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Monday 22 August, 2005
#Why does Barney keep hugging the children?

I find a lot of kids' telly slightly unsettling (I've mentioned my fear of The Flumps before). Often the settings have no context and have a strange internal logic that I just don't get. The Bean, being a kid, clearly doesn't. The whacked-out weirdness of Boohbah is, for him, a source of entertainment, the trapped-in-a-world-they-didn't-create adventures of The Fimbles and their tingly feelings are simple amusements.

Not so Barney. He unsettles even the Bean. Recently, we suffered through one of his interminable programmes while waiting for Dora. I voiced my dislike and he agreed, "I don't like Barney either. Why does he keep hugging the children?" I had no answer, because there is no answer. Why does Barney keep hugging the children?

Pete Ashton said Barney still exists?

I think we need t-shirts, bumper stickers, posters, the works. "Why does Barney keep hugging the children?" indeed. [added 22nd Aug 2005]

Not only does Barney exist, he's an instrument of torture : "In training, they forced me to listen to the Barney 'I Love You' song for 45 minutes. I never want to go through that again," one US operative told the magazine. [added 22nd Aug 2005]
Marc said Lock him up, he's clearly a child molestor. [added 22nd Aug 2005]
Gevs said If you think Barney is weird check out Big Cook Little Cook - probably the campest pair on CBeebies! [added 23rd Aug 2005]
Big Cook, Little Cook is top if indeed slightly camp. Although I guess we'd all be a bit camp if our cafe only ever served characters from nursery rhymes. They don't unsettle the Bean though.

Only Barney and his obsessive hugging of any child within his reach does that. I ask again, why does Barney keep hugging the children? [added 24th Aug 2005]
Gevs said because they are squashy???? [added 24th Aug 2005]
They are by the time he's finished with them. [added 25th Aug 2005]
planetcutie said I think hus are the fuel that power American social society. I find all hugs creepy and unsettling, though, having only had one in my life. [added 25th Aug 2005]
planetcutie said for 'hus' read 'hugs'. And no, I'm not drunk. Yet. [added 25th Aug 2005]
But a few minutes spent contemplating an unbidden hug from a large furry purple dinosaur will send you screaming to the bottle. [added 25th Aug 2005]
Pete Ashton said I hugged Matthew once and can confirm his aversion. [added 25th Aug 2005]
Gevs said Oh God, I came in from the kitchen this morning to see my son with his arms wrapped around the TV screen in a futile attempt to hug.......Barney!! [added 29th Sep 2006]
CJ said I grew up watching Barney and I still can't get enough of it.
Barney hugs because he's a lovable dinosaur! Some kids need hugs... [added 30th Apr 2007]
anonymous said barney sucks [added 1st May 2007]
Don't hate [e] said Barney is adorable! If every child got hugs on a daily basis, letting them know that someone really cares about them, we wouldn't constantly lose them to suicide, gangs, identity issues, drugs, etc. Many children don't get love at home, so they search for it outside of the home. [added 15th Aug 2007]
bob mcanouymous said to the contrary,

i think Barney (and other such nonsensical tv) is the reason so many amrican and british children theese days have low i.q and attitude problems- it gives them a false sense of reality where everyone is happy and never has to work- a world were every- body seem druged up/manicly happy...

surely you are not suggestting that this is not dammaging at all- especilly when dump our two year olds in front of tv to watch a big green and purple dinosuar or a mole that rolls uphill and talks... (fimbles are another pet hate of mine along with teletubbies)- and then ignore them as we cook dinner!

i agree that it is troubleing the amount of children who do not get any attention or love- but barney is not the way.

in awnser to the origanal question i would say that he's probably trying to get cose enough to eat them. [added 7th Jan 2008]

Russ L said Would it be too glib to suggest that the simple solution to that is to NOT "dump out two year olds in front of TV... and then ignore them"? [added 7th Jan 2008]
tabitha and jordan [e] said haahh yeaa me and jordie think barneys' gay and that was funny about the planetcutie comment hahahlol [added 15th Dec 2008]
nadineeee :D [e] said okies well hi ^.^

BARNEY FREAKIN EATS KIDDDS!!!!!

STAY AWAY FRM THAT RASPIST!

HE'S FREAKIN MICHEAL JACKSON!

AND DOES ANY ONE BUT ME NOTICE FOR A KID'S PROGRAMME HE DOES NOT WEAR CLOTHES!!! FREAKIN NUDIST!!! :O [added 8th May 2009]

Leanna [e] said Barney is the reason why some kids have anxiety issues and engage in self injurious behaviors. Some of the have died as a result of depression caused by Barney. He has a negative impact on their fragile nervous systems. [added 23rd Feb 2012]

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