The HIV Positive Muppet in Sesame Street

97 MGT · 07-13-2002

You heard it guys!!!
Check out the article.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/200...D7KNGHTO0.html

Ron · 07-13-2002

I had heard about that, but thought it was a joke. What are we coming to that we have to have an HIV Muppet, what is next, and what are they going to do when they have to kill off the Muppet!

Vortex · 07-13-2002

Well, they already have a crack-head (Snuffy the snuffalupagus) a bum (oscar the grouch) one on PCP (cookie monster, nobody is that crazy over cookies...whut kind of cookies does he eat anyway) two gay guys (bert & Ernie) and a pimp (the count. Who else wears a cape?)

Jarrett · 07-14-2002

LOL, you crack me up Adam.

**ScottHalliday** · 07-14-2002

Speaking of sick animals, I think we have a few on our forums

Spot on!

milw96cobra · 07-15-2002

Burt and Ernie were taken off the air a few years back because parents didn't want their children exposed to homosexual lifestyle.

imho : Both of these are a big WTF! When I was a little kid, I never thought like that. And I don't think a little kid is going to understand what HIV is. Some people need to be smacked relentlessly until they start having some common sense.

5 yr old : Mommy, what is HIV?
Mom : That's when you get sick from sex that will make you die.
5 yr old : Mommy, what is sex?
Mom : Uhhh, I'll tell you when you're older.
5 yo : *confused*

We live in a sick and dimented world. I wish I was born 20 years earlier when things actually made a bit more sense and there was no political treehugger nonsense going on like there is today.

Jerad · 07-15-2002

Did you read where it was at?

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa.

Not the US. I think it's a great idea for the African children.

milw96cobra · 07-15-2002

wtf, it doesnt matter if its just for South Africa or Bumfugg, Croatia. The point is, if theyre going to start single-ing out diseases, they might as well start having a Cancer Muppet, a Lukemia Muppet, a Diabetic Muppet.... its all bull sh|t if you ask me.

Jerad · 07-15-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by milw96cobra
wtf, it doesnt matter if its just for South Africa or Bumfugg, Croatia. The point is, if theyre going to start single-ing out diseases, they might as well start having a Cancer Muppet, a Lukemia Muppet, a Diabetic Muppet.... its all bull sh|t if you ask me.

Why is it bullsh!t? Did you read the article past the first 7 words?

"With more than 4.7 million people living with HIV, South Africa has the world's largest population infected with the virus. Despite this, there is a crushing stigma surrounding the virus in the country."

Why do we have commercials warning of the dangers of tobacco aimed at teenagers? To prevent smoking and its related illnesses.

Why do parents warn their kids about drugs? To prevent usage.

They're not singling out diseases; they're singling out national problems. Just like drugs and tobacco are national problems in the US, AIDS is a national problem in Africa.

Are you saying that, for fair coverage, the US should have commercials warning our kids about paper cuts? No. Paper cuts aren't the problem, but if we don't include them, it will look like we're singling out drugs and alcohol and ignoring the other problems. . . .

Sorry, but I believe that what they're doing is a good thing, creating awareness of the disease at a young age. After all, what you don't know CAN kill you. . .

Ron · 07-15-2002

Jerad,
Good point, the only problem is there are not stop smoking muppets in the US, so I don't buy the National problem answer. I think people are taking the political correctness to far! Parents need to act more like parents, they need to take the responsibity to raise and inform their own kids. The problem in So. Africa is bigger than just what type of Muppet to use. sorry just my .02 worth.....

Jerad · 07-15-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron
Jerad,
Good point, the only problem is there are not stop smoking muppets in the US, so I don't buy the National problem answer. I think people are taking the political correctness to far! Parents need to act more like parents, they need to take the responsibity to raise and inform their own kids. The problem in So. Africa is bigger than just what type of Muppet to use. sorry just my .02 worth.....

We're also dealing with two totally different cultures. In Britain, they have nude women on the front of their tabloids at the checkout line. That doesn't fly here in the US. Sesame Street producers in Africa apparently feel this move will be accepted, and if it in some way raises awareness and decreases the spread of HIV, then I am all for it.

I would feel otherwise if they were introducing the character in the US.

Ron · 07-15-2002

I still don't buy it.... it is the parent's that need to have the awareness level raised. They are the ones spreding the virus to the kids. Unless kids start have sex and doing drugs before the can even go to school?

milw96cobra · 07-15-2002

Jerad, how about a Muppet that Smokes here for the US.

Now think about it.

Jerad · 07-15-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by milw96cobra
Jerad, how about a Muppet that Smokes here for the US.

Now think about it.

Like I said, the US Culture wouldn't accept it, as you guys are demonstrating now.

And it wouldn't be a smoking muppet that they would introduce; it would be one with emphysema. There's a difference. The muppet in South Africa is not doing something that gives him HIV; rather, he has already contracted it.

Vortex · 07-16-2002

Jo-Jo the horny teenager muppet? They'd never allow it.. its just a "magically gotten disease" muppet. Doubt they'll go into detail about how its parents shared dirty needles with a hooker.