Comments on: Free to Be... You and Me: the 35 Anniversary Edition: the book every kid needs http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Lauren O http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335105 Lauren O Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335105 My mom played the cassette in the car all the time when my sister and I were kids. I can recite every single word of every song and poem and skit, and I love them all. My dad always laughed and smirked at it, especially at "William Wants a Doll," but luckily I ended up adopting FTBYAM's values and not my dad's, heh. My mom played the cassette in the car all the time when my sister and I were kids. I can recite every single word of every song and poem and skit, and I love them all. My dad always laughed and smirked at it, especially at “William Wants a Doll,” but luckily I ended up adopting FTBYAM’s values and not my dad’s, heh.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335113 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335113 "(includes free MP3s from the CD)" should probably say something like: <i>"(includes free snippits of MP3s from the CD)"</i>. They are one minute teasers. “(includes free MP3s from the CD)” should probably say something like:
“(includes free snippits of MP3s from the CD)”. They are one minute teasers.

]]> By: caillean http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335383 caillean Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335383 I LOVE it. I wore out at least one record of it and probably a VHS tape, too, when I was a little kid. I'm thrilled to see the ne edition! I LOVE it. I wore out at least one record of it and probably a VHS tape, too, when I was a little kid. I’m thrilled to see the ne edition!

]]> By: entropy http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335128 entropy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335128 Cory made me cry happy with his genorosity. Awsome! Cory made me cry happy with his genorosity. Awsome!

]]> By: boing_x http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335899 boing_x Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335899 I'm 44 and I don't really know anything about this. I've heard the name and always thought it sounded funny, but I've never really had a clear idea what it was or why I would check it out. I still don't. The story about the domain name is great. I’m 44 and I don’t really know anything about this. I’ve heard the name and always thought it sounded funny, but I’ve never really had a clear idea what it was or why I would check it out. I still don’t.

The story about the domain name is great.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335144 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335144 I've seen gentle mocking of the book in places like "Mystery Science Theater 3000," but it really does seem to drive cultural conservatives and South Park conservatives bugfuck. This, in large part, is responsible for my belief that cultural conservatives and South Park conservatives have been dodging their appointment with the dustbin of history. * * * I'd love to see the late 21st century update with this book, which has chapters about grandpas learning to love their cyborg kids and dealing with being the only uplifted raccoon in first grade. I’ve seen gentle mocking of the book in places like “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” but it really does seem to drive cultural conservatives and South Park conservatives bugfuck.

This, in large part, is responsible for my belief that cultural conservatives and South Park conservatives have been dodging their appointment with the dustbin of history.

* * *

I’d love to see the late 21st century update with this book, which has chapters about grandpas learning to love their cyborg kids and dealing with being the only uplifted raccoon in first grade.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335151 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335151 South Park conservatives? I hear "Hit-A-Ginger Day" is scaring some. South Park conservatives? I hear “Hit-A-Ginger Day” is scaring some.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335155 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335155 http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/20/Students_warned_off_South_Park_prank/UPI-25201227186594/ http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/20/Students_warned_off_South_Park_prank/UPI-25201227186594/

]]> By: Kay the Complainer http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335156 Kay the Complainer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335156 One of my students was in this as a play, and seeing it was my first introduction to it. I don't know why, I guess the Catholic school I went to felt like #11's colleagues - uncomfortable with telling children that they can be themselves. OK, it's touchy-feely 70's liberalism, but it's a good message for kids to hear. One of my students was in this as a play, and seeing it was my first introduction to it. I don’t know why, I guess the Catholic school I went to felt like #11′s colleagues – uncomfortable with telling children that they can be themselves.

OK, it’s touchy-feely 70′s liberalism, but it’s a good message for kids to hear.

]]> By: buzzardcheater http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334913 buzzardcheater Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334913 oh man, this brings it back. My mom brought this home when I was about 9, and she played it all the time. I still dig it. I can still hear Rosie Grier singing... "It's Alright To Cry". Sweet memories. Thanks. oh man, this brings it back. My mom brought this home when I was about 9, and she played it all the time. I still dig it. I can still hear Rosie Grier singing… “It’s Alright To Cry”. Sweet memories. Thanks.

]]> By: misterjalopy http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334914 misterjalopy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334914 Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I understand why you loved it as a kid, I did too. But, oh my, became the surprise hit at high school?! That is great. A wonderful heirloom that will last for generations. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I understand why you loved it as a kid, I did too. But, oh my, became the surprise hit at high school?! That is great.

A wonderful heirloom that will last for generations.

