YAB a little U.

I personally have a dislike of camouflage-themed clothing for my DS - also anything that is too obviously branded. I also object to all labelling of boys' clothing with "here comes trouble" and the like (equally, labelling of girls' clothing with "little princess").

However, my DS loves pirate-themed things. He has a foam cutlass and hook, a pirate tricorn hat, skull and crossbones flag, etc etc. His birthday is next week, and it will have a loose pirate theme. He adores the Disney Peter Pan film, so his enjoyment of all things pirate come from Captain Hook and Smee (though he definitely recognises that Captain Hook is not particularly nice!) And as a family we have an interest in sailing and boats, so it's all related.

As an aside, if you think back to those seafaring types who helped to make Britain "Great" (Ralegh, Nelson et al), they were probably described as pirates by those they fought against. In centuries past, letters of marque were official permits issued to ships' captains entitling them LEGALLY to perform acts which would come under the heading of piracy these days.

Oy aviatrix!

apostrophe, I started a thread like this many moons ago and got much the same response. Didn't really change my view - maybe it is because I sailed 2 handed off the coast of Afica some years ago and it wasn't Captain Pugwash I was worried about.

(The only pirate I like is molly.)

Astrophe - the name difference doesn't bother me. I can tell us apart at any rate

Missed this thread before. Just posting so my JP nickname can be in the thread.

.... although am a not so "Jolly" Pirate after DS's antics last night.

Ds was genuinely shocked that pirates were bad. He had no idea. His school teacher had done a whole term topic on them without mentioning this fact. He got a book from the older non fiction section and was not impressed at her jolly roger version.

Hi Apostrophe I've seen threads where MNers have got very upset when somebody has a similar name to them and demanded they change...but if it doesn't bother you, it doesn't bother me. And the opportunities for amusing threads like this are good.

children are pirates

lol at accusations of replying to my own posts. If I were tempted to do that, I wouldn't change my name by two letters.

I've never come across Astrophe before (hello - I don't think I'm copying but I only joined Nov 2007 and used to be variations on a Wulf theme)

Oh, and Ive been around for a few years too...

Ahhh...my turn to be

I cant even say I was not wearing my glasses - no excuse!!

<<Hijack - wow, that's a bit of an improvement! Hope they hit the spot...>>

Has anyone read the Alexander Mcall Smith book in the Scotland street series where Domenica goes in search of modern pirates? (Its very funny)

You're quite right bloss, they are very different...but I still don't like it much. I don't like seeing little boys (or girls) playing wars/army either, although of course their imaginations can't conceive of what real wars are like (and enither can mine I'm sure), and their fantasies bear little resemblence to the reality.

(PS -Bloss - I finally managed to get Orchard toys to send some things over - convinced them not to charge me VAT, and got them to pack it in two 'less than 2kg' boxes and send sea mail via royal mail. Total cost 17 pounds, as opposed to the 80 odd the first quoted! Happily, the boxes came airmail anyway, so I got them within a week!)

Except for the word, what is there in common between these two things? How are they related, except in your head?

Children's pirates shout 'Ahoy there', have wooden legs and swords, and make treasure maps. In the children's world, they don't even steal the treasure FGS, it's just there.

The only similarity between somalian pirates and children's pirates is the name. YABU.

And when does a pirate become a privateer?

Off to pick up DD from nursery; thanks all for making me laugh over my lunch. Espeically the jokes featuring 'arrrrrrrr's.

Well, blimey. So what's our take on Sir Wally Raleigh then, pirate that he was?

apostrophe - when you come back - are you senorapostrophe? If yes, I think you have actually been around longer than me...not sure.

I guess the confusion has been enhanced by our agreement with one another

ba ha ha ha ... what an idiot i am for not spotting that! d'oh!

PMSL at all the people who can't see the difference between apostrophe and astrophe crowing.

Lolling now at morespamthanglam - having read you post more thoroughly -

"I know some people reply to their own posts to get their point across, especially when referring to tart/bimbo clothes, under a different name..."

hilarious - as though its a really common occurence for people to "refer to tart/bimbo clothes, under a different name" This thread is too funny.

Astro LOL at the talking to oneself.....



read names better huh?

I can recall old threds on exactlys ame idea always went in favour of the OP 9and I dont have girls but often rasie any eyebrow ats oem of the crap they wear.Cinderella?Saved by the prince/ Save yerself girly!!).

