Dave
Staff member
Should this be in Politics or Media? Indoctrination!
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M
makare
Olivia just likes the attention.
Olivia was cavity searched for drugs, the TSA was pleased.
Dave
Staff member
Link to the actual children's book is the first line.
*At least it is now. Apparently I forgot that step when I first posted.
M
makare
I don't understand what the problem is. Olivia is generally clueless to what is actually going on. Her self involved child's view of the world is the cornerstone of the books.
Just the lights and sounds of ambulances.
M
makare
They are going to board a plane and are going through a metal/weapons detector what exactly is unreasonable here?
I'm siding with Makare here. As adults we look at this and can muster outrage, but the fact is that this is a thing that happens, right now, in the real world. This is a thing that kids are going though. Kids react differently to stuff than adults. So no, I don't see this as indoctrination. I see it as a kids book reflecting how a child might view a real world situation.
M
makare
Do you read Olivia books at your school? I love Olivia and the Missing Toy. That character is so much like I was when I was a kid it's scary.
And it is a metal detector those have been around for a long time. It isn't like she is getting strip searched. I am a civil liberties junkie and a privacy dinosaur and even I don't have a problem with metal detectors. If they were searching under her clothes or something like that then I'd have a problem. Or if they were just on the street or some other public place. But it is a metal detector before getting on an airplane. I don't see any problem with it.
The searching isn't the problem for me, really. It seems very contrary to be pleased about being searched for weapons. What is pleasing about that as an experience?
Added at: 11:52
Now that I think about it, the real problem for me is that it is just terrible writing. To quote the Robot Devil, "You can't just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!"
A good writer, even for a children's book, would try to demonstrate what was happening less directly and through action. For example:
Going through the airport the security man waved his wand around Olivia to look for metal.
It was like when daddy pretended to tickle her without touching and Olivia giggled.
They way it is written, it leaves for too much to the reader's imagination, which is why I think it is is interpreted so differently by people in this thread.
Added at: 11:52
Now that I think about it, the real problem for me is that it is just terrible writing. To quote the Robot Devil, "You can't just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!"
A good writer, even for a children's book, would try to demonstrate what was happening less directly and through action. For example:
Going through the airport the security man waved his wand around Olivia to look for metal.
It was like when daddy pretended to tickle her without touching and Olivia giggled.
They way it is written, it leaves for too much to the reader's imagination, which is why I think it is is interpreted so differently by people in this thread.
They failed to do a complete search by not cutting her open.
TSA warns of surgically implanted bombs.
TSA warns of surgically implanted bombs.
M
makare
I don't know. When I was 5 we went to the police station and had to walk through the metal detectors. I thought it was great. A machine that can tell if you are wearing metal? super cool.
But did 2 burly men hold you hands up and go over every inch of your body with wands?
Sure, but the author doesn't convey anything about how cool it is. You as the reader have to interpret that by making up a reason for why Olivia is pleased.
M
makare
She is pleased because she is being searched for weapons. And like I said above Olivia likes the attention.
I haven't read the books, so maybe that is indicated elsewhere. That particular page is poorly written, though, since it neither says nor implies anything of the kind.
I am going to hell for this...
Olivia looks to be part camel.
Honestly? I don't think that this is something that should be broached in a children's book. Yes, it's a fact of life when you travel, but, frankly, I feel that it's a subject to be brought up by one's parents, not handed to you in kid's literature.
The writing itself? Yeah... "searched for anything bad," might have been a better choice.
I'm not one to candy-coat stuff... my daughter's going to be raised knowing what to watch out for when it comes to creeps and pervs, and know how to defend herself. But it's my choice - I know that there are plenty of people out there who might be horrified at me doing something like that. My child, my choice.
The writing itself? Yeah... "searched for anything bad," might have been a better choice.
I'm not one to candy-coat stuff... my daughter's going to be raised knowing what to watch out for when it comes to creeps and pervs, and know how to defend herself. But it's my choice - I know that there are plenty of people out there who might be horrified at me doing something like that. My child, my choice.
W
Wasabi Poptart
I don't see a problem with this. I think it's great that they have it in a book. Why? Because most parents will not talk about these things with their children or just don't know how to broach the subject on a child's level. I can remember when I was a little girl I needed to have my tonsils out. Anything my parents told me was frightening. My surgeon didn't sit me down with my parents to talk to me. But my parents bought me a book about a little boy my age who was having his tonsils out. I read it a hundred times before my surgery and it made me feel so much better about what was going to happen.
It's a lot more reassuring to a child to see a familiar character, like Olivia, going through something they may have to in the near future than to simply have a parent tell them all about it.
It's a lot more reassuring to a child to see a familiar character, like Olivia, going through something they may have to in the near future than to simply have a parent tell them all about it.
Then they looked for weapons up Olivia's bum.
She was very pleased.
She was very pleased.
W
Wasabi Poptart
Also, seeing Olivia going through the metal detector and liking it is a whole lot better than having her refuse to go, throwing a fit, and making her fellow passengers wish she was a pulled pork sandwich.
I agree with the intent. It just was executed poorly, I think.
M
makare
Fight the power!
(Xzibit's voice makes my lady area heavy with dew! >.>)
(Xzibit's voice makes my lady area heavy with dew! >.>)
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