Reading 'Go The F**k To Sleep' May Lead To Child Abuse And Racism*

from the *of-course-it-won't-but-don't-let-that-stop-you dept

Wed, Jun 29th 2011 9:19am — Tim Cushing

We've detailed the viral sensation that is Adam Mansbach's Go the F**k to Sleep, including its pirate-ship ride into the national consciousness and its eventual explosion as an actual printed book (with attendant movie deal). And everyone who has a kid, or has had a kid, can see the humor behind the good-natured f-bombs and recognizes the frustration inherent in getting a child to, well, follow the title's advice.

Oh, wait. I was wrong. Apparently, not everyone can see the humor in a foul-mouthed "children's book". They just have to look really long and hard to find something to be offended about. Not only that, but they actually have to make a bunch of stuff up in order to turn this viral sensation into the worst thing since the last moral panic.

Take Jean Demarest, an attorney from Oregon:

Demarest told me that initially she thought the book was funny. That was before she read it. "Now I find it unsettling. I don't like violent language in association with children."

She has good reason to be concerned about the message behind such a parody. Demarest was the prosecuting attorney in one of Oregon's most high-profile child murder cases. She understands the fear that far too many children endure because the lines of what's appropriate parenting have become blurred.

Nobody is suggesting that there's a connection between Adam Mansbach's book and child abuse or child neglect. Still, there's no denying the reason "Go the F*** to Sleep" should be kept out of reach of children is because of its violent language and because of the way it demeans children."

Demarest may be disturbed by the book's language, but considering her line of work, it's understandable that she might be. My argument is not with her take on the book, as quoted.

However, the author of this post, Karen Spears Zacharias, has decided to use Demarest as a lead-in to a bunch of her own conclusions, none of which were stated by a respected attorney who recently dealt with a child's murder.

Sure, "nobody's suggesting that there's a connection" between Go the F**k to Sleep and child abuse, but Zacharias wastes a whole lot of words not suggesting it. For instance, I could say, "I'm not suggesting that Zacharias has never enjoyed anything wholeheartedly in her life, but there's no denying the fact that this article is about as much fun as removing asbestos with your teeth." Now, I haven't actually suggested anything, but I've certainly shifted everyone's perception of Zacharias.

This is just the setup. To really not enjoy Go the F**k to Sleep, you have to use your IMAGINATION!

"Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos," says Dr. David Arredondo. He is an expert on child development and founder of The Children's Program, in the San Francisco metropolitan area, which provides consultation and training for those working with troubled youths.

It is hard to imagine this kind of humor being tolerated by any of the marginalized groups Arredondo cited. Consider the lines on page 3:

"The eagles who soar thru the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you are not thirsty. That's bulls**t.
Stop lying.
Lie the f*** down, my darling, and sleep."

HOLYFRICKINWHAAAA???? WHATTHEF***AREYOUTALKINGABOUTMAN?

Imagine!

Can you imagine??!!!

What if... and I want you to stay with me on this... What if... you're going to love this... what if someone wrote a book that said nothing derogatory towards anybody but instead parodied the wholesomeness of children's books by making it a profanity-laden plea directed at a wired-up child?

Imagine that! Imagine someone having a bit of laugh and finding out, much to his surprise, that the humor was universal!

Oh, but I see you have no imagination. Instead, what you have, Dr. Arrendondo, is the same thing that insurance fraud artists have: a desire to "play the victim." Without anyone, anywhere, ever having said anything about any race, creed, nationality, etc., you've managed to drag your issues into the middle of a viral sensation to somehow prove a point that didn't need to be made, and for that matter, a point that doesn't even really exist.

First of all, you marginalize every one of those groups yourself by referring to them as "marginalized." Then, you conjure up some sort of racist boogeyman who travels side-by-side with the F-word until everyone dies of culture shock.

Zacharias won't let it go, either. She continues to beat every last bit of enjoyment out of Mansbach's book with her ridiculous need to equate everything, no matter how unrelated, to whatever issue she's decided really needs to be dealt with:

For far too many kids, the obscenities found in Mansbach's book are a common, everyday household language. Swearing is how parents across the social, educational and economic strata express their disappointments or anxieties, their frustrations and outright anger at their children. Sometimes the biggest bully in the neighborhood lives in the same house you do. Sometimes it's your parent.