Sorry [bush]

Except that I'm not, do feel a little sad for MN gone by even though I know nobody else cares much which is OK.

Thanks sineoncrazy! I think its the first time I have posted on one of Apostrophes threads, so this hasn't happened before!

Peachy - LOL at 'Pirates against violence".

Only read OP

YANBU. Imo.

I actively avoid pirate wear and have done for years, current news on making me more certain.

DS3 had a pirate days at school, so in despair I sent him in with a shirt covered in CND logo's and the motto 'Pirates gainst violence' added .

Astrophe - Don't worry - I noticed you were a different poster!!!

LOL, no no its not Apostrophe, Its astrophe here - different poster! I've seen Apostrophe about and wondered if she or others think I am impersonating her - but I'm not. I've been about for quite a while actually - about 3.5 years - so maybe she is impersonating me.

you talk about what people think if had clothes taht drug dealers wear

erm n this day and age be what ever they got on
Ds1 and 2 both worn pirate get ups dd wears that or princess stuff and so far none my kids shown any tendencies
to be one

hell they even read stories with cute cuddly bears in but know that bears in rl are not cuddly

ha!!!!! pmsl!!!!!
so few people agree with the op she has taken to agreeing with herself!!!!

argument over i think guys.....

i spotted that too but didn't want to embarass op by mentioning it...but hasn't it made this hilarious thread just that bit more funny

"Apostrophe, fwiw (although clearly the majority are against us here), I don't like the pirate theme much either. Obviously kid's pirate gear is themed after the pirates of nursery stories, rather than real life, but still, I am not so keen. DS does have some pirate books which he likes, but I don't buy skull and csossbones clothes (as I don't buy camoflague, or "here comes trouble").

Obviously girls princess/barbie/tart/bimbo themed clothing and toys are not themed after RL princesses either, but I hate them too.

It funny that this thread has gone this way actually (and yes, I know its light hearted ) - I opened it thinking people would have agreed with Apostrophe, as I have read countless threads on MN over the last year or so critisising boys army type clothes and girls princess clothes. "

Apostrophe - did you mean to name change before you posted this or are you talking to yourself??

I know some people reply to their own posts to get their point across, especially when referring to tart/bimbo clothes, under a different name, but they usually preview first.

i am a bit worried as ds2 has a snowman and christmas pudding outfit but more worrying is he has a werewolf one as well....

and ds1 has a harry potter one and a jack sparrow...

BUT its ok I got rid of the Aladdin one we bought in disney land ....

(also - what age are people's children watching Pirates of the Carribean? - there have been a few references to jack Sparrow, but surely your 3,4,5,6 year old DSs and DDs are not watching it? Makes the think the Mums are vicariously indulging in a little fantasy here )

Apostrophe, fwiw (although clearly the majority are against us here), I don't like the pirate theme much either. Obviously kid's pirate gear is themed after the pirates of nursery stories, rather than real life, but still, I am not so keen. DS does have some pirate books which he likes, but I don't buy skull and csossbones clothes (as I don't buy camoflague, or "here comes trouble").

Obviously girls princess/barbie/tart/bimbo themed clothing and toys are not themed after RL princesses either, but I hate them too.

It funny that this thread has gone this way actually (and yes, I know its light hearted ) - I opened it thinking people would have agreed with Apostrophe, as I have read countless threads on MN over the last year or so critisising boys army type clothes and girls princess clothes.

I wouldn't liken the pirates in children's stories to modern days ones in the same way I wouldn't compare Robin Hood and Dick Turpin to your average mugger.

For the Somali pirates, they view it as a very lucrative business with little risk. Pre recent French and US government action the advice was for ship's crew not to resist and if they couldn't out run them then to let them on board peacefully. There has been very little actual physical harm until last week when three pirates and one French yachtsman were killed. That will have upped the anti and not in a positive way for those being held hostage. Currently approximately 300 people on 16 ships (may be a few more since the weekend).

I don't compare my ds dressing up in his pirate's outfit to what I read happening on a daily basis. This has been going on for months and it is only since a ship with British crew on board and now an American crewed ship that the world's media are taking an interest.

PMSL - I so needed this thread today.

And am very worried about Captain Crunch cereal as it must be teaching kids to eat like pirates!

