Pure Parents

Question:

Has anyone out there watched the cartoon show called Pokemon?  I just saw my first episode today (my kids are grown, so I don’t usually watch the morning cartoons anymore). The storyline is a young boy, trying to become some sort of ‘master’ Pokemon trainer.  Pokemon are little animals, that they capture in the wild, using some sort of ’storage ball’.   They then train their Pokemon to fight other Pokemon. Sometimes, the Pokemon fights are done in Pokemon Arenas or Pokemon Gyms. Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?  Or at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more animals fight each other?   And to train them to do it? I’ve only seen the one episode, so I might be totally off base, here.  I don’t mean this post to troll, just to incite a little discussion from people who might have seen more episodes, and tell me I’ve got it wrong…I hope I do.

Response:

>Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?  Or >at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more

animals fight each other? I don’t think so, since Pokemon is the most popular video game out there, and since  kids, even little ones, know it’s a game and not founded in reality. The Pokemon characters have no resemblance to any species of actual animal. It’s like saying that a video game about boxing (and there are quite a few out there) is teaching kids to pit humans against one another… This is just my opinion, and I could be wrong, it has happened before…but I think it’s harmless.

Response:

>The Pokemon characters have no resemblance to any species of actual animal. >It’s like saying that a video game about boxing (and there are quite a few >out >there) is teaching kids to pit humans against one another…

Actually, some resemble animals, but vaguely. These "pokemon" are monsters, not animals, and they have special powers. They don’t usually use physical forces, but rather their water skills or something or other. (I myself am not a pokemon fan, but my little sister likes it.) ~*Ally*~

Response:

yeah the pokemon are weird little things, not exactly like real animals. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?  Or >at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more > animals fight each other? > I don’t think so, since Pokemon is the most popular video game out there, and > since  kids, even little ones, know it’s a game and not founded in reality. > The Pokemon characters have no resemblance to any species of actual animal. > It’s like saying that a video game about boxing (and there are quite a few out > there) is teaching kids to pit humans against one another… > This is just my opinion, and I could be wrong, it has happened before…but I > think it’s harmless.

Response:

> Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?  Or > at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more > animals fight each other?   And to train them to do it?

I don’t know about that, but since my friend’s son started collecting the stupid cards, he’s been in all sorts of trouble. From stealing the cards to fighting with other kids over the damn things. My friend does not allow them in the house anymore. Nic http://www.teleport.com/~pitbull – a Pit & a Pug

Response:

I’m something of a fan of the show myself (oh, shut up <G>).  I really don’t think Pokemon would "teach kids to pit fight."  For one thing, the pokemon fight with special magical powers, like lightning, water, fire, etc, not by biting and ripping each other up.  Second, most of the pokemon don’t resemble real animals.  Third, there is no third. Fourth, the pokemon are intelligent, with their own language.  The little critters just don’t resemble real animals in any way. Denna Lasik Bored? Visit Windwolf’s Completely Useless Webpage! Pointless, bandwidth wasting info about me, and pics of my artwork and pets. A great time for the easily amused! http://www.picantes.com/windwolf * Remove references to flourescent pink pseudo-meat before replying.

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Hehehe, I’m like Denna… I like the show!.  My nieces are all big fans and I haven’t notice any change in them except doing a lot more chores so they could earn the cash to buy more pokemon cards.  They know it’s not real, any more real then Sailor Moon and the negaverse was And the characters really care about the Pokemon (which are not animals, but rather monsters — the name Pokemon comes from "pocket monsters"). — Danae – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m something of a fan of the show myself (oh, shut up <G>).  I really >don’t think Pokemon would "teach kids to pit fight."  For one thing, >the pokemon fight with special magical powers, like lightning, water, >fire, etc, not by biting and ripping each other up.  Second, most of >the pokemon don’t resemble real animals.  Third, there is no third. >Fourth, the pokemon are intelligent, with their own language.  The >little critters just don’t resemble real animals in any way. >Denna Lasik

Response:

The > little critters just don’t resemble real animals in any way.

