'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40 • Hacker News Board

Re: 'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40

#151

Post by virgil_disgr4ce » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 2:13 AM UTC

littlecorner wrote: post #144

paradox460 wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My mother used to call it the "Disney story," due to it's utter prevalence in their media. Be it death or divorce, seems like you cant throw a rock at the Disney catalog without hitting it

Many of the fairy tales have it too. Maybe its something deeper common to humanity

This is interesting; I always assumed that the Grimm's tales and all kinds of folklore throughout cultures and history were responding to anxieties about, say, super-high rates of infant death.

It would be, in a way, hilarious if it was all just lazy writing the entire time.

Re: 'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40

#152

Post by complianceowl » Wed, Dec 03, 2025, 4:11 PM UTC

throwworhtthrow wrote: post #99

complianceowl wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, your comment reminds me of something my wife and I were talking about. We have been starting to let our child have a little more screen time and choose what he wants to watch (within the parameters we set). Some shows and movies seem harmless, initially, but then we noticed in so many kids movies (e.g., Zootopia, Sing), they're always yelling at each other, expressing anger, frustration, and hostility towar…

Try the PBS Kids app. The shows are consistently cast with good role-model children and adults, without being preachy. Many episodes show how to resolve mistakes, frustration, and conflict in beneficial ways. In comparison, the behavior in the kids shows from other producers (Disney, Nickelodeon, etc.) sometimes presents nasty behavior and name-calling as either inevitable, or something that's "someone else's problem…

Great recommendation! I can definitely see the difference (e.g. Daniel Tiger). I agree with your philosophy about not hiding the existence of bad behavior, but teaching them how to deal with it. And I'm sure once my little guy grows, he'll gravitate towards Mr. Beast and all that, but at least I'll set a baseline so that that's not all he watches.

Re: 'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40

#153

Post by complianceowl » Wed, Dec 03, 2025, 4:12 PM UTC

jrussino wrote: post #119

throwworhtthrow wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try the PBS Kids app. The shows are consistently cast with good role-model children and adults, without being preachy. Many episodes show how to resolve mistakes, frustration, and conflict in beneficial ways. In comparison, the behavior in the kids shows from other producers (Disney, Nickelodeon, etc.) sometimes presents nasty behavior and name-calling as either inevitable, or something that's "someone else's problem…

> Try the PBS Kids app Great recommendation. Angela Collier has a recent piece on kids' television and PBS in particular that is worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DGyatqN63RZ4

I like PBS in general. My dad and I had a membership for many years. Their productions are slow and calming.