I dread to think what the council tax is to fund all that emergency equipment for a town of about 12 adults, most of whom work for the emergency services
They could go the Paw Patrol route and outsource all the emergency services to an independently wealthy teenage boy - who has seemingly unlimited technological and engineering prowess - leaving the incompetent local government employees to squabble among themselves.
> PAW Patrol is a TV show for kids. It's very popular, so we might as well ask: "What vision of policing does it suggest?" PAW Patrol is also a very bad TV show.
It's fairly obvious what the video is going to say, for all that it takes 78 minutes to say it :P. Kagi's universal summariser gives these key moments:
Paw Patrol is a popular children's show that has faced criticism for its portrayal of police and authority figures.
The show reinforces common misconceptions about police dogs, such as their reliability in detecting drugs, which is often inaccurate.
Police dogs, especially German Shepherds, have a history of being used for violence and oppression against marginalized communities.
Paw Patrol frames the police and other emergency services as omnipresent and necessary, without critically examining their limitations or issues.
The show portrays government officials and politicians as incompetent or corrupt, justifying the privatization of public services through the Paw Patrol organization.
The show's emphasis on cute, cuddly police dogs like Chase serves to humanize and sanitize the image of law enforcement.
Paw Patrol is primarily a commercial enterprise, designed to sell toys and merchandise to children, rather than to educate or provide meaningful lessons.
The show's themes and messaging reflect the broader relationship between capitalism, policing, and the perpetuation of social inequalities.
Children's media can play a significant role in shaping their perceptions and understanding of institutions like the police.
Critically analyzing the underlying messages and implications of children's entertainment is important for challenging dominant narratives and promoting more nuanced perspectives.
I remember telling my kids how much better TV was when I was young. So to prove my point a player them a random episode of the Ringo Star series if Thomas the Tank. After about 10 minutes my kids were horrified because the Fat Controller was burying Gordon alive (!!) because Gordon didn’t want rain on his new paintwork.
After that I realised maybe kids shouldn’t be exposed to the weird shit people thought was ok in the 80s.
That story is an original from Rev. W. Audry (my grandmother bought a lot of those books for me as a child, I specifically remember that story and Gordon being imprisoned until he accepted his lot in "life").
It wasn't just okay in the 80s / early 90s, it comes from waaaay before then.
> I argue that the series suggests to audiences that we can and should rely on corporations and technological advancements to combat crime and conserve, with responsibilized individuals assisting in this endeavor. Ultimately, PAW Patrol echoes core tenets of neoliberalism and encourages complicity in a global capitalist system that (re)produces inequalities and causes environmental harms.
It would make for a brilliant plot for a whodunnit. Who murdered Norman? Everyone claims to have loved him, yet they all stand to benefit from his demise (i.e., not getting your shit on fire every other episode).
(It turns out to have been a hit-job paid for by the largest Welsh insurance company.)
I think a great intro to RPG for young kids (5-6 year-olds) is Little Wizards. It's originally French, but I have a version in English. It combines enough choice and customization to make it interesting, but without being too complex. It's a world where magic exists, but only kids can use it, so that was a plus for the kids :)
Should probably start with a better developed fictional world, like the Isle of Sodor. Everything from the series opening of Henry being ship up in a tunnel to the later dockside and mountain railroads are all there. I’m not as certain about the later TV shows, but the book’s geography is reasonably legible between story and map.
It's weird, in the map it looks like the wholefish cafe is NOT currently on fire..
I think the real life Pontypandy would have to contain rather a large amount of insurance investigators ;)
I dread to think what the council tax is to fund all that emergency equipment for a town of about 12 adults, most of whom work for the emergency services
They could go the Paw Patrol route and outsource all the emergency services to an independently wealthy teenage boy - who has seemingly unlimited technological and engineering prowess - leaving the incompetent local government employees to squabble among themselves.
There is a hidden dark side to the way Adventure Bay is governed. I suspect Chickaletta is the eminence grise, and rules with an iron wing.
