Pirates - appropriate for kids?

[IAmTi]

My nephew wants a pirate party - am I alone in thinking this is inappropriate? I know that might sound silly but pirates weren't very nice and modern day piracy is a thing. I may just be overthinking it though and I'd never say anything to my SIL about it.

If the kid likes pirates buy him an age appropriate but factual book about pirates as a present?

Great idea!!! Thank you!

@Fooshufflewickjbannanapants
Wow, that's really interesting, something to find out more about, thanks.

A lot of sailors chose to join the pirate crews after they were boarded as the pirates were looked after considerably better! They also didn't just go around killing people or destroying ships 😂 that would make no business sense!

What century of pirates are you talking about in terms of rape and pillage?

Just that the original meaning of rape was to steal and take away coming from the Latin rapere.

www.etymonline.com/word/rape

Cowboys were not responsible for genocide. The vast majority were men that looked after/drove cattle, cared for a ranchs horses, basically farmed...
Of course there were some that became lawless, like in any huge 'group' of people, killing their own and indigenous people.
But, no, they did not commit genocide.

No idea tbh! They weren't really that big a thing when I was a child, it's only since that Johnny Depp film they seemed to take off?

Oh. Sorry. Who was?

No no, the best pirate joke is this:

What is a pirate's favourite letter of the alphabet?
(Person will say R or aaaaarrggghh)
No, it be the C. (sea).

Pirates have been popular for at least 120+ years, but like anything popularity comes and goes in waves. Men and women of all races were pirates. A pretty diverse bunch.

I'm in my 50s. Pirates was a thing when I was young. There's pictures of my older brother dressed up as one and my cousin as a cowboy.

I'm also in my 50s and pirates have always been big.

As for cowboys etc; the blame for tribal massacres/mass-displacements lies squarely at the foot of the US government (and army). Or individual State governments in some cases.

I've always thought it was weird, but so are dinosaurs when you think about it. Kids are weird. It's not inappropriate though. Pirates and princess parties are though...

Squarely.

And definitely not at the foot of any European governments. Not a one.

Swashbuckling buccaneer type pirates is fine for kids party.
Recreating Somalian pirate hostage situation would be a bit much though.

Europeans in American introduced measles, smallpox and influenza among other things. The native people were forced to give up their land and corralled into reserves where closer contact enabled those diseases to spread (in the cities of South America this happened much earlier, although can still happen to some isolated populations in the Amazon region). 'Cowboys' as in 'cowboys and indians' were absolutely causing the native American deaths, there was a concerted land grab by Europeans in the American Prairies in the 19th century, just like there was in Africa and Australia and parts of Asia.

Well, yeah, obviously colonial history is one appalling disaster after another, and Europeans can't be smug. But the "Cowboys and Indians" stuff was mostly homegrown in the US.

Turning the OP's question round, what dressing-up party theme would be appropriate?

I think this is good opportunity for one of my fave ever news stories

www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/02/colin-darch-piracy-womens-institute

The US Government. The Indian removal act of 1830 most significantly. ‘Soldiers and Indians’ would be more accurate. There short period in the mid to late 19th century where cattle was being driven cross country and yes cowboys would have sometimes encountered native American settlements in the process but it was not the genocide you’re thinking of. Cowboys in that time were also a pretty diverse bunch including Native American, Mexican, African American men.

Hollywood and the 1950s westerns is to blame for most of the misconceptions!

I really think you need to rethink your relationship here entirely tbh.

As aunt I think if you see your role as going in and quashing party ideas/ correcting where you see they are not doing things your way etc I honestly think they will draw back from over time.

If you want to be an aunt they want to spend time with then put those adult thoughts to one side and enjoy being with them. Ask them about their interests etc. It's not your role to correct.

Jesus christ get over yourselves. No wonder kids are so stressed can't they have a bit of fun anymore without the risk of offending someone?

Which themes would be appropriate according to you?

Also it was surely the USA government and army who was responsible for genocide not cowboys? So we shouldn’t dress kids as politicians.

Most big name pirates ended up becoming privateers if they didnt did a pirate. Pirate life spans were only a few years once they started.
Becoming a privateer for the British was pretty standard, so really, the kids are dressing as government employees.

Pirates weren’t generally raping, women weren’t generally allowed on ships. Pirates - or Privateers, which was state sanctioned piracy - robbed other ships of enemy nations. The British and the French were at it for decades.

As for who was committing genocide, that would be the US government and the armies they commanded. Not ranch workers.

Why object to costumes when you know bugger all about it? We don’t dress as “Indians” because that’s cheap disrespectful stereotyping of First Nations people. Pirates and cow hands are nothing like that.

Under the sea?
Favourite book character?
Harry Potter?
Cats?
Animals?

Not sure really.