If ds wear a stripey top, dd says 'You're wearing a burglars top. Like old fashioned buglars used to wear though, so it's ok'

We haven't established exactly what the trendy burglar about town wears nowadays

Btw, did anyone say Yaaarrrrrbu yet?

DP is currently trying to teach 18mo DD to say 'matey' after every sentence. Yaaarr. I should probably stop him.

What's a pirate's favourite swearword?....












Aaaaaarrrrrrrse.

blardy hell, i wish id seen this thread 3 hours ago

i'm off to bed but my first reaction to the op - is

over reaction

if we didn't romantacise and make characatures of pirates and cowboys and indians and policemen and firemen and doctors.

then they wouldn't be able to bloody play anything if we really thought about the literal meaning

gun toting cowboys mass murdering native americans

native americans being mass murdered or murdering

policemen dealing with drug dealers, prostitutes and drunk people who puke and want to punch them
firemen who risk their lives

doctors who look at mens and womens most unglamourous smelly, mouldy, infected, blood strewn bits.

so should I not allow dd to go to a party this weekend in her new costume then?

<<runs for cover>>

<<creeps back to wonder who does buy that costume>>

rofl @ AdoAnnie

Good old Balders!

Story pirates are cool. Like story archaeologists. Little boys want to be Indiana Jones, not that bearded real ale bloke from Time Team. Imagine Tony Robinson as Indy. Not on my T shirt.

If my son was role plating a pirate, I would be very sad if he started raping the neighbours daughter, taking drugs and stealing my neighbours plant pots.

However, whilst he is a child he will think of pirates as people who wear funny costumes, sail in ships, go on adventures and sometimes walk the plank.

He will then grow out of it in his early teens. By this time he will be watching the news more frequently, will have no interest in dressing up and will see the "real" pirates for what they are and make no connection whatsoever, because they are so utterly different.

In fact the stripey top, eyepatch wearing type might as well be called "adventurers" or something else, because they ARE NOT THE SAME!

Well I really dont agree with boys or girls playing with guns or knives or swords... In my opinion how can we teach our children that on one hand its ok to play killing people and on the other they KILL people for real??? Its just not right... I saw my ds1 (was 2 at the time) playing with a knife (which looked so real I have to add) and pretended to stab his cousin. It made me feel sick. Its violence to the extreme.

Im on the fence a little with the pirate thing... I cant see how wearing a t-shirt with a smiley faced pirate can cause damage??

read the posts Kerry. I'm not advocating sitting the kids down with barbie dolls. I don't mind the boys reenacting battles, and think that them thumping each other, rampaging around and emitting blood-curdling screams is generally character building.

I just don't think it's appropriate that the "pirate" theme is pushed at young kids. These guys rape, mutilate, murder in cold blood. They take drugs, they hijack drug-running boats to steal and sell on the contents. I'm quite happy for the kids to play at Henry V, Bomber Harris, Alexander the Great etc but feel that pirates are in the same category as the Yorkshire Ripper and Harold Shipman. Go send your kids out to role play those if you want to.

hey 2shoes!

wtf fun is it being a "legal" pirate?

gah!

what KM said

Blimey, don't think kids are looking at politics of costume, just having fun with the stereotypes they have seen on films/tv....Captain Hook etc.

pmsl at this post

I've always been told that my family history is that of legal pirates (we are talking hundred of years ago) before everyone gets worried.

Attached is a legal pirate story I have found.
www.achievements.co.uk/articles/henry_morgan.html

Chegirl you can buy plastic pretend granades in our local post office - was disgusted and .

op, YABU get a grip woman

oh ffs.

boys have always played with guns, bows and arrows, hand grenades, machetes, you name it.

Don't give them dollies please.

YanknCock

I am sure you are quite right ( and I am of course very glad you and your family are OK ) but I am not too worried about my DCs reading Paddington books - because !!!! - no matter how much they might think bears are cool and want to BE one . . . they won't be able to.

Because they are human, and, erm, bears are not.

Pirates however, are human. And little boys may still want to be one as they get older.

The landlubber version of the word "pirate" might be "mugger."

You can buy hand grenades in our local pound shop. Now THATS sick inappropriate.

Somehow its seems worse because they are sold singly.

Been to the dictionary:

'bear: any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary tails.'

