Is It Bad That I Watch Preschool Shows?

[reallifeandreellife]

Being autistic with ADHD and OCD, I mainly watch preschool shows, both old and new. I watch VHS tapes of older preschool shows and stream the newer ones. Especially the ones with anthopomorphic animals, I consider the characters I want to hug "cuddly characters". I reach out the voice actors online and they are the absolute sweetest people, some even record me voice notes as characters, even child and teenage voice actors! I also buy stuffed animals of the characters that I can find and afford. however, I keep this a secret from peers as I am afraid they will make fun of me. I've never shown interest in most "Older" shows. Please tell me I'm not alone!

 

[Luca]

One of my friends was recently telling me about how she feels insecure about watching cartoons as an adult, because she’s afraid of being judged.

I told her that there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes rediscovering or continuing interests from our childhood is part of being kind to our inner child.

I still love stuffed animals, chapter books, coloring books, PG movies, hair clips and scrunchies, animal coffee mugs, cutesy purses, princess dresses, exploring secret places, fuzzy pajamas, and music and clothes from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Growing up is boring

As long as you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else, whatever your interests are is perfectly valid and okay. It doesn’t matter what mean or judgmental people think, as long as your interest/hobby makes you happy.

 

[Rodafina]

You are not alone.

I don’t share exactly the same interests as you, but some of the things that I love the most don’t make sense to other people.

That’s OK, if we love it and it is not hurting anybody, then it is absolutely OK. Some people will understand, and that is great, but others don’t and we must not consider their opinions too heavily.

The shows you described in the interest you have make perfect sense to me, and if you like it, just like it and enjoy it and don’t worry what others think as much as possible. You don’t have to share it with people who will make fun of you, but maybe sometimes you will find people that you trust and you can share it with them.

 

[Tom]

It's sounds like a fun special interest. I have always had interests not in step with my peers. I also had to hide them at times. I see nothing wrong with that either if it makes you more comfortable. I am collector orientated to begin with and also wanted to start collections for my kids and experimented with different things. One thing I started for my daughter was Lion King collector cards and stickers. This was back when the movie first came out in 1994. Now she really has lost interest but 30 years later I am still at it. You would not believe how many different kinds have been made all over the world every year since. They can be very hard and a little expensive to track down. Anyway, early on I wrote to all the voice actors and asked them to autograph a trading card addressed to my daughter and like you say some were very thoughtful. The guy who played Ed the Hyena even drew comics and made jokes for her. Sometimes it took a while for them to respond. The longest was the lady who voiced adult Nala. I got her card back signed 2 years after I sent it!

 

[Magna]

People watch those kinds of shows while baked, but I don't see why there should be anything wrong with watching those kinds of shows while lucid. I loved watching Curious George shows with the kids and probably still would watch them.

 

[Kisa the tea]

A piece of media can be intended for young children but have enough quality that it is appealing to older people as well.

I dislike that we have a society that calls other peoples' interests childish.

 

[vergil96]

Plenty of adults like shows for children and toys. During Easter everyone in my family brought presents for the little child and adults ended up playing with them the most.

 

[Princess Viola]

Absolutely not. You enjoy watching these shows and that's totally fine, it doesn't matter what demographic the series is targeted towards.

Like one of my favorite TV series is Thomas & Friends and that's a series that, over time, eventually became marketed heavily towards a preschooler audience, but that doesn't matter at all. It's still a series I highly enjoy and watch pretty regularly, engage with other fans, buy the toys and merch, and even create my own fan content for the series. Heck, I still have my Thomas & Friends bedsheets and blankets from when I was a kid.

(I don't watch the new 2D animated reboot of Thomas & Friends though, I did give it a fair chance but it just ain't for me)

 

[Metalhead]

I sometimes watch G rated Disney movies. I actually like watching their Winnie the Pooh animated films because of the bad puns.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

You are fine. Look at some of the work like The Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Satire galore and loaded with puns. On Saturday mornings I really enjoyed breakfast in bed watching Pee Wee's Playhouse. I have the entire series on DVD now. We should not be ashamed of things that give us delight. People who would judge somebody for that have closed and boring minds.

Edit - At my loneliest as a young adult I enjoyed The Muppet Show. It was on Friday nights and at the time I was not in a relationship or dating. I took some measure of comfort from it, and recognized in the goofball antics creatures who enjoyed who they are and that perhaps I was not as damaged as I thought myself to be.

 

[Gerontius]

Go for it; part of being a healthy adult is never losing a sense of wonder.
And I'm sure the actors appreciate the nice cards.

 

[AspieChris]

Who cares! It’s better than watching porn. I actually hate most modern programming. Everyone is all into vampires and Marvel superhero movies.

By the way, there’s currently a whole subculture of grown men who watch My Little Pony. They actually call themselves “Bronies”. I always make jokes when I meet a ‘Bronie’, but I don’t care what anyone else enjoys. As long as what you watch makes you happy, I say go for it!

 

[WildCat]

I say no, if that's your thing then enjoy! My sister is or was big on anything Disney and she's well into her 20s now...this might have changed, but point being there are plenty of people who take joy in things that would be considered "childish" or "age-inappropriate". I'm talking entire communities of people too, take your pick.

In this time we're living in right now it's just a click or tap away, and far easier to find what you want online versus buying tapes or discs - not saying that either are a bad thing, definitely hold on to those tapes. I think you're already a step ahead of people who've left their childhood behind and started "growing up", which I can tell you is not all it's cracked up to be.

 

[Ken]

Here is my rule: If you like it then it's good. It has to be up to you, because you are the one watching.

 

[Princess Viola]

Another good rule is if someone says you should stop watching these shows because you're an adult, just ignore them or ask them 'Why should I give up something I enjoy just because I've hit a certain age'?

 

[UberScout]

Growing up is boring
.

BORING?! GROWING UP ISN'T BORING, IT IS STAGNANT AND HELLATIOUS!

 

[Misery]

Here's my odd take on it:

A lot of so-called "mature adults" will sit in front of the TV, and they'll specifically watch basic, braindead sitcoms or whatever... the type of "funny" show where they need a laugh track to tell them when it's time to giggle, and the jokes are predictable and every time the laugh track does happen, all the characters just sort of pause awkwardly. Or they'll watch "reality" shows, I dont even need to explain the problem there.

If anything, these "preschool shows" you want to watch are a bit high-brow compared to that drivel.

In other words, go for it.

 

[AspieChris]

Here's my odd take on it:

A lot of so-called "mature adults" will sit in front of the TV, and they'll specifically watch basic, braindead sitcoms or whatever... the type of "funny" show where they need a laugh track to tell them when it's time to giggle, and the jokes are predictable and every time the laugh track does happen, all the characters just sort of pause awkwardly. Or they'll watch "reality" shows, I dont even need to explain the problem there.

If anything, these "preschool shows" you want to watch are a bit high-brow compared to that drivel.

In other words, go for it.

Well said

 

[Misery]

This topic reminds me of this comic from one of my favorite webcomic creators:

 

[Georgia Galaxy]

Who cares! It’s better than watching porn. I actually hate most modern programming. Everyone is all into vampires and Marvel superhero movies.

By the way, there’s currently a whole subculture of grown men who watch My Little Pony. They actually call themselves “Bronies”. I always make jokes when I meet a ‘Bronie’, but I don’t care what anyone else enjoys. As long as what you watch makes you happy, I say go for it!

I'm a Pegasister, the female equivalent of a Brony 8)