Monday, December 06, 2010

Cartoon Profile Pictures

Those of our readers on Facebook may have noticed many of their friends changing their profile pictures to cartoon characters this past week. I will admit I did not understand why for a few days, until I saw this status heading:

Change your FB profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal? To not see a human face on FB until Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse!


Well, how could I not participate in that? So I reached back to my early days and thought of a short-lived cartoon (that might have already have been old, I really don't know) called Top Cat.


Which had featured a cat (of course) with humor and attitude. And a ridiculously catchy theme song, to boot.

So tell us. Did you change your profile picture to a cartoon? And if so, what cartoon character did you choose?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
www.tinaferraro.com

14 comments:

TinaFerraro said...

Update: I found out that Top Cat ran only one season--30 episodes--in the early '60's, and all of us who seem to remember it, do so from re-runs! Perhaps it was one of those shows that "took off" after it was canceled?

Cara King said...

I admit I didn't change my pic, because I couldn't figure out how it would stop child abuse. Maybe that makes me a grinch, I don't know! But it seems to me that pretty much everyone already agrees that child abuse is bad, and the few who don't won't change their minds if they see cartoon characters.

But it's really fun to see all the characters! Like a whimsical tour of the past... Lots of fun.

Cara

TinaFerraro said...

Cara, I completely agree with what you're saying. I was really just going with the overall sentiment of awareness, and I enjoyed seeing the characters.

Jessica E. Subject said...

I did change mine on Facebook for the sentiment and awareness as well. I used a cartoon from my childhood: Belle and Sebastien.

nymfaux said...

I'm all for supporting awareness...and for any excuse to relive some of the most amazing cartoons ever!--I went with Snarf from the Thundercats.

@Tina--you totally need to check out the Boomerang channel--it's kind of like old-school Cartoon Network--I've noticed them airing episodes of Top Cat (usually when I've been looking for the Smurfs) ;)

Steph said...

I was going to change my profile picture, but I didn't see how it would help stop child abuse. I mentioned this to my friend at school today, and she said that she looked at the official website that started this and it made much more sense than the original Facebook message. She tried explaining it, but she's going to send me the link, so I think I'm going to feel pretty guilty for not changing my profile picture. Oh, well. There will probably be another chance eventually.

Wendy Toliver said...

Top Cat is cute, though I do have to admit I never knew of him until now!
I chose Maid Marian from Disney's Robin Hood b/c it was my favorite cartoon growing up and because she's so cool.

TinaFerraro said...

Belle and Sebastien! Snarf! Maid Marion! Great choices!

Nymfaux, thanks for the heads-up on that cartoon station!

Steph, as Cara and I were saying earlier, there were definitely some questions raised about the overall effectiveness of this Facebook campaign. It was optional and--as your friend pointed out--perhaps not well enough presented. Don't you dare feel guilty for not participating, okay? :)

Jessica said...

I am totally rocking out on my profile as Jem from Jem and the Holograms! A secret rock star with pink hair...the original Hannah Montana...and my Halloween costume when I was seven (complete with pink hair!). Awesomeness.

TinaFerraro said...

Definitely awesomeness, Jessica--thanks!

erica and christy said...

I'm a preschool teacher and have worked (and do work) with families who have children who have been abused - by them or by others.

Child abuse can be such a horrible, horrible secret for a family. The abused live with this stigma their entire lives, many developing ongoing mental health problems.

Anything that raises awareness of this issue is worth it to join. It doesn't cost anything (unless you choose to donate to one of the many worthy charities - many people did that this week, too, as a result of this awareness). Maybe it will make someone think "I should report that" and they will and a child will be saved.

And I'm the elephant from Aladdin. Because an elephant could totally kick some child abuser butt.
erica

Marley Gibson said...

I was going to do it, but then I heard that it was a pedophile group making the request, so I had to Google and Snopes that and found out THAT wasn't true either, so...I guess I'll make a change. I was thinking maybe Eeyore or some really obscure one from the 70s or something. LOL!!

Rena Jones said...

I changed mine to Felix the Cat. I also blogged about it the other day. There's been a lot of controversy around this one. I didn't believe the pedo story, but you never know with these things anymore.

I read this today: "Groups like the NSPCC in the UK, while not responsible for the campaign, have welcomed the attention it's drawn to the cause of protecting children." If anything, maybe it made people more aware and willing to donate to a legitimate charity when asked upon.

I never got the impression from the FB page that it was to "stop child abuse", since that's utterly impossible. But if it makes people think twice, then in my mind, it's good.

TinaFerraro said...

Thanks, Erica, and love your reason for the elephant from Aladdin!

Marley, Eeyore would be great...

Rena, thank you for your thoughts...yeah, my understanding was it was about bringing awareness front and center. And love Felix the Cat!