It does not say 'cuddly storybook character that interacts safely with humans'. There is only ONE type of bear (the wild animal kind).

And bears do trespass. When I was three and in a heavily populated state park, some bears entered the campground. One stuck its nose in our tent, terrifying my mother. I, on the other hand, being raised on Winnie the Pooh, shouted 'More bear!! More bear!!' The bears also stole our food. No better than bloody pirates, those bears.

Glad I learned my lesson early. I might have forever confused wild bears with storybook bears and ended up like that mauled woman in Berlin!

I think it all stems from adventure stories. Capts blackbeard/redbeard/hook/Jack Sparrow. The popularity is not reality pirates, its the characters, young boys love villians, they love to watch them on TV, read about them in books and act them out when playing with friends.
Ask any child about pirates they wont launch into a lecture about modern day drug addled somalian pirates they will most likely say something about Jack Sparrow.
The outfits of stripey tops and eyepatches are perfectly innocent replicas of storybook characters.
Now if shops starting selling scruffy denim cuttoffs and manky tshirts with machetes and machine guns then I would be outraged.

aaaargh!

I was going to stay away...

"the type of pirate"

THERE IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF PIRATE !!!

Look it up in the dictionary. In mine (apart from mention of copyright or broadcasting which we know is not the context) it says "a person on a ship who unlawfully attacks and robs another ship at sea."

It does not say "jolly amusing person with an eyepatch and possible missing limbs who would do anyone a good turn; a really good egg and excellent role model for any young boy"

Honest, it doesn't.

i thought all boys loved murder and mayhem?

the banning of legally held handguns has made all the difference to gun crime....

(puts on hard hat)

I get your point apostrophe, but are you getting ours?

Nobody is doubting the importance of the problem in REAL LIFE.

But the fact is this...they are not portraying the type of pirate you speak of at John Lewis. They are not showing graphic images in cartoon form.

The people you speak of are RAPISTS, MURDERERS, DRUG DEALERS. Thats what they are. They also come under the heading of "pirates". In the same vein as a killer wild brown bear and Paddington come under the same heading but are utterly different.

If I were you (and I mean that), I would spend time highlighting the plight of those suffering and less time worrying about Captain Pugwash.

morespam actually this isn't a wind-up. I wish it was all pretend but real people do suffer from this.

tonybleh*/*spam the point is we don't have current princes/princesses/knights/cowboys/indians currently terrorising innocent people right now, today, in drug-fuelled rampages. The other point is that princes, princesses, knights, cowboys and indians all had quite valid raisons d'etre that didn't involve serious crime.

I'm quite happy with my sons playing witches, wizards, knights, princes and soldiers as even though this fantasy play may involve killing sprees, it's not based on something which in reality is only evil. I know that the toy industry including the partyware manufacturers have presented them as all cutesy cutesy and I don't for a moment think that sleeping under a John Lewis pirate bedspread, wearing Boden pirate short johns or attending a pirate-themed party is going to encourage my sons to head off to Somalia, arm themselves with a machete and several submachine guns, get off their faces on drugs and commit heinous acts, I just find the whole pirate-as-cuddly-toy thing distasteful. It doesn't seem any different from terrorist, drug-dealer or any other serious criminal-based toy.

Good post Northernlurker.

YanknCock: "The fact is that bears are, and always have been, wild animals that maim/kill humans who trespass on their territory."

- yes who trespass on their territory. Bears do not seek out humans to destroy. They do not eat humans. Human killers is not what they are.

Violent thieves and human killers are both what pirates aaaarrrrrrr are, however.

All these kinds of arguments are pretty feeble. Has anyone suggested this one yet "presumably you think that children shouldn't play Doctors and Nurses because Harold Shipman was a Doctor and killed hundreds of people." ?

The point is, and I am weary of trying to stress this, that there are rotten apples in every barrel. You can find: bad bears, man eating crocodiles, wicked princesses, evil Doctors, but the important thing is that bears, crocodiles, princesses and Doctors are not evil in themselves. But pirates are evil in themselves.

The arguments that have been used remind me of the one dragged out by the gun lobby when banning handguns was being discussed. "Cars kill more people than guns" they proclaimed, "Why not ban cars?" Then they sat back with their arms folded waiting for everyone to congratulate them on their brilliance. Again, the point was that guns are made to kill people. That is what they are FOR. Cars are for transportation. That is what they are FOR.

