Common Sense Media review-2 stars! - Never Forgotten: a Foster's Home Community

Another Castle · 10-26-2009, 03:45 AM

Common Sense Media is an American website aimed at parents, which reviews tv shows, and gives advice as to what age it is suitable for. I've not seen anybody else talk about it (and I mean on any internet forum), but it is a big website and I assume it is well known. I used to think it was nagging and bigoted, but it isn't at all-it's quite good.

However, I found a review of Fosters on it the other day- see for yourself s:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-r...Imaginary.html

Now, not everybody is going to like it, and this lady is entitled to her opinion, but I thought the review was a little harsh. She suggests that mischief is encouraged, criticizes the potty humor, and she feels the characters just shout and cause chaos instead of following and imaginative story.

What do you think?

taranchula · 10-26-2009, 07:45 AM

These kind of "media watch dog" reviews are never to be taken seriously for a number of reasons.

1. A good chunk of the time a lot of these so called reviewers never even watch a full episode or multiple episodes of the show they are supposed to be reviewing before passing judgment.

2. These reviews are merely just the opinion of the reviewer or the group they represent and should never to taken as the gospel truth as what one should and should not watch. That decision is ultimately left up to the individual.

3. And lastly these reviews are always almost written using too much hyperbole in an attempt to make the subject matter far worse then really is.

So really the best thing to do is let them have their say, and then politely disagree with it or ignore it and then go back to watching what you want to watch.

Another Castle · 10-26-2009, 10:31 AM

I can imagine the lady may have been in a cynical mood when she watched, and it was written back in 2005, so I should think she has watched only a minority of episodes.

Also, the site actively encourages parents and children to write their own reviews, and the vast majority of them have been overwhelming positive.

The site has good intentions, but I can imagine it is their attitude that "TV is BAAADDDD!!!!". In most of their reviews for cartoons aimed at boys, it always recommended they should watch a show called Time Warp Trio, which I have nothing against, but they were a little obsessed with it as it is supposedly 'educational'.

I don't know why she mentions the potty humor, it's not as if it is something so strongly associated with Fosters.

Cassini90125 · 10-26-2009, 12:55 PM

I pay no attention to groups like this. They're biased and agenda-driven, the reviews tend to be inaccurate and uninformed, and they have nothing to offer. Potty humor? The reviewer should go watch Billy And Mandy or MY Gym Partner's A Monkey, that's where she'll find potty humor. And why must a program be "educational"? Can't a cartoon just be fun? These people are a bunch of useless busybodies and should be ignored.

Another Castle · 10-26-2009, 01:02 PM

Whiny angry-mob sign-clutching Marge Simpson types to get wound up about nothing?

Lynnie · 10-26-2009, 01:24 PM

We Foster's fans keep finding this review and sharing our frustrations over it. Including me two years ago. And believe it or not, there's already a thread about it here. I remember I originally posted about it in the "What Ticks You Off" thread, and then was pointed to the original thread. That review made me so mad. I'm sure this review has hurt our show's ratings in some way or form, due to all the well meaning parents who read it and didn't want to give it a chance. And yes, that makes me very mad.

I'm one of the posters who gave it a great review, by the way.

I couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

Another Castle · 10-26-2009, 01:47 PM

I've only started on the second page of your link but I cannot stop smirking!

I always thought the review was brief, and she only concentrated on the weak episodes (Imposters and Europe) but only now do I realize how poorly researched it is.

We have people like that in the UK. They read a newspaper called the Daily Mail (which you may have heard of as Harry Potter's bigoted uncle reads it)

It is clear the review is widely unpopular, so any administrators have my full permission to close this thread

KazooBloo · 12-06-2016, 11:22 PM

Her opinion is hogwash. I give her review two stars.

10-26-2009, 03:45 AM	#1
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	Common Sense Media review-2 stars! Common Sense Media is an American website aimed at parents, which reviews tv shows, and gives advice as to what age it is suitable for. I've not seen anybody else talk about it (and I mean on any internet forum), but it is a big website and I assume it is well known. I used to think it was nagging and bigoted, but it isn't at all-it's quite good. However, I found a review of Fosters on it the other day- see for yourself s: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-r...Imaginary.html Now, not everybody is going to like it, and this lady is entitled to her opinion, but I thought the review was a little harsh. She suggests that mischief is encouraged, criticizes the potty humor, and she feels the characters just shout and cause chaos instead of following and imaginative story. What do you think?

