The F'd Up Moral in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not only is Rudolph a product of his time, but so are we. The idea that you have some sort of innate value just for being who you are instead of what you bring to society's table is a fairly new one.

It certainly wasn't the way people thought in the '30s when the original story was published, and wasn't all that prevalent in the '60s when the special was produced. It's something baby boomers really started with their own kids.

"You're special for who you are!" Not during the Depression, punk.

 

[ST-One]

Some may take the moral as being something along the lines of "everyone has something to contribute so don't pick on people for being different" or some such nonsense.

First of all, why are Santa's reindeer such assholes? I'd think he would've raised them a bit better than that.

Secondly, I see the "moral", "lesson" or whatever in it to be more along the lines of "people won't like you until you can do something for them."

Rudolph is just another reindeer, a working stiff like all of the others though not in active use. But he has a glowing nose so he's outcast from the group and wildly made fun of by his peers. But then that foggy night comes and he's called upon to help by Santa. Fair enough, the song doesn't suggest Santa outcast Rudolph any so Rudolph steps up and helps Santa out.

Then all of the other reindeer loved Rudolph and shouted in glee. Because now Rudolph's freaky birth defect is useful. So now, of course, he's loved. Screw them.

But, remember kids, people only love you when you can help them out.

Ah, you've been watching Cheers, haven't you?

 

[RAMA]

I've been saying what non-PC bastards the whole North Pole crew was for years...however, I don't think they meant the moral to suggest you were only useful if you could do something, only that it took that for others to realize "misfits" weren't so bad after all. I suppose there has to be some sort of trigger to gain realization. Still, those deer, elves and even Santa were pretty heartless for the first part of the show. I suppose if it were made today, Herbie would have to come back to the shop with an AK-47.

RAMA

 

[Silvercrest]

The other reindeer are racist against Rudolph.

There’s an entire race of reindeer with glowing red noses?

It's anti-mutant bigotry. Looks like Chris Claremont was right.

 

[Gaith]

Cracked is on the case.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Rudolph is like Santa's place kicker. He gets mocked while all the big guys do the hard work, but when you need one play, down by 2 with 0:03 remaining to win and keep your $4m job, he's the only thing that matters. But if he misses, he's a piece of shit worthless less-than-nothing voided out waste of carbon and oxygen.

So apparently working in technical support is like being a place kicker. It all makes sense now.

 

[Guitarded]

Wassail, do you read Cracked by any chance? Your post is similar to an article I read last night.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18601_4-bad-lessons-rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-teaches-kids.html

Edit: Gaith beat me to it.

 

[Trekker4747]

I do read it but please note by OP was made a full 10 days before the Cracked article was published.

 

[Guitarded]

Oh, I wasn't trying to imply that you were borrowing their concept; I just noticed the similarity.

 

[ThankQ]

Also, check out "the Shame Report" on NFL.com. He goes into this as well.

 

[Trekker4747]

LINK

Santa is #3

 

[SiddFinch1]

Ive been saying this for years in a half serious way

 

[Kemaiku]

Red nose and no antlers mean Rudolph is most likely a doe, which could explain why the others weren't so sure of "her" depending what age they're supposed to be.

 

[M'Sharak]

Ive been saying this for years in a half serious way

♪ Rudolf the red-nosed zombie
ate some very shiny braaaaiiiiiins! ♫

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Closing to protect the brainz.