Related:
PAW Patrol's Dark Secret, Explained - Skip Intro
> PAW Patrol is a TV show for kids. It's very popular, so we might as well ask: "What vision of policing does it suggest?" PAW Patrol is also a very bad TV show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwhUpu9MfZ0
It's fairly obvious what the video is going to say, for all that it takes 78 minutes to say it :P. Kagi's universal summariser gives these key moments:
Paw Patrol is a popular children's show that has faced criticism for its portrayal of police and authority figures.
The show reinforces common misconceptions about police dogs, such as their reliability in detecting drugs, which is often inaccurate.
Police dogs, especially German Shepherds, have a history of being used for violence and oppression against marginalized communities.
Paw Patrol frames the police and other emergency services as omnipresent and necessary, without critically examining their limitations or issues.
The show portrays government officials and politicians as incompetent or corrupt, justifying the privatization of public services through the Paw Patrol organization.
The show's emphasis on cute, cuddly police dogs like Chase serves to humanize and sanitize the image of law enforcement.
Paw Patrol is primarily a commercial enterprise, designed to sell toys and merchandise to children, rather than to educate or provide meaningful lessons.
The show's themes and messaging reflect the broader relationship between capitalism, policing, and the perpetuation of social inequalities.
Children's media can play a significant role in shaping their perceptions and understanding of institutions like the police.
Critically analyzing the underlying messages and implications of children's entertainment is important for challenging dominant narratives and promoting more nuanced perspectives.
Worked for Gotham City!
You've clearly given as much effort to thinking about this as I've wasted worrying about political economy on the Isle of Sodor.
I remember telling my kids how much better TV was when I was young. So to prove my point a player them a random episode of the Ringo Star series if Thomas the Tank. After about 10 minutes my kids were horrified because the Fat Controller was burying Gordon alive (!!) because Gordon didn’t want rain on his new paintwork.
After that I realised maybe kids shouldn’t be exposed to the weird shit people thought was ok in the 80s.
That story is an original from Rev. W. Audry (my grandmother bought a lot of those books for me as a child, I specifically remember that story and Gordon being imprisoned until he accepted his lot in "life").
It wasn't just okay in the 80s / early 90s, it comes from waaaay before then.
I think you mean Henry (the episode is The Sad Story of Henry). Gordon is the "oh the indignity" guy.
I still haven't settled the nature of free will and determinism, aka who's actually controlling the trains, them or their drivers?
Do NOT watch Shed 17 to find out the secrets of Sodor
> I argue that the series suggests to audiences that we can and should rely on corporations and technological advancements to combat crime and conserve, with responsibilized individuals assisting in this endeavor. Ultimately, PAW Patrol echoes core tenets of neoliberalism and encourages complicity in a global capitalist system that (re)produces inequalities and causes environmental harms.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/174165902090370...
It was created by Brit. Not hard to see how Thatcher and Reagan would be fans.
Imagine paying taxes knowing that it was that one kid (coughnormancough) causing all of the catastrophes
It would make for a brilliant plot for a whodunnit. Who murdered Norman? Everyone claims to have loved him, yet they all stand to benefit from his demise (i.e., not getting your shit on fire every other episode).
(It turns out to have been a hit-job paid for by the largest Welsh insurance company.)
I'm gutted that you just gave away the ending. Would have watched the hell out of that!
I think a great intro to RPG for young kids (5-6 year-olds) is Little Wizards. It's originally French, but I have a version in English. It combines enough choice and customization to make it interesting, but without being too complex. It's a world where magic exists, but only kids can use it, so that was a plus for the kids :)
https://www.dicemonkey.net/2020/03/13/rpg-review-little-wiza...
Oh theres also a German version. Can't wait to play this. Thank you very much for the hint.
A nice little tidbit, I live in Newtown, often mentioned in Fireman Sam as being the town next to Pontypandy.
https://firemansam.fandom.com/wiki/Newtown
Should probably start with a better developed fictional world, like the Isle of Sodor. Everything from the series opening of Henry being ship up in a tunnel to the later dockside and mountain railroads are all there. I’m not as certain about the later TV shows, but the book’s geography is reasonably legible between story and map.
https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Tank-Engine-Collection-Anniver...
Usually the fans of fiction care way more about continuity and canon than the writers do
I’d love to see this overlain on a map of Wales