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One-armed presenter is scaring children, parents tell BBC
Daily Mail ^ | 23 Feb 2009 | Liz Thomas

Posted on 02/23/2009 7:19:32 AM PST by BGHater

A disabled CBeebies presenter has been the victim of a disturbing campaign after parents complained that she was scaring toddlers.

They claimed that host Cerrie Burnell - who was born with one arm - is not suitable to appear on the digital children's channel.

Miss Burnell and co-presenter Alex Winters took over the popular Do and Discover slot and The Bedtime Hour programme last month.

But the decision to hire her has prompted a flurry of complaints to the BBC and on parenting message boards, with some of the posts on the CBeebies website becoming so vicious that they had to be removed.

Incredibly, one father said he wanted to ban his daughter from watching the channel because he feared it would give her nightmares.

Others claimed that they were forced to discuss difficult issues with their young children before they were ready.

One blogger wrote: 'Is it just me, or does anyone else think the new woman presenter on CBeebies may scare the kids because of her disability?


(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: bbc; children; presenter
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To: CholeraJoe

Commercials are the same way.

Unless someone is breaking into your house. Then he is white.


21 posted on 02/23/2009 7:40:41 AM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: ArrogantBustard

I wouldn’t mind this lady teaching me something. Def not your typical British person.


22 posted on 02/23/2009 7:47:36 AM PST by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: netmilsmom

I have no understanding of why McDonald’s tries to go ghetto with their commercials. Makes no sense.

I don’t go to McDonald’s every once in awhile because I think it is cool...I go because I get a hankering for chicken nuggets or something.


23 posted on 02/23/2009 7:51:35 AM PST by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: netmilsmom
There might have been something that could have been said or done that would have made me comfortable.
However, I remember everyone talking to me until they were blue in the face, and I still would not go near him.

Sometimes little kids just have irrational fears.

24 posted on 02/23/2009 8:02:05 AM PST by kara37
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To: BGHater; SECURE AMERICA

Oh for crying out loud! This TV actress may have been born without an arm, but some of these parents seem to have been born without brains. Is is THAT hard to find the “OFF” button on the TV?


25 posted on 02/23/2009 8:06:57 AM PST by GovernmentShrinker
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To: rwfromkansas

It is the fastest rising demographic in the country: urban ethnic youth. I have a friend in marketing. Several years ago, she scored a big contract with Seagram’s to name a line of flavored malt liquors aimed at ethnic urban youth. Another contract involved ethnic urban youth campaigns for Yum! Foods and doing the event planning for some awards seminar for young ethnic women in business.

This demographic spends their cash. You likely save yours. You may both patronize McDonald’s, and for the same reason, but they likely patronize it more often.

During a slack time of no work, I looked at the survey sites on the web, signed up for some and discovered that older, rural, white people were mostly disqualified from the surveys for not being in a preferred demographic.


26 posted on 02/23/2009 8:08:27 AM PST by reformedliberal (N0)
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To: BGHater

At least they didn't hire the "one-armed violinist" from Hollywood Knights.

27 posted on 02/23/2009 8:10:39 AM PST by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: reformedliberal

I should sign up for some survey sites and claim to be a young black man. :)


28 posted on 02/23/2009 8:42:14 AM PST by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: BGHater

So she works her butt off overcoming large numbers of psychological and physical obstacles to work on TV and the PARENTS are scared not the kids. You know how I know the kids are not scared? My wife has a similar condition and works with kids. When one of her new kids discovers her arm, they either don’t care or they are curious about it. Not once has one been scared. The parents feel uncomfortable so they are putting up a stink. Shame on them.


29 posted on 02/23/2009 8:44:53 AM PST by jprobst
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To: kara37

That could be.


30 posted on 02/23/2009 8:45:54 AM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: jprobst

Exactly.
My sister was in a wedding of a friend who was born without a hand. She was unbelievably patient when kids asked questions about it. Even pointing out the tiny bumps that could have been her fingers.

These parents are whacked.


31 posted on 02/23/2009 8:48:45 AM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: netmilsmom

I know a guy that has a similar right ‘hand’. He plays guitar with a pick attached to a wristband. incredible...


32 posted on 02/23/2009 9:06:30 AM PST by LearnsFromMistakes
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To: LearnsFromMistakes

WOW!!!
That’s amazing! What a guy!


33 posted on 02/23/2009 9:28:42 AM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: BGHater

Well, she’s certainly a cutie.


34 posted on 02/23/2009 10:02:55 AM PST by Levante
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To: rwfromkansas

Hispanic, black man, born 1989.


35 posted on 02/23/2009 10:18:58 AM PST by reformedliberal (N0)
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To: Peanut Gallery

good grief ping


36 posted on 02/23/2009 10:22:32 AM PST by Professional Engineer (Why are guns always named Bill? Why not Bob or Fred? Maybe something cheery, like Petunia.)
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To: rwfromkansas

"I was born a poor black child..."

37 posted on 02/23/2009 10:26:45 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (This disaster brought to you by the failed Obama administration.)
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To: LearnsFromMistakes
I know a guy that has a similar right ‘hand’. He plays guitar with a pick attached to a wristband. incredible...

You'll love this...

38 posted on 02/23/2009 10:33:08 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (This disaster brought to you by the failed Obama administration.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I need to see that movie...been on my list since I like Steve Martin, but just have never gotten around to it yet.


39 posted on 02/23/2009 10:57:36 AM PST by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: netmilsmom
Exactly.
My sister was in a wedding of a friend who was born without a hand. She was unbelievably patient when kids asked questions about it. Even pointing out the tiny bumps that could have been her fingers.

I used to know a man who had an arm like hers. He was about the right age for it to have been a Thalidomide deformity. Best damn welder I ever saw.

40 posted on 02/24/2009 9:33:27 AM PST by CrazyIvan (If you read only one book this year, read "Stolen Valor".)
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