PA Comic: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011

RMS Oceanic · September 2011

Arbitrary limits on stuff aren't necessarily the best way to handle such things.

Last panel made me smile.

Taramoor · September 2011

Of course, mini-Gabe built a lego webcam to livestream his Minecraft sessions, so this may be one of those "Cultural differences" I hear about all the time.

Damn bears are totally uncivilized though. I hear they got the gimme-gimmes once.

Shady3011 · September 2011

They're a lot like people, only more so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJKpcfm1qD4

Lindsay Lohan · September 2011

My son (born the same day as Gabe's actually - Dreamcast birthday FTW!) had the exact same thing pushed on him at school at the end of last year. He saw a play of some type that made him feel that playing video games/computer or watching tv was somehow wrong. I was really ticked off and sat him down and had a discussion that no-one's hobbies are superior to his and that as long as he gets exercise to go with his gaming he was all set.

Henroid · September 2011

Is... is there actually literature targeted for kids that focuses on the internet?

Henroid · September 2011

Lindsey Lohan wrote:

My son (born the same day as Gabe's actually - Dreamcast birthday FTW!) had the exact same thing pushed on him at school at the end of last year. He saw a play of some type that made him feel that playing video games/computer or watching tv was somehow wrong. I was really ticked off and sat him down and had a discussion that no-one's hobbies are superior to his and that as long as he gets exercise to go with his gaming he was all set.

I would've taken it a step further and approached the district. I mean, not with making a fuss about it in front of my kid, they wouldn't have to be involved. But that's really irresponsible of the school / district. Fucking sissy liberals.

kingworks · September 2011

I could not and/or would not be able to perform my job without the 24/7 internet.

So, way to limit your kids' marketable career potential, Papa Bear.

Tleilaxu · September 2011

First they came for the Cookie Monster,

Then they came for the internet...

Officer 1BDI · September 2011

My siblings and I had this pushed on us by our parents when I was in middle school/high school. I don't know what triggered it, but one day they randomly set this time limit on how much time we could spend on television and non-academic computer time in a weekday: 45 minutes.

I had several issues with the rule right off the bat, but what tipped it into bullshit territory was the arbitrary value of the time limit. I don't know what was so magical about "45 minutes," but they refused to budge on the number.

Lindsay Lohan · September 2011

Henroid wrote:

Lindsey Lohan wrote:

My son (born the same day as Gabe's actually - Dreamcast birthday FTW!) had the exact same thing pushed on him at school at the end of last year. He saw a play of some type that made him feel that playing video games/computer or watching tv was somehow wrong. I was really ticked off and sat him down and had a discussion that no-one's hobbies are superior to his and that as long as he gets exercise to go with his gaming he was all set.

I would've taken it a step further and approached the district. I mean, not with making a fuss about it in front of my kid, they wouldn't have to be involved. But that's really irresponsible of the school / district. Fucking sissy liberals.

My wife told me not to actually - she felt it wasn't worth the battle. I was super, super ticked off. I (like a lot of folks here) owe my livelihood to technology. My son learned to read in part by really wanting to play the Pokemon card/DS games. If they push it again this year I'll likely say something.

What bothered me was that it wasn't a message of moderation - I think I would have been ok with that, because we obviously don't let him veg in front of the TV all day (unless there's something awesome on). It was "Screens are bad and make you learn less and make you lazy" which spun me all up.

Bobble · September 2011

kingworks wrote:

I could not and/or would not be able to perform my job without the 24/7 internet.

So, way to limit your kids' marketable career potential, Papa Bear.

In the first few words, I was really hoping you were going to go all Green Eggs and Ham on us.

Henroid · September 2011

Lindsey Lohan wrote:

Henroid wrote:

Lindsey Lohan wrote:

My son (born the same day as Gabe's actually - Dreamcast birthday FTW!) had the exact same thing pushed on him at school at the end of last year. He saw a play of some type that made him feel that playing video games/computer or watching tv was somehow wrong. I was really ticked off and sat him down and had a discussion that no-one's hobbies are superior to his and that as long as he gets exercise to go with his gaming he was all set.

I would've taken it a step further and approached the district. I mean, not with making a fuss about it in front of my kid, they wouldn't have to be involved. But that's really irresponsible of the school / district. Fucking sissy liberals.

My wife told me not to actually - she felt it wasn't worth the battle. I was super, super ticked off. I (like a lot of folks here) owe my livelihood to technology. My son learned to read in part by really wanting to play the Pokemon card/DS games. If they push it again this year I'll likely say something.

What bothered me was that it wasn't a message of moderation - I think I would have been ok with that, because we obviously don't let him veg in front of the TV all day (unless there's something awesome on). It was "Screens are bad and make you learn less and make you lazy" which spun me all up.

I've always felt comfortable with my ability to potentially raise children. But having to deal with other people, especially those in some sort of authority position (either over myself or my children), is the part where I'll flip my shit.

kingworks · September 2011

Bobble wrote:

kingworks wrote:

I could not and/or would not be able to perform my job without the 24/7 internet.

So, way to limit your kids' marketable career potential, Papa Bear.

In the first few words, I was really hoping you were going to go all Green Eggs and Ham on us.

I could not, would not quote the Seuss.
I could not, would not in a noose.
I will not quote him in this rhyme,
I will not quote him anytime.
Not because he is unfit,
but, thanks to hours spent online,
I now lack the needed wit.

JustinSane07 · September 2011

Please don't tell me this is a real book. I mean, "an hour a day" was something used in the late 90s by a lot of parents because the internet was still this new thing. I can't imagine that mindset prevailing today.

