Is Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Deeply Problematic?

Question

I couldn’t post the original Twitter video from huffington post, so I had to grab this from YouTube.

IcyStar363 · Accepted Answer

I think it’s a great movie. It teaches reality. Not everyone is going to be accepted. People are going to judge you based off appearances, and you will be picked on. The lesson to be learned from Rudolph is that no matter what other people think, all that matters is what you think of yourself. It teaches that love comes from inside you. It teaches that you can be different, but that different can be good. It teaches that everyone has something they can do. Everyone has a gift. It even teaches you that you can find people that will accept you, and love you in spite of your flaws. Rudolph and the elf that wants to be a dentist become friends because they’re both outcasts in society. They both are strange to others, but it’s their strangeness that makes them special.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

WTF can y'all feminazi stop with this honestly. I understand why but it was a differnt time and why its such a nice story becuase they accept him so stfu

devilman666 · Accepted Answer

Oh for fuck sake the world is falling apart. It was meant to come off that way, the father was meant to be a bigoted asshole, the bullies were meant to be hated, etc. People get outcast for being strange, unfortanately it happens, cancelling shows that include outcasts will not fix this, it will simply remove their ability to relate to characters. Imagine being a child bullied for being weird, the story explicitly shows you that while things might be shitty for a while, you can probably find a way to use your weird trait as an advantage and be a better person for it, and far stronger because of what you went through. "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." -Emperor of China, Mulan.

curiousnorway · Accepted Answer

As a left-wing myself I don't see the problem with the animation at all. The animation shows the audience that Rudolph gets bullied for being different and that bullying isn't acceptable. It also shows that Rudolph later on saves the day and teach the other reindeer to respect him. The story has a good message in it and it seems like someone has overlooked it.

Allie_Oops · Answer

My problem with Rudolph isn't the bullying. My problem actually is that they stop bullying him when he becomes useful to them. Now THAT'S the wrong message to me.

Now, do I think kids notice that? No. It's still not a good message, though.

loveisbeautiful · Answer

I use to watch this every Christmas growing up, along with Frosty the Snowman. I didn't have cable growing up and both of those aired on CBS every year, which I looked forward to every year. I was a kid and enjoyed it, it was entertaining (like entertainment is suppose to be). Now, people want to dissect everything and find some issue that goes with the issues they feel are going on in the world. All they do is ruin good things that have great memories behind them for people. There is not a problem with this movie, it's simply a movie for kids to enjoy during the holiday season, why do people have to ruin that? I mean, what's next? People going to start going after holiday specials from my parents time, like Cocoa, Hard Rock and Joe or maybe Suzy Snowflake. I'm sure someone as a problem with Suzy Snowflake. It's just sad nothing is sacred anymore. I just wish people would learn to sit down, shut up and not feel the need to give their opinion on things that don't need an opinion. I'm just so tired of people. It's all very messed up.

Investigator · Answer

"Yearly reminder that #Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a parable on racism & homophobia w/ Santa as a bigotted exploitative prick."

"Santa's operation is an HR nightmare and in serious need of diversity and inclusion training." #Rudolph".

According to Wikipedia, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally aired on December 6, 1964, which makes it 54 years old. That makes it a dinosaur in today's high-speed world of the future. Almost 60 years have passed since this TV special was aired and A LOT of social progress has been made in that amount of time. My grievance with these comments, and ones like them written in a similar manner, is that they all suffer from historian's bias: because things are better now, they are retroactively problematic back then, which makes this thing a case study in contrived moralizing public outrage. This whole issue boils down to a misunderstanding of value judgement, that because you can observe things happening in this show, at any point in time (especially today, or so they say), it must be as bad as it has ever been.

In reality, what I see since Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a society that is more accepting, or at least, slightly more observant of systemic issues than it has been in the past. Yes, this is a parable of bigotry, but it is also an observation of change and acceptance and those commenters seem to have missed that memo.

Wammu · Answer

Bullying isn't going to go anywhere by removing media that depicts behaviors such as bullying. Something a lot of these SJWs don't understand? These behaviors come from WITHIN. You think any of these bullies or people who act generally shitty feel good about themselves? They don't, so they attack reality (others who they see as lower than them.)

