Some experts are saying that the song and the cartoon “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” promotes bullying! See Does ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ Promote Bullying? « CBS Pittsburgh.
This is a classic example of confusing the content of a story with its meaning. Yes, the other reindeers are mean to Rudolph because of his nose, making fun of him and not letting him play in any reindeer games. But the story doesn’t teach its hearers to do likewise! The sympathy of the story is all with Rudolph. And Rudolph ends up triumphant over the bullies when the quality that they made fun of turns out to save Santa’s Christmas journey.
The meaning, the message, and the effect of the story is to teach children not to bully!
What other examples have you noticed of this confusion of content and meaning?
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