10-26-2009, 07:45 AM	#2
taranchula Agent: Deep Bloo You guys have your red headed cartoon crushes and I have mine! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Baconland...er I mean Canada. Posts: 2,772	These kind of "media watch dog" reviews are never to be taken seriously for a number of reasons. 1. A good chunk of the time a lot of these so called reviewers never even watch a full episode or multiple episodes of the show they are supposed to be reviewing before passing judgment. 2. These reviews are merely just the opinion of the reviewer or the group they represent and should never to taken as the gospel truth as what one should and should not watch. That decision is ultimately left up to the individual. 3. And lastly these reviews are always almost written using too much hyperbole in an attempt to make the subject matter far worse then really is. So really the best thing to do is let them have their say, and then politely disagree with it or ignore it and then go back to watching what you want to watch. __________________ Founder, Owner, President, Chairman, CEO, CFO and Charter member of the "Never Leave Steve" Fan Club! ~Founded: May 21 2006~ Last edited by taranchula; 10-26-2009 at 07:46 AM.

10-26-2009, 12:55 PM	#4
Cassini90125 The Postmaster Love gives you courage that's stronger than anything! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Saturn Posts: 6,652	I pay no attention to groups like this. They're biased and agenda-driven, the reviews tend to be inaccurate and uninformed, and they have nothing to offer. Potty humor? The reviewer should go watch Billy And Mandy or MY Gym Partner's A Monkey, that's where she'll find potty humor. And why must a program be "educational"? Can't a cartoon just be fun? These people are a bunch of useless busybodies and should be ignored. __________________ "Frankie! That weird kid is using a flower pot for a cup!" Sailor Moon. Best Anime EVER.

10-26-2009, 01:24 PM	#6
Lynnie Lady of Brightwood Dream maker, wherever you're going I'm going your way Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Emerald City, in the Evergreen State, where everything is GREEN Posts: 2,419	We Foster's fans keep finding this review and sharing our frustrations over it. Including me two years ago. And believe it or not, there's already a thread about it here. I remember I originally posted about it in the "What Ticks You Off" thread, and then was pointed to the original thread. That review made me so mad. I'm sure this review has hurt our show's ratings in some way or form, due to all the well meaning parents who read it and didn't want to give it a chance. And yes, that makes me very mad. I'm one of the posters who gave it a great review, by the way. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. __________________ MySpace-Facebook-LiveJournal-Y!Profile-Dragon Cave

10-26-2009, 01:47 PM	#7
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	I've only started on the second page of your link but I cannot stop smirking! I always thought the review was brief, and she only concentrated on the weak episodes (Imposters and Europe) but only now do I realize how poorly researched it is. We have people like that in the UK. They read a newspaper called the Daily Mail (which you may have heard of as Harry Potter's bigoted uncle reads it) It is clear the review is widely unpopular, so any administrators have my full permission to close this thread Last edited by Another Castle; 10-26-2009 at 02:21 PM. Reason: an extra sentence

10-26-2009, 10:31 AM	#3
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	I can imagine the lady may have been in a cynical mood when she watched, and it was written back in 2005, so I should think she has watched only a minority of episodes. Also, the site actively encourages parents and children to write their own reviews, and the vast majority of them have been overwhelming positive. The site has good intentions, but I can imagine it is their attitude that "TV is BAAADDDD!!!!". In most of their reviews for cartoons aimed at boys, it always recommended they should watch a show called Time Warp Trio, which I have nothing against, but they were a little obsessed with it as it is supposedly 'educational'. I don't know why she mentions the potty humor, it's not as if it is something so strongly associated with Fosters.

10-26-2009, 01:02 PM	#5
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	Whiny angry-mob sign-clutching Marge Simpson types to get wound up about nothing?

12-06-2016, 11:22 PM	#8
KazooBloo Foster's Legend Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: 1123 Wilson Way Posts: 1,083	Her opinion is hogwash. I give her review two stars. __________________