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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think its a bit rough to lump Daddy Pig in with Homer Simpson in the deadbeat dad stakes?

37 replies

quesadilla · 12/06/2013 12:31

Article in today's Times about parents resenting the negative portrayal of dads as lazy, beer-guzzling incompetents who can't do anything more challenging than changing channels etc. (Can't link as don't have subscription).
Then there's a big sidebar piece on Daddy Pig as an example of a lazy, incompetent Dad.
Now, maybe I'm being oversensitive and yes, Daddy Pig can be a bit pompous and self-important and is rubbish at DIY and map-reading but Homer is a borderline alcoholic who couldn't run a pissup in brewery and is several leagues of magnitude worse.....

OP posts:
ShadeofViolet · 12/06/2013 12:35

YANBU.

Daddy Pig reminds me of Boris Johnson, but he does have a heart and quite a few of the episodes he is spending time with Peppa and George.

ouryve · 12/06/2013 12:40

Daddy pig isn't exactly talented, but his heart is in the right place and he does play with the children, tell them stories and take them out a lot.

So YANBU. I wouldn't lump him in the same category as Homer, at all.

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 12/06/2013 12:41

Daddy pig cooks, cleans, does laundry, spends time with his kids and buys Mommy Pig excellent birthday gifts.

apart from being obese and a bit of a pompous git he's alright really.

Homer on the other hand is a criminal alcoholic who wouldn't do the dishes if you pointed a gun to his head. And he's obese, mentally deficient and abusive to his children.

I know which one most women would pick.

LaundryLegoLunch · 12/06/2013 12:42

No, he's not as bad but I hate the way he's portrayed in Peppa Pig, some of loveable but useless. And I really, really hate the way they go on about his fat tummy - why is that considered ok?

Original poster
quesadilla · 12/06/2013 12:43

ShadeofViolet now you come to mention the BoJo connection I can see it. Except without the long-winded classical references and the playing away

Daddy Pig represents solid middle class values though. Homer would probably be homeless and living in a box by the side of the railway tracks if it weren't for Marge.

OP posts:
1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 12/06/2013 13:12

He doesn't respect the fact that Mummy pig works from home sometimes though as he always sends the kids in to play !happy mrs chicken' whilst she's working so he can watch tv

mistlethrush · 12/06/2013 13:17

I heard a report on R4 this morning lumping Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered) and Homer Simpson together as bad portrayals of Dads - with the suggestion that it would be sexist if a similar portrayal was given of mums. Apparently this was research carried out by NM.

bonzo77 · 12/06/2013 13:29

YANBU. Daddy pig is an architect: university educated, a levels etc. he's thoughtful and considerate to his wife. He's a hands on dad and when he's not being pompous does not take himself seriously. I love daddy pig.

I don't really watch the Simpsons. But homer seems to be a feckless twat, alcoholic, irresponsible, low life who is encouraging his son to be the same.

ballinacup · 12/06/2013 13:37

As Homer once said to Marge, "I've figured out the one thing I can offer you that no one else can... Complete and utter dependence!"

Summer, I don't understand, how does being obese make a man a bad father?

MajesticWhine · 12/06/2013 13:42

I am always offended by the negative portrayal of Daddy Pig within the programme itself. The rest of the family are always mocking him and mentioning his fat tummy. He always seems to screw everything up and everyone laughs. It's just not ok. I don't know how he has the self-esteem to even get himself out of bed, poor chap.

TolliverGroat · 12/06/2013 13:49

Daddy Pig is a great hands-on dad; in fact he's generally more of a hands-on nurturing parent than Mummy Pig and that's quite refreshing. He's also clearly (from the episodes where we see him doing it) good at his job. Yes, they've made him a bit crap at a bunch of other stuff to balance that out, but otherwise he'd be a super-pig and far less interesting.

Original poster
quesadilla · 12/06/2013 13:53

yes it was netmums.
Fair enough, I think the portrayal of dads on TV is generically a pretty two-dimensional stereotype that implies that they are all a bit rubbish. But there's a huge spectrum from Homer Simpson to Daddy Pig (or Hugh Dennis, come to that.)

OP posts:
GaryBuseysTeeth · 12/06/2013 14:04

Yanbu.

Daddy Pig has to put up with lots of sniping from Mummy Pig, infront of the children (she's always on about him about having a dirty car or being rubbish at map reading).
Mummy Pig is rubbing off on Peppa, she's always berating him, calling him naughty/silly daddy & feeding his cake to the ducks.

Homer is an awful father & husband, he's not as bad as Peter (and Lois) Griffin though. Although going back to kids tv, King Thistle off Ben & Holly is a much worse dad than Daddy Pig.
Mr.Elf is a good dad, although he does seem to be unable to relax.

It's an interesting subject, I can't think of many excellent Dad's/father figures in children's tv (my DS is 18 months, so there's probably a whole lot I've not been exposed to yet).

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 12/06/2013 14:13

Ballinacup.... The pig parents are both obese and the little pigs are fed lots of junk and are also overweight, I don't think that's great parenting tbh.

TheDeadlyDonkey · 12/06/2013 14:17

Those of you saying he is useless and not talented have obviously not seen him dive.

Sleep404 · 12/06/2013 14:17

They're pigs, they're meant to be fat.

ShadeofViolet · 12/06/2013 14:19

Or his champion muddy puddle jump.

Original poster
quesadilla · 12/06/2013 14:20

Its depressing, isn't it, that as portrayals of mums have become more positive and capable that the portrayal of dads has just become that they are incompetent at best and feckless at worst. I suppose comedy relies on having to have at least one family member who is a bit rubbish and if the mum and kids are off-limits it falls to dad.

I'd hardly classify Family Guy as kids TV though....

OP posts:
Sleep404 · 12/06/2013 14:22

Or jump in muddy puddles. I think they are reading too much into it.

And the Simpsons is an adult programme steeped in sarcasm. A bit like American dad or the overt racism of the pub landlord. He obviously isn't a racist but it pointing out how ridiculous racists are.

Sleep404 · 12/06/2013 14:24

In family guy, both parents are portrayed as being pretty useless.

Badgerwife · 12/06/2013 14:49

And when Daddy Pig send the kids to see Mummy Pig whilst she is working, he is actually making soup for lunch, I think that's pretty good myself! He's not perfect but then who is?

1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 12/06/2013 19:31

For a man/pig maybe

caramelwaffle · 12/06/2013 19:45

Homer Simpson is far from being a deadbeat dad: he is an engineer in the nuclear industry with his finger on the button: he has a stay at home home wife and he earns in the region of $100 000 See here

He needs to cut those two hairs off however - comb overs - sheesh!

caramelwaffle · 12/06/2013 19:46

*stay at home...

gordyslovesheep · 12/06/2013 19:53

yes I don't see Homer as a bad dad - he adores his kids - he's loyal, he works and he loves his wife