movies/tv Are cartoons going to far?

[Gourgeist 262]

Some of the stuff that people get away with is crazy. I have a  history of being suicidal and attempting and today I was watching one of the newer episodes of Spongebob. In this episode Squidward was getting really depressed because he had no happiest memory. At one point he gets on top of a stool with a rope and says "since I'm so depressed I only have one thing left to do." Then he proceeds to tie the rope on top of the ceiling and instead of hanging himself he was putting up a bird cage. This really rustled my jimmies. I mean REALLY rustled my jimmies. Then again I'm just being a little over reactive. What do you guys think about the content allowed in modern kids shows?

[Champion RD92 8,658]

Wow...that was actually in an episode of Spongebob? Well Spongebob friggin' sucks now so whatever.

 

That does seem like a messed up thing to joke about though :/

[Homura Akemi 974]

I stopped watching Spongebob years ago. :/ He's really annoying in the new episodes nowadays. That does sound pretty weird though. 

Edited May 1, 2013 by Dismajo

[ToxicNinja78 148]

There's no way that's a real episode. Either you're trolling, or you watched some shit online that some other troll put together.

[Love*Potion 575]

I believe it. Cartoons these days suck and really have no plot or true jokes to them. It really is just simple "fart" jokes and really low level comedy. It's as though writers today are making cartoons only for those with an IQ of -1,000,000,000.

 

The funny thing is, all the talented writers aim for younger kids (MLP FiM, Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends) 

[Sir.Flutter Hooves 2,953]

Some of the stuff that people get away with is crazy. I have a  history of being suicidal and attempting and today I was watching one of the newer episodes of Spongebob. In this episode Squidward was getting really depressed because he had no happiest memory. At one point he gets on top of a stool with a rope and says "since I'm so depressed I only have one thing left to do." Then he proceeds to tie the rope on top of the ceiling and instead of hanging himself he was putting up a bird cage. This really rustled my jimmies. I mean REALLY rustled my jimmies. Then again I'm just being a little over reactive. What do you guys think about the content allowed in modern kids shows?

Spongebob sucks now a days, and the only good cartoons are Adventure Time, MLP, Regular Show and Gravity Falls.

 

I do agree, that is taking it to far. Are you sure you weren't watching a creepy pasta called Squidward's suicide?

 

I'm sorry about your history of suicide. If you need anypony to talk to, you can always talk to me.

 

/)

[ToxicNinja78 148]

It's not Squidward's Suicide, I know that. But it definitely wasn't the actual show. I don't care how bad cartoons have gotten, no way they'd get away with something like that.

[Gourgeist 262]

Now it was actually on Nick earlier this morning. And I got a whole story to post in life advice once I get the required post count

[Scootalove 10,689]

Spongebob is basically dying because, of the lack of good moral and jokes they aren't funny at all. It is basically dead now thanks to the writers and Nick. But, I don't think that really happened I highly doubt it. The show is out of ideas so, I guess they wouldn't do a new idea like that.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I think it may be going too far, especially Spongebob, which has gone downhill since the movie. Who would have guessed that eventually the show would be MORE disturbing than the Creepypastas written about it?

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

Yeah, i dont recall seeing an episode like that. Besides its still not as bad as some of the stuff 90's and 50's cartoons got away with. Does Ren and Stimpy ring a bell? Or how about Disney's and Warner Brother's anti-war cartoons. You couldnt mention real war on cartoons today without causing a social outcry. In terms of offensive content, modern cartoons are innocent(except for a select few).

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Nope..  In fact I don't think they go far enough.  Barely ever see guns or alchohol, if ever.  No blood ever.  Rarely ever get the more mature types of jokes that actually have value in them like that squidward one you referenced anymore, not that that one is particularly funny its actually kinda lame (but not because you might find it offensive more like just because its lame).  Powerpuff girls, ed edd n eddy, and billy and mandy are some of the only cartoons in recent history that have had episodes centered around themes that push the limits.

[Starlight Song 44]

Cartoons are loaded with "hidden" stuff like that. Really, cartoons nowadays re so boring and low plotlines with terrible humor. Mlp has been such a refreshing change of pace, I can't even tell you. Every single cartoon I've seen - except mlp- has no development in characters or plot. I think this is why lots of people like it.

[Celtore 2,770]

Just saw the clip and question and my jimmies were also rustled. Probably because it brought back memories of the horrible creepypasta. For the most part though, I don't see many cartoons go with hidden morbid humour.

