# I have become addicted, against my will. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392 "2008-12-16T14:03:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/1 "2008-12-16T14:03:15Z")
To _Max and Ruby_ :eek: Every morning when I get home from work, I chat with my sister and her boyfriend until they have to leave for work. When they’ve gone, I sit at the kitchen table until I work up the motivation to shower (it’s the only place I’m allowed to sit until I shower after work). My youngest nephew always watches TV in the living room and I have a perfect view of the TV from my regular spot in the kitchen. He watches Spongebob every morning. When he leaves just after 8:00, he leaves the TV on because he knows I like Spongebob. Well, after that ends, Max and Ruby starts. I started watching it but I was just too damn lazy to change the channel or turn it off altogether. Now, I find that I’m actually **watching** it. I actually have an opinion about the characters. For instance, Ruby is an obnoxious twit. Max seems to be a moron but he always gets his comeuppance in the end. Where the heck are their parents? Bunny Scout leader is a tyrant. Good lord, I’m almost 29 years old. I shouldn’t be watching this. I can’t stop though. It’s nice to know that I do have some standards left. My laziness disappears as soon as Backyardigans starts. I still haven’t worked up the motivation to shower though. ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/2 "2008-12-16T14:51:01Z")
Ya gotta cut this shit out, pronto. First it’s _Spongebob_, then _Max and Ruby_. Next thing you know, you’re dabbling in _Backyardigans_. We all know that’s a gateway to _Muppets_. You can start making better choices in your life if you just have your nephew put the remote on the kitchen table on his way out the door. We’re here for you, no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/3 "2008-12-16T14:54:56Z")
I hate, hate, hate, hate Max and Ruby. It’s pretty much the only thing on Treehouse I won’t watch. Bleah. Ruby is such a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/4 "2008-12-16T14:55:37Z")
You got something against Muppets? Manamana… ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/5 "2008-12-16T14:57:14Z")
> [@the\_Lady](#): > > Ruby is such a bitch. Isn’t she though?! I laughed my ass off today when Max kicked her out of her own room and slammed the door in her face. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/6 "2008-12-16T15:29:12Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > For instance, Ruby is an obnoxious twit. > Max seems to be a moron but he always gets his comeuppance in the end. > Where the heck are their parents? > Bunny Scout leader is a tyrant. You know, you’ve got to cut Ruby some slack. She’s had to grow up very quickly, since she’s an 8 year old having to be the sole caregiver of her 3 year old brother. She feeds him, bathes him, puts him to bed, and babysits baby Huffington sometimes, all while being a bunny scout and getting only occasional visits from their grandmother. You know what really pisses me off? That Ruby got her knot-tying merit badge when Max was the one that tied the knots and she got all the credit. That sneaky bitch! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/7 "2008-12-16T15:39:47Z")
I fucking hate Max and Ruby. The end. ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/8 "2008-12-16T15:43:45Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > You got something against Muppets? Manamana… [Oh boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU), do I ever. They make me weep (with laughter). ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/9 "2008-12-16T15:45:50Z")
> [@criminey.jicket](#): > > [Oh boy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU), do I ever. They make me weep (with laughter). Oh my. Wow. I’ve never seen that one before. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/10 "2008-12-16T16:05:37Z")
God, I hate that fuzzy bitch so much. “Oh dear, we _have_ to figure out why you have that string tied around your finger.” Here’s a hint: No you fucking well don’t. Max knows why it’s there, so maybe the world will keep revolving if you just let him play with his fucking yo-yo, huh? Hey Ruby, how about you spend five minutes a day up in your _own_ business, instead of trying to live someone else’s life, huh? You could be spending all day working on your [del]Hitler Youth[/del] Bunny Scout badges, but no, you’ve got to kiss grandma’s ass, make sure the neighbohood isn’t too loud so Baby Huffington can nap, annoy the piss out of anyone who enters the candy shop, and of course make sure that Max doesn’t develop any ability to think independently. Die already, Hassenpffer. > [@congodwarf](#): > > Oh my. Wow. I’ve never seen that one before. Wow. Don’t you mean “Oh boy. Oh boy.” ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/11 "2008-12-16T16:08:01Z")
I don’t like _Max and Ruby_ (well, mostly Ruby - she’s pushy and her voice rankles) which is made more annoying by the fact that the small people in my house love them. I’ve never been able to think of the show the same, though, since my husband pointed out how much Max looks like the kid from _Two and a Half Men_. It’s uncanny. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/12 "2008-12-16T16:17:13Z")