And violence, murder, theft, is what pirates are FOR.

I must give up this thread.

MoreSpam, you only think it's a windup because you do not take the threat of pirates (and bears) seriously (at your peril).

Radley handbags have violent scottie dogs on them lol.
Does it mean I like blood thirsty hounds, me think not!!

Im starting to think this is a wind up...

whats a pirates favourite type of music? Arrr & B

So, if would you object to your children playing kings and queens? I'm currently reading a biography about Catherine the Great (okay, technically a Tsarina, but you get my point)and Prince Potemkin. So if your child started playing princesses etc., you'd say "actually darling, don't do that. Prince Potemkin shagged four of his nieces and Catherine the Great had inappropriate relations with a horse". Would you?

where do pirates go shopping? at arrrrrrrrgos

Apostrophe...can you imagine any parent saying to their child "Ok! Today we can dress up as drug-fuelled raping theives!" at a pirate party?

In my mind that would be calling Barney the Dinosaur a maiming killing machine.

Whilst the 2 share the same "name", a child idea of pirates is different to a an adult that is involved in piracy issues or reads the news about them.

Or perhaps you think it is right to tell ny 2 year old that Barney and Paddington and the like are not real, and in fact I need to explain to my daughter what real piracy is all about?

Its a bit of fun, with no connections whatsoever to real piracy.

Balloon slayer - 'it is highly inappropriate to construct a fun fantasy out of an appalling fact'

So that's an end to playing castles, outlaws, wiches, any living the past game in fact? There are lots of myths which inform how our children play and therefore what 'things' they connect with. we then embrace those with the books we buy them, the clothes they wear and the games we encourage. It is the myth that we are looking at - not the often bloodstained reality. If we were encouraging our children to believe that the high seas were exclusively populated by Captain Pugwash then I would be concerned - but a pirate t-shirt really isn't doing that anymore than having a wooden sword in the house encourages a belief that the world is full of medieval knights!
You may argue that the myth is unreasonable - but thats the way with lots of events and cultural influences and it's far too late in the day to be saying 'hang on a minute writers and opinion makers of the world - don't make a pirate look fun or the children of the 21st century will be sadly misled'

Why are pirates called pirates??

Because they arrrrrggggghhhhhh

here

quick apostrophe! she needs you!

omg!!!! portofino needs us! she is sending her daughter to pirate camp!!!!aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggghhh

I'm reassured that I'm not the only one. Fine to have a seafaring fantasy - I'm fine with superheroes and bows and arrows, crocodiles, dragons, monsters, spacemen, ultra zapping deathrays...

Just not drug-fuelled rapist theives.

The fact is that bears are, and always have been, wild animals that maim/kill humans who trespass on their territory.

The fantasy is that bears are cuddly, nice animals who can talk and like to keep marmalade sandwiches under their hats.

It is highly inappropriate to construct a fun fantasy around these appalling creatures.

After that recent news of the mauling of the nice lady by the evil polar bears, I bet there will be a bear boycott.

People should really think about all the family members of those who have been killed by bears before glamourising these animals.

"It merely represents an ability to distinguish fact from fantasy!"

I thought that was the whole point of the OP.

The fact is that pirates are, and always have been, violent criminals who steal a boat and kill its occupants.

The fantasy is that it's all rather fun and glamourous for all concerned. Which it is for the pirates, I suppose.

The argument is surely that it is highly inappropriate to construct a fun fantasy out of an appalling fact.

I personally would not ban piratey things as I know that leads to even more interest. I have told my DCs that pirates do exist and are pretty horrible. I would be highly unimpressed if there were "pirate days" at our school, but I suspect that after these recent news stories there won't be.

(I wonder what that little 3 year old boy whose father was killed thought when he heard someone say; "Oh my God, pirates." I expect he thought "Wow, cool!!" )

Wee

lol but what if dd wanted a cat outfit? I mean that would encourage her to scratch people randomly surely

"cute pirate-themed boy clothes are on a par with cute drug-dealer/terrorist-themed boy clothes"

I've noticed lots of cute drug-dealer/terrorist hoodies, track suit bottoms and trainers, in the shops. What are they trying to say to the babies/youth of today? That it's ok to dress in these clothes? Scandalous! {wink}

btw, on a serious note, I have refused (so far) to go down the princess route with my daughter, because I can't bear the vacuousness and pinkness. I would much rather she had a sense of adventure and wanted to be a cartoon pirate.

yearofthecat - the quote of my day :-)

I just bought my DS this piece of Tarantino type literature.

