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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

CBBC Dumping Ground

61 replies

HappyOrchid · 04/02/2013 13:46

AIBU to expect that a TV programme on a Saturday afternoon on a childrens channel shouldn't have an episode without a warning at the beginning debating the rights and wrongs of gay fostering / adoption.

Watching last w/e with DD who is 8 I felt that it was completely the wrong vehicle for this issue. DD is aware that there are same sex couples and that it's fine. The whole episode concerned one of the characters being fostered by a gay couple. One of the other characters objected strongly and was vilified to the point of being bullied by everyone else in the programme. They were not told off for their behaviour, because their view was correct.

When I wasa kid this would have been an adult drama or discussion programme not on the bloody BBC childrens channel at 3pm.

OP posts:
FunshineCareBear · 30/12/2018 17:58

Times have moved on since you were a kid. It's a total non issue these days

TeenTimesTwo · 30/12/2018 17:58

I think YABU.
Jacqueline Wilson writes stuff that has difficult issues. Children's BBC has always tackled difficult issues. Gripper in Grange Hill anyone?
If you don't want your 8yo to watch it fine, don't watch Dumping Ground. Mine didn't like it as they are adopted and it was too close to home for them, but for their friends/peers it was a useful discussion starting point.

ChodeofChodeHall · 30/12/2018 18:04

So the homophobic child was ostracised for airing his homophobic views? And you object to that? Because no-one explained to him exactly why his homophobic views were wrong? Have I got that right?

MumInTheCity · 30/12/2018 18:07

This thread is 5 years old

MumInTheCity · 30/12/2018 18:08

Almost 6, in fact

TacoLover · 30/12/2018 18:11

There is no way I let my child watch this rubbish. It's the BBC pushing their agenda.

Oh yes, the BBC's horrific and evil agenda of homosexual rightsConfused

OP I've seen the episode you're talking about and I don't necessarily consider what the other children did as bullying tbh. Johnny(I think it was him might be mistaken) isn't particularly young either, so he definitely knew what he was saying. And tbh if I were a kid and I was watching him be a little shit I probably wouldn't want to 'sit down' with him and explain why I think he's wrong. Most of the kids there in that show seem to be very passionate and I don't really think that would be in character for any of them except the adult carer Mike maybeGrin

Has it come across that maybe I watch this show with DD too often and enjoy it a bit too muchGrin

TacoLover · 30/12/2018 18:11

Zombie sorryGrinGrin

ToastyFingers · 30/12/2018 18:13

Do you think the homophobic child should have had his/her views validated?
I think it's great that a programme encourages children to stand up to homophobia even if it doesn't affect them personally.

ToastyFingers · 30/12/2018 18:13

Ah cock, zombie thread. apolz.

TotesEmoshTerri · 30/12/2018 18:50

Reminds me of the 80s and 90s when people of different races were added into shows (e.g. Postman Pat) and bigots complained about the BBC's "agenda".

I have no issue with gay adoption but if you don’t agree with it then that’s your right to do so

You can disagree with something for your own life but not in society as a whole. Otherwise you could justify not treating people of other races as human, etc. And that isn't acceptable for race, gender, sexuality etc.

svenmozza · 30/12/2018 21:18

The show seems to normalise the unnatural. If that normalisation is challenged it appears to be the duty and right of others to attack that point of view. My child will hopefully grow up making her own opinion on topics such as adoption of any kind. If her opinion differs from mine so be it. If it differs from society's then it'll be hers and just as valid. It's a bloody awful show anyway.

SegmentationFault · 30/12/2018 21:44

The unnatural? Hmm

svenmozza · 30/12/2018 22:16

Yes?

TotesEmoshTerri · 30/12/2018 23:16

Adoption isn't "natural" regardless of gender is it though

squaksquak · 30/12/2018 23:40

You can disagree with something for your own life but not in society as a whole. Otherwise you could justify not treating people of other races as human, etc. And that isn't acceptable for race, gender, sexuality etc.

I absolutely do not agree. I hate this idea that everyone is supposed to agree with things. If I met someone who felt like they would prefer it if a child had a mother and father rather than a two mothers or two fathers then I’d think well I don’t agree with you but it’s your prerogative to have your own opinion.

SegmentationFault · 30/12/2018 23:41

I don't see how anything they show is unnatural. In fact, technically as humans are animals and exist in nature everything we do is natural.

slashlover · 30/12/2018 23:52

svenmozza

Why did you bump an almost 6 year old thread?

Also, what do you consider unnatural about it?

svenmozza · 31/12/2018 08:10

I was unaware this was a six year old post. I mentioned a show called the dumping ground. It covered the subject of same sex couples adopting. I am in complete support of any child being rescued from the care system into a loving family of any makeup and am in admiration of any couple wanting to do so. My point is this is not appropriate for a younger audience, and same sex couples of any species (and I'm sure there are some non human species) adopting children is unnatural. It doesn't happen anywhere else in nature, therefore unnatural. Not bad, not evil, just unnatural.

slashlover · 31/12/2018 10:28

When you start to reply it tells you that it's an old thread if it's over a year.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-27405652

Two gay penguins raise an abandoned chick after hatching the egg.

There have been previous reports of exclusive male-to-male pairings among penguins, and some have reared chicks

svenmozza · 31/12/2018 10:49

Yes, I read a few articles about that. Some discrepancies over adopted or stolen but I take the point. Still not appropriate for children to concern themselves. Have enough to think about being kids. I don't like any TV show forcing its views or agenda on any kid. The episode concerned same sex adoption and the protagonist was vilified for opposing it. This stifles debate and freedom of speech. I don't allow my kid's to get away with it either.

svenmozza · 31/12/2018 10:50

My kid's school that should read.

Pachyderm1 · 31/12/2018 10:54

If you want to challenge the perfectly acceptable and mainstream view that gay people are capable of being foster parents then you can talk to your daughter about it, but I don’t see why CBBC should be forced to air bigotry just because these miserable, backwards views haven’t been fully stamped out yet.

svenmozza · 31/12/2018 10:59

Not bigotry, an opposing, legitimate viewpoint. Calling people names hoping they'll back out of a debate is not debate its bullying.

svenmozza · 31/12/2018 11:36

"stamped out" That's the Liberal minded way of dealing with issues they don't want discussing. Very progressive.

slashlover · 31/12/2018 11:48

Apparently they stole an egg which was given back to the parents so when the second egg was abandoned then it was given to them.

The thing is that there are kids who will be going through it or who have already been adopted by a gay couple. This being shown on a kids show normalises it and maybe starts a discussion with the parent(s).

Kids are more mature than we often give them credit for. Sesame Street has dealt with death, divorce, a parent being in jail and is going to introduce/ has introduced an autistic puppet.