[MorningFlash 214]

I am starting to really dislike spongebob, mainly because of the new animation style and the fact that Nickelodeon are taking the original concept of spongebob and just twisting it.

[GeneralDirection 1,055]

I'd definitely agree with you there. I have been and still kind of am in the same boat as you, and every time I see shows making those sorts of jokes it disgusts me because it really isn't that funny. It's a serious issue that way more people suffer from than what's even accounted for. But just most cartoons in general are awful these days...again that's probably one of the draws of MLP vs other 'kids' shows. I still get a good kick out of the old ones every now and then.

[Dusty Soul 2,612]

I watched that episode as well, I was so shocked at all the suicide "jokes" in it.  I do think it went WAY too far with those "jokes".  So, I agree with you.

[Mutemutt 773]

You know what they say, nothing is sacred. Honestly, I don't think they went too far at all. Making light of serious situations is just a part of comedy. I guess some people are just more sensitive to the particular topic than I am.

[Zygen 6,066]

Alot of newer cartoons quality overall has declined really, I don't know about how far they take stuff exactly, however having something like this in an episode of sponge bob sounds really stupid. Another reason why I don't like the newer sponge bob I guess.

 

I don't watch many cartoons anymore due to alot of the decline in most of them. I watch MLP and thats basically it really, I occasionally watch random stuff on TV, but thats quite rare really.

 

I don't know how many of these types of things are in cartoons though really due to the lack of me watching them.

 

I do think thats a cruel joke to pull especially on sponge bob, and I think you have the right to be offended.

Edited April 21, 2013 by Zygen

[CamRad18 337]

The whole premise sounds very creepypasta-ish. Definitely agree with the OP (and everyone else, it seems) on this one. I've got the marks to prove my attempts and it's definitely not something to joke about.

[Fluttermoon 192]

Wow, really? I haven't watched any spongebob in a long time. I really liked it back it first aired. There are so many funny episodes back then. :/

 

Now it's just.. bizzare and I'm just thinking everytime I happen to catch it, "Whatever happened to the spongebob that was actually /funny/?" It's so sad it's taken the turn that it did.

[Appetite4Democracy 452]

Some of the stuff that people get away with is crazy. I have a  history of being suicidal and attempting and today I was watching one of the newer episodes of Spongebob. In this episode Squidward was getting really depressed because he had no happiest memory. At one point he gets on top of a stool with a rope and says "since I'm so depressed I only have one thing left to do." Then he proceeds to tie the rope on top of the ceiling and instead of hanging himself he was putting up a bird cage. This really rustled my jimmies. I mean REALLY rustled my jimmies. Then again I'm just being a little over reactive. What do you guys think about the content allowed in modern kids shows?

There was an episode in which Plankton lies down in the middle of the street and directly states that he's waiting to get run over.

 

Then Mr. Krabs laughed at him.

[Shanks 10,816]

Okay, exactly how in the hell is Spongebob able to get away with THAT? How recently was that episode aired exactly? Could you imagine the kind of shitstorm if this kind of joke was in MLP? I have seen cartoons get away with certain things every now and then that make me really wonder sometimes but really suicide? There were several moments in Rocko's Modern Life that fit this category but most of them flew way over my head when I was a kid like I remember this one episode where Rocko said he liked rainbows and all of sudden everyone jumped on him and said how he should be ashamed of himself and I wondered "what is wrong with liking rainbows?" I know today that it was a offhand way of implying that Rocko is gay, but one thing I still don't get is exactly why a rainbow has to be considered "gay" anyway.

 

And there was this one episode of Power Puff Girls where they befriended this other girl and she asked why they don't have a Mommy and they told her how they were accidently created in a lab and she then said "I was an accident too." Aside from the occasional moment like that which I don't really think happens as often as it used to I am much more disturbed at the propoganda and subliminal messages they hide in all forms of entertainment including cartoons geared toward children.

[Myek 25]

No, not at all. We need extreme examples of media and free speech advocates to desensitize religious and pseudoliberal/rightwing morality whether it is in Sweden and France or Iran and Saudi Arabia. If you feel slightly annoyed, then that's just the small price you're paying for liberty, and you know what? It would be all worth it after free speech progresses the development of mankind.

[Bucky McGillyCuddy 956]

Haha when i read the part about squidward putting up the bird cage i laughed pretty damn hard. Makes me want to watch the episode. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.