Perhaps the reason Mansbach's book resonates isn't so much because of the humor, but because of the truth behind it.

The violent language of "Go the F*** to Sleep" is not the least bit funny, when one considers how many neglected children fall asleep each night praying for a parent who'd care enough to hold them, nurture them and read to them.

She's right. It's not the least bit funny. Not when you've got an axe to grind and the space to do it. No one is "for" child abuse or neglect. No one really thinks that swearing at children is "good parenting." And certainly no one thinks that telling blacks, Latinos, etc. to "go the f**k to sleep" is acceptable. But here we are, being told something we all know, by people who have proven that anything can be twisted into an "issue" and that are obviously incapable of enjoying a good joke.

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Filed Under: adam mansbach, go the fuck to sleep

108 Comments

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Pickle Monger (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 8:38am

Here's the best part of the article:

The irony, says Arredondo, is that the people buying the book are probably good parents.

"The people reading this book are educated parents, who actually care about their children and are frustrated that often their children don't behave the way storybooks display."

So they know that the article isn't even for the people who read the book. It's for the people who don't.
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crade (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 8:53am

When were the lines of what is appropriate parenting ever not blurred?
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Ikarushka (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:02am

Sense of humor
...obviously incapable of enjoying a good joke.

That's the root of the problem. Mass culture is not compatible with good humor. The sense of humor is dangerous for those who try manipulating homo consumerus' emotions: good sense of humor is inseparable from ability to think critically. As a result of brainwashing, if either laugh track, "I'm kidding" disclaimer, or a smiley is missing, there is a risk of literal interpretation, i.e. gross misinterpretation.

In another TechDirt's discussion I noted that the necessity of solving lots of captchas daily makes our generation smarter. And it was taken literally: someone demanded the proof.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:21am

Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...

I tried. It didn't make any sense, since parents are not caregivers to any of the groups he listed. In fact, since you have to imagine a position of authority over one or more of these grouping to even get to the place where Arredondo apparently is, I'd suggest that he's the one with the problem here.

For far too many kids, the obscenities found in Mansbach's book are a common, everyday household language.

Okay, you know what? Words are just words. It's now what's said, but how it's said that matters. My children aren't going to feel any different about hearing the word 'shit' than they would hearing the word 'yowza', or different about 'damnit' when I stub my toe rather than 'darnit', provided that they have the same inflection. So the words themselves aren't a problem.

However, I understand that what the writer means is that some parents verbally abuse their children as a matter of course, which is irelevant since the parents who do so aren't going to be shocked or amused by this book in the first place.

Again, the writer seems to be the one with the problem. I'm going back to listen to Samuel L. Jackson read the book again. Bye!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:38am

Re:
Uh, they never were, sorry.
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DannyB (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:40am

A simple solution
The problem can be quickly and easily solved.

Ban the book. Historically this technique has been hugely effective(*).

Or better, burn all copies! We'll dance around a huge bonfire in the public square.

* banning content also works extremely well for Internet content.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:44am

Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
"The eagles who soar thru the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you are not thirsty. That's bulls**t.
Stop lying.
Lie the f*** down, my Jew, and sleep."

"The eagles who soar thru the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you are not thirsty. That's bulls**t.
Stop lying.
Lie the f*** down, my Black, and sleep."

"The eagles who soar thru the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you are not thirsty. That's bulls**t.
Stop lying.
Lie the f*** down, my Muslim, and sleep."

"The eagles who soar thru the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you are not thirsty. That's bulls**t.
Stop lying.
Lie the f*** down, my Latino, and sleep."

You know, I am just not seeing anything to get raged over here. I tried substituting those protected classes of people and the passage just doesn't make any sense.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:45am

Sadly, I think there is only one solution at this point. We must stand together and ban children. This world is just not fit for them. There are too many opportunities for abuse, neglect and racisim. Therefore, it is no longer responsible to have children and we must stop NOW.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:47am

Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
I think you miss the point. It isn't about jews, or latinos, or anything like that, it's the whole idea of lie the f*** down. No matter what, that isn't an attitude to take with a kid.

