Comments on: Ask Urban Scout #7: Hate for Hating Haters

By: DeAnna

DeAnna — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:54:02 +0000

As is so often the case, old school Sesame Street has the answer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz0DqAUWUpI

(This came from a record my partner had when he was a kid. He was singing it to me just the other day, and I was stoked to find it online.)

But it made me think about some cultural differences between my childhood and current child-raising beliefs. I can’t even imagine them playing this song on Sesame Street today, because it doesn’t tell kids that they should get over being angry, or how to take a “time out” and count to ten. It’s just an honest look at emotions, and helps kids learn how to name their experiences.

So I did a little looking into the topic, and it turns out that old Sesame Street episodes have just been re-issued on a new DVD with the warning that they are appropriate for adults only. This is the real actual original show, not the “adult” Sesame Street you might be picturing if you are a disgusting pervert. Read more about that here if you want http://www.boingboing.net/2007/11/20/sesame-street-dvd-re.html

By: dreamofstars

dreamofstars — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:13:35 +0000

To me, it all comes down to the “societal” view that we should ignore our emotions, which are completely natural and instinctive, and abide by laws and regulations and “follow the rules.” Hate, love, anger, hurt, sadness, all are natural instinctive emotions that are suppressed too much in this day. Because they are suppressed, they can turn dangerous when the emotions are finally released. It all comes back to a “societal” view that we, as civilized humans, should ignore our feelings, especially males of this society. I believe that this person who wrote you this letter is confusing hate with violence, hate being an emotion, violence being an action. One does not have to be violent just because he hates, it all depends on how the individual reacts upon his emotions, and how freely he expresses them. Too often in this society, that results in violence, due to repression, and because one sees no other outlet, and because this society encourages aggressive behavior.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:30:38 +0000

I believe many shun hate because the common hate has zero origins in love and acts solely as a divisive force, an all too prevasive manifestation of insecurities and confusions which keeps us distanced and cuts the bonds of community. Rarely does anyone want to experience that push from the receiving end, so instead of discerning different the sources and the possible gifts of anger the sheepish write hate off all together as another unpleasant and unwanted human device, much like violence.

Some hate because they don’t want to see, some hate because they do.

Sometimes approaching something contemptable with undiluted openess and understanding will change it - a la Luke and his Dark Father.

Hate on. (:

By: suburban bushwacker

suburban bushwacker — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 09:13:27 +0000

you do get ‘em don’t you

By: Urban Scout

Urban Scout — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:42:42 +0000

Haha. Totally.

By: vashti

vashti — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:34:59 +0000

Gotta love that “easily influenced”, which only kicks in when you’re listening to something They don’t want you to hear. A bit like “brainwashing”, “radicalization”, and other assorted newspeak.