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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flop

57 replies

Daftodil · 11/07/2020 09:07

TAAT.

Another thread going at the moment about which cbeebies character would make the worst partner.

Flop (from Bing) is mentioned and described variously as Bing's parent, his familiar, his vampire protector trapped in servitude...

AIBU to not know what is he? Is he Bing's dad? (Why doesn't he call him dad? Why is he half the size? Why does he have seams?) His carer? His toy? His conscience? His imaginary friend? What is he?!

OP posts:
BaldAndWild · 11/07/2020 16:08

Flop is a spirit guide on valium

LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE · 11/07/2020 16:13

I hate it. I hate Bing so much. The only thing I hate more is Baby Jake. I hate the bad grammar, I hate how Bing is a spoilt little sod who NEVER listens. Myxamatosis is the only answer and I bet Flop thinks so too.

LemonDrizzles · 11/07/2020 16:52

Flop is a non threatening carer. So smaller than Bing, gentle voiced.

There are very few parents on CBeebies. Can't recall seeing any on raa raa. On duggee they don't usually hang about.

Flop kind of reminds me of the nana character on Muppet babies.

I do like flop though so I know I'm in the minority.

Oh I do love Bing. I feel like tearing up just thinking about him. His scrapes and tribulations seemed based on like real world stuff.

I remember once his book fell in the tub, I think about the same time something similar happened at home.

Kitsandkids · 11/07/2020 17:21

I know everyone says Bing’s a whiney so and so, but at least he doesn’t have massive tantrums like a lot of kids do! We were watching the one where he drops his ice cream the other day and I commented to my husband that at least Flop doesn’t have to put up with screams and tantrums! Compared to a lot of young children Bing handles disappointment quite well!

Footlooseandfancy · 11/07/2020 17:29

I'm far too invested in the clear sexual tension between Flop and Amma.

Swirlyceiling · 11/07/2020 17:30

Also not sure it's ok to keep hugging your adult male scout leader with no other adults present

Thank god, not just me! Although working for ss has made me incredibly untrusting.

I think Flop is Bing's carer. He is incredibly patient and calm.

Bing is a bit drippy and needs to learn a bit of gratitude but Pando is by far the worst, and WHY does he always take his trousers off in public.

Melonslicexx · 11/07/2020 17:33

Omg howling at the first reply. He's like some sort of weird OCD single dad I thought. Hands on and patient. Makes us real parents question why we are not as calm as him lol. I want to see him tell bing off more. He never gives him a stern telling. Even when he shop lifts or throws his phone in the bin.

His little step stool annoys me too lol.

I find bing really annoying. But then everything goes wrong for him 😂😂

Laiste · 11/07/2020 17:34

I hate the it's a bing thing stuff. It's never a bing bloody thing. Breathing - it's a bing thing ...... Nope - it's an everybody thing.

Just once i'd like him to admit 'Whinging, complaining, not listening, pestering, breaking everything and killing butterflies; these ARE bing things'!

There was a thread here a few years ago about bing and towards the end the writer himself arrived on the thread. He was kind and charming despite 90% of the posters on the thread tearing his character apart (myself included Blush )The main subject was the swing episode and everyone wanted to know why he had allowed padget to be such a wet lettuce about pando. He said he wrote the story because as a parent himself that was one of the things which wound him up most (other parents not enforcing fairness while out and about like that) and he wanted to write about flop handling it. He also said that between his stories leaving him and going into production on BBC they pass through a lot of hands and minds and by the time they get on screen they are never exactly how he envisaged them originally.

Fair enough Grin

(but i still hate the bing thing bit)

Laiste · 11/07/2020 17:36

Footlooseandfancy - I'm far too invested in the clear sexual tension between Flop and Amma.

Oh god yes! And I'm damn sure the pair of them often share a joint when the offspring are in bed Grin

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 11/07/2020 18:11

I love pando because i hate bing so deeply. Pando loves winding up bing, and bing can't take it. Bing is always trying to control how pando behaves and if pando wasnt there to provide a bit of balance bing would be the all powerful boss. I think pando is a good lesson in why bing should grow a thick skin. With the swing episode, bing is being a whiny brat trying to dictate the length of another child's turn on the swing and when things don't go exactly to Bing's plan, he runs in front of a moving swing .. yet gets all the sympathy?! It was good for me to teach mine why you shouldn't run in front of a moving swing! I think i might have been overthinking this but in fairness i have seen them all about 85 times each.