Yes, all parents have thought it now and again, when the little ones don't want to sleep, but it's not something that should be out there as a normal way to talk to kids.
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David Good (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:49am

She knows this isn't a children's book, right? Children aren't going to Barnes & Noble and buying this book. Adults have to perform that task. If children have access to the book, then that's bad parenting.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:52am

Re:
It'd be for their own good anyway.

We already established that there would be no child abuse if there were no children.
Not to mention that if we all had no children and stuck to it, racism, sexism and all other bad things would be entirely wiped out in around 100 years.

And yet no one takes this option seriously.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:55am

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
I think you miss the point. This book is not advocating parenting tips. This book is a humor book aimed at adults and specifically adults who have kids. It is humorous because it externalizes the inner monolog parents have had late at night when their kids won't sleep.

You won't find this book on the kids book shelf at the book store. You won't find this book in the self help section or the parenting section. You will find this book in the Humor section of book stores. That is what you are supposed to take it as.

If someone reads this book and decides to actually talk to their kids this way, it is a problem with the person not the book.
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RD, 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:56am

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
"I think you miss the point. It isn't about jews, or latinos, or anything like that, it's the whole idea of lie the f*** down. No matter what, that isn't an attitude to take with a kid."

Right. Its not. But idiots like you are taking this book to be LITERAL.

Let me give you a clue.

ITS A FUCKING JOKE YOU MORONIC DOUCHETARD.

The idea of telling a kid to "go the fuck to sleep" and how that really isnt appropriate

IS

THE

JOKE.

The fact that you cant see that means the problem is YOU, not everyone else.
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AG Wright (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:59am

Get in line
I can't help thinking that this particular book needs to get in a very long line of causes of child abuse like poverty, poor education and many other societal problems.
I think if some of the other problems were addressed in some effective way, and I don't know what that might be, society as a whole could handle very well the amount of abuse that came about as a result of this book.
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 9:59am

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
... hence the humor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdity
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:03am

Re: Re:
you realize not 50 years ago beating your child wasn't bad, it was your duty to instill discipline
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Joel (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:04am

A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
Perhaps someone should give Ms. Zacharias a copy of something by Jonathan Swift.
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:05am

Re:
If kids are so innocent, why is everything bad named after them? Acting childish, kidnapping, child abuse ...
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:05am

Re:
I just saw a letter to the editor from someone commenting on an article about the book's success, and from the verbal pearl-clutching in that letter, I was wondering if the writer was laboring under that very delusion.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:11am

Re: Re: Re:
And 20 years ago spanking wasn't bad.

But I think crade had a much more broad definition in mind, not just discipline. He's probably talking about encouraging your child, or teaching them (or not in a few cases), protecting the children. It's all one giant gray area.
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John Doe, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:11am

Re: Re: Re:
You realize that spanking today is considered beating which it is not? I don't know that anyone ever thought beating a child was instilling discipline except for people with anger issues. Spanking, on the other hand, was accepted and IMHO still acceptable. It is how you do it that becomes beating.
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cjstg (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:12am

Re: Re:
what? show me the unblurred lines. because when i started raising my kids they sure were blurry. let me rephrase that. everybody i talked to had clear, bright lines, but everybody's lines were different. the cumulative result was a mishmash of crappy advice that never worked for my kids.
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madalice, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:13am

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
It's not MEANT to be said to kids or read to kids or in anyway exposed to kids, it's an adult book written FOR parents, tongue in cheek. You do understand tongue in cheek humor don't you? Well, maybe not. Trailer parks aren't exactly hotbeds of irony.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:14am

Re: Re:
ADULTery...
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cjstg (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:17am

Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
how about just a swift kick.
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:19am

Someone has to say it.
Won't somebody please think of the children!?!

I've got an idea for a sequel:
"You shouldn't be reading this f***ing book."

Fold your hands, hide your eyes
Why aren't you in the sheltered nook
With tales for meant for tykes
You shouldn't be reading this f***ing book.
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Jon B. (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:19am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Rule of thumb: don't "spank" your child harder in discipline than you would wrestling and playing on the living room floor. It always amazes how the same amount of force can be funny (to the child) when playing but effective discipline other times.
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DCL, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:20am

Re:
Think of the children! We must not let them suffer!

I agree we must get rid of the children to protect them!

