Should Bert and Ernie Marry on Sesame Street?

[Nursedan]

How so?

In part because it's a new construct, like I said. Also it's a nearly purely political issue, like abortion.

Oh god please don't let SS cover abortion...

 

[blobru]

I wish Big Bird and Mr Snuffleupagus would just do it already! Been stringing us along for forty years now. They're worse than Mulder and Scully.

 

[Furcifer]

Oh god please don't let SS cover abortion...

Oscar has an unexpected guest...

 

[Cavemonster]

In part because it's a new construct, like I said. Also it's a nearly purely political issue, like abortion.

That doesn't really answer the question. You're saying it's different because it's different.

I don't think it is an entirely new construct. The only difference is that they won't have a child that is biologically both of theirs. The same is true for every straight couple who has one or both members infertile, who choose to adopt, who choose to have no kids, or who are older. None of those is considered a new construct or a problem, is it?

 

[Pardalis]

I wish Big Bird and Mr Snuffleupagus would just do it already! Been stringing us along for forty years now. They're worse than Mulder and Scully.

Mr Snuffleupagus! I almost forgot about that one. Such nice memories.

 

[Cavemonster]

Also it's a nearly purely political issue, like abortion.

As I mentioned earlier, the variation in types of families is far more than political, it's daily life for kids. These are the people in my neighborhood, these are the people in my family, are both standard stuff for Sesame going back to the beginning.

 

[Nursedan]

That doesn't really answer the question. You're saying it's different because it's different.

I don't think it is an entirely new construct. The only difference is that they won't have a child that is biologically both of theirs. The same is true for every straight couple who has one or both members infertile, who choose to adopt, who choose to have no kids, or who are older. None of those is considered a new construct or a problem, is it?

Gay marriage is an entirely new construct. We can quible over the definition of "new" if you wish.

Who said anything about kids? Not me. Getting married and having a child are two different things.

 

[Cavemonster]

Gay marriage is an entirely new construct. We can quible over the definition of "new" if you wish.

Who said anything about kids? Not me. Getting married and having a child are two different things.

So aside from kids, what makes it different?

 

[Nursedan]

As I mentioned earlier, the variation in types of families is far more than political, it's daily life for kids. These are the people in my neighborhood, these are the people in my family, are both standard stuff for Sesame going back to the beginning.

Right then like I mentioned earlier, use two characters that aren't well known and......just read my earlier post about this.

 

[Nursedan]

So aside from kids, what makes it different?

You're thinking like an adult - try to think like a child or better yet, think about how you would explain it to a child. I'm not opposed to it - I just don't think that SS should use B and E to illustrate the point.

 

[Pardalis]

You're thinking like an adult - try to think like a child or better yet, think about how you would explain it to a child. I'm not opposed to it - I just don't think that SS should use B and E to illustrate the point.

If they are exposed at an early age to this concept of two people of the same sex being together, they will most likely not see it as a problem later. Children adapt very fast.

 

[Cavemonster]

You're thinking like an adult - try to think like a child or better yet, think about how you would explain it to a child. I'm not opposed to it - I just don't think that SS should use B and E to illustrate the point.

I work with children every day, I'm a puppeteer and I've worked with many of the people from Sesame Street.

What exactly do you think it is about same sex relationships that's more difficult to explain to a child than heterosexual relationships?

 

[Pardalis]

If they do it they shouldn't make a fuss about it, they shouldn't even make a show about the marriage itself, just have them one day be roommates, and the next they're a couple. No ceremony, just assume that now they're an item and move on.

That would be a big step for acceptance, just make it as normal as any other show. Bert and Ernie just happen to be together, just like Ralph and Alice in the Honeymooners, nothing more nothing less special. Kids will just absorb the idea and life goes on.

 

[DC]

If they do it they shouldn't make a fuss about it, they shouldn't even make a show about the marriage itself, just have them one day be roommates, and the next they're a couple. No ceremony, just assume that now they're an item and move on.

That would be a big step for acceptance, just make it as normal as any other show. Bert and Ernie just happen to be together. Kids will just absorb the idea and life goes on.

very true

 

[blobru]

very true

very cool

 

[Pardalis]

I love it.

"I'm going to play ping pong now." That's classic!

That's exactly how children will receive it.

 

[Tamarillicent]

I've always thought that the muppets in Sesame Street were supposed to be children. Or child-like at least. I think that if Sesame Street wants to address gay marriage they should do it with a human couple.

Bert & Ernie are roommates. I think a lot of us have had roommates before that we wanted to throttle. Learning how to live and like someone you aren't related to, or don't think of romantically, or are significantly different from is something we should all learn how to do. Bert & Ernie are that couple on Sesame Street. Granted, it's been 40 years you'd think they'd want their own place by now but who am I to judge?

 

[Nursedan]

That would be a big step for acceptance, just make it as normal as any other show. Bert and Ernie just happen to be together, just like Ralph and Alice in the Honeymooners, nothing more nothing less special. Kids will just absorb the idea and life goes on.

WWhy minimize it if it is important for kids to know about? I would argue that it would make kids less understanding of the issue if it was not explained
to them. It might single it out as an issue that they aren't supposed to talk about.

Also if you're responding to me, I already said that it could be other characters than Bert and Ernie. SS could even introduce 2 new characters.

If it were B and E, how would you propose that the show introduce their sexuality? I mean if they aren't seen getting married, then how does a childrens show like SS tell it's viewers that they have in fact done so?


This oughta be good...

 

[Nursedan]

I work with children every day, I'm a puppeteer and I've worked with many of the people from Sesame Street.

What exactly do you think it is about same sex relationships that's more difficult to explain to a child than heterosexual relationships?

Usually the "out of the ordinary" is more difficult to explain to a child than the "ordinary". I can count on one hand how many gay couples I've lived by in my life, so for me it's just not as common. We do, though, currently live next to a gay couple, and my daughter had a few more questions than usual about new neighbors. And im still not sure she understands. So it's more difficult in that sense. It's not torture or anything don't get me wrong. Just to reiterate, taking 2 beloved characters and changing them like that would be a bad idea.

Just go the Archie route and introduce a completely new character who happens to be gay.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Archie-Gay-Character-100422.html

 

[Cavemonster]

Usually the "out of the ordinary" is more difficult to explain to a child than the "ordinary". I can count on one hand how many gay couples I've lived by in my life, so for me it's just not as common. We do, though, currently live next to a gay couple, and my daughter had a few more questions than usual about new neighbors. And im still not sure she understands. So it's more difficult in that sense. It's not torture or anything don't get me wrong. Just to reiterate, taking 2 beloved characters and changing them like that would be a bad idea.

Just go the Archie route and introduce a completely new character who happens to be gay.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Archie-Gay-Character-100422.html

I'm not in favor of changing characters that have a clear educational role, for reasons I've described above that may differ from yours.

The kid in the youtube above understood gay marriage with no difficulty and went to play ping pong. Talking animals are even more rare than gay marriage, but kids accept those on the show, no problem.

I strongly suspect that you neither have kids nor spend much time with them. The number of things one explains to them, the number of idiosynchratic, specific and rare things is huge, concepts far more difficult than "When two people love each other very much, sometimes they get married and become a family" come up every day.