'barny' Advert Sending Out Wrong Message?

[Mattk]

Just saw this advert on TV (hopefully link works) and immediately thought that it is sending out the wrong message to small children.

A stranger (Barny) arrives, introduces himself and asks the child to go with him which he does. Is it me or this a dangerous message to give?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXI2CGDiWZM

[Old_Geezer]

It's not the first ad to send out bad messages.

Video won't start for me :-(

[Dee Sa]

no I don't see it as a potential "nasty" I rather like it.

[Old_Geezer]

Ok, I managed to see this by copying and posting the text link (unsure why the video in your post forever tried to load, unsuccessfully).

I see what you are saying, but I think kids can distinguish between a fantasy bear and an adult human being they don't know. It's clearly an unreal situation.

The only time I complained about an advert was when a company advertised encouraging kids to scream and the parents not to correct them. I figured there were enough poor parents allowing anti social playing without trying to get folk to believe it was ok. But apparently it is ok to try to create a less pleasant society.

[viv38]

No I don't see anything wrong with this ad - Barney is a teddy bear after all !

[Mamyalynne]

I think even small children can distinguish between a baddie and a teddy bear.

[Baldric]

So if a fantasy teddy bear turned up at the door
and took your kiddy away, wouldn't you be just
the tiniest bit curious as to who was inside it?

[Mamyalynne]

The odds on that happening are ??

[viv38]

It's an ad it's not real !!!

[viv38]

LOL mamya ....

[Baldric]

Ah, that's ok then!

[viv38]

Of course it is !

[Mamyalynne]

Strongly for bringing children up sensibly, strongly against treating them as if they are stupid and filling them with terror along the way.

[flump1]

The teddy stays in the house with the child and enters a magic world ( bit like Narnia ) via the kitchen. If teddy was seen to be using a door to the outside then yes, it would be a tad worrisome.

[Zeuhl]

Also...

They do seem to have voiced Barny with a child's voice not an adult's