For anyone who knows me pretty well, I didn't search something targeted at a 24-year-old woman. No, no, instead I searched for… DOUG! You know, Doug, the very large nosed middle schooler with colorful friends, a vivid imagination, and a really intelligent dog! I loved Doug growing up, and that love never went away. In fact, I am currently watching it as I type this post. I shamelessly tell people I still watch 90s cartoons. I watched way too much Pepper Ann in college, along with some Spongebob and, um, Beavis and Butthead when I needed to empty my head in preparation for a cram session. My season one DVD of Hey, Arnold has genuinely gotten me through really tough times. There are a lot of others that I still love (Rugrats and As Told By Ginger, anyone?!). I was always a Nickelodeon chick myself but Disney had a lot of great ones too. I just tended to prefer the cartoons over those "real people shows", don't ask me why! Sad? Nah… there is a lot of value in the nostalgia.
When I watch these shows I remember being a kid, and simpler times. That is the immediate thing anyone should feel I suppose. I did notice the second time around though, that these shows are so incredibly relatable. Take Doug for instance; he is a fairly insecure kid. He has a loving family and several friends but he deals with plenty of times when he is pretty unsure of himself. One that hit me is the episode where he sees all of his friends going to Roger's house, but he wasn't invited. He then proceeds to daydream about Roger Klotzenstein (probably butchered that) hypnotizing all of Doug's pals to where they all just keep calling him a loser. Okay, it's a cartoon, but YOUCH! I can relate to that! I used to always worry that people didn't like me. I figured if I was as nice as could be to everybody that they wouldn't have justification in not liking me. Thankfully I came out of that a lot, with a little help from my friends (heard that song in the car yesterday, and I seriously think it was the first time I ever genuinely just heard it playing on the radio and not someone singing or referencing it! Anyway…) I grew into my confidence, but I still have those times. That is when I have to remind myself of all of the good things I do and the strengths I have as a person. So what if I'm awkward and laugh when I talk about most things? So what if I pursue the same entertainment I did when I was about 8 years old?! WhatEVER! We all know that people's opinions should never define us, but it can be easy to cross the line between promoting peaceful coexistence and depending on approval of others to feel like a decent person.
Oh yeah, and that episode I mentioned about Doug's friends all meeting up without him? Doug confronts Roger, only to discover that they all planned a surprise party to celebrate his living in Bluffington for one year that day. Even Roger actively celebrated with him ("yeah, yeah, it's not like we're getting married!"). Would you believe me if I told you that episode made me cry today?
It didn't, actually, but the more I think about it, the more it tugs at my heartstrings. Guys, there are people out there that love you and think you're great. There are more people who would love you and think you're great if they knew you. There are also scumbags who either don't give you a chance or play mindgames as they slowly snack on your social confidence. If somebody is in your life that makes you feel like a burden, or annoying, or simply less than awesome, kick 'em to the curb! Cut your very miniscule loss and go! I see too many people, ADULTS, suffer at the hands of crappy friends who insidiously hold their victims down with backhanded "jokes", unnecessary competition, and criticisms that they have no merit in really giving. I used to have friends like that… those friends are no longer my friends. They are acquaintances at absolute best. People who pick at my every flaw and mistake for their own amusement or some little high of being the one who "caught me" can go take a hike somewhere that isn't pretty and involves plenty of uphill switchbacks!
Hmm, this post was going to be about how today's kid's TV shows aren't near as awesome as older TV shows have been. I was going to gripe about how today's TV shows are about 80% IWANNABEAFAMOUSPERSON and 20% "nah, not me man, I'll make music with this blunt instead… (ahem, Cartoon Network). Hey, no problem, there are some good ones out there, but how relatable is that? I personally did not like the ones about being famous, since they made me feel just a little under accomplished as I finished my long division and downed my bag of Doritos. Maybe I should just leave that thought at that, before it turns into an analysis on whether this contributes to the douchy culture we see in some kids now or whether this is an act of *gasp* the Illuminati! Who knows, right? (kidding) I don't watch those shows. Those are for kids. I will take my big kid 90's shows and watch them elsewhere!
Go watch your childhood favorite! Or better yet, watch one you weren't allowed to watch when you were a kid, like The Simpsons or Ren and Stimpy (my dad didn't just let us watch that one; he watched it with us!) My Doug bingeing is about to continue. Happy Friday!
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