Officer 1BDI · September 2011

JustinSane07 wrote:

Please don't tell me this is a real book.

Apparently, it's two real books: one on the internet, and one on computer usage.

Peter Ebel · September 2011

Man, I hope the Tycho Wife recovers from her leg injury. Sounds like a dislocation, and those are so shitty.

Henroid · September 2011

They're using the Computer Trouble cover for the internet.

Aldo · September 2011

Oh man little Gabe's face is the best thing ever. I bet he's super ashamed of papa Gabe* when he's with friends.

*as opposed to real life Mike who is cool.

Lindsay Lohan · September 2011

Doesn't really surprise me - the Berenstein Bears books and the tv show based on them are all obnoxiously preachy. Some children's books are subtle and teach a lesson through a good story, others beat you over the head with the message relentlessly. The bears definitely fall in the latter category.

Taber · September 2011

Eh, probably still better than "The Berenstein Bears declare Christianity the one true religion"

Tleilaxu · September 2011

JustinSane07 wrote:

Please don't tell me this is a real book. I mean, "an hour a day" was something used in the late 90s by a lot of parents because the internet was still this new thing. I can't imagine that mindset prevailing today.

Guess what.
It is.

The worst thing about this is that the copyright is 2010.

agoaj · September 2011

Berenstein Bears and the internet is blowing my mind. It's like if Shakespeare came out with a new play about facebook.

Henroid · September 2011

Sister Bear really needs to grow some backbone.

agoaj · September 2011

Wait, Berenstain? They're not even jewish!

Henroid · September 2011

agoaj wrote:

Wait, Berenstain? They're not even jewish!

Wasn't there a Daily Show piece or something about someone who was accusing the Bears of being Jewish and being some subversive indoctrination?

Ladai · September 2011

Huge slam on soccer.com out of nowhere.

Enc · September 2011

Soccer.com has it coming. The Specialister Sneaker line is clearly overrated.

Demonicoreo · September 2011

While this comic made me laugh, I do think it passed over a critical running theme in the Bear books. Most of the time the family gets hooked on something to the point of unhealthy addiction and while I have not read this book it seems like the kids becoming to addicted to the net and time on it could easily be achieved. Usually after unhealthy addiction is acquired then there is the drastic cut back until a healthy moderation is achieved.

That seems like a okay thing to do.

Tss_fan · September 2011

Am I the only one who finds the StarCon2 reference more interesting than the comic?

Tossrock · September 2011

Tleilaxu wrote:

JustinSane07 wrote:

Please don't tell me this is a real book. I mean, "an hour a day" was something used in the late 90s by a lot of parents because the internet was still this new thing. I can't imagine that mindset prevailing today.

Guess what.
It is.

The worst thing about this is that the copyright is 2010.

Brother bear all chillin, watchin a picture of a shoe

'this is awesome'

admanb · September 2011

Demonicoreo wrote:

While this comic made me laugh, I do think it passed over a critical running theme in the Bear books. Most of the time the family gets hooked on something to the point of unhealthy addiction and while I have not read this book it seems like the kids becoming to addicted to the net and time on it could easily be achieved. Usually after unhealthy addiction is acquired then there is the drastic cut back until a healthy moderation is achieved.

That seems like a okay thing to do.

While a critical person would read it this way, your average reader (especially small children) are going to read internet = unhealthy addiction = bad bad! They're not going to distinguish between a measured approach to a source of entertainment and information, and diving into an obsession.

Clearly, the next Bearenstein Bears' book should be, "The Bearenstein Bears' Addictive Personalities."

admanb · September 2011

Tossrock wrote:

Brother bear all chillin, watchin a picture of a shoe

'this is awesome'

Nah nah. Look at the way his legs are crossed.

He is exceedingly happy about how quickly he was able to click away from some crazy bear-on-human pornography.

glithert · September 2011

The only Berenstain Bears book I remember is the one where the kids hear the sound in the night and sneak out and find out it's a gigantic owl or something.

PwnanObrien · September 2011

Between their addictive personalities and their parents strict methods of raising them those bears are going to be crammed full of coke and dicks the second they get to college.

Jaunty · September 2011

my favourite was the one with Tuffy
that and the one where they taught you how to make all sorts of sick paper airplanes

oh oh oh and the one where they all got hooked on junk food

Cameron_Talley · September 2011

Henroid wrote:

Is... is there actually literature targeted for kids that focuses on the internet?

http://www.amazon.com/Berenstain-Bears-Lost-Cyberspace/dp/0679889469/

Another book than the one posted above.

I work in a library and I can assure you there is a LOT of material for YA that is focused on the internet. Hell, there's a whole series of books written in txtspk.

Cameron_Talley · September 2011

agoaj wrote:

Berenstein Bears and the internet is blowing my mind. It's like if Shakespeare came out with a new play about facebook.

Can I blow your mind again?

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/hamlet-facebook-news-feed-edition

Sterica · September 2011

Wait, they had a third bear...kid? Cub, I guess?

World rocked.

Peccavi · September 2011

Henroid wrote:

Sister Bear really needs to grow some backbone.

Hi, Henroid...
PHOOEY!
LOL, Peccavi

joshofalltrades · September 2011

Sister Bear deserved the pwning for being such a n00b

Also what's up with the butterfly game, just look at that joystick

Have Jan & Mike Berenstain even looked at a computer since the Atari 2600

Penny Arcade

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PA Comic: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011

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