GeoffM

Thomas the Tank Engine had to shut the hell up to save children everywhere | Tracy Van Slyke | Comment is free | theguardian.com

No wonder I grew up the way I am. Or maybe the author has some issues she needs to work through with her therapist.

Uncle_Bob

some of the comments are good ...

"You're alright in my book, kid. What do you make of Peppa Pig?"

To which someone replies

"Bacon"

kimilseung

This is not old news, its often commented on. Its an old story written by some reverend decades ago, and so reflects the views of the time and author. Its not going to ruin any kids in isolation, but the stories contain lots of elements that would not be written today. I have seen many many episodes with my daughter.

Pulaski

Puh-lease! If it hadn't been in the Grauniad I'd have mistaken it for satire!

kimilseung

What I find alarming is that this is even news, why so many peoples critical faculties turn themselves off when it comes to children's media I do not know. There is a lot of media illiteracy out there. The same people who may review adult media think that kids media is less worthy, when probably it is the reverse. Its how Disney and Nickelodeon manage to get away with all the crap that they broadcast. Stick the kids in front of it, cause it says its for kids, never mind the quality.

SultanOfSwing

Now that's a load of bollocks and a waste of bandwidth if ever I saw one. I watched Thomas the Tank Engine all the bloody time when I was a kid and all I remember it as was a fun show about talking trains.

Christ on a bike, people need to remember that these things only take on negative connotations if you attach those connotations yourself.

Once again, I'm embarrassed to be alive in these arse-bogglingly banal times

Pulaski

And you grew up to be a normal, rational, well-adjusted adult.

SultanOfSwing

Bloody right I did. If more people were like me, the world wouldn't be so full of insufferable little self-important twats as it is.

Nutek

Steady now. Peppa Pig is one of the best things on TV. Well, George is anyway.

AmerLisa

My grandson lives and breathes it!

Anian

Weird how she thinks that "train engineer" is supposed to be a profession for anyone to aspire to, and that the lack of female steam engines on tv is not encouraging girls to do it. If modern electric trains were anywhere near as complicated then she might have a point. Pays really well for such a mundane job though!

It's funny how the old episodes had the trains doing bad things with no consequences beyond a minor mishap. The newer episodes actually have a more moral conclusion. The whole thing annoys me anyway, certainly not one of the better children's shows.

scrubbedexpat099

I was wondering if this was not some sort of leg pull, but I fear it is genuine.

I wonder what her view would be on Bill and Ben. Always wondered about their sexuality.

Little Weed should be OK, well in Colorado anyway.

Sally Redux

Those bloggy things they have in the Guardian now are just to provoke comment.

They had one the other day about how women don't get less attractive as they get older.

Sorry I haven't even read it, but I also think there are some issues about stuff we show children, as Kim says.

It's not just about pulling "Little Black Sambo" but also providing a positive balance. A lot of the girls' stuff is still very much about looks/dating.

Sally Redux

The thing I liked about it was how the trains were mostly vicious maniacs practising all kinds of workplace harassment

tonrob

When I was a boy, Thomas was just in beautifully illustrated books, not the shitty TV show narrated by Ringo. My daughter's well into trains, and while I stop short of letting her see Thomas with an American accent (the horror), I note that many of the later shows bore no resemblance to the books at all.