[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally Posted by vmarks 

Unless it's against the law to smoke at the bus stop, the man was doing nothing wrong. Inadvisable, perhaps, but wrong? no.

Salty took the man's cigarette and stomped it out. Unless Salty told the story wrong, Salty aggravated the situation by making it physical.

Is it illegal to take a cigarette out of a person's mouth? You haven't touched the person. I don't think there's a law against it...inadvisable, perhaps, but wrong? no.

In many provinces of Canada, it's very much illegal to smoke in a bus shelter.

[peeb]

We've had an influx of particularly poorly chosen moderators lately.

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally Posted by peeb 

We've had an influx of particularly poorly chosen moderators lately.

I hope he doesn't moderate us like he moderates his children.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Horsepoo!!! 

I hope he doesn't moderate us like he moderates his children.

Oh snap!

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by vmarks 

Unless it's against the law to smoke at the bus stop, the man was doing nothing wrong. Inadvisable, perhaps, but wrong? no.

Salty took the man's cigarette and stomped it out. Unless Salty told the story wrong, Salty aggravated the situation by making it physical.

And you know this from Salty's cryptic story retelling how?

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Horsepoo!!! 

I hope he doesn't moderate us like he moderates his children.

I know you were joking, but:





On the other hand... is that a countdown till reinstatement of account? That's pretty cool.

[Cold Warrior]

vmarks didn't do it. Peeb got temp banned for his infractions adding up.

And yes, for temp bans, it counts down until the ban is auto-lifted. Format is dd:hh.

[- - e r i k - -]

This begs the question:

Are moderators immune to infractions?

[Cold Warrior]

vB doesn't show an option for one mod to infraction another. I think it used to before the most recent upgrade. However, it wouldn't stop an admin from doing it, but if there are mod issues, infractions aren't the way it's handled.

[- - e r i k - -]

Thank you for clearing that up. I suspect a "handling" is what's needed over the mess this thread became.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

vmarks didn't do it. Peeb got temp banned for his infractions adding up.

And yes, for temp bans, it counts down until the ban is auto-lifted. Format is dd:hh.

That is hysterical, and VERY cool.

[Dakar the Fourth]

For those of us stupid enough to head into the PL regularly, we've known about the ban LED for awhile. This is third instance I've seen, the previous two being peeb and peeb.
lulz

[vmarks]

I don't think there's any problem with voicing a concern about a flawed message in a movie intended for small children. -- particularly in the thread about that movie.

I'll admit the smoking stuff got off topic, but the original point was valid - children repeat propaganda when parents don't act as a filter for it.

For those of you suggesting that you'll expose your children to multiple viewpoints and let them decide, I suppose that's one way of parenting, but not my way without some moderation.

As a parent, it's my duty to make decisions about what viewpoints or positions are age appropriate to be discussed. You can't responsibly tell a child under the age of ten about a nebulous topic like economic systems, consumerism, and the interrelationship with ecology and ask the child to choose a position, for example. Laying anti-consumerism and eco-warrior propaganda on a young child seems irresponsible. Instead, it might be perfectly reasonable to talk about where trash goes when the garbage collector takes it, or where water goes when it goes down the drain -- here's the key -- depending on the age of the child.

Even those discussions are meant for children older than children in the target audience of WALL-E.

I hope WALL-E is good. I hope this message doesn't spoil the movie.

[mdc]

I just got back from the midnight WALL•E and I loved it.

My favorite Pixar movies are The Incredibles, Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and then the rest of their movie in no particular order. As of tonight Wall•E is in the top 3, if not my favorite Pixar movie.
I definitely want to watch it again at the cinema and will be buying it on Blu-Ray the day it comes out.

[Big Mac]

Just came back from Wall-E - like all Pixar films, it is extremely well-executed, high quality, original and endearing. Here's a spoiler-synopsis:

 

You'll be happy to hear, vmarks, that the film doesn't contain a harshly anti-corporate message as such; it's certainly not an endorsement of communism, but at the same time there is obviously an underlying theme that is not very consumerist friendly.

