“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
—G.K. Chesterton paraphrased by Neil Gaiman, “The Red Angel”, Tremendous Trifles (1909)
Love this
This reminds me of my grandpa, who gave me my first pocket knife when I must have been 6 or 7. I was really into making bows and arrows out of twigs and branches I’d found in the yard, and he gave it to me simply as a tool for a hobby I’d formed. Everyone freaked out at first, but he taught me how to use a knife safely and I don’t think I ever cut myself (as a child anyways. I’m a reckless adult).
If we stop teaching kids to be afraid of stuff because of what might happen, and instead teach them about how things work and the consequences of misusing them, I think we’d have less people afraid to use the stove in their 20s.
Your comment reminded me of this concept: Adventure playgrounds
Hell yeah! I would’ve loved one of these as a kid. I was always the one climbing on the outside of the jungle gym getting yelled at by school supervisors.
If I fall, I’ll know I can’t pull off that maneuver (yet), and I won’t do it again (yet), and you won’t have to yell at me! So just let me fall!
where’s the American version where instead of a sword it’s an AR-15 and instead of father christmas it’s the actual father
Where’s father christmas? All I see is death.
oh yeah i forgot the jolly red and white attire is famously linked to death
I mean, since this is Death cosplaying as the Hogfather to keep the Hogswatchnight magic alive, technically you’re both correct.
Sorry, I was just making a pun, I should have written Death. It’s the character Death from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, he’s helping out as the Hogfather.
yeah you were right. i was trying to be funny.
How is this wholesome?
Sad - a bit.
Encouraging - probably.
Tragic - definitely.
But wholesome…?
I think the sentiment about being brave in the face of danger is a cool message, but
Knight stories are the Medieval Europe equivalent to Copaganda and idolizing political leaders.