Do you think the show is fat-shaming some of the characters?

[fridaynightdestination]

I'm fat and I wanna lose weight before I end up with diabetes or something, but I've been too lazy. I dunno, I'll figure something out. Anyway, I never got the impression that the show was fat shaming anyone, so no.

[Refractive Reflections]

Fat-shaming now? Ugh... aren't we looking a bit too deeply at something that isn't there? What's next, somebody's going to make a comment about how this show has something against Asian Indians and Middle Easterners since there isn't one single character who is on the Nick show?

Or somebody feels offended that Raph is shorter than Donnie and Leo, so it implies that shorter people feel insecure/temperamental and somehow can't lead? Or with Donnie's bizarre crush or Sir Malachi's obsession with a board game, that someone will feel offend because it implies that nerdy geeks are always creepy and weird?

If a show really wanted to be offensive (which I highly doubt since it would be suicide for a kids show), it would be a little more obvious. Besides, does society really want to pride itself in having a "social justice" form of PCness to all forms of diversity? Pfft, just look at the shows like The Simpsons or South Park and yet those are well-received despite their more obvious forms of harsh satire against differing demographics. For example, if anything, if those same people are supposedly finding fat-shaming in Nick TMNT, they should be beyond outraged with The Simpsons in its portrayal of Homer Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Chief Wiggum, Krusty the Clown, and Comic Book Guy for lasting for so many years.

It's interesting how some viewers choose to be selectively offended with particular programs rather than deciding to not view any television programs that contain a specific form of microaggression or subtle bigotry.

[kelligrafie]

There's too many long words in this thread.

And I'm pretty sure most of them are being used by people who don't actually know what they mean, they just wrote them because they look clever.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by xChri5x

http://i.imgur.com/NOIv2YT.jpg

Tumblr in a nutshell

AHHhh... the age of being "opportunistically offended". You know things have gone to crap when people claim offense at something simply because their pea-brains have recognized that someone may be offended by it.

People need to be reminded that being "offended" doesn't mean that someone committed a crime against them. Get over it. Everyone does not get a trophy.

[raphmike]

people look beautiful outside. i am short too that ok alway beautliful that
where i learn form tv show.

[Kendamu]

Fat shaming? Not in the slightest.

[alpaca witch]

I'd consider myself a progressive thinker and advocate for what some would call "social justice" but really most of it just comes down to you know... common decency and just NOT being an asshat? With that said, I really can't see how this show would be guilty of fat shaming. If anything, it has more sympathetic and realistic overweight characters than most other shows could claim. Like what exactly do you want? All fat characters to be portrayed as perfect, untouchable white knights who do know wrong? That's just as silly and unrealistic as the alternative. I wouldn't even say Timothy's fat really, just chubby. He's pretty active even if he's out of shape, although now he's quite literally out of shape as a writhing mass of organs but still.

The only time I can remember being a bit disappointed in the show was with the whole "April derp" thing for various reasons. First of all putting annoying and outdated memes in cartoons is stupid as hell. It may have been funny at the time you wrote the script but by the time it gets animated and aired it's most certainly out of date. Memes have a shelf life of like, a couple weeks at most before they become overdone and irritating.
The other problem I had with it was due to the fact that the word "derp" is intended to make fun of special needs people. I know most don't see it that way, and the writers probably just saw it as a funny internet word, but bottom line that's where it comes from. I'm all for poking fun at anybody but it's really not funny when the person you're making fun of can't understand you or has no control over the thing you're making fun of. Like wow, congrats, you picked on a special needs child good job! What next, you're going to brag about how you beat a paraplegic in an uphill race, or how you can beat up your 5 year old sister? It's just the lowest common denominator and just not really funny in the slightest. I'm sure I'll get some sort of flack for this post but honestly, if you feel upset or something then you're probably part of the problem and need to look into why it is you're upset in the first place.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by alpaca witch

I'd consider myself a progressive thinker and advocate for what some would call "social justice" but really most of it just comes down to you know... common decency and just NOT being an asshat? With that said, I really can't see how this show would be guilty of fat shaming. If anything, it has more sympathetic and realistic overweight characters than most other shows could claim. Like what exactly do you want? All fat characters to be portrayed as perfect, untouchable white knights who do know wrong? That's just as silly and unrealistic as the alternative. I wouldn't even say Timothy's fat really, just chubby. He's pretty active even if he's out of shape, although now he's quite literally out of shape as a writhing mass of organs but still.

