never treat my child like that. That poor child.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
I agree that its about imagination. It also teaches about manners, colors, sharing, numbers... and other useful things in life like that.

The only shows I dont let my DS watch is older kid shows like Sponge Bob and many others that are on in the afternoon.

But to each their own I guess...I respect everyones opinions

MommyToAshley replied:
Same here... we don't watch Sponge Bob either. And, it is so funny... when Sponge Bob comes on, Ashley will hide her eyes and say "hurry, change the channel, Sponge Bob is on!"

jcc64 replied: What's the objection to Sponge Bob? Just curious....

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Well, my DS is only 2, I don't think SpongeBob Square Pants is really appropriate for his age.

My2Beauties replied: I was wondering the same thing about Spongebob - he's harmless. I let Hanna watch him all the time, she goes crazy over Spongebob!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I guess for me SpongeBob is annoying just like others think Barney is annoying

Momof3inMe replied: I have older boys and I dont mind if they watch spong bob but I dont like Em to watch it. I feel that there are better shows she could be watching. If the boys are watching it and she is around then I let her do her own thing, but if she is the only one home then I dont put it on for her.

luvbug00 replied: I'm not etting the spongebob hating?? can somone explain?? the show is supposed to be stuiped and comical. Mya loves it too. I never thought of it as educational at all. I'd love to hear others opinions on this.

redchief replied: I'm definitely not a fan of Barney. I just think he's one of those microcosms of political correctness that's being jammed down our throats today. That being said, I'm not a fan of parents who have bigger tantrums than their children either.

MommyToAshley replied:
We were surfing the channels one day, and Sponge Bob came on. So... we watched it for a few minutes. Ashley was around 2 yrs old, I guess. I didn't care for his whining and attitude, but the thing that really turned me off to the show was in the first few minutes that we watched the show Ashley learned the word "stupid" and "shut up" (or more like shudd up") That may not be a big deal for most people, but right then I decided the show wasn't for our household. I also think it's not age appropriate and I'd rather Ashley watch Sesame Street, Dora or Barney. Just a personal preference and difference of opinion, I suppose.

I have to admit I haven't watched it since to see if it's changed. But, the Sponge Bob that came out at Christmas that split his pants tells me that it hasn't changed.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
Nicely Said, Thank You!!
Exactly why we dont watch it at our house!

Momof3inMe replied:

luvbug00 replied: we have the spongbob spliting his pants doll

umm anyway I understand why he has lack of appeal. Thanks for sharring your views

ilovemybaby replied: I'm glad I found out that they have words like stupid and shuddup in Sponge Bob. I never really liked it but I won't let Abby watch that now. She is too young right now that she really isn't interested in anything except Playschool, Hi-5, The Go Show, Clifford, The Carebears and Strawberry Shortcake.
And The Fimbles, Blues Clues and Dora. But they aren't on anymore.
If Barney was still on I'd let her watch it.
I used to think The Teletubbies was ok but I won't let Abby watch that now. Just because of the symbolism in the teletubbies... purple one is meant to be gay, etc....

ilovemybaby replied: Oh yeah and Bratz dolls are a definite no no for us. As if kids aren't bratty enough these days without them making dolls called "Bratz". *sigh* Everything about them disgusts me. Their clothes, makeup and just the look on their faces.
Why can't they just make dolls like "My Child" and "Cabbage Patch dolls". I love them.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Totally inappropriate to yell in the store. Logan love the wiggles and the doodlebops. Both shows that I can take or leave. He's never seen Barney. I personally don't understand the fascination with a big purple dinosaur, however if your child enjoys it, what's the harm? Doesn't mean I have to watch.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I'm not going to say much about this comment, but I completely don't understand where one would get it from.

Dee Dee, well said about Sponge Bob...we've only watched it once and right away, he said words like stupid. I didn't really find it funny either. It just reminded me of those sick and twisted films from when I was a teenager...where Beavis and Butthead got their start! Not really appropriate for my kiddo. But perhaps when he's older...I don't know.

ilovemybaby replied:
He has a purple triangle that is upside down on his head. It's a well known symbol in the gay community.
I never knew until after it had been on for quite some time.
I think all the teletubbies heads have symbolism. The red one means something but I can't remember.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I'm not going to argue, but I don't believe the so called symbolism. And it sorta offends me...

ilovemybaby replied: There is an article all about the Teletubbies.

I'm sorry if it offends you. That was not my intention. I am entitled to my own opinions though. And being a Christian, it would not be appropriate for me to let my children watch the Teletubbies.

I am not saying that those who are not Christians should not let their kids watch it. If you don't have a problem with someone being gay that is fine.
I am not judging anyone either. It just isn't something I want my daughter to watch.

The purple triangle symbolism could be wrong (seeing as I had always heard that it was a pink triangle that symbolizes homosexuality) but the fact remains that Tinky Winky carrys a purse and at one stage, wore a skirt.

