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Old 11-02-2008, 09:17 PM   #52
evman150
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Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos View Post
Anti-science? Harry Potter? Is that what you are talking about?

It's fiction. The author doesn't believe it's true and isn't shilling any belief system or being anti-science any more than Dr.Seuss or James Joyce.

I'd say those books are "pro-science", since they inspired millions of kids to read more.
Your last point has some substance, but I don't think it makes them "pro-science". It's not pro-science if it makes them read more books like Harry Potter. If all you read is Harry Potter, you are achieving little more than not reading at all (from an intellectual non-hedonistic standpoint).

Many children's books, movies and programming contribute to societal credulity. You can toss them off as fiction, but Harry Potter is one step removed from CS Lewis. It's just my opinion, but I think these things permeate deeper than most think (especially since they're taken in during childhood, when a human is most impressionable).

It's long been my opinion that the single greatest children's book/show/movie is "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?". This is a program that encourages kids to think critically, to look behind the curtain, to not take things at face value. It's a show that was only on for a couple of seasons and only a couple dozen episodes around 1970, but 40 years later the short-lived program stands the test of time as the single greatest entity created for children (in my opinion of course, but obviously to still be syndicated it must have some appeal).

All I am saying is we need far more Scooby Doo in our world and less witches, gods and demons.

(And yes I realize I am advocating a show with a talking dog).
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