[just playing along here because it works on the same absurdity that makes the book humorous.]
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:20am

Re: Re: Re:
Not until you're older.
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whisk33, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:21am

Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
That would be a horrible idea! Could you imagine what mind numbing article she would write then!
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noodle, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:22am

Silverstein
Don't read Uncle Shelby's ABZ book, either.
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madalice, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:24am

Re: Get in line
Well... when you think of an effective way to combat all those societal ills, let us all know. Maybe write a book "Go the F**K to jail" for pedophiles? It'd be a best seller.
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John Doe, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:24am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, it is the psychology of the spanking that makes it effective, not the force used. Timeouts, taking toys away for a few hours, etc doesn't work. I see parents take a child's toy and put it in timeout. WTH does that teach the kid? Do the crime and someone else does the time?
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:31am

Oh I get it ! So what shes saying is :-

Dont tell Irish Jokes cos they may be Black
Dont tell Mother-in-law jokes cos they may be Jewish
Dont tell Racist jokes cos they may be women
Dont tell Dwarf jokes cos they may be Fat

Yup - thats it, it all makes sense now.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:32am

Re: Someone has to say it.
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. and not in the way he did with on youtube, but like in Pulp Fiction. English mother f**ker, do you read it!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:32am

So this is now a valid approach to offense-taking: "I know this isn't offensive now, but imagine if we took some of the words and replaced them with other words."
Man, that opens up whole new worlds of indignation. The Twilight books? Imagine it if you changed the word "vampire" to "mentally challenged person." Offensive! Alice in Wonderland? Imagine if you changed "Wonderland" to "an internment camp." Offensive! "Roses are red"? Imagine if the last line said "F*** off, you self-serious prat" instead? Offensive!
This is kind of fun.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:33am

Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
Or Roald Dahl.

"Rockabye Baby"...OMG! They put their kid in a tree! If the bough breaks...OMG!
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:36am

Re: Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
I am horrified that someone would publish a book advising people to eat babies. Can you imagine how babies would feel if such materials were left around the house; especially in the kitchen. So many infants live in fear of being bartered as foodstuffs, this publication is entirely insensitive of and entire demographic of modern civilization which I've just made up. It's hard to imagine this type of humor being tolerated if it was focused on cows, sheep or potatoes.
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Pitabred (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:36am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Aye. My kids gets themselves in timeout (for pushing, taking toys, etc.) and get to watch their sibling have fun when they aren't allowed to. That's an effective timeout.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:40am

"What is claimed is:

(1) a system of inducing moral panics whereby the agitator employs the following function of 'imagine if [widely known creative work] were about [agitator's disadvantaged constituency] instead of [actual subject of creative work]';

(2) the implementation of the system in Claim 1 to achieve desired political outcomes in the absence of credible data to support said results;

(3) the implementation of the system in Claim 1 to cultivate otherwise unearned media attention."
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:44am

Re:
Using that logic, this entire comment string is offensive and should be marked for deletion by the administrator.
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screech, 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:51am

This is why I hate cars...
I think automobiles are one of the scariest things imaginable.

Why?

Because almost anyone can obtain one, and then, if they choose, can drive down the street and shout "Nigger" and "Dirty Jew" at people from their open window, which is not funny.

If we could just get rid of cars, that specific scenario would never play out, and the world would be a better place.
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:53am

Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
A Modest Proposal is $3.45 on Amazon. (and buy 3 get 1 free) If someone should locate her address it may be amusing for several dozen copies to arrive courtesy of the Internets...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603863559/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVP DKIKX0DER
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T.P. Waterhouse (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:56am

Mad Magazine
Anyone else old enough to remember having your Mad Magazines confiscated? Another case of humor deemed "inappropriate" for "kids" in grades 8-12. I agree with the previous comment about the issue is more about humor being heretical to the church; Our Lady of Consumption.
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Marcus Carab (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:58am

Re: Re:
Using that logic, this entire comment string is offensive and should be marked for deletion by the administrator.

I read that as: "fuck fuck fuck, fuck shit fuck cunt fuck fuck fuck and fuck shit cunt fuck fuck by the fuck."

Tone it down for chrissakes!
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Marcus Carab (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 10:59am

Re: Mad Magazine
Down with Homework! Up with Miniskirts!
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Jim_G, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:00am

I think Dave Barry summed it up when he said:

"No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously."
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Qritiqal (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:02am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I have two children and I've never had to lay a finger on them to instill discipline. As a result, I have 2 of the most wonderful children in the world.