I am not judging anyone here that won't let their kids watch any other cartoon. So please don't judge me. I was just stating a long known fact/fiction about the Teletubbies... for those who didn't know.

JMO

ilovemybaby replied: Just like I shouldn't watch "Harry Potter" but I do

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I was simply stating that I don't understand, nor believe in the symbolism, not judging you. No hard feelings please.

ilovemybaby replied: No hard feelings

redchief replied:
I don't see anything harmful in Teletubbies, or Barney for that matter. They just annoy me. Maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon.

ilovemybaby replied: Most kids shows annoy me. Blues Clues, Dora, Barney, Teletubbies, ... they all annoy me That's because I'm not a kid anymore. They are made for kids! LOL

I still love to read my old Garfield comic books. Funny every time. There is just something about that cat. LOL

MommyToAshley replied:
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else that has the doll, or that watches Sponge Bob

I'm glad we can have a difference of opinion and still respect one another on here.

luvbug00 replied: No sweat Dee Dee .. to be honest that doll Brad likes a little more then Mya

Oh and as far as the teletubbies There is no Gay intention there ( or so I've read) it's supposed to show kids that you can be yourself and have fun and play. like if a boy child were to play with dolls or try on his moms shoes kinda thing. I resarched it a little when the accusation first came out. Out of curiosity... Even if he were gay I'd let my child watch it because it shows divercity in people. Just me though..

jcc64 replied: Ok, well, as long as we're talking about annoying, wacky kids's shows...
Anyone see that show on PBS- "Boobah" or something like that?
It's got 5 different colored blobby characters with blinking eyebrows and there's absolutely no dialogue in the whole show- it's completely ridiculous and mesmerizing at the same time. The sort of thing that would stop you in your tracks and convince you it was conveying some sort of subliminal message about the universe (if it happened to be on at 2 am after a heavy night of partying ).

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Yeah, I've seen it...definitely strange. They don't say anything do they?

ilovemybaby replied:
Yep it reminds me of the Teletubbies.

Heather77 replied: Okay, the guy in the bookstore sounds like a lunatic with his reaction!

I personally can't stand Barney (only b/c I find him extremely annoying). I would never forbid my kids to watch him, just b/c I don't like him though. Fortunately, my kids have never cared for Barney, so it's not an issue in this house.

Shane got one of those Boobah things last Christmas. It's the blue one.... and it creeps me out! He loves it!

ilovemybaby replied:
Purple is the gay pride color. And the triangle is the symbol for gay pride.
You can't get any clearer than that.

Anyway, lets just leave it at that. I know we all feel differently about it. And that's ok.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I'm not a big fan of Barney but I would definately NOT treat my children like that no matter what they wanted to buy!

So far we haven't come across any shows that I won't allow Brooke to watch - but since I try to limit the TV she watches anyway we don't see a whole lot of new shows or she'd miss her favorites.

Kated replied: Well that is nuts.

I have to say Im not crazy about Barney but if my kid liked him I say I would have to let the kid like him.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I was pretty anal about what all Maddie watched on TV and I'm still pretty conservative. I didn't want her obsessed with any one character, but she loved Barney and I thought it was pretty cute, tbh. We didn't go Barney overboard, but she learned A LOT from that show and it's a clean show. Yes, it's cheesy, but kids love that sort of thing. I don't care for him, either but I don't see anything wrong with making up songs about teddy bears and shapes. I have great memories of Maddie singing those songs...it was hard for me to hate something that gave her so much joy. I wanted to share that with her.

When Ethan came along Maddie was old enough to be into the older cartoons. We still had restrictions and would only let her watch PBS and on occasion she'd watch Nick Jr. Naturally Ethan watched what she watched. I have no idea how Ethan ever saw Spongebob, but he saw it once and became obsessed. It was crazy. I tried to divert his attention, but he LOVES Spongebob and I HATED Spongebob. I know hate is a strong word, but I really did hate that show. I didn't see what the big deal was and why everyone loved him so much. Now my little boy is crazy about him. The kids rarely watch it (I still stick with PBS and Nick Jr) and I did have a Spongebob party for him, but I do not and will not EVER allow name calling in my home. If they don't pick it up from Spongebob they pick it up from school But, that's where they can keep it.

I just didn't want you all thinking I encourage bad behavior b/c Ethan likes Spongebob.

EvesMom replied:
I feel the same way. But that father was completely out of control! And I wouldn't not allow my child to watch or like Barney just because I don't.

EvesMom replied: On the subject of kids shows, does anyone know the name of the show that the caracters are peoples hands with eyes talking really wierd?

luvbug00 replied: OOBI!!!! i love that show ( except that it teaches messed up speech LOL!!)

CantWait replied: omgosh I'm not the biggest Barney fan, but I do believe that even that dumb purple dinosaur can offer a little more then the average Teletubbies, or Max and Ruby show, and both Robbie and Anthony loved / s it. How horriblely mean of that father.

