Fairy Tales, Morbid fun for the children.

[MasterDias]

Same here-- so I presume it's the stories and not the premise that leads to it.

I dont really remember if I've read the "children's" version or the "non-children's" version, but I seem to vaguely recall that the stories were really violent.

Any sadness the story (as told in the Wikipedia article) might have envoked in me would have been killed by the last sentence.

UC speaks the truth.

[Arnobius]

I dont really remember if I've read the "children's" version or the "non-children's" version, but I seem to vaguely recall that the stories were really violent.

In some ways, Sinbad the Sailor seemed to borrow elements of the Oddessy.

Which reminds me... ever read the uncensored Greek myths? Pretty explicit stuff

[TurkishMonky]

greeks were messed up, as far as my opinion goes... and not just the gods, but the writers as well... i can pardon hte fary tales a lttle, because of their culture, but hte greeks? hmm...

[yukinon]

I agree. I can't stand Greek mythology. The Trojan War is the only thing that interests me. The rest of it just makes me mad.

[Arnobius]

I agree. I can't stand Greek mythology. The Trojan War is the only thing that interests me. The rest of it just makes me mad.

Even that was pretty explicit with some of Achilies exploits.

Still it is interesting how some things were adapted for children when the originals were so clearly inappropriate.

As a side note, St Augustine, when debating pagans, used the explicit, debauched nature of the Greco-Roman myths to point out that if such things were true, it argued against the authority of such 'gods.'

[kazekami]

Yeah the Greek myths were full of immorality.

[Arnobius]

Yeah the Greek myths were full of immorality.

Yes, yet I had seen several "Children's Editions."

Then when I was in college, I read the Robert Graves translation of the old myths and was pretty shocked.

[Rachel]

I used to be really into Greek mythology. I don't think I read any of the "non-children" ones, though.

[Scribs]

I do find the Greek Mythology to be quite interesting personally, despite all those immoral immortals.

[Nate]

From what I know "Ring around the Rosy" was originally about the plague, as well. They taught us that sometime in elementary school. Perhaps fifth grade.

Dun dun DUNNNNN!

Snopes.com to the rescue!

"Ring Around the Rosie" is simply a nursery rhyme of indefinite origin and no specific meaning, and someone, long after the fact, concocted an inventive "explanation" for its creation.

In other words, it has nothing to do with the plague.

http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.htm

I love this site.

[Arnobius]

I do find the Greek Mythology to be quite interesting personally, despite all those immoral immortals.

I would agree... some of the stories were well told

[yukinon]

What is this snopes.com you speak of?

That's actually more interesting than what I originally thought.

[Arnobius]

What is this snopes.com you speak of?

That's actually more interesting than what I originally thought.

http://www.snopes.com investigates rumors to see if they are true or false. It covers all sorts of topics and has all sorts of interesting reading.

[uc pseudonym]

Interesting Snopes article, kaemmerite. That's good to know.

Still it is interesting how some things were adapted for children when the originals were so clearly inappropriate.

Of course, the same is done with many biblical stories.

[Arnobius]

Of course, the same is done with many biblical stories.

A good point, though even in the Old Testament, the writers had a greater sense of propriety than the Greeks did.

[kazekami]

I admit even the king Arthur stories had immorality in them. YOu have incest and adultry.

But still I find them intresting. As I do myth and fairy tales.

[righteous_slave]

Personally, I read some of both versions. My grandma had several old books that had the more grown up versions of many fairy tales. I never thought twice about it personally, about the Big Bad Wolf getting boiled, and I vaugly remember a picture of Bluebeard and his room of dead people.

Given all the mindless violence that kids see nowadays on TV, movies, games, and in music, I think some violence with a moral and a point wouldn't hurt them any.

[Taka]

A good point, though even in the Old Testament, the writers had a greater sense of propriety than the Greeks did.

True. But this has always been a pet peve of mine as well. When I studied books such as Ruth and Esther, I was amaized at how little I was really taught when I was a child. I may not tell my kids the whole gory details, but I will not tell them something totaly diffrent than the real story!

[yukinon]

Given all the mindless violence that kids see nowadays on TV, movies, games, and in music, I think some violence with a moral and a point wouldn't hurt them any.

Does that mean the ends justify the means?

[TurkishMonky]

no, i think you have a point there. but i would agree that violence is (unfortunately) a normal part of life because of the fall, and so it should not be treated like it does not exist.