Well, yes, I know that Rush says that. I meant that I didn't think you believed it. (I'd also like to remind Rush that he's in the entertainment industry.)

I read the headline to this thread and wondered when Fox ran a story slandering me.

That video gave me really mixed feelings. On the one hand I was rather disgusted at how they targeted Mr. Rogers, a man who dedicated his life to children and bettering their lives. On the other hand, I agree that the whole culture of "everybody is special, everybody wins, everybody blah blah blah" isn't a good thing. One of the things that bothers me most about society today is the entitlement complex that so many people have, and I agree that that complex comes from teaching kids that they're all special little angels no matter what they do and that they all deserve to be treated special. But I don't believe that Mr Rogers is to blame for that at all. I grew up watching him (and Sesame Street) and they helped me feel confident, but not like some little Prince.

Terrible reporting there, but not completely off about some points, in my opinion.

ok - I haven't seen any of the vids - but honestly what's the problem of being special - should our leaders just be telling us "we are but anonymous tools in the machine of our nation" - I'm not up for that message either - though I am okay with "Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it"

I don't think everybody is special. I think everybody should strive to be special though 99% of us will fail. But it is the striving that is important. I do think that too many people think that their mere existence is somehow special. It could just be the mistaken (in my view) idea that "unique" - which we all are - and special are the same thing.

That thinking on my part has very little to do with Mr. Rogers, the validity of his show, or the evilness of his nature (I just found the show boring when I was a kid, no opinion on the value of his message then and not enough information for one now).

Because teaching kids that they're inherently special, no matter what, teaches them that they don't have to work to be special or achieve anything. They just grow up thinking, "Hey, I'm super special! Gimme gimme gimme!" I believe that it is better to teach kids that they're each unique, and that that is special, but that if they want to become something more, someone worthy of respect and honor, then they'll have to work hard and apply themselves in order to achieve success and earn that respect.

If you want to see the glaring consequences of indoctrinating kids into the "I'm special! I'm special!" cult, watch an episode of "My Super Sweet Sixteen." It's horrible.

The other side of that coin would be 'Jesus Camp'.:rolleyes:

While I mostly agree with Alex, I can tell you that there were children watching that show that only knew they were special because Mr. Rogers said so. These children most certainly did not grow up with the sense of entitlement that Jazzman's example portrays. The people who grew up with Mr. Rogers are the ones who are working and controlling and driving this nation, not the 16 year old spoiled brats. People like our Pres.......



Never mind.

In truth, Rogers chief message was not so much "You are special" (though he did often sing a song with just that sentiment), but rather "I like you just the way you are," a message of broad acceptance that I can't really find fault with. That and his closing message (You make every day special by just your being you) scarcely seem like a call to selfish entitlement to me. I honestly doubt Mister Rogers Neighborhood had any significant negative effect on anyone's development. At worst, maybe some obnoxious kid heard Mister Rogers say that and turned to his parents and said, "See? Mr. Rogers likes me just like I am." But I doubt that happened very often. At age five, I knew Mr. Rogers didn't really know me personally. The show still gave me a happy vibe.

And, really, I've been hearing about this "sense of entitlement" issue for as long as I've been sentient, and I'm sure it was around long before I got here. There have always been grade grubbers. There have always been unmotivated, want-something-for-nothing people. There always will be. Fred Rogers' genteel contribution to the culture doesn't even flick the needle on the causation meter.

This is just another way for parents to avoid taking responsibility for spoiling their kids.

I'm special; just like everyone else.