Velma (gory Scooby-doo HBO Max show)

[Username taken]

smh That meme shows actual content from the show, it's not something I posted "because I can't think for myself". In that meme you have a character judging people solely based on what they look like, and in the last part you see a blonde white man giving what is clearly meant to resemble a Nazi salute. If stereotyping people based on what they look like isn't being discriminatory and bigoted, then what pray tell is it? Now if you even attempt to make another assumption about what I "think" or what I do or don't "have a clue" about, you're getting blocked.

That scene with Fred was actually making fun of folks that just call people "nazi" for no real reason.

It wasn't at all meant to make Fred look racist, it was ironically kind of making fun of the SJW types.

[Johnny]

That scene with Fred was actually making fun of folks that just call people "nazi" for no real reason.

It wasn't at all meant to make Fred look racist, it was ironically kind of making fun of the SJW types.

I know what it was trying to do, I'm talking about the negative cultural stereotypes associated with it one specific group it brings up in the first place. It's hard not to assume it could be a clear self-insert of the person who runs the show.

[Brian B]

I never said it was child pornography.

I just found it tasteless and weird.

I won’t argue that it’s not tasteless.

I’m just saying it’s not sexualizing anyone. It’s not prurient material.

[Username taken]

I know what it was trying to do, I'm talking about the negative cultural stereotypes associated with it one specific group it brings up in the first place. It's hard not to assume it could be a clear self-insert of the person who runs the show.

I'm not sure about that.

Charlie Grandy, the writer, and developer of the series is white.

[Celgress]

If some prosecutor found it to be too prurient, there would be child pornography charges leveled against those involved in creating Velma. That has not happened, though, because no one is going to mistake this show for porn.

There’s no law against tasteless TV shows.

Or it could be because the series is considered "art" which has always been a gray area for questionable content because no one wants to be a censor and risk stifling creativity in an open society, just saying - see the Cuties controversy.

And, yes, I thought that scene was over the top and, frankly, disgusting for a number of reasons (character age, the violence, what was said, etc.) but to each their own.

[Celgress]

That's kind of what I figured.

Same here, I'm far from surprised by this disappointed but not surprised.

[Alan2099]

To be fair, that's the character; the show itself is at least nominally self aware, and frames it as a character flaw... it's understanding that all the characters are awful is the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable.

Being self aware is a not a get out of jail free card.

In this case it's actually a regular problem with the series from quite a few of the reviews I've seen of it. They frequently go back to "this is stupid/horrible/whatever and then do it. Then they try to pass that off as humor. It works about as well as walking around insulting people and thinking you'll get away with it because you're wearing a shirt that says "I'm a jerk."

[Celgress]

Being self aware is a not a get out of jail free card.

In this case it's actually a regular problem with the series from quite a few of the reviews I've seen of it. They frequently go back to "this is stupid/horrible/whatever and then do it. Then they try to pass that off as humor. It works about as well as walking around insulting people and thinking you'll get away with it because you're wearing a shirt that says "I'm a jerk."

Indeed, this is (yet) another major issue I have with the show. Thematically it is debatably the biggest problem. It tries way too hard with this aspect and as a result, the concept falls flat.

[Brian B]

smh That meme shows actual content from the show, it's not something I posted "because I can't think for myself". In that meme you have a character negatively judging people solely based on what they look like, and in the last part you see a blonde white man giving what is clearly meant to resemble a Nazi salute. If stereotyping people based on what they look like isn't being discriminatory and bigoted, then what pray tell is it?

As others have pointed out, this is a parody of current politics, and it makes fun of all sides. In these particular instances, the cartoons — they’re cartoons, not humans — are actually poking fun at the left and so-called “Social Justice Warriors.” Don’t confuse cartoon characters doing parody with real human beings being racist.

There is nothing in this cartoon advocating or perpetuating actual racist policies or even attitudes. This show can not be confused with Jim Crow-era portrayals of African Americans on commercial products with racist images, or political cartoons pushing Jim Crow, or German political cartoons and propaganda prior to WWII, portraying Jews as a malevolent force. Velma is none of these things.

[Brian B]

Or it could be because the series is considered "art" which has always been a gray area for questionable content because no one wants to be a censor and risk stifling creativity in an open society, just saying - see the Cuties controversy.

And, yes, I thought that scene was over the top and, frankly, disgusting for a number of reasons (character age, the violence, what was said, etc.) but to each their own.

Well, of course it is art and speech, and it’s protected by the 1st Amendment, as long as it’s not prurient, or sexual. If it were overly prurient, the 1st Amendment would not protect it. There’s no 1st Amendment protection for child porn. But that’s not what this cartoon is.

If anybody’s whacking it to this show, they’ve got bigger issues that will only be solved by strong antipsychotics.

[Brian B]

I didn't say it was bigoted.

I was saying the series was making fun of everyone.

Basically, no one should look at the show and accuse it of being racist or bigoted towards anyone. It's just trying to be funny.

I totally agree. I misunderstood what you were conveying.

[Johnny]

Block away. I don’t care if someone as lost as you blocks me.

Let’s start with what’s wrong with your “thinking.” For starters, you’re confusing cartoon characters with humans, because you are still letting a meme do your thinking. Do you understand that? There’s no actual people portrayed in Velma. You know that, don’t you?

Next, as others have pointed out, this is a parody of current politics, and it makes fun of all sides. In these particular instances, the cartoons — they’re cartoons, not humans — are actually poking fun at the left and so-called “Social Justice Warriors.” Don’t confuse cartoon characters doing parody with real human beings being racist.

There is nothing in this cartoon advocating or perpetuating actual racist policies or even attitudes. This show can not be confused with Jim Crow-era portrayals of African Americans on commercial products with racist images, or political cartoons pushing Jim Crow, or German political cartoons and propaganda prior to WWII, portraying Jews as a malevolent force. Velma is none of these things.

Bigotry and discrimination is not limited to historical eras or attitudes, should old Disney movies littered with racist stereotypes be excused just because the characters were fictional? Perpetuating negative stereotypes is never acceptable regardless of the format, the intention, the scale or the group it happens to "make fun" of. Blocked it is.

[Brian B]

Bigotry and discrimination is not limited to historical eras or attitudes, should old Disney movies littered with racist stereotypes be excused just because the characters were fictional? Perpetuating negative stereotypes is never acceptable regardless of the format, the intention, the scale or the group it happens to "make fun" of. Blocked it is.

Clearly, you don’t know what parody is. That’s hysterical given that we’re in a forum about comics.

As I said, Velma is not advocating or perpetuating stereotypes or bigotry. That is in the present. Those conjugations in my sentence are in the present. Do you understand that? Using past examples of bigotry to establish that this cartoon in the present day is not racist does not mean I am only referring to the past.

Your lack of comprehension is what happens when you let memes think for you.

[Johnny]

I'm not sure about that.

Charlie Grandy, the writer, and developer of the series is white.

Well I'm not certain Charlie Grandy is the reason Mindy Kaling seems to have a tendency of playing the self-loathing Indian girl who is obsessed with the jerk with a heart of gold white dude, especially in a show where she's the executive producer and has a say over story and dialogue. The difference here obviously is the fact that the characters are pre-existing characters whose portrayal is nothing alike what people know about them. But I'll leave it at that I guess, if some folks here enjoy this show, more power to them I suppose.

[Gaelforce]

Okay, all, let's dial it down a notch.

1. Don't announce you're going to put someone on ignore. If they bother you, just do it without commentary.

2. Don't make personal comments about why you think another person things or posts. Nobody here knows anyone that well, and it's often rude and insulting.

So take a breath, step back and count to ten before you post