Censorship and Sponge Bob?s Evil Empire
January 23rd, 2006 by Bob Bly
According to an article in the Daily News (1/19/06), the Center for Science in the Public Interest is suing both Nickelodeon and Kellogs for advertising Frosted Flakes on the cartoon TV show ?Sponge Bob Square Pants.?
They contend that it?s immoral and harmful to use a popular cartoon character to convince kids to eat ?junk food.?
What planet do these people live on? Compared to other stuff my kids eat, like candy and soda, Frosted Flakes are health food. Yes, they have sugar. But cereal is good for kids to eat — they get fiber and vitamins — and they consume milk with it.
To me, this lunacy is an example of censorship gone over the edge. Do you agree?
This entry was posted on Monday, January 23rd, 2006 at 10:27 am and is filed under Advertising. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:19 am
I disagree, Bob. I would never consider Frosted Flakes to be anything like a health food – the vitamins are artificial and should be provided in other parts of the diet (fresh vegetables and fruit etc) and the milk can be got from, well, milk.
While kids can go with more sugar than us older types, they get way too much in one hit from a bowl of cereal. Slow-release carbs would be better for breakfast from, say, a banana.
I don’t think these sort of cartoon characters should be advertising this sort of stuff – but it’s not as bad as sports stars advertising junk food, or sports events being sponsored by junk food pushers. Don’t get me started…
January 23rd, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Its grandstanding and a PR show.
January 23rd, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Frankly, I was more disturbed when Joe Namath was shilling pantyhose for Hanes.
Where was the CSPI then?
January 23rd, 2006 at 2:52 pm
First of all, Bob, don’t let my wife hear you say your kids eat candy and soda. She’ll launch into a tirade about how awful that is for kids, and I’m sure she would include this type of cereal.
She’s the “tough” parent between the two of us.
But that’s the real point, isn’t it? These groups file lawsuits because parents don’t simply tell their kids no, or maybe the parents don’t care. It’s doesn’t seem to bode well for personal responsibility when the Center for Science in the Public Interest is trying to essentially parent our kids.
January 23rd, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Hi Bob,
My answer to this is so long and involved I could turn it into a book. No … *seriously* … a book. I’m a home-schooling father of five and it would be great to meet up with you and compare notes. Any ideas?
M
January 23rd, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Being a mom and hopefully a realist, I think it is addressing a point that needs to be dealt with. TV has used children’s programs forever, to market to the children. I think it is wrong to try and sell to impressionable kids and feed them desire for junk of all types. Fruit roll-ups to Barbies, or whatever the most popular trend is — it just isn’t right, and it does not help the child’s healthy development. I doubt there is any more effective channel into the children’s brains than endless commercial ads, but it is just wrong to prey on them. (I won’t talk about attention span decrease.)
The hard answer is unplug your TV.
January 25th, 2006 at 9:49 am
These folks have too much time on their hands and nothing better to do with it. Sure looks like “political correctness syndrome” gone astray again.
January 28th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Sponge Bob is one of the best marketers in the world. His face is on almost EVERYTHING! He reached a whole new level of sophistication, though, when he added his endorsement to … can you guess … kitchen sponges!
February 15th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
When I was little, my mother never bought sugared cereal. But when I think back on the cupfuls of sugar I dumped onto my Cheerios, I’m 100% sure that my glucose intake would have been lower if she’d just bought us the Coco-Puffs.
March 3rd, 2006 at 10:34 am
I was thrilled the other day when my 13-year-old daughter, who rarely eats breakfast, asked me to buy Frosted Cheerios. Is Sponge Bob selling them too? Sweet cereals aren’t the healthiest products in the world, but I agree that they beat soda, candy & cookies by a mile. Let’s face it, we boomers grew up in the 60’s & 70’s eating that stuff & most of us still have all our teeth and are stronger & healthier than our parents were at a comparable age. I’d rather see them stop the horribly violent images that come on in ads during prime time–the ones that make my kid cover her eyes.
March 4th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
There was a debate about the Irish Censorship laws 50 years ago or so (it may have been more). There was a debate with an Irish author who was well-respected outside of Ireland, and banned in it.
The resolution of the debate was “Irish Censorship is an insult to Irish intelligence.”
Frankly, 50 or more years later, I’m of the opinion that censorship in general is an insult to people’s intelligence.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:38 am
I dont think its right that they are sueing nick just for something this small compared to what else is on T.V nowadays. I mean finally something clean to watch. Ive asked college students what they’ve thought of it and they love it. They say it relieves stress becuase its so funny. Why dont they start telling the advertising companys to stop showing discusting seens on comercials. If they want something to complain about.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
hah its up to the parents what the kids eat anyways THINK ABOUT THAT….
November 18th, 2011 at 12:35 am
Decorative Pillows…
[…]Censorship and Sponge Bob?s Evil Empire – bly.com blog – bly.com direct marketing blog[…]…
September 9th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
I currently am running two blogs, one is for design & development and I have a pagerank of 4 on it and I have loads of good articles. . And I have another blog where I have rants, health tips and photography.. . Should I merge them or should I keep it seperate?.