MomToJade&Jordan replied:
Oh I have seen this show. What the heck is with that? I flipped the channel on and Jade just had to watch it. Unfortunately I could not look away. It was like a train wreck. Almost like the It's a small World ride. All those shifting mechanical children. You cannot walk away from that ride without singing that song for the rest of the day.

MommyToAshley replied:
Oh Aimee, we know you are a GREAT Mom and would never encourage bad behavior. I hope my post doesn't sound judgemental because that was not it's intent. Someone just asked why I don't like Sponge Bob, and I answered it honestly. But, it's just a matter of preference. All of Ashley's friends watch Sponge Bob and I know their Moms think I am this over-protective Mom that shelters her child. Maybe I am doing the wrong thing... who knows? I just do what I feel is right for us, but I would never judge another person or family because they watch Sponge Bob.

I just posted how I thought it was funny the way Ashley acts when Sponge Bob comes on. I made the comment one time to her that we don't watch Sponge Bob... and she will hide her eyes like it is taboo until we turn the channel. It is funny and cute and a major over-dramatization.

jcc64 replied:

I was thinking about this last night, and I felt compelled to respond. Isn't it possible that purple is just a color, and a triangle is just a triangle, particularly where 1-3 yr olds are concerned? And maybe, just maybe, he occasionally carried a purse simply to convey the pretty conventional notion that it's ok for kids to play with toys that are not just targeted to their particular gender? Or is it absolutely essential that a boy be shamed for playing with dolls or dress ups?
I am not criticizing anyone's religious convictions, but I've alway been completely baffled by Jerry Falwell's obsession with a fictional children's character that doesn't even speak, with no sex organs, and how that somehow translates into a subliminal plot by homosexuals to destroy the moral fiber of our children.
I'm really not looking to start trouble here. I've been reading alot of people's very personal views on spirituality on this board lately, which has been interesting and provocative, and it's one of the things that I enjoy about coming here- seeing all the different points of view. Sometimes, it even helps me to process my own take on things. However, knowing that I am very often in the minority opinion around here on a whole range of topics, I will frequently hold my tongue when I read something that ignites a spark for me. But since it seems everyone is ok with venturing into some pretty touchy subjects lately, and have done so very diplomatically, I felt ok to express these thoughts.
So, this is a long way of saying I am not offering this post as anything other than maybe another way of looking at that whole gay teletubby thing, and not as an attack on the religious views of the person who posted it.

amynicole21 replied:
I agree whole-heartedly. Well said (as usual )

Sophia does watch Bratz, though I've been re-thinking whether that is the best idea lately. She isn't allowed to watch Spongebob or Ed, Edd n Eddy, mostly because of rudeness and name calling. Plus, I suspect that's where her whole "mooning" episode from last week came from. One of her spongebob watching daycare buddies taught her that one.

Jamison'smama replied: I was waiting for your reply Jeanne--I think many of us wait for you to find those words we can't.

jcc64 replied: Thanks for that, Brenda!

My2Beauties replied: You said it way better than I could have said it Jeanne. Who cares if he's gay or not, he doesn't even speak and he has no sex organs like Jeanne said, how do we know he's even supposed to be a boy, can't females have lower voices, as I know he has a lower voice than the other 3?

A&A'smommy replied: WOW very interesting conversation! Um we don't watch barney mostly because I absolutly LOTHE it but we don't not allow her to watch it.. and I haven't ever seen it on tv anyway.. I also hate spongebob but I lost that battle her daddy loves it and lets her watch it.. I try to avoid watching it if i can but lol that is just because he gets on my nerves and usually there is something else better on during the day

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Ditto! I completely agree with everything Jeanne has said...as always, thanks for offering another way to look at it! I am not judging anyone's religious beliefs on the subject either.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Dee Dee I wasn't offended at all. I was just trying to explain the difference between my 2 kids and what was allowed. I was referring more to the father who yelled at his child b/c he didn't want him watching Barney or liking Barney. It's hard for me to be that controlling over something that really isn't that big of a deal. I don't want to control every aspect of my child's life. If it isn't hurting them, then I won't control what or who they like. Like I said, I don't like Spongebob and never have. I tried to keep them from watching it and it is never on our TV and I managed to avoid it with Maddie. Just like I try to avoid Barney and Bratz with Maddie. I suppose Ethan's attraction to Sponge Bob is more of a boy thing. The whole "HEEEEE YAH" and toilet humor must get him going. I've never been into that sort of thing. Maddie is a lot like me...she's a girly girl. She still doesn't care for Spongebob and more times than not, they end up watching Strawberry Shortcake or Cinderella and Ethan is just as happy doing that.

No hard feelings. Really I'm fine and never thought twice about what you said...but for those who know Ethan loves Spongebob I didn't want you thinking I encouraged it or that he even watches it often. They have restrictions on TV and Maddie is the one to choose the cartoon they watch in the afternoons.