Posted on 03/03/2007 3:58:58 PM PST by LS
Disclaimer: I am not endorsing the language or some of the actions of the cartoon characters on South Park :)
For those of you who have not seen this risque "cartoon" series, the Cartoon Network has run some of the "Most Quoted Episodes" of South Park, and one featured Algore in an episode involving "Manbearpig."
Alore comes to South Park to warn the kids about "Manbearpig" (global warming), a mythical creature that he insists exists and wants them to get worked up about. (No one does). The kids only repeatedly say things like, "I feel sorry for him. He doesn't have any friends.") Although no one has ever seen "Manbearpig," or have a shred of proof it exists, Algore (yes, they use his name) tries to drum up a frenzy of concern. In one scene he is in a cave with a tourist group when someone announces the former vice president is in the group. Out of some 30 people, two applaud.
This was a hysterical episode and, I think, is reflective of what an important part of the teen-to-young adult group ingest as humor. It clearly rejects not only global warming, but the notion that Gore or Hollywood elites should dictate what the rest of us do.
Evidently, satire is lost on you.
Watch the show and pay attention.
They don't look up to him. He's portrayed as a sick, degenerate deviant.
Big Gay Al is a character the children look up to, they even took up for him when the show went after the Boy Scouts.
The show defended the Boy Scouts' right to free association. Big Gay Al himself admits he was wrong at the end of the episode, and that the Scouts shouldn't be forced to allow him to join.
I cited an example of the glorification of drunkenness in another post.
I saw your example, and frankly, it's pretty weak. The portrayal of drinking is not necessarily a glorification of it.
Al Gore defeated a monster that is "half man, half bear and half pig" and was apparently some kind of super hero because he used the phrase "Excelsior!"
The "monster" is a metaphor for global warming, and doesn't really exist outside of Al Gore's delusional mind in the episode. He goes to very dangerous extremes to defeat ManBearpig, nearly getting the kids killed over it. And when he says "Excelsior!", it's to make him look like a dork.
Trust me on this. I've seen that episode many, many times, and the only way it portrays Gore is as a dangerous lunatic and a total dork.
As for your remark about "ignorance" ... what kind of foolish person would waste time doing research about a television show?
The kind of person who wishes to know what he's talking about?
Have you ever considered what better things you could do with your time other than watching cartoons?
It's a half-hour show which I watch once or twice a week. The time involved is minimal. I find it interesting that you equate watching a cartoon as a waste of time, and I might ask what you watch on TV. I find pretty much everything on network TV to be vapid, pedestrian, degenerate, anti-American crap written by idiots, for idiots.
If you don't want to watch SP because you find it offensive, I respect that. It is offensive. But I suspect you're getting your information form some knee-jerker with an axe to grind, as you've obviously never watched an entire episode of the show.
I'm sorry, I honestly did not intend that remark as an assault. Please accept my apology.
But I still wouldn't brag about having a doll from South Park.
The South won (or very nearly did). In that context, that show was a glorification of drinking.
I might ask what you watch on TV
Wheel of Fortune.
you've obviously never watched an entire episode of the show
I'm proud that it's that obvious.
"... all the while holding Al Gore up to be some kind of superhero who destroys an evil monster. "
Huh. Watch it again.
Evidently.
Then where are you getting your information? Anybody who's seen the ManBearPig episode could not possibly come away from it thinking they portrayed Al Gore in anything but the most negative way possible. I'm not trying to harass you over this, but somebody has been lying to you.
With regard to the Civil War episode: To be honest, I don't really remember. You may be right.
"Can someone please remind me while so many so-called "adults" and so-called "conservatives" watch this show?"
Because it shows how ridiculous the radical fringes are in their belief that they are holier then thou and the rest of us should kneel before them.
Or maybe because it is funny.
Meaningless? Why, I was just told that this cartoon has done more to advance American values than anything else on TV!
Dude -- NO. Drinking was how Cartman kept the adults rowdy and stupid. Halfway through they start to sober up, realize how dumb it is to follow a little kid on a nationwide reprise of the Civil War and start to go home. Cartman tricks them into drinking more so they'll do the dumb thing and follow him.
You have no idea how ignorant you sound. You are trying to argue with a bunch of people who ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'm proud that it's that obvious.
You probably are. You wouldn't let a liberal get away with this kind of crap, would you?
Why, I was just told that this cartoon has done more to advance American values than anything else on TV!
not by me, it's a tv show, that's all.
Perhaps you have a different view of it, but from where I'm sitting, anything that shows the South winning the War of Northern Aggression is glorifying, and by your own admission it was alcohol that led to that near victory.
Ipso facto, the show glorified drunkenness.
Perhaps I sound ignorant on some of the details, but I know glorified drinking when I see it.
Heh, good call.
You can't log on to FreeRepublic without finding a "South Park is TV's gift to conservatives" thread.
"With regard to the Civil War episode: To be honest, I don't really remember. You may be right."
Truckloads of S'mores Schnapps fuel a civil war re-enactment that becomes the second civil war with Cartman playing Jefferson Davis. Klintoon is about to surrender when the rest of the boys show up to save the day.
If the thought of S'mores Schnapps doesn't make ya nauseous to start with, there is no hope fir ya. A darn funny episode.
Lighten up Francis! It is a cartoon!
Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, don't confuse Jefferson Davis for Bobby Lee.
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