The only time I can remember being a bit disappointed in the show was with the whole "April derp" thing for various reasons. First of all putting annoying and outdated memes in cartoons is stupid as hell. It may have been funny at the time you wrote the script but by the time it gets animated and aired it's most certainly out of date. Memes have a shelf life of like, a couple weeks at most before they become overdone and irritating.
The other problem I had with it was due to the fact that the word "derp" is intended to make fun of special needs people. I know most don't see it that way, and the writers probably just saw it as a funny internet word, but bottom line that's where it comes from. I'm all for poking fun at anybody but it's really not funny when the person you're making fun of can't understand you or has no control over the thing you're making fun of. Like wow, congrats, you picked on a special needs child good job! What next, you're going to brag about how you beat a paraplegic in an uphill race, or how you can beat up your 5 year old sister? It's just the lowest common denominator and just not really funny in the slightest. I'm sure I'll get some sort of flack for this post but honestly, if you feel upset or something then you're probably part of the problem and need to look into why it is you're upset in the first place.

I never heard "derp" before seeing the ep recently as I just got into this a month or so ago. I didn't know it was an internet meme, but I also don't frequent sites that have them, I guess. I use FB, but mostly for the messaging system to my folks back home.

[The Big Bad]

Originally Posted by alpaca witch

I'd consider myself a progressive thinker and advocate for what some would call "social justice" but really most of it just comes down to you know... common decency and just NOT being an asshat? With that said, I really can't see how this show would be guilty of fat shaming. If anything, it has more sympathetic and realistic overweight characters than most other shows could claim. Like what exactly do you want? All fat characters to be portrayed as perfect, untouchable white knights who do know wrong? That's just as silly and unrealistic as the alternative. I wouldn't even say Timothy's fat really, just chubby. He's pretty active even if he's out of shape, although now he's quite literally out of shape as a writhing mass of organs but still.

Again, the issue here is that fatness is consistently used as part of a punchline, used in order to sell just how pathetic and unpleasant various characters are. That's all fat characters usually are: fat and funny. Very rarely are they things like three-dimensional or heroic. And while the show's portrayals aren't especially egregious, they are still part of the problem--the problem being defined as "they make it easier for people to believe what Konchadunga believes about fat people, i.e.: that it'd be much better for everyone if they didn't exist."

So what's the alternative? Not to make them perfect, but to use them in roles that are different from the ones we usually see. For example, if we're limiting ourselves to existing roles, Kurtzman could have been a good fat character. Or, if we're shooting for the moon, April herself. That would have been fantastic, because fat people--and especially fat women--are very rarely portrayed as desirable. Granted, I in no way trust the writers to have done so without consequently making the character the butt of fat jokes, but I can dream.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by alpaca witch

The other problem I had with it was due to the fact that the word "derp" is intended to make fun of special needs people.

It isn't and wasn't. It's an expression to indicate clumsiness, failure, or a mistake.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by alpaca witch

I'd consider myself a progressive thinker and advocate for what some would call "social justice" but really most of it just comes down to you know... common decency and just NOT being an asshat? With that said, I really can't see how this show would be guilty of fat shaming. If anything, it has more sympathetic and realistic overweight characters than most other shows could claim. Like what exactly do you want? All fat characters to be portrayed as perfect, untouchable white knights who do know wrong? That's just as silly and unrealistic as the alternative. I wouldn't even say Timothy's fat really, just chubby. He's pretty active even if he's out of shape, although now he's quite literally out of shape as a writhing mass of organs but still.

The only time I can remember being a bit disappointed in the show was with the whole "April derp" thing for various reasons. First of all putting annoying and outdated memes in cartoons is stupid as hell. It may have been funny at the time you wrote the script but by the time it gets animated and aired it's most certainly out of date. Memes have a shelf life of like, a couple weeks at most before they become overdone and irritating.
The other problem I had with it was due to the fact that the word "derp" is intended to make fun of special needs people. I know most don't see it that way, and the writers probably just saw it as a funny internet word, but bottom line that's where it comes from. I'm all for poking fun at anybody but it's really not funny when the person you're making fun of can't understand you or has no control over the thing you're making fun of. Like wow, congrats, you picked on a special needs child good job! What next, you're going to brag about how you beat a paraplegic in an uphill race, or how you can beat up your 5 year old sister? It's just the lowest common denominator and just not really funny in the slightest. I'm sure I'll get some sort of flack for this post but honestly, if you feel upset or something then you're probably part of the problem and need to look into why it is you're upset in the first place.

[Leo656]

That's his "Raphael Face".

[Cure]

I do agree that that April clone was annoying as f*ck because it used dumb internet lingo, but not because it was some slight against people with mental handicaps. That's looking way too much into it.

[The Big Bad]

Originally Posted by Ninjinister

It isn't and wasn't. It's an expression to indicate clumsiness, failure, or a mistake.

...by calling back to the sound mentally disabled people allegedly make. Still a slur, and still a word used to let the audience know that the character isn't to be considered worthy of respect or empathy.

Cure: That's looking way too much into it.

I see this come up a lot, and I am always baffled. I mean, we're fans. Looking too much into things is what we do. So why is it fine everywhere else but not when it comes to taking note of the way the show can be problematic? Defending the show by saying that it's "just a show" feels like the worst thing you can call it. If it's "just a show"--insubstantial and inconsequential and not worth thinking about on any deep level--then what the heck are we all doing here?

