Let's all play with Freddie the Funnel Web Spider ... wait, no ...
September 5, 2017 12:16 PM   Subscribe

An episode of the UK childrens show Peppa Pig [previously], has been pulled off the air in Australia again for advocating playing with spiders. The 2004 episode was previously removed for saying that spiders can't hurt you. In the banned episode, Daddy Pig is seen repeatedly picking up the spider by a string from its web. The episode ends with Peppa declaring: “We are all going to have tea with Mister Skinny Leg". The cartoon’s comments that spiders are “very very small” was also judged to be inappropriate. Related: an analysis of the Peppa Pig in London episode and the politics of Peppa Pig.
posted by Wordshore (34 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
It's about time the British children's television industry comes clean about their insidious plot to destroy Australia by encouraging its children to believe that animals in Australia are friendly and kind and totally not venomous.
posted by ardgedee at 12:31 PM on September 5, 2017 [15 favorites]


Probably the most irresponsible episode since the one where Peppa seeks out and hugs a C. fleckeri box jellyfish, then promotes global warming as a boon to jellyfish populations.
posted by Iridic at 12:32 PM on September 5, 2017 [20 favorites]


I think it is pretty reasonable for a show from the UK to have the lesson that spiders aren't scary/dangerous. I also think it is a damn good idea to not show it on Australian TV. If someone is buying the show to broadcast in Australia then its on them to make sure the content is appropriate.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:40 PM on September 5, 2017 [39 favorites]


By this standard, shouldn't all versions of Spider-Man be banned for encouraging kids to irradiate spiders then let them bite?
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:42 PM on September 5, 2017 [6 favorites]


Related AskMeFi, a few of the comments/answers on which are raising more and terrifying questions in my mind but
posted by Wordshore at 1:00 PM on September 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Probably the most irresponsible episode since the one where Peppa seeks out and hugs a C. fleckeri box jellyfish, then promotes global warming as a boon to jellyfish populations.

...and the "Dress Warm for January!" episode, which sent several Aussie toddlers into heatstroke.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:18 PM on September 5, 2017 [14 favorites]


It goes both ways, though. The "Let's Go Swimming in the Ocean!" episode of Wendy Wallaby is so far responsible for the loss of 6 schoolchildren in Aberdeen from hypothermia.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:29 PM on September 5, 2017 [11 favorites]


As someone who watches no kids' tv, this reads like a creepypasta.
posted by ikea_femme at 1:29 PM on September 5, 2017 [5 favorites]


It's like none of the people involved in this show thought about Last Chance to See, where we learn everything in Australia is poisonous and wants to kill you.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:40 PM on September 5, 2017 [3 favorites]


shouldn't all versions of Spider-Man be banned for encouraging kids to irradiate spiders then let them bite?

No because that totally works.
posted by The Tensor at 2:19 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


It's like none of the people involved in this show thought about Last Chance to See, where we learn everything in Australia is poisonous and wants to kill you.

"Hi, kids! It's me, your best mate Eddie the Echidna! Let's all gather 'round and sing our song, okay?"

Ooohhhh
Everything out here will kill you
From the plants to the frogs to the bugs
Everything out here will kill you
For Crissake don't give them hugs

Walking in the Outback
Or walking in town
There's a mess of deadly things
That'll bring you down
So if you're in the city
Or if you're in the bush
Never touch that thing
It'll bite you in the tush

Everything out here will kill you
On the land, in the air, out at sea
Everything out here will kill you
Australia's deadly. Crickey!


"Bye, kids! We'll see you next week on Eddie's Eschaton Shack!"
posted by RakDaddy at 2:28 PM on September 5, 2017 [11 favorites]


Spiders can be venomous in the US too, I wonder why they didn't pull them here as well?
posted by bleep at 2:40 PM on September 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Spiders can be venomous in the US too, I wonder why they didn't pull them here as well?

Well, judging from the AskMeFi linked to in a previous comment, in the USA people give each other venomous spiders as presents. As much as I love the USA, I will never understand the people within. Like, what, is it "Happy fifth anniversary hon, here's a black widow spider!" or something I just don't
posted by Wordshore at 2:54 PM on September 5, 2017 [6 favorites]


The episode where Peppa's dad runs over a tiny English moose with his car had to get pulled from CBC Newfoundland.
posted by GuyZero at 2:54 PM on September 5, 2017 [4 favorites]


this wasn't nearly as bad as the episode where Peppa makes friends with the Trichinella roundworms living inside her flesh
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:57 PM on September 5, 2017 [12 favorites]



Well, judging from the AskMeFi linked to in a previous comment, in the USA people give each other venomous spiders as presents....


Wait what??? Where do you see that?
posted by bleep at 2:59 PM on September 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Oh I see it now never mind. #notallamericans
posted by bleep at 3:00 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


The US is nothing like Australia. There are pretty much only two venomous-to-humans spiders in the US (continental, anyway, Hawaii may have some extras), they are unlikely to bite, and even when they do, it's usually not serious unless you are very small or have a compromised immune system or something.