June 22nd, 2018 at 5:27 pm
I need admit that it’s 1 of the most worthwhile reports I have ever study. It is also professionally created. I am an British instructor so I see what I mean.
June 22nd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Good article! It really is a perfect delight to browse it. Congratulation! Well-done! I am simply looking for additional messages.
June 22nd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Hi everyone! It truly is very exciting article. I’m surprised that you are so accomplished. I failed to esteem you!
June 22nd, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Congratulation on composing fantastic material! I should express that the content is a high grade content and it matches all sorts of criteria. Well-done.
June 25th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Hello. Right here is a question for everyone who search for premium excellence material. Will you look for another site? If you consult me I will state NO. That site is greatest for me!
June 25th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Dear writer! Thanks a lot for becoming here and publishing so perfectly content. There is somebody who enjoy it and declare thanks a lot!
June 25th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
In my advice, not numerous bloggers have so lots of ideas to produce latest, fascinating articles. Thanks for doing it and I want you did not lose the motivation to make the unique ones!
June 25th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
I completely agree with the past reader. I know the fantastic determination and excellent responses are great basis to establish top excellence content.
October 8th, 2019 at 11:21 am
amazing post, yes cereals contain great amount of fibers and vitamins.vitamins
December 23rd, 2019 at 2:25 am
YES, cereals are good for kids. they contain a great number of vitamins and fiber. you can get more benefits by eating it at breakfast.
July 26th, 2020 at 9:00 am
always important to eat good healthy
How Does Exercise Impact Weight Loss?
August 31st, 2020 at 12:06 pm
https://hpprintercustomerservice.us/page/hp-printer-customer-service
https://sites.google.com/view/printer-drivers-for-hp/
https://aol-customer-support.us
September 10th, 2020 at 10:56 am
http://allinonexpert.com/printers/canon-com-ijsetup-some-brief/
http://solutions-brother-com-windows.installprint.com/setup/
http://thehelpingguide.com/printers/solutions-brother-com-windows/
http://solutions-brother-windows.com/
October 8th, 2020 at 4:24 am
Evil Empire post such a great post, You have done really good work. Please keep posting.
https://eyeconsultants.ae/en/
October 8th, 2020 at 4:25 am
Evil Empire post such a great post, You have done really good work. Please keep posting. We are really very happy to see your post after a long time.
https://eyeconsultants.ae/en/
February 27th, 2021 at 6:58 am
You can download the latest iOS apps from https://ipajailbreak.com/.
March 1st, 2021 at 2:00 pm
An advertising agency is an independent firm formed for the purpose of rendering specialized services in advertising, such as preparing copy and layouts for advertisement, getting blocks made for layouts and getting the advertisement out through suitable media. In short, it is an independent agency engaged in the preparation and placing of advertisement for and on behalf of the advertisers.
https://www.infobrez.com/advertising-services
March 31st, 2021 at 1:59 pm
https://ijsetupcanon.us/
https://seofreelancerus.com/canon-com-ijsetup/
http://geeksready.com/http-canon-com-ijsetup/
https://installprint.com/canon-com-ijsetup/
March 31st, 2021 at 2:01 pm
http://allinonexpert.com/printers/canon-com-ijsetup-some-brief/
http://thehelpingguide.com/printers/canon-com-ijsetup-install-canon-printer/
http://asinghblog.com/www-canon-com-ijsetup/
http://canon-com-ijsetup.com/
March 31st, 2021 at 2:07 pm
http://geeksready.com/solutions-brother-com-windows/
http://solutions-brother-windows.com/
https://brother.printers-setup.com/solutions-brother-com-windows/
https://marktick.blogspot.com/
April 5th, 2021 at 12:52 am
Really Helpfull Content
Ramzan Mubarak Dp for WhatsApp
Islamic Dp for WhatsApp
May 30th, 2021 at 5:02 am
Great thank you for sharing the amazing post.
June 8th, 2021 at 12:54 am
nice post
Door Closer Services in Rowlett TX
June 8th, 2021 at 5:45 am
nice post
Tree Cabling Services in West Chester PA
June 12th, 2021 at 1:57 am
puppies for sale,ronment making our Pug puppies completely at ease with other pets.pugs for sale,pugs for sale near me,cheap pugs for sale,pug puppies for sale,pug puppies for sale near me.
https://pugslandbreeder.company.com
June 15th, 2021 at 12:59 am
This was really an interesting topic and I kinda agree with what you have mentioned here!
July 4th, 2021 at 4:00 am
Hi There ,
We are the best for ps3 roms website.You can get all of the ps3 roms download and play ps3 games free.All ps3 games free download without
any jailbreak.You can also download nes roms which is called nintendo games.
https://ps3r.com/nes-roms/
August 16th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
Thank you very much for sharing this fantastic content.
August 26th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
MCA Live Transfer Leads professional guarantees to deliver best qualified for MCA Aged Leads with precise and updated knowledge prepared for conversion MCA Live Leads.