OH YEAH??? You OBVIOUSLY haven’t seen my cat. She’s a dead ringer for Jigglypuff!! — Christy Visit Dakota, the handsomest mutt inna world! http://members.xoom.com/cool4cats/dakota.html

Response:

>OH YEAH??? >You OBVIOUSLY haven’t seen my cat. She’s a dead ringer for Jigglypuff!! > If Lily is your cat, no she isn’t.  She’s beautiful!  Now, some of > those kittens could make a passable Jigglypuff… > BTW, Dakota is gorgeous! > Denna Lasik

Lily is a rescue kitty – she has a new home now as do 4 of the 6 kittens (last two are stubborn & don’t wanna go!) Jigglypuff, er, I mean Maris, is a 4 year old Persian, mostly white, shaped like a basketball with legs. Thanks for telling me my pooch is a beaut – that officially makes him Supreme Mondo Grand Champeen Esquire of the ChCK!! I’m so proud. ;P — Christy Visit Dakota, the handsomest mutt inna world! http://members.xoom.com/cool4cats/dakota.html

Response:

>OH YEAH??? >You OBVIOUSLY haven’t seen my cat. She’s a dead ringer for Jigglypuff!!

If Lily is your cat, no she isn’t.  She’s beautiful!  Now, some of those kittens could make a passable Jigglypuff… BTW, Dakota is gorgeous! Denna Lasik Bored? Visit Windwolf’s Completely Useless Webpage! Pointless, bandwidth wasting info about me, and pics of my artwork and pets. A great time for the easily amused! http://www.picantes.com/windwolf * Remove references to flourescent pink pseudo-meat before replying.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Has anyone out there watched the cartoon show called Pokemon?  I just saw my >first episode today (my kids are grown, so I don’t usually watch the morning >cartoons anymore). >The storyline is a young boy, trying to become some sort of ‘master’ Pokemon >trainer.  Pokemon are little animals, that they capture in the wild, using >some sort of ’storage ball’.   They then train their Pokemon to fight other >Pokemon. >Sometimes, the Pokemon fights are done in Pokemon Arenas or Pokemon Gyms. >Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?  Or >at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more >animals fight each other?   And to train them to do it? >I’ve only seen the one episode, so I might be totally off base, here.  I >don’t mean this post to troll, just to incite a little discussion from >people who might have seen more episodes, and tell me I’ve got it wrong…I >hope I do.

I don’t know.  If you believe that violence on TV, not poor parenting is the cause of the problems of the day, then yes, I guess you could believe that Pokemon could lead to kids fighting animals. But then, if you’re a responsible parent, you know that your kids understand that it’s just a game, that animals of all forms are to be treated with respect, and that stealing cards is something that will get the kid in deep $#!t.  (Which, BTW, the stealing part has led to several problems where I work). I guess if you don’t trust your kids, then yes, you *should* ban the game from your house, because you haven’t been a good enough parent to teach them that respect, and while you’re at it, pick up a parenting class at the local college. ~Emily

Response:

> Has anyone out there watched the cartoon show called Pokemon?  I just saw my > first episode today (my kids are grown, so I don’t usually watch the morning > cartoons anymore).

I watch it semi-regularly, being a ‘toon buff.  From what I can tell, the cartoon is not about fighting Pokemons.  It’s more a message of responsibility for the animals they collect and train.  Yes, some of them do fight, usually with the bad guys (Team Rocket, a bitchy red head and a rather effeminate guy in a half shirt – gotta love cheesy Japanime). There is almost always a moral hidden in the story somewhere.  Basically you have this impetuous and impatient little boy, his older brother, and a sister or girlfriend (I haven’t paid that much attention to the relationships).  They wander around looking for new Pokemons, learning about their differences and learning to respect the wild or rare ones they run into. There is, of course, an obligatory fight/battle scene in every show between the good guys and the bad guys.  This sort of cartoon is built around a very rigid theme. > The storyline is a young boy, trying to become some sort of ‘master’ Pokemon > trainer.  Pokemon are little animals, that they capture in the wild, using > some sort of ’storage ball’.   They then train their Pokemon to fight other > Pokemon.

Not really.  Mostly they just try to capture these things and train them, and often the Pokemons they capture become good friends.  There is a mutual love between Pokemon and their trainers.  The last episode I watched was about how the little boy was angry that this one guy was "Abusing" his Pokemon by making it do things it was not meant to do, but he later learned that the "Abuser’s" Pokemon did what the guy asked out of love and respect that the guy gave his various critters. > Sometimes, the Pokemon fights are done in Pokemon Arenas or Pokemon Gyms. > Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals?

No. Or > at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or more > animals fight each other?

That isn’t the central storyline, so I doubt it.  If anything Pokemon is better than those damn Tamagotchies that were so popular last year.   And to train them to do it? > I’ve only seen the one episode, so I might be totally off base, here. I > don’t mean this post to troll, just to incite a little discussion from > people who might have seen more episodes, and tell me I’ve got it wrong…I > hope I do.