The risk is not worth the time and energy people spend fretting about it, and it certainly doesn't merit the ridiculously over the top, even gleeful spider killing that those exaggerated fears lead to.
posted by ernielundquist at 3:12 PM on September 5, 2017 [6 favorites]


Well, judging from the AskMeFi linked to in a previous comment, in the USA people give each other venomous spiders as presents. As much as I love the USA, I will never understand the people within. Like, what, is it "Happy fifth anniversary hon, here's a black widow spider!" or something I just don't

How about because they're beautiful animals that are easy to take care of and observe.

The internet spider hate groupthink is seriously disgusting.
posted by dilaudid at 3:24 PM on September 5, 2017 [4 favorites]


The Egyprian ban on Hungry Hungy Hippos was about to expire, and now this happens.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:26 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


Wikipedia section on Peppa Pig criticism, controversy, and safety concerns. Remembering the seatbelt controversy one as the local news did a long vox pop piece on it at the time.
posted by Wordshore at 3:51 PM on September 5, 2017


The US is nothing like Australia. There are pretty much only two venomous-to-humans spiders in the US (continental, anyway, Hawaii may have some extras), they are unlikely to bite, and even when they do, it's usually not serious unless you are very small or have a compromised immune system or something.

You are a serious badass, or just resigned to your various manifold owwies, if you do not consider necrotic wounds to be serious things.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:08 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


Statistically in America you are actually far more likely to be shot by a venomous spider than bitten.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:44 PM on September 5, 2017 [33 favorites]


I'm very surprised that no one has mentioned the sidebar picture of the spider hauling a mouse up the side of the refrigerator. How is that not noteworthy to you people?

When my son was in jr high, I overheard part of a phone conversation with his friend that was temporarily derailed when his friend started screaming, obviously in fright. Fortunately, the scene was over in seconds and his friend explained that he had been startled by a spider. My son's response - "unless you're calling from Australia, you're over-reacting".
posted by she's not there at 4:49 PM on September 5, 2017 [6 favorites]


Oh, I don't mean that a venomous spider bite wouldn't hurt. I mean more in the sense that you are unlikely to die or suffer permanent disabilities. You are far more likely to be killed or maimed by a bee or dog than by a spider, but we all seem to understand that doesn't merit preemptively killing bees and dogs. The fear of spiders is just over the top and largely based on misunderstanding the risks.

In the US, just familiarize yourself with black widows and brown recluses, avoid those, and you should be fine. I've been handling spiders all my life, as my dad was afraid of them and I didn't like them being killed, so he'd call me when he saw one and I'd come get it. (I've been told this started when I was three, but I can't vouch for that personally.) Then, my son had a similar fear when he was younger, so I had to do it for him, too. If it's a black widow, I just use a cup or something, and if it's anything else, I normally just pick it up in my hand and bring it outside. I've never run across a brown recluse.

My son managed to work through his fears just by learning more about spiders and spider bites and how to identify the potentially dangerous ones, and he's much less stressed out about it than he used to be.

(I am pretty hard core, though, I admit. Just today, I was able to satisfactorily confirm that the half inch chunk I almost detached from my thumb pad has grown back! Party time!)
posted by ernielundquist at 4:50 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


At the end of every Peppa Pig episode I have seen, Peppa and company end up rolling on the floor, grunting and waving their limbs in the air. It would not surprise me if this was the fault of vicious spiders.

In other news, birds are just dinosaurs looking at you and salivating.
posted by Sparx at 5:28 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


"This television program has been brought to you by the New Zealand tourism board."
posted by eotvos at 5:29 PM on September 5, 2017 [4 favorites]


Jokes aside if we're being real, all episodes of Peppa Pig should be pulled off the air and those responsible for it put into a tank with several venomous spiders. Just to be safe.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:06 PM on September 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


put into a tank with several venomous spiders.
Just to be safe.


I initially read that as "put poisonous spiders in mobile weapons platforms, just to be safe" which is an idea I can't really get behind, to be honest.
posted by Sparx at 6:17 PM on September 5, 2017 [4 favorites]


Did I miss the thread where we discuss the fact that Peppa Pig is clearly a drawing of a penis? I mean, is it just me? I would hate for it to be just me.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:21 PM on September 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


And just in case anyone missed the link in the Guardian article, Here's a big ol' spider that got itself a mouse!
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 7:55 PM on September 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Imagine you're Australian/British and taking your preschool UK-born kids back to Australia to visit family there, and having to remind your outdoorsy daughter that spiders in Sydney can be deadly while not scarring her mentally for life. She's a big Peppa Pig fan, too.

I'm rather an expert at deadly fauna preventive interventions for under-5s.
posted by rory at 2:22 AM on September 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Peppa Pig needs to watch this movie some time soon.
posted by arzakh at 5:01 AM on September 6, 2017


My niece and nephew are being raised by Peppa Pig. They're 'mericans but they sound incredibly British thanks to the quantity of Peppa they're watching.
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:01 PM on September 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


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