Is Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Deeply Problematic?

[ladsin]

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

[IcyStar363]

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]

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

[Canadaman99]

What does it matter when it was made? Its still accurate of todays society, bullies, exploitation, and abuse are real. 90% of it in this movie was shown as being bad hence why the main character felt like shit.
People just dont like seeing reality lol

[ladsin]

@Canadaman99 The point was that Rudolph overcame those bullies. Now they want to ban the video showing people that they can overcome bullies.

[Canadaman99]

Im aware, thanks for reiterating though 👍

[brennanhuff]

jesus, this too now? Did you hear how Baby it's cold outside has been banned from multiple radio stations because of metoomovement? The metoomovement has legit reasons and has helped call out bad men. But people who think the song is anything like harassment or blackmail, etc are idiots and need to listen to the song again. Stupid.

[Canadaman99]

Where i lived people stopped playing that like 5 years ago

[devilman666]

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]

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]

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.

[Wammu]

First, Rudolph is a man. If he isn't useful, he's dead.

Second. . .

That's called life. . . . You think a bully will stop doing what they do just because people preach peace and love and being good by following this ideology? Most of these people who PREACH this ideology ARE bullies, and they use a disagreement or a violation of their ideology as an excuse to be assholes.

[ThisAndThat]

I don't think you get it. There is a reason for a balance of good and evil due to the fact they both exist. Everything under the sun is faced with evil and if there are no demonstrations on how to counter is and why you should, there would be no such thing as protecting yourself from evil. When you go to such lengths to omit the examples you omit the ability to protect with it and evil will always exist no matter what and trying to prefect it in such a way will make things far worse.

[Allie_Oops]

@Wammu So basically you should conform. That's the mindset of a weak person.

[ThisAndThat]

No. The mindset of a weak person is one that doesn't have the examples knowledge and skills to protect them selves and there is only one way to gain that and that's through exposure to it. Like I said evil exist there is nothing we can do about it it's there. And when you don't know how to protect yourself and find yourself in the same or similar situation you can only hope and pray or both that you're able to get out of it without becoming the example yourself. Besides going though bullying myself in both my neighborhood and in school, I had become a hostage victim 4 times and kidnapped 3 out of those four times before I reached the age of 17. Had I not had any source of thinking skills then I wouldn't be answering your right now.

[Wammu]

@ThisAndThat askin the wrong questions bro.

[Wammu]

@Allie_Oops oh god. . . Edgy statements about non conformity. . . missed high school. Huh?

[ThisAndThat]

@Wammu My problem actually is that they stop bullying him when he becomes useful to them?

[Wammu]

@ThisAndThat Look, I don't know if you noticed this? But not everyone is an altruistic enough to go out of their way to defend each individual problem that they have never experienced. If I saw somebody getting bullied, I'd throw down.

Secondly: This is society, if men aren't useful then we aren't good. . . And honestly? That's not wrong. . . Would you particularly care for some loser who sat at home playing WoW all day like a NEET?

[Allie_Oops]

I teach middle school and what you’re saying is not how I want my students to think. I don’t want them thinking they have friends just because they are ‘useful’ because everyone is tossed aside.

Besides, I actually had 3 of my high school students email me to tell me that it was some of the best advice I gave. So I’m pretty sure I’m not wrong.

[Allie_Oops]

There’s a difference between useful as a contributor to society and being useful to ‘friends’. Rudolph was a friend situation, not society.

[Wammu]

@Alie_Oops I remember having teachers like you. I always thought yal were useless.

[ThisAndThat]

Assuming I had any, which I don't thanks to western indoctrination of women, but again assuming I had children, I would not send them to public indoctrination centers IE public school system to damage their social skills well being and outlook on life.

[loveisbeautiful]

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]

"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]

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]

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.

[stain09]

Exactly how is it racist people think too much about it. It’s Christmas for Gods sake it’s meant to be jolly grow up

[AngerSquares]

Wow someone on the internet with a head on their shoulders. Guess I won't be the only one watching society slowly burn to cinders.

[Opinion Owner]

@AngerSquares @srain09 exactly I’m fed up with it. I don’t want my kids to grow up with Rudolph and Santa as I did and it annoys me when people try and find any little thing, make it offensive and then over time everyone else finds it offensive and that thing is gone

[OldSchool_Metalhead]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[joanofarcher]

Its a useful buzzword. It tells me when to stop listening to the person using it.

[Kemil_Zhoki]

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]

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

[zagor]

How is it problematic? It is in fact mocking the need for conformity - it was ahead of its time. What exactly is offensive in it, or outdated?

[malegender]

none of old that stuff is offensive, it's TRUE

[stormbreaker06]

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]

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 😂

[CherryRoseChampange]

FACTS, Addams family is my show 😆😆😆😆😆

[AngelLily]

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

[GnarCute]

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

[Nights0ng]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?