[BubblyShell22]

We're here because we're fans of TMNT and genuinely like the show. But just because of that, I'm not going to accuse it of fat shaming characters or making fun of handicapped people when it clearly isn't. People who believe that are looking too much into it and thinking a little too deeply than the show intends. Tim wasn't a horrible character. He was out of shape and wanted to be a hero but failed at it and got himself mutated. April Derp was just a failed experiment and said "Derp" probably because she couldn't say much else except for "April give hugs." It was meant to be humorous but I don't think it had anything to do with making fun of handicapped people.

[alpaca witch]

Originally Posted by Powder

http://i60.tinypic.com/9h3m6d.png

What's even the point of this reply?

Originally Posted by Cure

I do agree that that April clone was annoying as f*ck because it used dumb internet lingo, but not because it was some slight against people with mental handicaps. That's looking way too much into it.

Originally Posted by The Big Bad

...by calling back to the sound mentally disabled people allegedly make. Still a slur, and still a word used to let the audience know that the character isn't to be considered worthy of respect or empathy.



I see this come up a lot, and I am always baffled. I mean, we're fans. Looking too much into things is what we do. So why is it fine everywhere else but not when it comes to taking note of the way the show can be problematic? Defending the show by saying that it's "just a show" feels like the worst thing you can call it. If it's "just a show"--insubstantial and inconsequential and not worth thinking about on any deep level--then what the heck are we all doing here?

I'm pretty much going to echo what the big bad said here since I couldn't have put it better myself. It's easy to just brush off these things as "not important" or say they don't matter. At the risk of sounding preachy I'll just say I know what it's like to have that attitude, I did at one point in the distant past. But since then I've worked with special needs children and adults so it's just heartbreaking to me that people would even consider picking on a group of people who can't even fight back. That's just the lowest of the low and if you seriously think you're cool and edgy for laughing at the handicapped then you have a lot of growing up to do. Especially if you're an adult, that's just beyond pathetic.

You can plug your ears and call me a SJW all you want (as if that somehow negates anything I've said and declares you the victor) but even if you don't agree with me, at least think about what's been said instead of just brushing it off. There's no shame in admitting you've messed up, especially since more often than not you aren't aware until informed. All I ask is to be a little more conscientious. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

[Cure]

Originally Posted by alpaca witch

at least think about what's been said instead of just brushing it off.

I have thought about it; you guys still look way too much into it.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

We're here because we're fans of TMNT and genuinely like the show. But just because of that, I'm not going to accuse it of fat shaming characters or making fun of handicapped people when it clearly isn't. People who believe that are looking too much into it and thinking a little too deeply than the show intends. Tim wasn't a horrible character. He was out of shape and wanted to be a hero but failed at it and got himself mutated. April Derp was just a failed experiment and said "Derp" probably because she couldn't say much else except for "April give hugs." It was meant to be humorous but I don't think it had anything to do with making fun of handicapped people.

Failed clone or not.... April Derp was clearly mentally retarded.... and there lies the insult.

Honestly I kinda didn't want to hear that word in a TMNT cartoon. The term is far from outdated too. 9Gag uses it all the time in their Derp and Derpina strips.

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by Cure

I do agree that that April clone was annoying as f*ck because it used dumb internet lingo, but not because it was some slight against people with mental handicaps. That's looking way too much into it.

Originally Posted by The Big Bad

I see this come up a lot, and I am always baffled. I mean, we're fans. Looking too much into things is what we do. So why is it fine everywhere else but not when it comes to taking note of the way the show can be problematic? Defending the show by saying that it's "just a show" feels like the worst thing you can call it. If it's "just a show"--insubstantial and inconsequential and not worth thinking about on any deep level--then what the heck are we all doing here?

Typically we look deeply into things like character and plot development, and not having our perspective focused on overanalyzing every which way to read for any perceived offensive subtext against a particular demographic. If having that highly sensitive perspective seems to be one's overt main perspective in this show (or approaching any show), then what does that imply about the viewer then? Besides, should we really be giving a show such grief over perceived problems, when our society has far worse PC offenders (i.e. The Simpsons and South Park) that society accepts (to an almost cultural iconic level) based on viewership ratings?

[BubblyShell22]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Failed clone or not.... April Derp was clearly mentally retarded.... and there lies the insult.

Honestly I kinda didn't want to hear that word in a TMNT cartoon. The term is far from outdated too. 9Gag uses it all the time in their Derp and Derpina strips.

She was also deformed, too. Are we going to say the show makes fun of deformed people also by this character design? Come on! I didn't see anything insulting about it at all. It was a failed clone and nothing more, and they never even used retarded in the show anyway, so I really don't see the problem with it. And as RR said, The Simpsons and even South Park have done way worse than Nick TMNT has in making fun of things.