The people who talk about stopping bullying don't understand it at all.

Bullies always go for the people who are the lowest on the totem poll. People without friends, clubs, or gatherings are usually prime targets.

You want to stop bullying? Here is the non-sexy answer that is going to fall on deaf ears to a lot of you idiots.

Teach these nerdy kids to join a sports club early. A club that has clout in school.
Teach them social skills.
Teach introverts to stop using introversion as an excuse for antisocial behavior at an early age (The fact that a LOT of 20 year olds are using anxiety and introversion as an excuse for antisocial behavior is not a good sign but eh.)

The fact is, bullies are predators, nerds and the antisocial are prey.

We are social creatures, if you aren't social in some way then you don't have leverage against the bully.

Anonymous · Answer

What the fuck. I don’t think the story of Rudolph the red nose rain deer is offensive. The story is that he got taken the piss out of for being different but showed all of them wrong when his differences is what made him special. This is an important message that I grew up with as a kid. To except your flaws and differences and own them. The internet these days Is horrendous people offended even though it doesn’t offend them personally they just feel they should say they are because someone else is. Honestly who does this story genuinely personally offend? It’s a story about owning your flaws and differences it’s a story about impowerment.

OldSchool_Metalhead · Answer

I always watched this on VHS when i was little, then on CBS. People freak out so much about "political correctness" and see anything as hateful and fucked up. I mean damn, rudolph the red nose reindeer was made during a time when things were different. But that doesn't mean that it was meant to have hate towarda certain groups.

If there is a true thing as free speech, people wouldn't freak out about a holiday classic. Believe it or not there are many who can relate to rudolph some way. Whether its about being bullied or seen as different. Thats what makes him special.

lightbulb27 · Answer

lol. I loved the movie because it so mirrored my treatment in school and home. Not saying that is good, but that is how it was. Rudolph when pulling the sleight should have kicked a snow ball right in his face and

I suggest a modified version as follows:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight? Oh, you just want to take advantage of me now that you see my value? You lack vision Santa, you know it's winter an storms are coming, but can't anticipate you are going to need a light? We need a new Santa! And Doner, I forgive you for being a jerk, but if you insult another deer with your inconsiderate words like that, your antlers are gonna end up on a rack somewhere. I'm referring you to counselor Ernie!" something like that...

Diversity training... oh man... we need more cats in Santas workshop pulling that sleigh.

I hope Millenials do not watch Bambi!

Dause · Answer

In no way was that Animation Problematic. The things shown in the Animation were/are close to how people are often treated for being different. Such people who act like that even as adults exist everywhere, and children who can easily relate to the MC in this case similarly exist everywhere.

The only thing that people appalls people about it (or at least me, back in the day) is that Santa (A religious/saint figure) is shown/acts as a rather terrible person, while simultaneously being glorified by those he is suppressing. Which gives somewhat of a stifling feeling to the old cartoon.

MScifiwriter · Answer

The word "problematic" in itself is becoming "problematic"... I mean SERIOUSLY!!! I mean, it's been so over used. I heard somewhere, maybe Bill Mahr, that when you look hard enough you're going to find the smallest tiniest problem with anything and everything.

You can find problem with the way people eat, walk, and talk. But are you going to complain about every facet, of everything everyone does for the rest of eternity? Or are you going to relax some and start living and enjoying life. Sure things are screwed up, but when you try to control everything, you start becoming, something along the lines of a dictator and a control freak.

Just relax and try to enjoy life more, not EVERYTHING has to be taken so damn seriously.

Kemil_Zhoki · Answer

Some people like to judge things from 50+ years ago by today's norms and whine. They do the same with Song of the South, completely failing to see how revolutionary it was in the 1940's to have a black man as the hero of the story and how progressive it was to have a rich white kid befriend a poor white girl and a black boy.

sundressgal · Answer

It is but it’s so old that you really should just treat it as funny. Like those old books from the 50’s on “how to be a proper wife” or stuff like that. All sorts of offensive these days but so much so that it’s actually funny. We really tend to take a lot of things too seriously these days, sometimes it’s just better to laugh and move on lol

stormbreaker06 · Answer

the story of Rudolph is about a deer who is born different. The other reindeer make fun of him because he has a red light up nose.