Spanking is physical assault. If you are a parent and you think you need to spank your child to "instill discipline", you have a weak mind and were probably also beaten as a child.
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John Doe, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:13am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I have 2 of the most wonderful children in the world.

Most parents think this way so nobody can blame you for thinking this as well. I am sure you never had to raise your voice at them either. I am also sure a well reasoned discussion with a 5 year old works every time.
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Any Mouse (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:15am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I disagree entirely. I have two sisters. One used spanking for discipline and the other did not. Both are extremely good parents. Both sets of children grew up knowing right from wrong, they just had different paths to getting there.

Neither of my sisters were 'beaten' as children, though both did get spanked. Who is right and who is wrong? More importantly, who are you to decide for me? Get off your soapbox, and take your 'physical assault' hippiespeak and 'weak mind' mamby pamby bs elsewhere.
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Trails (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:22am

Re: Re: Re: A Modest Proposal: Go the f*ck to english class
Not only that, but imagine instead of eating babies, it talked about Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Latinos or any other maginalized delicious group of people. What then?!? Racist canabalism would explode in our society, as we all chowed down on one or all of these groups!
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Khory (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:22am

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
Are you really that dense?

This is not a parenting manual. It is not intended, marketed, or portrayed as such. It is a joke, it's supposed to be funny.

If you cannot make the distinction then the problem is with YOU, not the book.
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Jay (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:27am

Whatever happened to books and fairytales for adults?

I think this is one time that we do not have to think about the children.
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Nick J, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:31am

Lame book for lame brains
Forget the book �Go the F**k to Sleep�, a pathetic, soul-less, allegedly rebel, �children�s book�. Don�t waste your hard-earned money, instead read a BANNED book like �America Deceived II� by a real rebel and the �World�s Most Hated Author�, E.A. Blayre III.
Last link (before Google Books bans it also]:
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000190526
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Lord Binky, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:38am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Muahahahaha I am a tyrinical monster. My grandmother spanked me for taking the conditioner and putting it in the shampoo bottle because I thought it would be funny (I was very easily persuaded by my older cousins). I remember to this day what I did wrong. I'm glad when I was a child to small to remember, I got spanked for trying to touch a hot object, because my cognitive skills had not developed enough to understand why a sharp talking to (comprehension of words had not developed you know being super young and all) and sitting in a spot was bad. It sure is a weak mind that uses Classical conditioning as a fall back to "reasoning" with a child.

I can honestly say I was never beaten as a child, mentally or physically. It baffles me that you propose that fucking with a child's mind is a superior method than a quick single spank on their bottom to condition them. I honestly hope your children continue to be wonderful their entire life, but it is often seen that good children do not necessarily become good adults.
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RD, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:43am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"I honestly hope your children continue to be wonderful their entire life, but it is often seen that good children do not necessarily become good adults."

Wow what a wonderful outlook. So good children don't make good adults, and bad children don't either.

I propose we get rid of the children. After all, they are the real problem here. If it wasn't for the children, we wouldn't need all this stuff to protect against.

Get rid of the children, for the children.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:49am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Don't forget those intellectual discussions on right, wrong and the ambiguity of punching Granny in the teeth with two year olds! Because they are bastions of logic and reason.

Sometimes a firm swat on a diapered butt does more good (for dangerous things, like bolting into the street or touching matches or playing with the stove) then "No, no, musn't do that, there's a good baby. Have a sweet! Don't cry, you can do whatever you want!" crap that passes for parenting now.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:51am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I physically assaulted your mom with my junk. You can call me daddy.

I bet you have two horrible little monsters that should be put the f**k to sleep with an injection.
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Josh Taylor, 29 Jun 2011 @ 11:59am

Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
Why no revival? Why have our churches never bother to preach the gospel and instead use Oprah Winfrey's words saying there are many ways to Heaven? Why do Christians bother reading the bible as their family altar and praying the Lord's Prayer at the dinner table?

Because they watch Family Guy and other stuff on TV. They make friends that are not real on the internet. Since 1961, we don't bother reading the bible and watch westerns, anime, Family Guy, Sponge Bob, etc. They believe a lie. They replaced the Lord's Word with lies.