In the Wall-E world the remnant of humanity has to abandon earth due to high levels of consumer waste and environmental toxicity, yielding an environment that no longer sustains life. The world, or at least the American government, has been subsumed by a hegemonic corporation, Buy n Large, and its CEO has become the president of the world. The products of the corporation seem to have been the driving force behind the environmental collapse. The two "anti-corporate" themes developed are properly understood as opposition to over-production/over-consumption and opposition to reverse-fascism - the takeover of government by a mega-corporation.

Anyway, coming to the rescue of life on earth, Buy n Large deploys a star ship that will take humanity into space in order to live until the terrestrial environment can be restored. Meanwhile, waste disposal bots have been left to sort through and compact the trash left on earth. Eventually Wall-E is the only bot left, and he possesses a special personality. The story picks up (after about thirty minutes of solitary Wall-E action) when a robot from the ship comes to earth on a mission to discover if there is any organic life growing again. A single plant is found by Wall-E, Wall-E and Eva return to the ship with it, and a conflict ensues over the plan to go back to earth.

A very well done and very original film. Contains a lot of Apple fan-service. However, it's not in my top 3 Pixar films. The major criticism I have is that I feel Wall-E is a bit limited in scope and perhaps less well developed than other Pixar films. Part of that feeling is probably due to the fact that the two main characters share fewer than 5 words between them. Even though the plot covers the entire earth as well as outer space, I think other Pixar films are far richer and deeper. Tentative rating: 7.5/10.

[vmarks]

Thanks for that synopsis, BigMac.

In your opinion, are the best parts of the movie shown in the trailer?

[mdc]

A minor spoiler, but something I really enjoyed.

 

WALL•E uses solar power to recharge and when his batteries are fully charged he makes the Mac startup sound.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by vmarks 

Even those discussions are meant for children older than children in the target audience of WALL-E.

Have you ever watched a Disney/Pixar/Whatever movie? There are always two stories going - one for the kids and one for the adults. The answer to "why do the people live in that spaceship?" is simply "because the Earth got really dirty" if your kid is too young to understand. If you read any of the interviews with the makers of the movie, it really wasn't intended to have a political message - they had an idea and that was a scenario that made it work.

You haven't mentioned the age of your children, but my five year old understands the concepts of moderation, conservation of the Earth, and responsibility for your own actions. Kids aren't as dumb as you seem to assume they are.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by vmarks 

Laying anti-consumerism and eco-warrior propaganda on a young child seems irresponsible. Instead, it might be perfectly reasonable to talk about where trash goes when the garbage collector takes it, or where water goes when it goes down the drain -- here's the key -- depending on the age of the child.

Even those discussions are meant for children older than children in the target audience of WALL-E.
.

Oh please. Your language might be appropriate for the poli lounge, and quite frankly this form of expression is a prime reason why I don't read it anymore, but there is no reason to use it here.

You are presenting your opinion as an absolute truth here. I can't see any eco-warrior propaganda anywhere. I can however see a shitload of consumerist propaganda, it's surrounding me, you and everybody else living in our culture every single day. Maybe it would be a good idea to figure out to protect your kids from the relentless onslaught of commercial messages before you start worrying about a harmless little movie. Looks to me that you've got your priorities all mixed up.

[paul w]

This is retarded. Movies i general are becoming more and more flimsy homogenous vehicles of consumerism (rather than story driven entertainment). If one movie suggests a position you don't like or want your children to see, use your right as a parent and consumer to prohibit them form seeing it (if you can).

I don't want safe movies. I want my children to be challenged, to think. The role of the parent is to aid that development not protect the child from all the perceived evils. IMO that's a recipe for whiny brats who eventually rebel anyway.

Children are NOT stupid.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by paul w 

Children are NOT stupid.

But this thread proves that their parents are.

