It's Only a Game
It seems as if on a regular basis some new fad appears that every kid must have, whether it's a video game, a doll, or even a book, like the latest edition of Harry Potter. It's funny, but I don't recall anything on the scope of these "rages" back when I was a kid. Sure, we had hula hoops and silly putty and stuff, but it was never a question of being with it or die like today. Even television took a few years to catch on big time, but my memory on it might be faulty because my parents drew a line on the sand and we didn't have one in the house until I was in my teens. It didn't matter to me. I had my own TV made of a cardboard box with little cardboard dials I'd cut out. I pretend watched it for hours. The programming was way better than the real thing.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:20 AM
13 Comments:
I find these admissions of childhood follies very touching. I can see you, Little Johnny, in front of your cardboard TV set watching Uncle Miltie (Berle) and laughing at jokes far funnier than the ones he stole. As those were the days before the invention of the remote control, you would have to have gotten up to change channels. My parents, too, were not convinced that television was anything more than a passing fad and it was many many years before we saw one in our home. Those were the days of the rabbit ears antennas, which I endlessly adjusted but never could, try as I might, manage to bring in a proper signal.
It's amazing what kids can do with a simple cardboard box. For all the toys and fads my kids went through it was the humble cardboard box... big enough to climb into... that always kept the imaginations pumping. That... and old clothes and saucepans. LOL
John... Senator Obama was looking world weary on the news last night. What's going on?
I was probably 10 when I first saw a TV show. It was called "Gun Smoke" and I was terribly disappointed as the characters did not look anything like the ones on radio nor did Matt Dillon sound anything like he did on radio. Never really cared much for TV after that disappointment.
Jean, Obama in my opinion has been badly hurt by his long time friend Rev. Wright who seems bent on destroying Obama's run for office. I know John does not think that Wright is crazy but how else to explain the hurtful and harmful things he has done to Obama. Just as I did not like the main stream media going after Hillary, I like even less this man Rev. Wright's speeches to the Press Club or even his interview on PBS. He is smart enough to know that this hurts his friend of 20 years but I think Wright's ego is so large that he thinks nothing of the harm he is doing to Obama. Obama does not deserve the problems that Wright is causing.
Well, I was severely limited in my tv watching too, and I don't really remember much in the way of fads either. When I was really little there was tiny tears and teeny tears and teeny weeny tiny tears dolls. I was too little to know if everyone 'had' to have one though since my social circle wasn't that big. Big wheels were hot. And then clothes-Levi corduroys in a million colors were a soort of status symbol. But as much as it is obvious that tv heavily influences these product fads, it still seems to me that parents who buy into it --in both meanings of the word--are ultimately to blame for the consumerism of their kids. They have been saying "just say no" to kids for years. Perhaps we need a public service campaign for the parents!
And Lee, re Reverend Wright and Obama, you are spot on. I really felt terribly sad for Obama this week. How terribly betrayed and saddened and heartsick he must feel. With friends like wright who needs Clinton or McLean?
Just heard an excellent explanation by a black minister who explained so well why Obama did not come out in the beginning and condemn Wright. This explanation makes Wright even more of a villain. Wright was almost a father figure to Obama who you will recall was deserted by his own natural father. Obama had the love of a son for this villain, Wright, so in the beginning he did not denounce this man. My heart bleeds for Obama who has been so badly hurt by this. Does not mean that I endorse him as candidate, haven't really made up my mind but this man Wright can not be excused.
PS. To my mind this man made a fortune by feeding on the fear, hatred and hurt of the black men and women in his congregation for rich or even not rich whites. Personally, I think he is lower than dirt. And you are wrong, John, I listened to the whole sermon on the internet and also read it in hopes that I could understand how this man could say such words at a time when everyone was mourning for these innocent victims.
I'm not sure, Lee, which sermon you heard, but it may well not be the one I was referring to. This is a situation that is far more complex and nuanced than anyone has the capacity to understand, especially gven the onslaught of media spin, sound bites, and instant judgments. It encompasses generations, traditions, cultures, prejudices, and deeply held beliefs. Calm down, folks, stop opinionating and just listen. It's a fascinating drama, better than anything Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov, O'Neill, Williams, or anyone else ever dreamed up, and if everyone keeps trying to be louder than anyone else we no longer can hear the actors.
John I stand in awe of your talent but could you get my favorite show on your cardboard box- Kukla Fran and Ollie? lol roger
My mom watched the Wright speech to which I think you are referring, John, if it''s the speech he made to the NAACP,and she said it was very good. And then he came out and ruined any good that may have come from it the next day.
As for Obama, the NY Times had a very good point in its editorial "Mr. Obama and Rev Wright" which I'll quote here:
"It is an injustice, a legacy of the racist threads of this nation’s history, but prominent African-Americans are regularly called upon to explain or repudiate what other black Americans have to say, while white public figures are rarely, if ever, handed that burden.
Senator John McCain has continued to embrace a prominent white supporter, Pastor John Hagee, whose bigotry matches that of Mr. Wright. Mr. McCain has not tried hard enough to stop a race-baiting commercial — complete with video of Mr. Wright — that is being run against Mr. Obama in North Carolina. "
PS to Roger--I loved Kukla Fran and Ollie and the show they"hosted" which showed wonderful children/family movies from all around the world.
My cardboard tv was run by trolls so I was forced to watch troll television. You can't imagine the kinds of things they did to barbie dolls. Shocking!
I love all you people. Even though there are differences of opinion here, this is one of the best discussions to be found. Where else can we find the Rev. Wright conflated with make-believe television?
This season I am traveling from place to place in search of the Truth and have had the occasion to visit a number of lands. Wherever I go I find a Starbucks on the corner. When I was in Shangri-La the other day I had an audience with the High Lama; he told me they will be opening one soon. Kurtz in the jungles of the Congo told me the same. If there is not a Starbucks near you now, I can assure you there will be soon. Stand on your corner and wait!
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