If we are going to point the finger at people who have caused devastation, poverty and heart-ache to large numbers of people perhaps Usborne could do a book called 'That's not my fund manager' - his conscience is too clear.

THATS IT I AM HEART BROKEN!!!

you ladies have dashed my hopes and dreams of finding a Johhny Depp look-a-like on the open seas....oh nooooooo i thought thats what pirates looked like damn damn damn.....

oh can you imagine those Somali pirates in a fetching headscarf, hoop earrings and Boden stripy top. Must be hard work keeping up with appearances nowadays...

hahahahahahahhaha

Oh dear does this mean I must check all childrens books for pirate stories (and I know I have a number), the books I refer to are for pre school as well.

[ sits and ponders if the world has gone mad ?]

Snurks back at dreadpirate.

Yes, every time your dc dress up as footballers, they are really getting in training for a lifetime of cocaine abuse, spit-roasting of page 3 models, punching of people in nightclubs and rampant alcoholicism.

<<Snurk>> Molly.

To all those who wouldn't let their DCs play with piratey things, what do they play with? How do you encourage development of a fantasy inner world with your children? After all, fairies don't exist, Santa doesn't may not exist, cowboys and indians remembers an attempted genocide, knights were thugs and princesses are a terrible example for any thinking female...

And what outfits do they put on for dress up? 'Ooh mummy, can I be a gardener today?' 'Or how about your lovely new theoretical physicist trousers?'

to err is human.
to arrr is pirate.

<<slips quietly off thread to go swig more rum>>

It is possible for a 'character' to have a cultural perception which bears no resemblence to a historical reality.

The 'pirate' look - cutlass, parrot etc is a caricature - just like outlaw costumes, highwaymans boots and all things goth! It is not glamourising piratical activity - either now or in the past because it so far removed from the nature of that reality. This is where 'pirates' and all things involving swords or bows and arrows indeed - differ from clothing glamourising gun violence. Guns are not removed from our reality sadly.
That is not 'astonishingly ignorant' on my part. It merely represents an ability to distinguish fact from fantasy!

YEARGH BU me hearties!

I have thought this too for some time, although I did think it was perhaps me reacting to the fact that dh has spent time doing anti piracy work off the coast of West Africa, so we have a level of personal experience.

I am more bemused at Pirate themed days at school being acceptable, rather than items of children's clothing. I can't think of a single school that would allow toy guns yet cutlasses appear ok

A train is a form of transport

A crocodile is an animal

A superhero is a comic book creation

A pirate is a violent criminal

The term "children's pirate" is an oxymoron. IMO.

Captain Pugwash was typical of your Somalian prate, dont you think? Glamourizing all that is unchic about piracy.

Childrens pirates are NOTHING like Somalian pirates. NOTHING AT ALL.

What we are saying through our firmly tongue in cheek mouths, is that in addition to the pirate comparisons, crocodiles on Lacoste TShirts have no similarity to flesh eating REAL crocodiles, snakes on Alpha Romeos are not trying to promote life sapping vipers and Thomas the Tank engine is nothing like a high speed potential train wreck.

The OP is the one comparing the "childrens" image of pirates to raping, drug fuelled REAL pirates, when in fact, there is NOTHING to copare because they are completely out of context. I would suggest that the OPs imagination and connection between the two are a little bit off.

YABU but you'll grow out of it.
Here is the mother who refused to buy combat style trousers for her two little boys - this included anything with pockets down the side because I thought they were too militaristic.
Listens as two teens play Call of Duty on the X box...........

This thread has literally made me choke on my cornflakes!
'I am a boy therefore I am a little bastard' I think you will find that tshirt in mothercare
<goes off to sort out ds "bad influence" clothing>

I guess I'd better get rid of DSs superman tops. He may think he has the ability to fly/be super strong/ use laser vision.
Thanks for the warning!

If OP is overthinking it then I have been overthinking it for fecking years.

The notion that "har har me hearty' type pirates" did indeed just go round modelling their stripey trousers and saying "har har me hearty" is quite astonishingly ignorant.