I think the show has merits, though it’s a bit too cheesy to watch all the time.  I can definitely see the appeal to it and probably would have loved the show as a kid.  As it is, I’m faintly amused by it and will watch it if I have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning. Marianne — — http://www.dewlap.com/shiba Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

>Has anyone out there watched the cartoon show called Pokemon?

OK, OK….hoisted on my own petard… I firmly believe that video games and TV programs don’t promote violent behavior in kids who have been well brought up.  My own children were taught very early on that TV is NOT REAL.  (not even the news, most times :}  ) So, I withdraw the observation.  It was knee-jerk on my part, after having seen only one episode, I had nothing to base on. Although,   my son and I are both AVID players of the game called Magic: the Gathering.   This card game was in existence before Pokemon, and is slowly being subsumed by the new game.  (Wizards of the Coast put out both games) So, for that reason,  I don’t much like Pokemon. Thanks for your replies, everyone! Kellie

Response:

My kids watch Pokemon all the time, my son also has a GameBoy and 2 Pokemon games.  (Red and Blue version!!) We also watch the show every day FAITHFULLY!!!)  Pokemon are monsters, they are wild and the object of the game is to catch as many as you can on your adventure to become a Master Pokemon trainer. There are other trainers who will challenge you to fight your Pokemon against theirs.  Your Pokemon will advance to higher levels, and gain more skills the more you fight it.   It’s like the cartoon.  I don’t think it’s any worse than any other cartoon out there.  (Remember PacMan from the 80’s!!)  PacMan was big back then, and Pokemon is really big now.  I seriously doubt the first thing my kids think of is pit fighting animals when they are watching the show!!!  They have their favorites (Nidorino and Chansey!!) and I am partial to Jigglypuff myself !!!  (It’s so cute!!!)  Maureen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Has anyone out there watched the cartoon show called Pokemon?  I just >saw my > first episode today (my kids are grown, so I don’t usually watch the >morning > cartoons anymore). >I watch it semi-regularly, being a ‘toon buff.  From what I can tell, >the cartoon is not about fighting Pokemons.  It’s more a message of >responsibility for the animals they collect and train.  Yes, some of >them do fight, usually with the bad guys (Team Rocket, a bitchy red head >and a rather effeminate guy in a half shirt – gotta love cheesy >Japanime). >There is almost always a moral hidden in the story somewhere.  Basically >you have this impetuous and impatient little boy, his older brother, and >a sister or girlfriend (I haven’t paid that much attention to the >relationships).  They wander around looking for new Pokemons, learning >about their differences and learning to respect the wild or rare ones >they run into. >There is, of course, an obligatory fight/battle scene in every show >between the good guys and the bad guys.  This sort of cartoon is built >around a very rigid theme. > The storyline is a young boy, trying to become some sort of ‘master’ >Pokemon > trainer.  Pokemon are little animals, that they capture in the wild, >using > some sort of ’storage ball’.   They then train their Pokemon to fight >other > Pokemon. >Not really.  Mostly they just try to capture these things and train >them, and often the Pokemons they capture become good friends.  There is >a mutual love between Pokemon and their trainers.  The last episode I >watched was about how the little boy was angry that this one guy was >"Abusing" his Pokemon by making it do things it was not meant to do, but >he later learned that the "Abuser’s" Pokemon did what the guy asked out >of love and respect that the guy gave his various critters. > Sometimes, the Pokemon fights are done in Pokemon Arenas or Pokemon >Gyms. > Does anyone else think this is teaching kids how to pit fight animals? >No. >Or > at least sending the signal that it is OK to enjoy watching two or >more > animals fight each other? >That isn’t the central storyline, so I doubt it.  If anything Pokemon is >better than those damn Tamagotchies that were so popular last year. >  And to train them to do it? > I’ve only seen the one episode, so I might be totally off base, here. >I > don’t mean this post to troll, just to incite a little discussion from > people who might have seen more episodes, and tell me I’ve got it >wrong…I > hope I do. >I think the show has merits, though it’s a bit too cheesy to watch all >the time.  I can definitely see the appeal to it and probably would have >loved the show as a kid.  As it is, I’m faintly amused by it and will >watch it if I have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning. >Marianne >– >– >http://www.dewlap.com/shiba >Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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