A "Pimp" costume for Grade 4? Really??

[disfan07]

Pee Wee Herman is not appropriate for young children. His old show, at least, had double entendre all over the place. He was later caught exposing himself for purpose of self gratification and arrested. he's experiencing a reprise but his show is on Broadway and not on TV for children. Inappropriate, yes.

One of my 3 year olds at preschool knew exaclty who pee wee herman was and she loved the show. She was one of the sweetest kids ever and the parents were really nice and very very good parents. Everytime she would repeat something from the show we would all just laugh. We thought it was really funny.

 

[tvguy]

REALLY??? Do you know what a pimp is? The "boss" of a prostitute. Somebody who makes a living selling sex. You really think that this is an appropriate costume for a fourth grader, who is about 9 years old???

Good grief...no wonder the world is falling apart....

My son wore one to school in high school, but he called it a "Gangsta" costume. A CATHOLIC High School.

He took the costume to the nun who was the Vice Principal of Students and the Principal the day before and said, "this is what I want to wear tomorrow, it's a Gangsta costume, some might think it's something else. My parents want me to get your approval, or I won't wear it".
They had not problem with it.
Of course, the school is in the ghetto, surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, and drug addicts. The school had a chance to move to a "better" neighborhood and chose to stay there, because THOSE are the people that needed the support of the school and the church.

 

[marcyinPA]

My son wore one to school in high school, but he called it a "Gangsta" costume. A CATHOLIC High School.

He took the costume to the nun who was the Vice Principal of Students and the Principal the day before and said, "this is what I want to wear tomorrow, it's a Gangsta costume, some might think it's something else. My parents want me to get your approval, or I won't wear it".
They had not problem with it.
Of course, the school is in the ghetto, surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, and drug addicts. The school had a chance to move to a "better" neighborhood and chose to stay there, because THOSE are the people that needed the support of the school and the church.

While I don't find the costume particularly appropriate for a high school kid either, the OP was talking about a fourth grader wearing it. Fourth graders are about 9/10 years old. Sorry, but that is a complete lapse in judgment by the parents as far as I'm concerned.

I have a 15 year old son, and there is no way that I'd let him dress up like a pimp. It sends a really disturbing message...that in some way, you think it is cool, or funny, to sell sex. Sorry, but not cool, and not funny.

As far as the school not moving from the ghetto, I applaud them. I totally believe in helping people who have lost their way. Unfortunately, dressing as one of them for Halloween would be a bit insulting towards them, don't you think?

 

[DWGal210]

I refused a pimp costume for my son last year. He was 14. I don't think glorifying selling women/men/boys for sex is appropriate for any child.

I completely agree. Nothing "cute" at all about that costume.

 

[cm8]

My son's class had a Halloween party on Friday. He was telling me about some of the costumes and then he started describing his one friend wearing a fedora, with gold chains and carrying a picture of a "scantily clad" woman. I asked "What was he supposed to be??" My son said "A pimp".

My son has no idea what a pimp is...sorry but at his age I have never felt the need to teach him about prostitution, lol.

Is it just me or that wildly inappropriate? This is the same kid that attended the Grade 3 party as Jason from the Friday the 13th movies (he couldn't do that this year because the new rule is "no gore"...probably enacted because of him and his costume with all the blood on it)...I wonder what goes on in some parents heads (and households) really. Or am I the one out to lunch? I tend to over protective so its a possibility.

But geez.

 

[tvguy]

As far as the school not moving from the ghetto, I applaud them. I totally believe in helping people who have lost their way. Unfortunately, dressing as one of them for Halloween would be a bit insulting towards them, don't you think?

Well, he has been out of high school for 6 years now, and wore that very costume today to a kids Halloween party he volunteered at in that neighborhood.
An 8 year old came to the party as a drive by shooting victim, so no, I don't think my son's costume was insulting.
There is no man in the lives of many of these kids, the community is just grateful to have a 23 year old man willing to tutor and interact with the kids and try to keep them on track. The reality is, what these kids see everyday on the streets is so off the hook, that seeing someone in a pimp costume isn't even on the radar of being insulting.

 

[shortbun]

Actually, Paul Reubens was arrested not Pee Wee Herman. It's just a character. Children would not know of the "double entendres" in the show. Not an inappropriate costume to me.

Really? Well, I think Paul Reubens has trouble distinguishing between himself and his Pee Wee Herman character. As for the children not understanding the double entendre...the fact that it was there and quite bawdy, was disturbing to me. Anyway, I feel Reubens is mentally unstable(why in public?) and the Pee Wee character a manifestation of that. Threrefore, not a child appropriate character.

 

[marcyinPA]

Well, he has been out of high school for 6 years now, and wore that very costume today to a kids Halloween party he volunteered at in that neighborhood.
An 8 year old came to the party as a drive by shooting victim, so no, I don't think my son's costume was insulting.
There is no man in the lives of many of these kids, the community is just grateful to have a 23 year old man willing to tutor and interact with the kids and try to keep them on track. The reality is, what these kids see everyday on the streets is so off the hook, that seeing someone in a pimp costume isn't even on the radar of being insulting.

Rethinking...and insulting wasn't the right word. Maybe "condoning" would be better in this situation. If the neighborhood is full of pimps and drug dealers, maybe the costume choice of a volunteer that kids look up to should convey a better role model. Just my two cents.