They were exactly the same as the " 'Somalian drug taking murderous' pirates" in the news today.

I was saying to DH last night that I wondered if now stupid people would stop glamourising these thieves, murderers and rapists just because they have been given an exciting title ("oooh pirates , how sexy") - and see them for what they are, and have always been.

noseyhelen, that is the funniest thing on this thread

I agree with OP. DH and I were only saying yesterday that we would not buy pirate clothes for our son.
I think you are being very unfair to OP - there is no need to take the p*.

I love pirate clothes. They is well cute though.

Dont like the teeshirts that say 'I am a boy therefore I am a little bastard' (or words to that affect/effect?)

DS3 looks like a pirate most of the time because he is a dribble hound and I hate bibs. He wears rather fetching bandanas instead.

DS2 wears a suit (or soup as he calls it) because he IS Dr Who. He also looks quite like a pirate because he has dreadlocks. I always dress him like captain sparrow for fancy dress cos I is lazy and it is easy

Arrrrrrggggh.

Y&C.

Well, then apostrophe, do you feel you've got a fair view of what most people think ? After stopping laughing, that is.

ds1 favorite t shirt had a picture of a plug and socket on it saying unplugged-i took it away for fear of being electricuted.

(actually he tore it in skate boarding incident)

oh,what about skateboards and surf boards on clothing-very dangerous.children may assume they can surf/skate just because they have a pic of it on their tops?you never know.

<sulks quietly while remembering she named DS2 after English king that routed the vikings and Welsh>

my god not laughed so much in ages.

What about Dancer costumes, wouldn't want to imply Moulin Rouge attendants?

And forget the witch costumes, otherwise they'll be burning at the stake.

Faints at image of pillaging vikings.

Daffodingles, that is just wrong on so many levels! Mark my words, your kid is going to wind up in prison after burning and pillaging the northeast coast of England.

PMSL
What would you make of ds2's favourite t shirt!

LOL at Somali pirates in Boden

Cinderella?? You mean the one that exploits unpaid animal labour?

I wonder what people think of DD's being dressed in Cinderella dresses? Or is that taking this thread to a whole new level?

This thread is genius

My uncle nearly got crushed to death in an accident with his tractor--that's farm implements out.

How do we feel about Bob the Builder? I'm inclined to say no, as power tools cause many accidents and deaths every year.

do you see many t-shirts with modern pirates depicted? machine guns,machetes etc?

Damn ..I knew I should never have brought that pink camo skirt! <<head in hands>>

No problem Frogs, I'm sure my DS3 will pillage (sp?) the bags of all the mams at the local baby group soon anyway

Stripped pirate shoes?

<faints>

<recovers enough to sue 5inthebed for 25 million squid for mental distress>

<gasp> Should I sue the person who bought my 20 wek old some stripped pirate shoes then? I mean, what could they possibly lead to given his young age?

<<ponders contents of ds's t shirt drawers and starts researching prison visiting times for future reference>>

I had to reject a t-shirt passed on for Ds because it was Guantanamo orange.

I am lying.
**I am neither a rabbit, nor a Somali pirate. I may however be dread.
*Anyone else wondering, or know, who KaiserSoSay is?

No not stripes. Not spots either - don't them thinking of measles the whole time either.

BabyDragon has a top with doughnuts on the front. I keep wanting to grab her and eat her all up without licking my lips.

[burp]

You guys don't let your children wear stripes, do you? Prisoners in the US used to have to wear striped uniforms- it'll definitely affect self-esteem and aspirations if you allow innocent little kids to wear prison uniform, imo.

Mustn't forget mice and rats. . .Disney and Pixar have a lot to answer for.

ba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.... i LOVE this thread!

Yank - rest assured - all bears have been evicted - also bees (sting and allergy risk), rabbits (encouraging sexual promiscuity), cows (supporting animal exploitation through dairy farming) and depictions of sweets and cakes (obesity, dental issues, insensitivity to diabetics).

NorthernLurker, I applaud you for your hardline stance against bears. People do not take the bear threat seriously enough!

Oh for goodness sake!

Nonsense. Pirates are dashing young men in floppy white shirts. Errol Flynn lookalikes.

Don't forget lions and tigers - lots of clothes have those on - and they EAT people!

J for Joke, OP.

We're just joshing you.

