Excitable Edgar is that child in your kids’ class who has never been told where the boundaries of acceptable behaviour lie

[avocadoze]

I cannot get emotional about this years JL advert. The whole village gets together to make the square look absolutely beautiful and this dragon just goes and trashes it. He melts the ice and stops them ice skating and he messes up the snowman. Not cute. Just cute-looking. I’m not seeing why his parents haven’t stepped in to explain the need to be considerate. Basically, Edgar is a PITA who looks cute, and we’ve all known kids like that in our children’s classes. AIBU to fail to feel the Christmas spirit here?

Thing is Edgar cannot help the way he is made. He doesn't want to be ostracised. The point is that even though he is different he can still make a valid and positive contribution which he so desperately wants to...

if anything, He's a young Dragon in a world of humans and being ostracized for being different by the parents of wanky middle class kids that doesn't like anyone not in their ye olde Biden tribe

Nope. Edgar is the child who, no matter how hard he tries, cannot control something that is genetic and causes problems wherever he goes.
He does everything he can not to, he knows almost everyone hates it when it happens, but he can't help it. He feels isolated and unhappy.
He keeps trying, and eventually gets some measure of control, and people are pleased.

Boden not Biden

Yabu. I feel the advert resonates quite well with children/parents of children with learning disabilities and behavioural issues; they may approach things differently to the rest of 'normal' society but inclusiveness is so important and they are needed.

It's a trite advert. A child is not a dragon, whatever challenges they have, they are human and they belong to the tribe. I really dislike the notion of making children with additional or special needs into a ham-fisted, unthinking caricature as it's young and not cognisant. It's not a child and it bears no relation to one.

I loathe the advert.

AIBU for not having seen this ad yet?

But yes YABU.

And I agree with what others have said.

Can you imagine how frustrating it is to be "Edgar"? To know that no matter how hard you try you'll get it wrong or nearly wrong.

Yes I am Mum of an Edgar. Ironically he wasn't a whirlwind destructive kid. However he was an easily left out and left behind kid. At 16 he is fairly isolated (although he maintains this is how he likes it).

I can’t believe that people analyse the Christmas adverts so much! Can we not just let an advert be an advert and either enjoy it or don’t 🤷🏼‍♀️

Who's stopping you, Emmacb82?

It is just an advert to sell food and merchandise! Fucking hell!

I love the advert. I think it's an excellent metaphor for how people who are 'different' are treated - and made to feel. Edgar can't control himself - he's young and excitable and can't help himself.

I think it's quite sad, and very telling, how some people view this as bad behaviour. But then I spend a considerable amount of time watching two of my nephews who have ASD, being tutted at and judged because they flap their hands and squeal loudly when excited.

They created Edgar to sell the cuddly teddies for £15 before Christmas.

Okay - I really didn’t picture JL as using this to portray the ostracism of a child with special needs. I don’t actually believe they could be so monumentally offensive as to characterise a child with SN as a cute but disruptive pet.

Jesus wept 😂

FWIW- I think yabu. It’s a great advert with a strong message that there are ways around controlling something almost uncontrollable - he’s got a fighting spirit that Edgar 😉

Here's a thought

Perhaps its sod all to do with a Child with SN and just about a dragon ?

Jesus Wept

It doesn't just apply to special needs, it could be any difference or diversity in people or indeed species. How we treat animals, for example. It can be taken at face value. Imagine if a friendly dragon lived with people? The analogies to other situations are ones we make when an issue moves us.

Okay - I really didn’t picture JL as using this to portray the ostracism of a child with special needs. I don’t actually believe they could be so monumentally offensive as to characterise a child with SN as a cute but disruptive pet

Where are you getting all of this from? It'd an advert...about a young dragon who has issues with holding his flames. And somehow it has been turned into an offensive affront to SEN children. Some people seem to make it their life's mission to be offended. Save your strength for something a bit worthy of your rather bizarre angst rather than a make believe dragon

Rtft OP did not mention SN. PP did

I think it's a story from a small child's perspective. He gets excited and carried away and messes up but slowly he learns how to be part of things, thanks in part to his kind friend. I thought it was cute - I remember feeling like edgar (less flamey tho).

Wow, you flip-flopped hard. So now you’re outraged on behalf of SN children and their parents.

Make up your mind.

The advert is, of course, designed to sell things. Shock horror, call the newspapers.

It’s a lovely little story; and if parents of SN children identify with the concept and feel a little better for feeling recognised and valued; then who are you to turn up your nose and sneer at them?

Name change fail, OP?

Respectfully, Dyrne, it's not your business to police how other people interpret the advert and post about it either. Live and let live. It's a good maxim really.

Don’t think so