Ahh--but remember that to most kids "All television is educational" It is
important that
they see animals properly housed and in good condition. My son noticed that
Bob the
Builder changed the water in his aquarium "just like daddy" and swears that
Dorothy
has Ich.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a positive example for your kids (and/or
switch the
idiot box off).

And, not to be picky, but Elmo lives in an apartment with a talking
computer, magic window
shade, animated furniture and, yes, a very wretched looking goldfish. My
guess would
be they're on "Dorothy XXVII" by now.

-coelacanth
(Who always fed his fish when Mr. Rodgers fed his.)


"bassett" wrote in message
...
For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know
that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really
matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's
program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett








Chris + Jacqui wrote in message ...
It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of
Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode, Dora
is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat about
what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are not
very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your
daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write to
the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui



"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo
takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 - 2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--