]]> By: getsnarky http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335170 getsnarky Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335170 When I used to practice law, one of my colleagues SENT a similar letter, regarding a similar situation, and was got a very kind (and cooperative) response. Maybe more attorneys should stop assuming all cease and desist letters (or their ilk) need to be 'nastygrams.' (Shorter version: see, <u>In re Flies and Honey, citation omitted</u>.) When I used to practice law, one of my colleagues SENT a similar letter, regarding a similar situation, and was got a very kind (and cooperative) response. Maybe more attorneys should stop assuming all cease and desist letters (or their ilk) need to be ‘nastygrams.’

(Shorter version: see, In re Flies and Honey, citation omitted.)

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-336196 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-336196 #47: "How do you build social capital without having social expectations?" Heavily leveraged expectation default swaps? #47: “How do you build social capital without having social expectations?”

Heavily leveraged expectation default swaps?

]]> By: ChunkyMonkeyBrain http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334918 ChunkyMonkeyBrain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334918 My mother brought this home and we had a great sing-along to it for days. and since she was a teacher, she had a special treat for me one day when she took me to work: she got the vcr and TV from the library and sat me down with the video. so, in honor of the featured skit in your post - the video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDGQgSGHGZ0 My mother brought this home and we had a great sing-along to it for days.

and since she was a teacher, she had a special treat for me one day when she took me to work: she got the vcr and TV from the library and sat me down with the video.

so, in honor of the featured skit in your post – the video of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDGQgSGHGZ0

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334919 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334919 <i>"Sure. You didn't threaten me and you're doing good work. Of course you can have it."</i> WIN WIN, WIN!! “Sure. You didn’t threaten me and you’re doing good work. Of course you can have it.”

WIN WIN, WIN!!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335180 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335180 never could understand that. It easy to draft a polite letter that gives nothing away. never could understand that. It easy to draft a polite letter that gives nothing away.

]]> By: noldrin http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-336204 noldrin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-336204 I remember in the second grade, they had all three classrooms in the grade pile into one room to watch a video. I've always wondered what it was called, and reading this today, that was the video. I remember watching the video, and thinking, yes this make sense, this is the correct way, this is fair. But then I noticed that in probably 95% of my classmates, nothing changed, the same meanness and gender rigidity remained. It was then I realized that that their was this ideal out there about how things "should* be, but it really didn't line about with the reality of how things were, and that basic fairness didn't really exist. I appreciate the sentiment in this video, I *really* do, but I don't think we are doing our children any favors by giving them the impression that they live in a utopic world or that one was emerging. I remember in the second grade, they had all three classrooms in the grade pile into one room to watch a video. I’ve always wondered what it was called, and reading this today, that was the video. I remember watching the video, and thinking, yes this make sense, this is the correct way, this is fair. But then I noticed that in probably 95% of my classmates, nothing changed, the same meanness and gender rigidity remained. It was then I realized that that their was this ideal out there about how things “should* be, but it really didn’t line about with the reality of how things were, and that basic fairness didn’t really exist.

I appreciate the sentiment in this video, I *really* do, but I don’t think we are doing our children any favors by giving them the impression that they live in a utopic world or that one was emerging.

]]> By: yokimon http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335438 yokimon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335438 thank you for posting this! I think I'm one of the few who has a parent who listened to this as a child and then raised their kids on it, who is over the age of 10. I can't imagion having a childhood with out this album. I'm shocked by the amount of people I have met from the ages of 45-18 who I say to "you didn't have FTBYAM ..or had "Where The Wild things Are" ..or watched the Muppets. thank you for posting this!
I think I’m one of the few who has a parent who listened to this as a child and then raised their kids on it, who is over the age of 10. I can’t imagion having a childhood with out this album. I’m shocked by the amount of people I have met from the ages of 45-18 who I say to
“you didn’t have FTBYAM
..or had “Where The Wild things Are”
..or watched the Muppets.

]]> By: soccer mom in denial http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-337233 soccer mom in denial Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-337233 Thanks so much for protecting the FTBYAM name in cyberspace and for being so generous. I know the artist (Peter H. Reynolds) who did the cover art for the new edition and other illustrations. Because of him I got to meet Carol Hart who helped Marlo create both the movie and book. It is wonderful that something so important is getting heard again. I hope your little lady laughs as much to Boy Meets Girl and my brother and I did. Thanks so much for protecting the FTBYAM name in cyberspace and for being so generous. I know the artist (Peter H. Reynolds) who did the cover art for the new edition and other illustrations. Because of him I got to meet Carol Hart who helped Marlo create both the movie and book.

It is wonderful that something so important is getting heard again.

I hope your little lady laughs as much to Boy Meets Girl and my brother and I did.