Laurie - I think it is v important to be able to laugh at self - especially when self is in fact totally over thinking something!

I am banning all Thomas the Tank Engine paraphenalia in this house with immediate effect.

People fling themselves under trains.

Oh Laurie...if the OP is, then really, she needs to lighten up. In fact, judging by her post I really do think she needs to lighten up

I've seen children compelled to wear tops with cats on to. I mean - how cruel is that? What if they're more of a dog person??

hope the Op's not too offended

Yes - after yesterdays bizarre tale of the women leaping into the polar pit I've ceremoniously burnt dd3's polar bear pjs. Don't want her getting ideas...

Very wise Miranda and Pointy (nods in wise agreement)

I think you may have to be vigilant and look out for rainbows on your child's clothing too. Changeable weather can cause hurricanes and monsoons, and I for one do not want to be insensitive to those living in drought or flooded conditions.

Northerlurker: Gap...... ba ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

While we're at it, let's avoid anything with depictions of bears (Pooh and the like), because bears maul people in real life.

Never mind Lacoste - what about Ralph Lauren - what do you think he's going to hit with that polo mallet huh?

And The Gap - my children live in fear of falling into an unexpectedly large hole because all their clothes have GAP on them.

Don't get me started on the effect seeing a Monsoon label had...

and cars... for god's sake, do you know how many people are killed by cars each year... and they are destroying the planet with pollution!

I threw away my little boy's top which had a helicopter on it after one crashed killing all it's occupents

I don't know why little girls are allowed to dress as princesses as princesses are often in-bred, wear their collars up and play too much polo.

They are not sweet little simpering things in long frocks at all.

And dont get me started on Alpha Romeo....a SNAKE!!! What next? The image of the devil on juice cups??

(WANDERS OFF, TAKES VALIUM)

You'd hate our infants' school then. We have pirate role-play areas and pirate ship small-world areas. The outdoor area is sometimes overrun with shrieking pirates. Both boys and girls love it and certainly don't relate it to the pirates in the news.

<tries to imagine drug-dealer/terrorist themed children's clothes>

I'm pretty sure when my little DS dresses up as a pirate he doesn't (an isn't encouraged) to think of rape, murder and dugs He is probably thinking more of Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow.

Its Lacoste that gets my goat.

I mean FOR GODS SAKE!!! Crocodiles are killers and have been known to attack small children. Its just another case of PC gone mad

apostrophe I thought this earlier when I saw the pirate outfits in the shops . Then I though to myself "get a grip woman" . Definate case of reading too much into it.

I don't think the Somali pirates wear stripey tops, silver hoop earring, fly the skull and cross bones and shout shiver me timbers with a parrot on their shoulder.

As Kaiser says - you've overthought this!

<bow>

My DS had a pirate themed party too. They came dressed as 'har har me hearty' type pirates though, not 'Somalian drug taking murderous' pirates.

Definitely over thinking it. If you don't like the clothes then don't buy them!

PMSL Kaisersosay! Was the boden/joules ones I was thinking of. And which ds happily wears.

You made me laugh at the idea that somali pirates may shop from boden which would explain the visceral reaction some people have to boden....

I like dressing up as a pirate, why should that pleasure be denied to our children?
and I think the Johnny Depp films are more of an influence than real pirates in the news ( who incidently, don't wear eye patches and have parrots on their shoulders, most disappointing IMO)

I bought a lovely little black tshirt with white pirate on for my nephew, he loved it Do you think you might be taking it a little too seriously!!?

Yet another non issue.

I love mini swash buckling pirates!

Blimey.

I don't, strangely, equate a nice stripey t-shirt and skull and crossbones with somali pirates/terrorists or drug-dealers.

Makes me think of Captain Pugwash instead.

I also think you're overthinking this.

And relax.............now on to other topics I think.

X post there - but great minds think alike!

You would have hated my one year olds Pirate themed birthday party last week then!

We loved it though

Think you're over thinking it.

I don't think somali pirates have stripey boden t shirts on.

god or maybe they do and that is why people are so hostile to them!

i agree with KS

You have OVER THOUGHT THIS

I just don't understand why so many clothing companies seem to want to romanticise pirates, when the news is full of violent acts of piracy (murder, rape, robbery, often drug-fuelled).

And yet, most of the clothes ranges I look at for my pre-school sons have images of these people on. Nice