I vastly prefer Backyardigans to Max and Ruby. When I took Velociraptor to see them (Backyardigans) live it was as much for me as for him, and at the video store when I see a new dvd of theirs with episodes I haven’t seen I like to rent them… for me. I agree though, Ruby is an obnoxious twit. ---
**Author:** ![lunar\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lunar\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunar_elf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/13 "2008-12-16T16:21:07Z")
We started watching this as a way to calm our daughter down before bedtime. We always kept wondering where the parents were. We tell everyone about this show, and we make up our own backstory to it as well as adlib along with it. If Ruby would stop and take a few minutes to pay attention to her brother it’d save a lot of running around. I think the first episode we saw was the sherbet one, and I’m thinking ‘you’ve got to be kidding right?’ Been trying to figure out where our 2yo picks up, ‘perfect’ and ‘hmm’ (finger on face) from - turns out it’s the show! BTW: [Yo Gabba Gabba](http://www.yogabbagabba.com/#) beats out all other shows! Been watching this since it first came on and everyone thought we were crazy, now it’s like the coolest show to watch. The toys and clothes are everywhere now. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/14 "2008-12-16T17:25:44Z")
I pretty much agree with what everyone else has said about Ruby. She’s the sister from Hell, and I’d love to see her Grandma put a whoopin’ to her ass once in a while. Max is likeable; he’s too young to be held accountable fr most of the mischief he gets into, and if he was supervised I’m sure he’d be a completely awesome little bunny. Backyardigans are made of win; I watch them even without my kids at home. It always amuses me how the music style is completely at odds with the theme of the show. (For instance, you’d think the cowboy episode would have country and western songs, but in fact it’s polka. Genius.) Yo! Gabba Gabba is one of my faves. Most of the show is like an acid trip, which is what it’s like being a small child, with all the bright colors and crazy looking monsters. But us big people are entertained too, listening to great bands like the Aquabats and Shiny Toy Guns (renamed “the Shinys” to be more kid friendly) and watching Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo fame draw goofy cartoon pictures. Pls the show actually teaches about sharing and conquering fears, so there’s educational value too. PS- My Bubster is getting a dancing Brobee or Christmas; I can hardly wait to see his face when he opens it!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/15 "2008-12-16T19:08:50Z")
Ruby is getting a bad rap. She has to raise her brother all by herself, despite her only being a few years older. She is patient and never loses her temper. She can be very annoying but she is trying to make the best of a bad situation. Backyardigans is a great show, the music is good and inventive and best of all it isn’t repetitive like all the other kids shows. Yo Gabba Gabba is just plain weird. Didn’t the 70’s teach us that drugs and producing kids shows don’t mix? ---
**Author:** ![CAT\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@CAT\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAT_1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/16 "2008-12-16T19:17:01Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Ruby is getting a bad rap. She has to raise her brother all by herself, despite her only being a few years older. She is patient and never loses her temper. She can be very annoying but she is trying to make the best of a bad situation. > Backyardigans is a great show, the music is good and inventive and best of all it isn’t repetitive like all the other kids shows. > Yo Gabba Gabba is just plain weird. Didn’t the 70’s teach us that drugs and producing kids shows don’t mix? I agree with everything you said. And…have you ever noticed that the one Yo Gabba Gabba character, [muno with one eye,](http://www.flickr.com/photos/artoyzflickr/2049602875/) looks suspisiously like a ribbed-for-your-pleasure dildo? eeeek What is up with that? I sing along to the Backyardigans all the time…“It’s racing day it’s racing day, no it’s not sausage casing day…” Love it! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/17 "2008-12-16T20:01:25Z")
Wow. Max and Ruby. I would off myself. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/18 "2008-12-16T20:13:34Z")
I like that show, mostly the art style. The setup is pretty bizarre though, a young girl being sole caregiver for her little brother. It’s like a Grimm’s Fairy Tale. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/19 "2008-12-16T20:22:51Z")
My husband’s comment on the show’s “theme song” — “Who knew I too could be a song writer?” ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392/20 "2008-12-16T22:46:56Z")
I’ve flipped through the channels and landed on Max & Ruby more than once. I watch it sometimes when I’m bored, or keep it as background noise, and I’m 25, so I’m in the same boat. My favorite times are when Ruby stops Max from doing something, and his eyes narrow towards her while his ears flatten back. It’s a classic “…Bitch.” look from him. I can just hear it in his head. It makes me giggle sometimes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-become-addicted-against-my-will/477392.md?page=2)