I mean who in the hell would be offended that their kids might walk out of a movie being a bit more enviromentally conscious, god forbid.

Better take them to Rambo instead and show em some good old fashoned entertainment that is message free.

Then vote for bush.

[Cold Warrior]

Originally Posted by wallinbl 

Have you ever watched a Disney/Pixar/Whatever movie? There are always two stories going - one for the kids and one for the adults. The answer to "why do the people live in that spaceship?" is simply "because the Earth got really dirty" if your kid is too young to understand. If you read any of the interviews with the makers of the movie, it really wasn't intended to have a political message - they had an idea and that was a scenario that made it work.

You haven't mentioned the age of your children, but my five year old understands the concepts of moderation, conservation of the Earth, and responsibility for your own actions. Kids aren't as dumb as you seem to assume they are.

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Oh please. Your language might be appropriate for the poli lounge, and quite frankly this form of expression is a prime reason why I don't read it anymore, but there is no reason to use it here.

You are presenting your opinion as an absolute truth here. I can't see any eco-warrior propaganda anywhere. I can however see a shitload of consumerist propaganda, it's surrounding me, you and everybody else living in our culture every single day. Maybe it would be a good idea to figure out to protect your kids from the relentless onslaught of commercial messages before you start worrying about a harmless little movie. Looks to me that you've got your priorities all mixed up.

Everyone, let go of this debate in this thread. Start one in the right forum if you want to continue it. Let's keep this thread for movie commentary.

[design219]

I'm going tonight. Anyone know if there is any bonus material after the credits to stick around for?

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

Everyone, let go of this debate in this thread. Start one in the right forum if you want to continue it. Let's keep this thread for movie commentary.

Now a mod chimes in? Are we serious?

[scottiB]

Originally Posted by design219 

I'm going tonight. Anyone know if there is any bonus material after the credits to stick around for?

I don't believe so, but the end-credit sequences themselves are supposed to be quite good.

an end-credit sequence that restages the whole history of Western art, cave paintings through Impressionism (and infinity?) and beyond — in animated form.

From: here

[vmarks]

Originally Posted by wallinbl 

Have you ever watched a Disney/Pixar/Whatever movie? There are always two stories going - one for the kids and one for the adults. The answer to "why do the people live in that spaceship?" is simply "because the Earth got really dirty" if your kid is too young to understand. If you read any of the interviews with the makers of the movie, it really wasn't intended to have a political message - they had an idea and that was a scenario that made it work.

You haven't mentioned the age of your children, but my five year old understands the concepts of moderation, conservation of the Earth, and responsibility for your own actions. Kids aren't as dumb as you seem to assume they are.

I guess you missed where I talked about how much my children like Toy Story 1 and 2, but dislike Cars and the Incredibles.

What was your child like at 3? at 4? What would your child's understanding have been at that time? Additionally, how do you gauge your child's understanding? Is your child listening and parroting back what you wish to hear? Don't presume to tell me I believe children are dumb. I do not.

I'm glad that the movie seems to not focus on the parts I've raised concern about.

Could someone please tell me if the best parts are shown in the trailer or not?

[besson3c]

vmarks: if you are worried about your kids parroting back things they hear, do you prevent them from playing with other kids? Do you vet all adults that ever have a conversation with them? If not, do you teach them that liberal viewpoints are evil and/or wrong? If I were to ask them political questions, would they have intelligent answers to them?

I also notice Cold Warrior requested that we leave this debate for another thread, I'm assuming you're vetoing this request? (It doesn't bother me, I'm enjoying trying to figure out where you're coming from, to be honest)...

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by vmarks 

Stuff

Ahem:

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

Everyone, let go of this debate in this thread. Start one in the right forum if you want to continue it. Let's keep this thread for movie commentary.

[Cold Warrior]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Now a mod chimes in? Are we serious?

I was hoping it'd get back on track without intervention. Guess not.

Feel free to start a fresh thread. I think Kevin's post a year ago was a bad omen.