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I know we're making fun of the article here, but Thomas the Tank Engine has dialog lines like this: "Am I a useful train?", Fat Controller: "Yes, Thomas, you ar

I know we're making fun of the article here, but Thomas the Tank Engine has dialog lines like this: "Am I a useful train?", Fat Controller: "Yes, Thomas, you are". Being useful seems to be a big concern for the trains. Not being useful is horrific and means decommissioning, which is sensible in the real world, but it's a kid's show. Being old and weak means decommission/death? It might be due to me being a Pole, my upbringing, and our history of WW II, but it triggers a light connotation with labor death camps whenever I hear the line.

hiAndrewQuinn 3y ago
For me it reminds me of a boy I knew growing up who later got diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, who was absolutely enamored with trains. He was very smart, if awkward at times - I always liked hanging out with him when he was in his element. But even early on I think he knew something was off, because he constantly asked questions along this line when we did things like play Halo co-op together. "Am I being helpful?" "Am I useful?" Once I got so annoyed by these questions I just said No and he didn't talk to me again after that. There is something deeply, deeply sad to me about thinking through what kind of family life he might have had that he even felt the need to ask that question. I didn't grow up in a great environment either, but I never had any doubt that I was doing good things that would be a point of pride to most parents.
- defrost 3y ago
  Beware the quiet train spotters: Malcolm (1986) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffDBsSgS5Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffDBsSgS5Q
tim333 3y ago
A lot of traditional/popular children's stories are kind of dark. Hansel and Gretel - witch tries to eat the kids, they kill her in an oven. Harry Potter - fascist like guy kills the parents he kills him etc. I guess it helps deal with the real world that can be like that too. The early Thomas stories were written during WW2.
fsckboy 3y ago
>"Am I a useful train?" young children know what usefulness is, and they want to be useful, and they love being praised for being useful. "Everybody in the family pitches in and has a role to play to make dinner and set the table" types of repetitive lessons are very important to children; it's the type of emotional development that neglectful parents don't provide. A lot of children's play is imitating what adults do, preferably alongside adults. If you are typing on a keyboard, either give your child another one or suffer them wanting to touch yours. I'm not an expert, but this ties in with an inherent sense of usefulness and participation.

hiAndrewQuinn 3y ago

For me it reminds me of a boy I knew growing up who later got diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, who was absolutely enamored with trains. He was very smart, if awkward at times - I always liked hanging out with him when he was in his element. But even early on I think he knew something was off, because he constantly asked questions along this line when we did things like play Halo co-op together. "Am I being helpful?" "Am I useful?" Once I got so annoyed by these questions I just said No and he didn't talk to me again after that. There is something deeply, deeply sad to me about thinking through what kind of family life he might have had that he even felt the need to ask that question. I didn't grow up in a great environment either, but I never had any doubt that I was doing good things that would be a point of pride to most parents.

defrost 3y ago
Beware the quiet train spotters: Malcolm (1986) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffDBsSgS5Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffDBsSgS5Q

tim333 3y ago

A lot of traditional/popular children's stories are kind of dark. Hansel and Gretel - witch tries to eat the kids, they kill her in an oven. Harry Potter - fascist like guy kills the parents he kills him etc. I guess it helps deal with the real world that can be like that too. The early Thomas stories were written during WW2.

fsckboy 3y ago

>"Am I a useful train?" young children know what usefulness is, and they want to be useful, and they love being praised for being useful. "Everybody in the family pitches in and has a role to play to make dinner and set the table" types of repetitive lessons are very important to children; it's the type of emotional development that neglectful parents don't provide. A lot of children's play is imitating what adults do, preferably alongside adults. If you are typing on a keyboard, either give your child another one or suffer them wanting to touch yours. I'm not an expert, but this ties in with an inherent sense of usefulness and participation.