 

[Acklander]

Is it just me or that wildly inappropriate? This is the same kid that attended the Grade 3 party as Jason from the Friday the 13th movies (he couldn't do that this year because the new rule is "no gore"...probably enacted because of him and his costume with all the blood on it

Maybe they should have left it as gore allowed.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Really? Well, I think Paul Reubens has trouble distinguishing between himself and his Pee Wee Herman character. As for the children not understanding the double entendre...the fact that it was there and quite bawdy, was disturbing to me. Anyway, I feel Reubens is mentally unstable(why in public?) and the Pee Wee character a manifestation of that. Threrefore, not a child appropriate character.

Mentally unstable? Really? I understand what he did was illegal and inappropriate, but for goodness sake, he was watching a Rated X movie while exposing himself, it's not like he was watching a children's movie in a theater full of children. I've never understood the purpose of showing Rated X movies in a public theater, we all know what men like to do while they watch those

I think Paul Reubens actually does a fine job distinguishing himself from Pee Wee Herman. As a child I loved Pee Wee's Playhouse and the two Pee Wee movies he did and my parents never had any problems with me watching them.

Would you say that a child dressing as Woody from Toy Story was inappropriate had Tom Hanks been caught doing the same thing?

 

[Mama-san]

Friday I went to pick my GM up from a rehab hospital, and many of the staff there were dressed for Halloween, including an older man clearly dressed as a pimp (light blue suit, chains, large leopard trimmed hat). They all lined up to applaud my GM as she was leaving the facility. I felt uncomfortable with a pimp and my 85 y.o. GM in the same place!

P.S. I love Pee Wee Herman!!!! I think our secret word of the day should be "ho".

 

[luvmy3]

Mentally unstable? Really? I understand what he did was illegal and inappropriate, but for goodness sake's, he was watching a Rated X movie while exposing himself, it's not like he was watching a children's movie in a theater full of children. I've never understood the purpose of showing Rated X movies in a public theater, we all know what men like to do while they watch those

I think Paul Reubens actually does a fine job distinguishing himself from Pee Wee Herman. As a child I loved Pee Wee's Playhouse and the two Pee Wee movies he did and my parents never had any problems with me watching them.

Would you say that a child dressing as Woody from Toy Story was inappropriate had Tom Hanks been caught doing the same thing?

Not to mention his arrest happened in 1991, 20 years ago.

 

[disneyquestions]

I loved Pee Wees Playhouse, and all the movies. Did you guys know that Benicio Del Toro was the WolfBoy in the circus Pee Wee?

 

[kathie859]

REALLY??? Do you know what a pimp is? The "boss" of a prostitute. Somebody who makes a living selling sex. You really think that this is an appropriate costume for a fourth grader, who is about 9 years old???

Good grief...no wonder the world is falling apart....

ITA

 

[ICF]

Pimp costume equals really bad idea.....especailly for a 9 or 10 year old.

Pee Wee Heramn costume equals really NO big deal.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

It is unfortunate that some parents do not know what is an appropropriate costume and what is in appropriate one. In this day and age kids are exposed to too much too soon.

 

[Magpie]

My son's class had a Halloween party on Friday. He was telling me about some of the costumes and then he started describing his one friend wearing a fedora, with gold chains and carrying a picture of a "scantily clad" woman. I asked "What was he supposed to be??" My son said "A pimp".

My son has no idea what a pimp is...sorry but at his age I have never felt the need to teach him about prostitution, lol.

Is it just me or that wildly inappropriate? This is the same kid that attended the Grade 3 party as Jason from the Friday the 13th movies (he couldn't do that this year because the new rule is "no gore"...probably enacted because of him and his costume with all the blood on it)...I wonder what goes on in some parents heads (and households) really. Or am I the one out to lunch? I tend to over protective so its a possibility.

But geez.

I'm guessing your son is nine or ten? By that age my children knew the basics of human reproduction, and were heading into early puberty. If this had come up I would have explained simply that, "Some women sell sex for money, and it's called prostitution. Some men take their money in return for "protection" and they're called pimps. Sometimes they beat up the woman and force them to work as prostitutes even when they don't want to. It's an unfortunate situation all around, and illegal too."

If you haven't started discussing some of these issues with your son yet, you need to start soon. It's only gets harder to talk to our kids, the older they get.

It's the kids who have NO idea what a "pimp" is, who end up thinking it's cool.

 

[Mermaid02]

Mentally unstable? Really? I understand what he did was illegal and inappropriate, but for goodness sake, he was watching a Rated X movie while exposing himself, it's not like he was watching a children's movie in a theater full of children. I've never understood the purpose of showing Rated X movies in a public theater, we all know what men like to do while they watch those

I think Paul Reubens actually does a fine job distinguishing himself from Pee Wee Herman. As a child I loved Pee Wee's Playhouse and the two Pee Wee movies he did and my parents never had any problems with me watching them.

Would you say that a child dressing as Woody from Toy Story was inappropriate had Tom Hanks been caught doing the same thing?

I agree- loved Pee Wee's Big Adventure!

Not to mention his arrest happened in 1991, 20 years ago.

Right!

I loved Pee Wees Playhouse, and all the movies. Did you guys know that Benicio Del Toro was the WolfBoy in the circus Pee Wee?

Laurence Fishburne was Cowboy Curtis!

 

[Teacher03]

Pimp costume equals really bad idea.....especailly for a 9 or 10 year old.

Pee Wee Heramn costume equals really NO big deal.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Just saw a 5 or 6 year old at Walmart dressed as a pimp! Thought of this thread.