Editorial

I have to write an editorial as part of the selection process for the Greenland job. I don’t know if I’ve ever done that. Don’t think so. Will have to look it up.

The newer Simpsons aren’t so great. I don’t like the newer writers.

I was thinking about this the other day, and I want to clarify that I do not condone violence toward anyone, but especially not children. I don’t like that Homer strangles Bart. I don’t think it’s funny, I think it’s cringeworthy. But that’s pretty much the only thing I’d change about the show in general.

As I said in November or December, I grew up with the Simpsons, I’ve been watching it since I was 11. Things were slightly different when I was a kid, at least in my experience. I was spanked. Never hard, just enough to piss me off and make me want to misbehave even more.

But I guess he still strangles him. And I don’t get that. Again, I blame the writers, who, according to Derek, make Homer a one-note character with no capacity for growth.

They also made Barney start drinking again. I mean, okay, maybe that’s sadly realistic, as alcoholism is a disease that is managed, not cured. But I dunno, I liked sober Barney. Sober Barney filled me with hope. I like Barney either way, but I’m happier for him when the only thing he’s drinking is coffee.

Like family, I guess. You love them no matter what, but you hope they can manage their addictions and vices.

You love them unless they called you fat when you were 15, and then they called your grandmother, your mother and eventually you an effing d-bag (an ex-uncle).

My childhood was troubled, like many. All I can do is hope my children live happy lives and I don’t screw them up too badly with my hangups and mistakes. That’s what most parents hope for, I think.