[Art Eatman]

I wuz browsing the Nooz this AM and ran across this little tidbit:

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1907772.0.children_prefer_cartoon_critters_to_pretend_animals_in_zoos.php

"CHILDREN ARE being left disappointed after visiting the zoo because the animals there aren't "real" enough.

Children have long applied human characteristics to animals, but the all-singing, all-dancing antics of cartoon characters in films such as Happy Feet, Finding Nemo and Madagascar have pushed the personification of animals to a new level.

Now research into zoos and their visitors has found that children are even claiming that some animals are in fact "pretend" because they aren't behaving the way the children expect."

This can go in many directions, of course. To me, it just adds to my belief that the greatest enemies of rational dealings with wildlife management have been Felix Salter, author of "Bambi", and Walt Disney. The personification of animals, to attribute human emotions to them, is darned near evil--insofar as the emotions which come into play when management regulations are proposed, as well as attitudes toward hunters.

Inculcating such beliefs and feelings into kids doesn't help us at all. Sure, some will grow out of it--but all too many will not.

Art

[eliphalet]

Depends on the kid and other factors including home environment,what are the basics taught at home if any. My Mom read me Bambi when I was a little tyke and I grew up watching Disney shows and films. Didn't seem to help a boat load of critters I have shot over the years including several dozen deer.

[Caimlas]

I agree wholeheartedly.

I would not be surprised if a not-insignificant number of those children who said those animals in zoos aren't real enough are urban or suburban dwellers who have never seen real animals.

We've taken our son to the zoo - when one was available - with regularity, and he's been out with me on a number of occasions to find animals out in the wild. We live in an area which is simply sick with game animals, and he will undoubtedly see a herd of deer or antelope, or a flock (yes a flock) of pheasants. He's seen dead game animals. And we'll watch Animal Planet type shows (on public access no less!) on TV which show the true nature of animals (lots of killing and death, pretty gruesome compared to the 'oh look at the cute animals' actually).

[Art Eatman]

There ya go: Parents who expose kids to some approximation of reality achieve rational results. Those who use movies and TV in general as baby-sitters don't "teach and preach".

[1911 guy]

Too much fantasy and too little reality results in warped minds.

The personification of animals was a major step for the anti-hunting crowd. They achieved more with "Bambi" and like films than any other tactic they've tried.

Too much T.V. doesn't make children more violent, etc., it makes them have expectations that are unrealistic. Sure, my three year old watches cartoons. He also get to go to zoos, amusement parks, museums, to "play dates" with other kids, etc.

The One Eyed Monster is a terrible babysitter.