The Supreme Court made the FCC indecency rules unconstitutional. Because of that our children are speaking blasphemies and foul language. We now have a combination of Christianity and Islam combined into one religion, Chrislam.

Is there still no revival? The answer is yes.

Because of Facebook, Christian relationships have fallen.

Today, America is now in trouble. America is Babylon the Great.

We need a revival. Jesus is coming.

Put all your internet and TV away and all that materialism as well and start accepting Jesus your Lord and Savior right now before it's too late.
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Forge, 29 Jun 2011 @ 12:03pm

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
Have you ever heard a "whoosh" noise and wondered what it meant?

This is not a book to read to children. It's a book that gives the hypothetical parent's internal monologue, in the format of a children's book, for IRONIC value.

The sad fact that I'm EXPLAINING this makes me weep for the state of humanity. As a whole, we are not worth saving.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 12:10pm

Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
I'll ignore RD's rantings, they are amusing but meaningless.

I understand the book is humor. So is someone saying "Ni--er please!", but oddly we don't want to tolerate that. While both of them may be fun to some, they are pretty offensive to others.

The book expresses what might be considered a humorous opinion, but some people may take it as truth. Remember, a good propaganda campaign often starts with a joke (just go look for the Obama pole turtle thing to get an idea). What is funny in the book is that it rings true for many parents.

It's making humor out of a situation that is actually very real for many kids in America, and that isn't funny, just sad. I can understand where the book is humor, but may not be a joke in good taste.
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kirillian (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 12:19pm

Re: Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
Another case of completely irrelevant diatribe.
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PrometheeFeu (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 12:21pm

Re: Re:
Are you really arguing that what is appropriate parenting is really all black and white with no grey? Because that sounds even more absurd than creationism.
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jackwagon (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 12:51pm

Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
Hey... there are plenty of people that were raised in trailer parks that have a perfectly good sense of humor (and are well read, intelligent, good looking people). I can just about guarantee that Zacharias didn't grow up in a trailer park.
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jackwagon (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:00pm

Re: Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
Are you saying Jesus doesn't have a sense of humor?
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RD, 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:02pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
"I'll ignore RD's rantings, they are amusing but meaningless.
"

When I give a shit about your opinion of me, I'll let you know. Way to take issue with something in the exact same manner as what you are criticizing though, so nice job on the hypocrisy. (amusing, but meaningless, 'cause I know you wont get THAT joke either.)
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:08pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
My aunt refuses to spank and almost refuses to raise her voice. She has four of the most well behaved kids I've ever seen. My sister refuses to spank and almost refuses to raise her voice. She has a pain in the ass of a kid. I know kids that were spanked and are mild mannered and calm, I know kids that were spanked and probably should have been spanked more. I guess different parenting styles are needed for different kids. I know, shocking.
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Robert Doyle (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:10pm

Just be happy if your kids are reading it...
Do you realize how hard it is to find something your kids would like to read?

Man, my wife and I love it when they want to read! I've tried Playboy, The Bible, Mein Kampf, Dr Seuss... nothing just seems to work like this book! It's brilliant!
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Dark Helmet (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:11pm

Re: Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
"We need a revival. Jesus is coming."

Hope he's wearing protection, brah. I ain't no Mary freaking Magdelene, after all....
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Joe Publius (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:26pm

I wonder if these are the same knuckleheads who claimed that Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones was a reacist allegory about Latino immigration into the US.

Everyone really knows it's about the most poorly written and acted romance of all time.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:29pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
The funny thing about taste is, if you don't like it, don't read it.

Not everyone has the same taste thus not everyone will like everything.

On the subject of offense, it is not the author's job to avoid offending other people. If someone is offended, again they can stop reading/watching/viewing/playing what ever offends them.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:30pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
I think you might be retarded. You should see a specialist to find out for sure.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 1:35pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wow what a wonderful outlook. So good children don't make good adults, and bad children don't either.

Good children don't always make good adults. Many of them lack critical thinking skills present in 'bad' (mischievous or rebellious) children. Some of them work out just fine as cube workers or ditch diggers.

Bad children don't always make bad adults. Many of the qualities that make a child 'bad' are excellent qualities in adults. Thinking for yourself, curiosity, excitement for new tasks, and pushing boundaries are hallmarks of horrible little monsters.

