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One armed CBeebies presenter 'frightens young children'


Big Geordie
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Just read this;

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090223/tuk-one-armed-cbeebies-host-scaring-chil-45dbed5.html

 

One-Armed CBeebies Host 'Scaring' Children

 

2 hours 42 mins ago

SkyNews Sky News

 

Disability charities have expressed anger after a number of parents complained that a one-armed children's TV presenter was frightening their kids.

 

Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one arm, began co-presenting Cbeebies 'Do And Discover' slot with Alex Winters last month.

 

She has a broad range of success as an actor, both in the theatre and on television.

 

But parents on online forums have claimed she 'frightens' their children.

 

Poster Barry wrote: "Is it just me, or does anyone else think the new woman presenter on Cbeebies (Cerrie Burnell) may scare the kids because of her disability?

 

"I didn't want to let my children watch the filler bits on the bedtime hour last night because I know it would have played on my eldest daughter's mind and possibly caused sleep problems... and yes, this is a serious post."

 

Other posters suggest the BBC employed Miss Burnell to 'score points' and accused the channel of positive discrimination.

 

But the vast majority of comments have offered support to the presenter, who they describe as 'lovely' and 'talented'.

 

"As for Cerrie, I think her being 'disabled' ensures that children are exposed to 'different' people and situations," wrote 'Caligula' on the Digital Spy forum.

 

Sue Stokes, from the charity Reach, said they were appalled by the negative reaction.

 

"We are appalled that parents are talking on behalf of their children," she said.

 

"Children don't notice the differences. The parents need to think about how they would feel if it were their child born without an arm.

 

"It is great for children with disabilities to see people like them on the television."

 

A BBC spokesman said nine official complaints had been made about Miss Burnell, who has a four-month-old daughter.

 

CBeebies controller Michael Carrington said she is 'warm and natural'.

 

"It's a big ask to entertain millions of children every day," he said.

 

"We think that in time all mums and dads and children will love her as much as we do."

 

Miss Burnell was disappointed by the criticism but welcomed the discussion.

 

"It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children," she said.

 

"It just goes to show how important it is to have positive disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general."

 

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The ignorance of some folk should surprise me, but it doesn't. Completely mental that some parents think this lass may frighten their youngsters because she happened to be born with one arm. Not surprised that disability rights groups are kicking off about it. I feel sorry for the kids for having such vacuous parents. :thdn:

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I tell you what, kids are the only ones in this current society that don't judge or assume anything. 

 

Absolutely disgusted that parents (adults) are allowed to show their own prejudice and blame it on their kids!

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message to poster barry."whilst your kids are plonked in front of the tele,talk to them and explain why the presenter only has one arm. you'll find the ones that are too young to understand won't actually give a toss about someone having one arm."

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Guest firetotheworks

Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

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Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

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Guest firetotheworks

Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

 

Did your parents make you scared of monsters or anything else that kids are generally scared of? Im not calling that woman a monster btw, just that all kid's fears aren't based entirely on parents, and saying that ALL children will or wont be scared is like trying to argue that everybody likes marmite or that everybody hates it. Speaking on behalf of children on either side is wrong I reckon, let them be kids.  

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Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

 

Did your parents make you scared of monsters or anything else that kids are generally scared of? Im not calling that woman a monster btw, just that all kid's fears aren't based entirely on parents, and saying that ALL children will or wont be scared is like trying to argue that everybody likes marmite or that everybody hates it. Speaking on behalf of children on either side is wrong I reckon, let them be kids.  

 

There's a difference in being scared of the bogey man and being made to fear people with disabilities! A huge difference.

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Hmm I may be cynical here  but i think the BBC are being a bit too PC by appointing her in the first place because of her disability . She may have a lot of talent presenting but i don't  watch cbeebies.

 

But parents do need to look at themselves by complaining.

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Guest firetotheworks

Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

 

Did your parents make you scared of monsters or anything else that kids are generally scared of? Im not calling that woman a monster btw, just that all kid's fears aren't based entirely on parents, and saying that ALL children will or wont be scared is like trying to argue that everybody likes marmite or that everybody hates it. Speaking on behalf of children on either side is wrong I reckon, let them be kids.  

 

There's a difference in being scared of the bogey man and being made to fear people with disabilities! A huge difference.

 

Explain it then. Kids arent politically correct, my cousin was petrified of people with Down Syndrome. No one planted that seed at all, he was just scared of the way they look. Its not a very nice thing at all, but like I say kids arent politically correct.

