Elmo Gets a Beat-Down. Did Elmo have it coming, or are we a naturally violent species?. One of the most enlightening aspects of parenting is getting to observe humans before they’ve grown up and the world has stuck its corrupt claws into them. Even the best of us adults will tell the occasionally white lie or classify a vacation as a business trip on our taxes. In some ways, these are rational responses to a fallen world.
But children aren’t burdened by many of the things that cause adults to steal, lie, or commit violence. And I used to think that violence in particular, was a learned response. After all, they say that the only thing human babies are born knowing how to do is suck (much like the Oakland Raiders—sorry, couldn’t resist). Unfortunately, I can no longer accept this theory.
My twins have an animatronic Elmo doll. When you push a button in Elmo’s hand, he does the Hokey Pokey, singing as he sticks his various appendages in, then out, and eventually shaking them all about. The other day, the boys pulled Elmo off the shelf, set him carefully on the ground and then took turns bashing his head in with plastic sand shovels. The boys giggled uproariously and were having a grand ol' time bashing in Elmo’s brains. What’s truly frightening is that our boys haven’t seen a violent cartoon or anything that would be a model for such behavior. Obviously, there is something deep within the human genome that drives us to beat Elmo with a shovel.
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this wanton display of violence. I’d like to believe that in some way Elmo had it coming. I want there to be a reason why Elmo got his butt kicked. It’s too much to accept that my beautiful toddlers were bludgeoning Elmo just for fun.
So I’ve come up with two possible reasons why they hit Elmo with sand shovels. I plan on clinging to these so as to keep my rosy view of humanity intact.
First of all, I want to believe that the attack on Elmo was a mercy killing. Over the past few weeks, Elmo has had a diminishing ability to Hokey Pokey. Even with fresh batteries, Elmo could very rarely “turn himself around.” On a good day, he’d get halfway around, presenting his Elmo backside. But most days, the little wheel in his foot would just spin, making a sickly whir as Elmo stood impotently frozen in one place. Maybe the kids saw this and thought it was time to return Elmo to the Earth Mother.
The other potential reason they might’ve whacked Elmo, is that Elmo had an annoying hair trigger. He was liable to Hokey Pokey anytime, unprovoked. Should the cat rub up against Elmo’s hand, he’d begin putting his right leg in. Maybe the kids simply found Elmo obnoxious and thought it was time to do him in. Being annoying isn’t the best reason to hit a toy, but it is understandable.
The good thing is that I’ve completely ruled out the possibility that the attack was a hate crime. You have to know what something is before you can hate it. I have no clue what gender, orientation, or species Elmo is.
In the end, I’ve come to the realization that humans are naturally violent and it’s up to good parents to teach the peaceful path. But I’ll admit I found that Elmo to be very, very annoying and while I immediately stopped my kids from beating Elmo into a limp pile of fur, part of me wanted to pick up a shovel and join in. It just seemed fun. ( msn.com )
But children aren’t burdened by many of the things that cause adults to steal, lie, or commit violence. And I used to think that violence in particular, was a learned response. After all, they say that the only thing human babies are born knowing how to do is suck (much like the Oakland Raiders—sorry, couldn’t resist). Unfortunately, I can no longer accept this theory.
My twins have an animatronic Elmo doll. When you push a button in Elmo’s hand, he does the Hokey Pokey, singing as he sticks his various appendages in, then out, and eventually shaking them all about. The other day, the boys pulled Elmo off the shelf, set him carefully on the ground and then took turns bashing his head in with plastic sand shovels. The boys giggled uproariously and were having a grand ol' time bashing in Elmo’s brains. What’s truly frightening is that our boys haven’t seen a violent cartoon or anything that would be a model for such behavior. Obviously, there is something deep within the human genome that drives us to beat Elmo with a shovel.
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this wanton display of violence. I’d like to believe that in some way Elmo had it coming. I want there to be a reason why Elmo got his butt kicked. It’s too much to accept that my beautiful toddlers were bludgeoning Elmo just for fun.
So I’ve come up with two possible reasons why they hit Elmo with sand shovels. I plan on clinging to these so as to keep my rosy view of humanity intact.
First of all, I want to believe that the attack on Elmo was a mercy killing. Over the past few weeks, Elmo has had a diminishing ability to Hokey Pokey. Even with fresh batteries, Elmo could very rarely “turn himself around.” On a good day, he’d get halfway around, presenting his Elmo backside. But most days, the little wheel in his foot would just spin, making a sickly whir as Elmo stood impotently frozen in one place. Maybe the kids saw this and thought it was time to return Elmo to the Earth Mother.
The other potential reason they might’ve whacked Elmo, is that Elmo had an annoying hair trigger. He was liable to Hokey Pokey anytime, unprovoked. Should the cat rub up against Elmo’s hand, he’d begin putting his right leg in. Maybe the kids simply found Elmo obnoxious and thought it was time to do him in. Being annoying isn’t the best reason to hit a toy, but it is understandable.
The good thing is that I’ve completely ruled out the possibility that the attack was a hate crime. You have to know what something is before you can hate it. I have no clue what gender, orientation, or species Elmo is.
In the end, I’ve come to the realization that humans are naturally violent and it’s up to good parents to teach the peaceful path. But I’ll admit I found that Elmo to be very, very annoying and while I immediately stopped my kids from beating Elmo into a limp pile of fur, part of me wanted to pick up a shovel and join in. It just seemed fun. ( msn.com )
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