853690525d · 11/07/2020 18:14

I'm far too invested in the clear sexual tension between Flop and Amma

Me too.

Puddlelane123 · 11/07/2020 18:22

‘Myxamatosis is the only answer and I bet Flop thinks so too’ - had me howling!!! The only acceptable episode of Bing would have Bright Eyes playing in the background.

I have an irrational hatred of all of them, especially Flop and his performance parenting. And the level of indulgence in Bing’s whining and whinging does my head in. He needs a good clip around his oversized ears.

LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE · 11/07/2020 18:32

@Puddlelane123 thanks, I'm here all night - try the chicken tenders!

Original poster
Daftodil · 11/07/2020 20:11

Some of these responses are hilarious!

@Footlooseandfancy I'm far too invested in the clear sexual tension between Flop and Amma.

🤣🤣🤣

@LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE

Myxamatosis is the only answer and I bet Flop thinks so too. 🤣🤣🤣

@Melonslicexx

I want to see him tell bing off more. He never gives him a stern telling. Even when he shop lifts or throws his phone in the bin.

100%!!!

@Laiste
I hate the it's a bing thing stuff. It's never a bing bloody thing. Breathing - it's abing thing...... Nope - it's an everybody thing.

Yes, yes, yes! Drives me mad too!

OP posts:
Original poster
Daftodil · 11/07/2020 20:19

@Swirlyceiling

WHY does he always take his trousers off in public?

That's not a bing thing, that's a boy thing... isn't it? My DS is always stripping off. Not too bad in public - yet! But I'm always coming back into the room to find socks and trousers flung to the far corners! Please tell me it isn't just my child and Pando that do this?! 😱

OP posts:
Original poster
Daftodil · 11/07/2020 20:21

@Silversun83 Flop is a figment of Bing's imagination, created as a coping mechanism after all the adults died from the Virus. Perhaps a bit too near to the mark in current times...

How utterly chilling! 😱

OP posts:
Livpool · 11/07/2020 20:26

Pando is the worst. Horrid little shit

Swirlyceiling · 11/07/2020 20:28

@Daftodil I have a girl but my many nephews do all take their clothes off as soon as they get home. People should put a lot on Pando doing it at the park, though.

Bubbletrouble43 · 11/07/2020 21:16

@Footlooseandfancy
The sexual tension between flop and amma
🤣

Osirus · 11/07/2020 21:22

I know someone who used to date a very close relative of Bing’s creator. I’ll ask and see if they know!

Osirus · 11/07/2020 21:23

My daughter hardly ever wears clothes at home, so not just boys!

Darcydashwood · 11/07/2020 21:24

I’ve decided that Flop and Padgit are in the midst of a ‘will they won’t they?’ sweet rom com relationship. I think they secretly would like to get together but are too shy to make any move.

I’ve still not over the trauma of when Bing accidentally killed the butterfly a la George from Of Mice & Men and everyone just acted like it was no big deal. Murderer!

LittleMissNaice · 11/07/2020 21:31

@HowLongCanICallitBabyWeight

Bing is banned in this house because it's too odd and creepy. Having said that Duggee is not banned, but why can all the squirrels (who are also animals) talk, but Duggee can only woof? Also not sure it's ok to keep hugging your adult male scout leader with no other adults present -but that line of thought is probably linked to my job
Yes! I love Duggee, but the Hair Badge in particular is a safeguarding nightmare. Bathing and hair washing your scout leader? No.
GlumyGloomer · 11/07/2020 21:31

I actually don't mind Bing. I've often suspected it was designed as a how to deal with toddlers guide for parents, and have tried to channel my inner Flop on a few occasions.
My original theory was that when the kids turn 18 they get carted off to a creepy hospital and made over into mild mannered sack people. I've since decided that they've been abducted by aliens dressed as cuddly toys, and are being raised in a home style environment for study purposes. Padget and Molly clearly can't be arsed with it though as they ditch the kids at every opportunity. Flop is the lead scientist and his whole career is resting on the outcome...

Laiste · 12/07/2020 13:25

Is it bad that i really enjoy the one when he's playing hide and seek but doesn't tell anyone and gets locked in Padget's stock room? And they don't realise because there's too much noise in the shop ...