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Andy Peters frightens me. I'd love to smash him in the face with a frying pan. And not one of them cheap frying pans either the ones made out of 1mm tin. A proper jamie oliver one with the red spot will serve its purpose.

 

Hate the goody two shoe cunt me. Can't wait til the NOTW catch him balls deep in a rentboy.

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Andy Peters frightens me. I'd love to smash him in the face with a frying pan. And not one of them cheap frying pans either the ones made out of 1mm tin. A proper jamie oliver one with the red spot will serve its purpose.

 

Hate the goody two shoe cunt me. Can't wait til the NOTW catch him balls deep in a rentboy.

 

No wonder he's been working out with you after him.  :aww:

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Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

 

Did your parents make you scared of monsters or anything else that kids are generally scared of? Im not calling that woman a monster btw, just that all kid's fears aren't based entirely on parents, and saying that ALL children will or wont be scared is like trying to argue that everybody likes marmite or that everybody hates it. Speaking on behalf of children on either side is wrong I reckon, let them be kids.  

 

There's a difference in being scared of the bogey man and being made to fear people with disabilities! A huge difference.

 

Explain it then. Kids arent politically correct, my cousin was petrified of people with Down Syndrome. No one planted that seed at all, he was just scared of the way they look. Its not a very nice thing at all, but like I say kids arent politically correct.

 

Some kids will obviously be scared, but how are they ever going to overcome that natural fear of the unknown or different, if they're never exposed to it to learn that there's nothing to fear in reality. There's way too much mollycoddling of kids going on nowadays, it's a similar thing behind parents never allowing their kids to walk to or from school due to a fear of the one in a bazillion chance that some paedo's going to grab them. It's stupid and all it leads to are kids who are fucked up both in mind and body.

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Guest firetotheworks

Someone will have planted the seed. It's why young kids don't see/understand the difference in race/colour (for example) at a young age, unless they've been programmed by their parents.

 

Sorry like, but thats bollocks. You're trying to say that at a young age someone brainwashed my cousin to be scared of people with down syndrome?

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Someone will have planted the seed. It's why young kids don't see/understand the difference in race/colour (for example) at a young age, unless they've been programmed by their parents.

 

Sorry like, but thats bollocks. You're trying to say that at a young age someone brainwashed my cousin to be scared of people with down syndrome?

 

How evil is that??  :yikes:

 

 

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Guest firetotheworks

Surely both sides are wrong because they're assuming that kids will be or wont be scared, without actually knowing for sure.

 

Young kids aren't judgemental or have prejudice unless it's been instilled into them by their parents. The kids won't care - trust me.

 

Did your parents make you scared of monsters or anything else that kids are generally scared of? Im not calling that woman a monster btw, just that all kid's fears aren't based entirely on parents, and saying that ALL children will or wont be scared is like trying to argue that everybody likes marmite or that everybody hates it. Speaking on behalf of children on either side is wrong I reckon, let them be kids.  

 

There's a difference in being scared of the bogey man and being made to fear people with disabilities! A huge difference.

 

Explain it then. Kids arent politically correct, my cousin was petrified of people with Down Syndrome. No one planted that seed at all, he was just scared of the way they look. Its not a very nice thing at all, but like I say kids arent politically correct.

 

Some kids will obviously be scared, but how are they ever going to overcome that natural fear of the unknown or different, if they're never exposed to it to learn that there's nothing to fear in reality. There's way too much mollycoddling of kids going on nowadays, it's a similar thing behind parents never allowing their kids to walk to or from school due to a fear of the one in a bazillion chance that some paedo's going to grab them. It's stupid and all it leads to are kids who are f***ed up both in mind and body.

 

I agree, I just think both sides are wrong in their way of trying to say what kids are. Obviously theres nothing wrong with having a disabled person presenting a kids programme, and its a healthy thing. I just think saying that all kids, the majority of kids, or even any kids wont be scared is just as wrong as the parents saying that they will.

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Guest LucaAltieri

Someone will have planted the seed. It's why young kids don't see/understand the difference in race/colour (for example) at a young age, unless they've been programmed by their parents.

 

Sorry like, but thats bollocks. You're trying to say that at a young age someone brainwashed my cousin to be scared of people with down syndrome?

 

No "brainwashing" necessary. Kids copy adults. They can quite easily pick up on subtle cues in their parent's reactions.

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