Gay penguins!

[Neoteny]

I had heard about the actual event, but not about the children's book based on it. Apparently there is some controversy associated with the book And Tango Makes Three, with some library removals, etc. What do you guys think? Gay penguins, yay or nay?

[ParadiceCity9]

Gay penguins came out of nowhere.

[Grooveman2007]

Strange subject matter for a childrens book.

[unriggable]

Obviously makes the baby Jes-guin cry.

[Frigidus]

Strange subject matter for a childrens book.

Yup...too early.

[InkL0sed]

Gay mountain goats, on the other hand, should be a staple of children's literature.

[Neoteny]

Really? You guys don't think that children growing up in a family that is a bit different from the norm should have a positive reinforcement that they should not think of themselves as any less than people with the "standard" familial type?

[reminisco]

Really? You guys don't think that children growing up in a family that is a bit different from the norm should have a positive reinforcement that they should not think of themselves as any less than people with the "standard" familial type?

depends on the family, and how open they are to cultural changes. if the family on the whole is open about sexuality, then perhaps there's a market to be filled by such a book.

but at the most a niche market. publishing something like this will probably move tons of units thanks to the controversy kicked up about the penguins being gay. i'm willing to bet the median age the book is purchased FOR, not necessarily BY, but the median age expected to actually produce sales for this title are the 18-40 homosexual market. in addition to those looking to have or adopt children.

the gay market is a powerful demographic. just look at how much money the collectibles market generates each year...

[strike wolf]

Strange subject of a kid's book indeed.

[apey]

[muy_thaiguy]

Kid: Mommy, daddy, what does "gay penguins" mean?
Mother: ...
Father: Where did you here that?!
Kid: Over there in the kids section!
Father: You sure?
Kid: Yeah, here's the book even.
Father:...
Mother:
Father:
Librarian: Is there anything I can help you with?
Father: Yes, could you explain to me why you have a children's book with this in it?!
Librarian:


Just a guess, but, I think that would about cover it.

[Skittles!]

Maybe to you.. I don't think my parents would have anything against it. That's just them though.

[apey]

If it were me in that ^^^^position and my kid fount it there would be a lot more expletives

[muy_thaiguy]

Gaah! The electricity just went out for a few minutes in my nieghborhood!

[Neoteny]

:/

This was pretty much the response I was afraid of getting...

[Frigidus]

:/

This was pretty much the response I was afraid of getting...

It's my opinion that pointing out differences between people can only be harmful to children. Kids aren't naturally judgmental, we make them that way when we point it out to them.

[MeDeFe]

On the other hand, if they've already been told that these differences are a bad thing the only way to correct the damage is most likely to give them a second point of view telling them that they aren't.

[Neoteny]

I see it more as a tool to make a preemptive point. I'm pretty sure that my children are going to encounter xenophobic perspectives, so I would use it to counteract that. I agree that children aren't inherently xenophobic, but those are certain characteristics that can be easily picked up from parents.

[brooksieb]

im pretty sure this is it...

[muy_thaiguy]

im pretty sure this is it...

It doesn't work...

[brooksieb]

im pretty sure this is it...

It doesn't work...

alot of things dont work in my brain...

[Frigidus]

I see it more as a tool to make a preemptive point. I'm pretty sure that my children are going to encounter xenophobic perspectives, so I would use it to counteract that. I agree that children aren't inherently xenophobic, but those are certain characteristics that can be easily picked up from parents.

Agreed. However, school almost always loses out to parents when it comes to values. That said, I doubt parents will have even told their children what "being gay" is, let alone what it entails...in the end though it comes down to one simple question: Are you a good parent?

[Neoteny]

I see it more as a tool to make a preemptive point. I'm pretty sure that my children are going to encounter xenophobic perspectives, so I would use it to counteract that. I agree that children aren't inherently xenophobic, but those are certain characteristics that can be easily picked up from parents.

Agreed. However, school almost always loses out to parents when it comes to values. That said, I doubt parents will have even told their children what "being gay" is, let alone what it entails...in the end though it comes down to one simple question: Are you a good parent?

Indeed. Does anyone else find it appropriate that I got my 1000th post in a gay penguin thread?

[sam_levi_11]

my little sister knew what it was when she was 8. She showed the sort of attitude that kids do, like its unbeleivably wierd. However when she was told at 11 i was bi she seemed to realise that its nothing bad...

[Neoteny]

my little sister knew what it was when she was 8. She showed the sort of attitude that kids do, like its unbeleivably wierd. However when she was told at 11 i was bi she seemed to realise that its nothing bad...

Good for her.