Before you build a straw man out of what I said, I used 'don't always'. I also labeled a pretty specific group of bad children. I was a bad child and I turned out to be a bad adult. Many of my friends who were bad children turned out to be fantastic adults. Most of the people I knew that were 'good kids' work at the mall, change tires, or cut hair. We need people to do those things, but that doesn't make them 'good adults'. That makes them 'good drones'.

I suppose it's all a matter of how you define 'good adult' and 'good children'. Truthfully, things would be much easier if we killed everyone under 16 years of age and stabbed anyone who wants gets pregnant/gets someone else pregnant.
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BeeAitch (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:07pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
From Lord Binky:

"...good children do not necessarily become good adults."

From you (attempting to paraphrase Lord Binky):

"...good children don't make good adults..."

Try actually trying to comprehend what you read. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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btr1701 (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:19pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
> And 20 years ago spanking wasn't bad.

It still isn't.
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A Specialist, 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:20pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
No, your diagnosis is accurate. He is "developmentally challenged" (we don't use the "r" word anymore...)
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btr1701 (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:23pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
> As a result, I have 2 of the most wonderful
> children in the world.

I have no idea whether your children are wonderful or not, but it's worth noting that-- given the current parenting paradigm-- the parents of children who are actually complete assholes also believe them to be absolutely wonderful.

It's a peculiar set of blinders that seems to have wholly arisen in just the last 20 years or so.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:28pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"It's a peculiar set of blinders that seems to have wholly arisen in just the last 20 years or so."

Yeah. My Pops thought I was a little asshole. I kinda think he was right, though....
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BeeAitch (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:30pm

Re: Lame book for lame brains
But...but, they want 10 dollars for that book!

Don't you know that everyone commenting here only wants something if it's for free?

For heaven's sake, man....
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btr1701 (profile), 29 Jun 2011 @ 2:31pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
> The book expresses what might be considered a
> humorous opinion, but some people may take it
> as truth.

That could be said about *anything*. Any comedy, and humor, any movie, any TV show, any book.

There's always some crazed malcontent who might think it's real and act accordingly.

Your solution seems to be that we should all become a bunch of hyper-literal, humorless drones on the off chance someone might misinterpret a joke.

And you actually seem to be serious about it. Amazing.
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Ed Simple, 29 Jun 2011 @ 5:04pm

literature
Yes, f-bombs in children's books, another sign of our intellectual growth and creativity. These writers are just glorified thugs who managed to learn to type.
The romance novel writers look down on these fools.

‎"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." - John W. Gardner

Such is also the case for lowest common denominator writing.
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Madalice, 29 Jun 2011 @ 5:17pm

Re: Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
Dude! You're ON the internet blasting people about being on the internet?? It really IS too late!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 5:45pm

Re: literature
It's not a children's book, FFS.

RTFA!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 6:43pm

This is the woman trying to pimp her own book, right?
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Reynolds Jones, 29 Jun 2011 @ 7:35pm

My partner and I have a 2 and a half year old - he purchased the book - you are entitled to your opinion, but I did not find it funny, and we have removed it from anywhere that it could affect our daughter. It seems to me to be crude, nasty, demeaning, and negative in a time when I hope we are mostly escaping those things.

You may think that I, like the attn. have no sense of humor, and maybe I don't - hopefully will have a more loved and self-confident daughter.

Kind thoughts.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jun 2011 @ 8:19pm

if more parents told their children to go the fuck to sleep,they would be less gangs,less drug users,less teen pregnancies,less vandalism,better grades and all around healthier kids....WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCIETY TODAY??I-D-I-O-T-S....
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Spelling bee, 29 Jun 2011 @ 8:29pm

Re:
you forgot opportunities for misspelling.
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nasch (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 12:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
False dichotomy alert...
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nasch (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 12:09am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
A 2 year old can absolutely understand a harsh tone of voice even if they don't get all the words. And I've made my 10 year old cry from disciplining him, without touching him or raising my voice. I just don't see any reason why spanking is necessary. And if there's a way to effectively discipline your kids without hitting them... why would you choose to hit them? I just don't get it.
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nasch (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 12:23am

Re:
You're also very much entitled to your opinion. I hope you don't agree that the book promotes child abuse or racism, though.
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robert (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 3:37am

are you kidding? the book is obvious for adults, not to read to your child. Anyone who has a child at some point knows the frustration of trying to get a child to sleep after a long day. This book says what a parent is thinking after the countless times during an evening hearing "can i have some water", "i have to go potty", "i hear something in my closet", "i'm too hot", "i'm too cold", etc. Of course you wouldn't say "Go The F*** to Sleep" to your child but be honest, the thought has crossed your mind.
so lighten up and take it for what it is - a joke.
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explicit coward (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 5:08am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
And if there's a way to effectively discipline your kids without hitting them... why would you choose to hit them?