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334930 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334930 I still have this on LP. (And I still find myself singing "It's Alright to Cry" as done by Rosey Grier every once in a while.) I still have this on LP.

(And I still find myself singing “It’s Alright to Cry” as done by Rosey Grier every once in a while.)

]]> By: FoetusNail http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334931 FoetusNail Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334931 Hope springs eternal! Hope springs eternal!

]]> By: Wirelizard http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335453 Wirelizard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335453 Thank you for this, Cory. I think I now know what I'm getting a good friend's three daughters (6, 4 & 4) for Christmas. We had the book and LP when I was a kid, and it's one of those bits that I discover decades later buried bone-deep. Thank you for this, Cory.

I think I now know what I’m getting a good friend’s three daughters (6, 4 & 4) for Christmas. We had the book and LP when I was a kid, and it’s one of those bits that I discover decades later buried bone-deep.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334946 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334946 After all of the unutterably sad Jonestown posts, this is better than a unicorn chaser. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Babies trump even unicorns. After all of the unutterably sad Jonestown posts, this is better than a unicorn chaser. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Babies trump even unicorns.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335715 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335715 I too grew up listening to FTBYAM. At some point I realized that although the statements made by the characters all promote equality and social justice, the subtexts were not quite as advanced. This is seen most clearly in the baby skit. The boy baby is overbearing and opinionated, while the girl baby is unsure of herself and defers to the boy's opinion. It reminds me of 50's sci-fi, where the technology has advanced but the social structure of society has not. (admins: I tried twice to create an account but never received a confirmation email) I too grew up listening to FTBYAM. At some point I realized that although the statements made by the characters all promote equality and social justice, the subtexts were not quite as advanced. This is seen most clearly in the baby skit. The boy baby is overbearing and opinionated, while the girl baby is unsure of herself and defers to the boy’s opinion. It reminds me of 50′s sci-fi, where the technology has advanced but the social structure of society has not.

(admins: I tried twice to create an account but never received a confirmation email)

]]> By: PhiCancri http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334953 PhiCancri Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334953 It's stories like this that keep me coming back to BB. Good stuff, Cory. It’s stories like this that keep me coming back to BB. Good stuff, Cory.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334956 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334956 I started out thinking I should buy this for my friend that has a little one. And ended up thinking I should buy it for <i>myself</i>! I started out thinking I should buy this for my friend that has a little one.

And ended up thinking I should buy it for myself!

]]> By: zax http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-335726 zax Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-335726 Never heard of the book nut it sounds like something that should continue to exist in the world. Gratz on doing something selfless and nice for people! :) Never heard of the book nut it sounds like something that should continue to exist in the world. Gratz on doing something selfless and nice for people! :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334960 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334960 Bravo! Bravo! What a wonderful thing to do, let them have the site. I have never heard the CD it was just slightly ahead of my time but I will be buying for my 3 YO and myself. D Bravo! Bravo! What a wonderful thing to do, let them have the site.

I have never heard the CD it was just slightly ahead of my time but I will be buying for my 3 YO and myself.

D

]]> By: nuorder http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334961 nuorder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334961 I'm a teacher at a school where many people are very against this production. The 6th grade drama class does a production of this and a few of my "Bible-Thumper" colleagues think "Free to be you and me" teaches kids that it is "OK" to be "Gay"....weird, eh? This is what one guy (who I happen to carpool with) said, "Kids need to realize that they really aren't free to be who they want to be....this teaches them that they can be anything...gay, lesbian, pedophile, or drug addict...They need to realize that God has already set the path for them...." I happen to love FTBYAM, but when you work in Wheaton, Illinois (The Bible Belt of the Chicago area) you sometimes feel like the minority for open-mindedness... I’m a teacher at a school where many people are very against this production. The 6th grade drama class does a production of this and a few of my “Bible-Thumper” colleagues think “Free to be you and me” teaches kids that it is “OK” to be “Gay”….weird, eh?

This is what one guy (who I happen to carpool with) said,

“Kids need to realize that they really aren’t free to be who they want to be….this teaches them that they can be anything…gay, lesbian, pedophile, or drug addict…They need to realize that God has already set the path for them….”

I happen to love FTBYAM, but when you work in Wheaton, Illinois (The Bible Belt of the Chicago area) you sometimes feel like the minority for open-mindedness…

]]> By: DelicateFlower http://boingboing.net/2008/11/20/free-to-be-you-and-m.html#comment-334966 DelicateFlower Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-334966 We too have been singing/playing these songs to our baby. He will instantly calm down when the carousel music from the theme starts. We too have been singing/playing these songs to our baby. He will instantly calm down when the carousel music from the theme starts.

]]>