Rudolph is embarrassed and shamed so he runs off because he is not accepted at the north pole.

On Christmas eve their is a storm. Santa is worried that he won't be able to deliver gifts to children. He then needs rudoplh. to help guide his sleigh.

Rudolph is clutch and saves the day and now all of a sudden the Reindeer love him.

if anyone who should be marginalized it should be his parents and the other reindeer. They were too judgmental and mean.

These are the same reindeer that are helping to give NICE CHILDREN presents. Its so ironic. Santa says be good and get presents but his own reindeer are evil. Its so silly.

Ellie-V · Answer

I’ve never liked the dumb story anyway, not because I saw it as problematic, but because it was boring as hell.
I guess when you are looking at the movie from a modern lense, it doesn’t really fit with the times. But we just have to remember it’s old as dirt and we have moved on.
I’d rather watch something more entertaining like the Adams Family 😂

AngelLily · Answer

Wow the are some super soft/babied People out here why do these idots got to ruin innocent stuff.

GnarCute · Answer

can the fucking SJW's stop fuckin ruining everything turning it into homo bashing bullshit

Nights0ng · Answer

Oh god.
No, rudolph is a perfecly good story, its not racist or sexist or whatever crazy things people claim it is.
Also, yeah, you do have to benefit the society somehow since you live and profit from it yourself. You have to give something back to the world.
Rudolph got praised after he showed his worth. I wouldn't respect people without them having earned it first either. Its just natural

weasley8 · Answer

The characters are jerks, but I feel like people know that. I've read Huffington Post articles about it, and that's really all they say. They showcase tweets of people who are noticing the greater context that the film takes place in, and now see it in a different way than they did as kids.

MarkRet · Answer

It shows reality, which I guess some snowflakes can't take. I always liked this movie, and even have a copy of it. The other reindeer were just ignorant, but Santa was a jerk, because he's always supposed to be the accepting jolly person. Rudolph triumphed over everything, and turned out to be better than all of them. As for Hermie the Elf, he'd have a far better career as a dentist than sitting around making dumb toys anyway.

zagor · Answer

Homophobic and racist? Clearly it's a parable on the evils of enforced conformity and proscribed roles. The scary part is some people are so stupid they don't realize that.

Massageman · Answer

The SJWs appear to be driving the media top come up with worse and worse "programming" (I'm being generous there). Heck, CBS has even managed to wreck McGyver (RDA didn't want anything to do with it), Hawaii 5-O, and Magnum P. I. When will the carnage stop?

murdanyc916 · Answer

Not at all. I read recently that there was a sequel called "Rudolph and Frostys Christmas in July" that explained his glowing nose came from the Aurora Borealis, LOL.

As I write this comment, a Rudolph clip is playing on "The Angle" on Fox News LOL

Paris13 · Answer

Wow!!! Am I Psychic or Hot Not. I was Just Saying the Other Day, When they Going to Start on Rudolph? xx

lovedejj_xo · Answer

I mean I took it as a lesson to be kind and it’s okay to be different wasn’t that the end message? I mean every movie has bad things in it... up to you to learn right from wrong. Let the classics be classic.

Anonymous · Answer

Welcome to 2018 folks. Next thing you know wearing shoes is problematic because it's shaming those who don't have / can't afford new shoes. SMH!

Poormanscomedian · Answer

That show makes me cry, I know they are not real, but I hate it when Cornelious falls off the mountain. I also hate when Frost the Snowman melts in Frost the Snowman.

LegateLanius · Answer

Seriously?  This "everything is offensive" shit is out of hand.

sawno · Answer

We should stop taking this corporate lobby activism seriously. No sane citizen actually thinks like this and sees a problem with everything.
Its merely a control and power grab, nothing less nothing more.

ChgzDaniel · Answer

Even if it was, I wouldn't care. It's a cartoon for God's sake! What the hell are you scared of? If you don't like it, just don't watch it.