I have two kids myself. What works for one kid does not necessarily work for the other.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jun 2011 @ 5:50am

The problem is actually the Internet and the still, relative newness of the medium. Previously, only way for a person's opinion to reach a mass audience was through some form of formal publishing, which required vetting by usually more than even just one person. That meant that the written word for better or worse was thought to hold some special value - before it could get to you it was filtered, reviewed and critiqued. Now there is no filter, everything and anything regardless of value gets to everyone. But for some reason, people still seem to assign more value to the written word than to gossip in the washroom. Eventually, after time, people will come to see the sort of commentary discussed here as nothing more than gossip in a washroom and treat it with the disregard with which they would still treat that medium.
Don't get me wrong, I would not say the Internet is a per se bad thing. But you have to take the good with the bad, as they say - whomever they may be.
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spanking enthusiast, 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:08am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, it is the psychology. Anyone that does not think there is a pyschological effect should do an web search for corporal punishment fetish sites - check out especially enlgish school girl and boy caning sites. Now there's a psychological effect for you.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:11am

Re: Get in line
The problem of blaming a book is that someone else will blame another book. If I blame the Bible for all of the ills listed as caused by this book should it suffer the same fate as suggested for Go the F**k to Sleep?

There is much better evidence for blaming the Bible for these problems. The Bible's use excusing all these social ills easily documented
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coyrina, 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:16am

people, relax take it easy. Stop going off the deep end
about things like this book. Any one with common sense would not read this book to their children
Life too short for nonsense, and being uptight
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coyrina, 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:17am

people, relax take it easy. Stop going off the deep end
about things like this book. Any one with common sense would not read this book to their children
Life too short for nonsense, and being uptight
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Griff, 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:47am

Re:
Seems like you and your partner need to have a chat. You seem to have very different tastes.
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Heather, 30 Jun 2011 @ 8:44am

How's Your Axe?
Talk about axes to grind, how is your coming? Pretty sharp I'd say.
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Reverend Victoria, 30 Jun 2011 @ 9:07am

Once again someone who has only experienced life through the windows of a classroom telling the rest of us how to live. Watch out folks, soon enough they will all have us wearing helmets and clicking on our seat belts at the dinner table. I say to them "Shut The F*** Up & Go Back To Sleep!"
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dwg, 30 Jun 2011 @ 11:30am

Re: Re: Get in line
How about re-branding the Bible:

Go the F*** to Church?

Might just work!
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dwg, 30 Jun 2011 @ 11:34am

Re: Why no revival? Is there Still no revival?
i'm waiting for the /s/. waiting....

waiiiiting..........

oh, crap. it's not.
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dwg, 30 Jun 2011 @ 11:36am

Re:
Wait: YOUR 2-AND-A-HALF YEAR OLD KID BOUGHT THIS BOOK? And you're taking issue with the writer?

I may have misread, but you definitely miswrote.
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nasch (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 6:10pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Quite so, but I'm very skeptical of any claim that for some kids only corporal punishment is effective. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I would need to see some convincing evidence.
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nasch (profile), 30 Jun 2011 @ 9:33pm

Re: Re:
It could have been written better but A) how do you think a 2 year old could buy a book? And B) "he purchased the book... our daughter..." so clearly talking about two different people.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 1 Jul 2011 @ 2:18pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Timeouts, taking toys away for a few hours, etc doesn't work.

Generalizations about human beings don't work.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 1 Jul 2011 @ 2:19pm

Re: Re: Imagine if this were written about Jews, blacks, Muslims or Latinos...
No matter what, that isn't an attitude to take with a kid.

Which is what makes the book so funny, natch.
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