AIBU to feel disgusted walking past this with my children.

[landmarklotto]

Live in a seaside town. The Rock point quarter is a new development regenerating my local high street. I live here with children as do many others. Why do they need to see this and what's the message?
I think it's disgusting, my daughter asked why his toothbrush was that colour. Little primary children don't need to see this coming out of their street every day. I'm just disgusted.

Mickey took lockdown hard

I’d not be offended by this!

@NiceGerbil yes not the characters of the programmes they watch.

I saw this just last week.
It looks bloody awful but I didn't really worry about its effect on my four year old if I'm honest.

Some of the details around his art are on his facebook page www.facebook.com/tomblackfordartist/timeline

@landmarklotto

Not worrying about the children's futures. I just think it's grim they have that to look at in their street.

No, I agree with you. Of all the things they could have commissioned to reflect/celebrate the regeneration this is the most appropriate thing they could come up with?!

@Starjammer

Report the council to Disney. I bet they're rabid about their copyright of Mickey

They certainly are here (US/specifically Calif).

Not just for 'negative portrayals', but daycare centres, hospital pediatric wards, and many other places have gotten 'cease and desist' letters for using Disney characters (not just the 'Fab Five', either) on their walls, ads, or printed materials and have been required to paint over them or face legal action.

Disney wants to protect not just their copyright & revenue streams, but from 'artists' using their characters in negative ways.

@Spottybluepyjamas possibly! It's the rock point quarter. I've not lived here that long it just seems odd.

Can someone please explain the point of it because I just don’t get it . It’s not what I would call offensive or disgusting it’s just ugly .

The most offensive part about this is that his nickname is Mickey Scouse when he lives on the Wirral. Scouse my arse. Mickey Wool more like.

I couldn’t get worked up about it personally, it’s a picture. Not a particularly nice one granted but better than some of the things I’ve had to explain to my dd…

Tweet a pic and link to Disney, they’re like flies round shit if they spot their copyright being breeched, and that’s for stuff that stays on brand never mind mickey on his downersz

I can't imagine thinking about this for longer than the few seconds it took to walk past,

[quote landmarklotto]@NiceGerbil yes not the characters of the programmes they watch.[/quote]
They will be aware surely that this is not what Mickey does in his spare time?

You're totally overreacting.

Oh look sometimes drawn a pic. Hmmm don't really like it. Person who did it has strange sense of humour.

It's quite well done though must have taken a bit of time.

Anyway what did you have for lunch today.

there is only one anti voice on his FB post about this particular painting..

By the way ~again~
I'm not worrying about my children's futures or the effect on them. Just think it's a pretty rank thing to walk past with young children every day. Wouldn't mind if it was a studenty place I wouldn't think anything of it, but it's not.
Just think it needs to be there.

Dress like a ninja and go and paint over it at night then.

Or, offer some local bored teens a few quid to do it.

Get a grip.

Well, not everything they see if going to be pretty and lovely and in accordance with your taste. Probably a good idea to get used to that.

[quote landmarklotto]@nosyupnorth no I haven't walked my 3 year old past a smoking Mickey Mouse before this [/quote]
That's not the only scenario in which a child might see a cigarette though?

I mean, I assume your kids go out in public? They must see people smoking/vaping in the street occasionally (vaping seems to be all over the place tbh). Smoking is less common now, but not so unheard of that the average 3 yr old would be flummoxed by it.

There had been lots of graffiti popping up in this area over the past couple of years. Some of it has been really cheerful and positive (thinking of the lady who paints the benches and did the wings in the maternity ward) This one it just a bit weird, it certainly doesn't scream regeneration I'm sure the kids won't be scarred by it but I agree it's not a pretty sight

@Floralnomad

Can someone please explain the point of it because I just don’t get it . It’s not what I would call offensive or disgusting it’s just ugly .

I was about to ask the same thing. I’m struggling to see why it’s so disgusting and offensive. Can you just tell your children to ignore it, OP? Tell them it’s been done by someone silly?

Some of his other work looks really good, that looks horrible though.

@landmarklotto

It sits on a crossing as well so when you leave the house with toddlers and little children you're stood staring at it and crossing towards it. It's not just a glance. I don't see how a children's tv character with a cigarette in its mouth isn't offensive to children. I thought we had a better attitude to smoking than that. Miffed at how many wouldn't have a problem with it and are like "oh art ".

Is it the whole piece of art you find offensive or just the cigarette? If the latter reach out to the council and ask for the cigarette to be painted out

Kids walk past-
Depending where you live/ visit.

Loitering mildly scary groups of teens
People sleeping rough
People drinking/ drugged
Loud aggressive arguments between car drivers/ yelling stuff
People swearing loudly
Etc etc

I mean. Some or all of those things will be scary to young kids.

I just explain and for rough sleepers and that sort of thing explain that not bad people just no money and other things going on etc. There are people who try to help.

I mean of all the things out there you can acknowledge and explain.

I'm really not getting the big deal.

It’s grim. Hardly a regeneration vibe.
A smoking, beaten up, criminal character - just how to freshen the area up.

Mickey Scouse.

I quite like it.

I picture you like this character from the Simpsons, OP.