Anonymous · Answer

No, the people who nit pick at such simple and innocent things are problematic. It's an old Classic Christmas movie for goodness sake, leave it alone.

Anonymous · Answer

It's obviously not meant that way. If one is really trying to can interpret anything as "offense" or "problematic." Just because they're able to brute force through a plethora of interpretations of something until they find a way in which it could maybe somehow possibly considered to be interpreted as "problematic" doesn't mean there's anything even remotely approaching a problem I should give a solitary fuck about besides the ridiculous addiction to being victimized by everything.

softrosie · Answer

Women are getting acid thrown in their faces, gays are being thrown off buildings and this is what you're worried about. Smh.

Bandit74 · Answer

I cringe whenever I see the word "problematic". It is highly overused and mostly by people who seemingly go out of their way to find trivial things to be offended by.

MasterKey18 · Answer

Goodness, Rudolph too now?

psychosam · Answer

Ah for fucks sake. I'm not even going to watch it, and just going to say no

ashleyb93 · Answer

Jesus I forgot how fucking brutal this movie was...

Iron_Pounder91 · Answer

Yeah, it's racist towards red heads and white people who have ginger nose hair. Rudolph is a disgusting racial stereotype!

Mexicoman101 · Answer

I don’t think so, no. I don’t like it as much as the Kris Kringle one with the Burger Meister Meister-Burger though. That penguin sidekick was the shit.

Anonymous · Answer

Bullying is part of the message in the story--that it is bad to do to others. Pretending Bullying does not exist is not how to teach anti-bullying.

Lightning8 · Answer

I don't know how you overlook that Rudolf is the main protagonist who overcame the marginalization and bullying of his society, garnering respect and acceptance. That's why the marginalizing and bullying, etc are there: to be overcome right?

Amanda269 · Answer

Normally the tale of rudolph is nice and learning your flaw is your strength, but hell that animation is not.

Billyscotter · Answer

Is it deeply problematic? No. It’s just a story, and kind of a dumb one. The other reindeer seem like crumby people, and even even if he appreciated the acceptance, he’d likely always resent them.

daz96 · Answer

Moral of rudolph: Difference from the norm is punished unless it is exploitable

monkeynutts · Answer

I ate Rudolf back in the nineties, raindeer BBQ, s quite well.

Deathraider · Answer

Several hypothesis on why Rudolph's nose is so red. He was part of a gang. BDMS with Santa gone wrong. Doing crack.

Kiran04 · Answer

Everything under the sun is "deeply problematic" for leftists. It is impossible to take them seriously anymore, and HuffPo is as hardline left as they come.

zz_topp · Answer

Nothing wrong with it. Teaches everyone a great lesson of inclusion. You can’t have a drama without conflict. Reflects real life. People that bitch about this kind of stuff need to get real

Yourlegaladdiction · Answer

People are too sensitive

Cask23 · Answer

Name one thing that liberals have touched that hasn't been ruined.

CaptainSmartass · Answer

At least it's not Barry The Brown Nosed Reindeer. He's as fast as Rudolph, but can't stop so well... Simples...

Guanfei · Answer

I mean, it's the huff, those guys should have rooms with their names on it in the nearest psychiatric hospital.

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

YOU'RE problematic! Notice how the above statement makes no sense? Exactly.

Pluto4prez · Answer

No. It isn't. People need to stop inserting their political agendas into everything.

WhereAmI · Answer

Well either he has roseaca or is Irish and drinks excessively. :p

legalboxers · Answer

there's life lesson here. stop watching kids cartoons

BellumEtPacem · Answer

No. People say everything is offensive. People would also probably find the intro to full metal jacket because of their hurt feelings..😂😂😂

Anonymous · Answer

He should have killed himself. That would've shown them!

Rambler221 · Answer

Hell no, man. It's just a stop motion movie. The HP is full of shit.

awkwardman · Answer

Nope. Just people who want to be offended by everything.

b4ssie1199 · Answer

It isn't, and it's from Huffington Post, that tells enough for me

Anonymous · Answer

This is just liberal fuck nuts doing what liberal fuck nuts do.

Is Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Deeply Problematic?

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