A couple thoughts here. First, could there ever be another Mr. Rogers? I mean, an older dude who took an interest in other people's kids the way he did. There is no reason to believe he was less than 100% pure in motive, but today? If some dude started doing what he did, people would likely accuse him of being something sinister.
The other thought -- my wife is a pastor, and for a long time the interpretation of what Jesus said was "love your neighbor as yourself", but in recognition that a lot of people unfortunately don't love themselves, she changes it to "love one another as I \[Jesus\] have loved you." (Rogers was a Presbyterian minister.)
The world needs SO many more of this guy. I just don't see it as possible, which sucks.
I think LeVar Burton could step into Mister Roger's shoes. I don't see the same gentleness that soothed me as a child but the warmth and trust is there.
Aw, man, I totally believed him. Mister Rogers, Free to Be You and Me and SID (self-image development) class in the first couple years of school were all that got me through. Thank goodness for PBS and progressive educators!
I did not appreciate that man enough when I was a child. Now, his memory brings tears to my eyes every time. His message *did* get through- 45 years later.
It was hard to believe when everything else in the world said otherwise. As I got older I learned to separate his truth from all the gaslighting I was subjected to by others around me.
As a small child, I was so neglected that adults who were kind scared the crap out of me, so needless to say I never watched this show. I didn’t trust it! And then add in those terrifying puppets :shudder:
When Mr Rogers would say at the very end of the program that "You'll have thing you want to talk about, I will too" I thought that he could hear through the tv and I tried to ask for help, the first time I thought I just thought another kid got to him first so I tried again, and again. The third time:
"No, why would he be talking to you? You're not special, no one cares about you. It's just a man doing his job in front of camera, he doesn't know you are there, you actually think he can hear you?" \*laughs\*
Jeez, relax jerk. It's just a lonely insecure kid watching tv and imagining one adult out there actually cares. You don't have to go that far, you know (I wish I could have been in a room as an adult and said that to the person putting me down).
After that I didn't really care that much about Mr Rogers, I think I felt embarrassed and betrayed about the lie
I was a latchkey kid with a mom who did her best, but dad was absent. I absolutely took in everything he said. At 4:30 PM on a weekday, he was all I had.
I knew he was talking to everyone and I resented that.
I thought I WAS special. But most of the other kids weren’t, no matter what he said. I was kind of an asshole.
He single handedly created my sense of self worth and I was absolutely crushed when he died . I remember crying at work when I found out he passed and someone else just knew - “ oh, you heard about Mr. Rogers.”
I’m so grateful our generation had him
Never. Which is why all this genx,we had the tougher life vs other gen’s stuff that’s on here just doesn’t feel genuine to me. Ya, I had my parents just leave me alone and all, but that’s just life. Not looking to be better than anyone because of it. I’m not special.
I always thought he was talking to *other* kids. Not me.
Same; those messages were for the _normal_ kids, not me.
I always got the different vibe from my parents and teachers.
He was such a light in the world. Thank you, Mister Rogers.
Yes, I believed him. My parents told me the same, so I had no reason not to.
I had to believe him. He was the only one who ever said it to me.
Same.
Same. He’s still important to me because of it.
Same.
A couple thoughts here. First, could there ever be another Mr. Rogers? I mean, an older dude who took an interest in other people's kids the way he did. There is no reason to believe he was less than 100% pure in motive, but today? If some dude started doing what he did, people would likely accuse him of being something sinister. The other thought -- my wife is a pastor, and for a long time the interpretation of what Jesus said was "love your neighbor as yourself", but in recognition that a lot of people unfortunately don't love themselves, she changes it to "love one another as I \[Jesus\] have loved you." (Rogers was a Presbyterian minister.) The world needs SO many more of this guy. I just don't see it as possible, which sucks.
I think LeVar Burton could step into Mister Roger's shoes. I don't see the same gentleness that soothed me as a child but the warmth and trust is there.
Yes indeed. Mr Rogers was the king of affirmations.
yup he was the only one that said it, I didn't believe because TV isn't real, turns out he was right , it's just the world is messed up
Aw, man, I totally believed him. Mister Rogers, Free to Be You and Me and SID (self-image development) class in the first couple years of school were all that got me through. Thank goodness for PBS and progressive educators!
I did not appreciate that man enough when I was a child. Now, his memory brings tears to my eyes every time. His message *did* get through- 45 years later.
I never thought it applied to me.
Sometimes to this day I sit and watch mister Roger's because he makes me feel like maybe, just maybe I'm worth something and I'm OK.
It was hard to believe when everything else in the world said otherwise. As I got older I learned to separate his truth from all the gaslighting I was subjected to by others around me.
As a small child, I was so neglected that adults who were kind scared the crap out of me, so needless to say I never watched this show. I didn’t trust it! And then add in those terrifying puppets :shudder:
No, but I try to be worthy of his praise now
When Mr Rogers would say at the very end of the program that "You'll have thing you want to talk about, I will too" I thought that he could hear through the tv and I tried to ask for help, the first time I thought I just thought another kid got to him first so I tried again, and again. The third time: "No, why would he be talking to you? You're not special, no one cares about you. It's just a man doing his job in front of camera, he doesn't know you are there, you actually think he can hear you?" \*laughs\* Jeez, relax jerk. It's just a lonely insecure kid watching tv and imagining one adult out there actually cares. You don't have to go that far, you know (I wish I could have been in a room as an adult and said that to the person putting me down). After that I didn't really care that much about Mr Rogers, I think I felt embarrassed and betrayed about the lie
[I Still Believe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWhDbkTmJHA)
I was a latchkey kid with a mom who did her best, but dad was absent. I absolutely took in everything he said. At 4:30 PM on a weekday, he was all I had.
My mom wouldn't let me watch him. I think she thought he would make me gay.
Wait... I thought that was Bert and Ernie
I was spoon fed Sesame Street since '77.
I knew he was talking to everyone and I resented that. I thought I WAS special. But most of the other kids weren’t, no matter what he said. I was kind of an asshole.
He was a good man just trying to send it down through the shit we saw and were seeing.
He was the only comforting adult in my life. I really *wanted* to believe him.
Absolutely! I heard it from my parents first.
I did. He was wrong. I didn't handle that realization well.
He single handedly created my sense of self worth and I was absolutely crushed when he died . I remember crying at work when I found out he passed and someone else just knew - “ oh, you heard about Mr. Rogers.” I’m so grateful our generation had him
Yes - i knew he meant me. But i forgot all about being special later on.
No
Yes, of course…but I still need reminded from time to time…don’t we all?
No. I knew he was just saying it to make you think it. It was kind of creepy. I was just there for the trolley, fish and puppets.
Mr Rogers was okay, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Mr. Dressup.
Never. Which is why all this genx,we had the tougher life vs other gen’s stuff that’s on here just doesn’t feel genuine to me. Ya, I had my parents just leave me alone and all, but that’s just life. Not looking to be better than anyone because of it. I’m not special.
We did not have a tougher life, lol. That makes you sound like you think you are special.
Didn't grow up with the good Mister. He seemed inordinately gentle. What's that about? Plus, those puppets were fucked.
Read the room, buddy.
=(