((If mistyped, sorry))
HIV-positive muppet joins S. African show.
Sesame Street will introduce an HIV-positive Muppet character to the cast of it's South African program this fall, and is discussing a similar move in the United States.
The character hasn't been names or designed, but it will probably be a "monster" puppet like Grover or Elmo.
"We know that she'll be lively, alert, friendly, outgoing, and HIV-positive," said Joel Schnieder, vice president of Sesame Workshop, which produces the show.
.... note the SHE'LL
.... this is good.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. BRAIN MALF-*click*
[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: Arttemis the Rogue ]
Kids can get aids through ways other than sex. In many ways aids can be very much like the inhereted or acquired disabilities Sesame Street has been teaching kids about for years.
Is the muppet HIV positive, is the puppeteer HIV positive? Does the muppet give AIDS to other muppets? What?
quote:
This insanity brought to you by KestarTheBlue:
Yes. It is most good. Finally at last, children will learn not to flee in terror from HIV positive puppets! Now, if only Bert and Erny would come out of the damn closet...
I loved that game, where you play as bert and go on a suicidal rampage after ernie is taking prisoner by grover
quote:
Elvish Crack Piper impressed everyone with:
I loved that game, where you play as bert and go on a suicidal rampage after ernie is taking prisoner by grover
Ah yes... of course... THAT game... certainly... get the tranq darts! We ALL liked that one, I think... For the sake of your lives! The tranquilizers! The tranquilizers!
So I think rather than teaching about the disease and about having tolerance here, it would just kind of confuse kids somewhat. I mean if they want to put it in, that's fine. I just don't think it's entirely necessary.
Lyinar Ka`Bael, Piney Fresh Druidess - Luclin
To be honest, I was tested when I was three. Reason? I had blood transfusions when I was a baby.
When my aunt found out mom was having me tested, she said I couldn't be in her house until the results came back.
...... prejudice in it's many forms. 
Lyinar Ka`Bael, Piney Fresh Druidess - Luclin
quote:
Check out the big brain on Lyinar Ka`Bael!
Yeah, it's good. But I think we don't have as big of an issue about it here in the US. Not after all that with Bryan White back in the 80s.
While it isn't as big an issue in the USA as it is in other places, it is an issue nonetheless. The lives of the HIV positive are difficult enough without being socially outcast in addition, and most middle aged adults have never heard of Bryan White, let alone children. [ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: Maradön² ]
So while I think it's a good thing, and could be beneficial, I just don't agree that it's absolutely necessary. I think we're more tolerant of HIV-positive people in general, and something like this might actually *harm* things, because children would realize HIV-positive people are different. And you know how sometimes kids treat people that are different, no matter what they're told about them.
Of course on the flip side, kids are learning about the disease, and how HIV-positive people are just like everyone else. So it could go either way, I suppose. I just don't see an urgent need to do it, so I think it's unnecessary.
Lyinar Ka`Bael, Piney Fresh Druidess - Luclin
In China, one out of six people has never heard of AIDS, much less knows how it works or is transmitted. Apparently there are a lot of people who think it can be transmitted by touch. Doctors literally won't get near patients with it because they don't know how to deal with it.
China had thought, in a show of incredibly arrogant stupidity, that it was a problem of other countries. But China has a serious problem with intravenous drugs. It has in some places legalized prostitution where the prostitutes aren't forced to get regular medical screenings or use protection. Worse yet, they've never screened blood donations until the last year or so, which means that whatever problem they have now is only going to get much, MUCH worse before it gets better.
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
quote:
Lyinar Ka`Bael stopped staring at Deedlit long enough to write:
Yes, AIDS is a part of life here
People that contract AIDS the good old fashioned way in the US are basically all high school educated, so I'm not sure how a puppet will help. If it really is some sort of problem with little kids treating other little kids diffrently, which I doubt, preschool teachers could handle it just like an other "Now just because they are different..." discussion.
