# Polish government to probe if Teletubbies are gay **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800 "2007-05-28T17:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/21 "2007-05-28T19:55:55Z")
[QUOTE=Ensign Edison] It’s stupid to get worked up over, but until I actually saw Teletubbies I never realized…Tinky Winky really is kind of gay. [/QUOTE] Maybe so. But if I were a parent I would say that’s a whole lot less disturbing than the very concept of a show that encourages viewers ages 2 to 4 to identify with characters who are in essence ambulatory TV sets. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/22 "2007-05-28T20:24:27Z")
While I was no fan of Mr. Falwell, I never was able understand the big stink he raised. The first time I heard that Tinky Winkle was gay (or some other Teletubbie character) was in an issue of TV Guide. About two-three weeks later, Jerry makes his pronouncement and the there’s a big stink that this is just another bigoted, homophobic statement on Jerry’s part. I kept wondering when someone would bring up the reference to TV Guide (or the original source anyway), and at least give some context that he wasn’t saying this in a total vacuum. I don’t recall any forthcoming. Years later I heard that the person who made the original boast was only “joking.” 😕 (Sorry, I have no cite–I just remembered reading it somewhere). To me, this is just another cynical attempt at publicity for all concerned parties. ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/23 "2007-05-28T21:18:49Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Maybe so. But if I were a parent I would say that’s a whole lot less disturbing than the very concept of a show that encourages viewers ages 2 to 4 to identify with characters who are in essence ambulatory TV sets. [/QUOTE] Only if you think TV is bad. Also, they do a lot of stuff besides watch their tummy-tubes – they sing and play and have various adventures. When they do watch the tube it’s quiet little films of children doing various things, very similar to what Seseme Street’s shown for the last 25 years or whatever. The fact that they can watch movies on their stomachs is really not what’s noticeable or important about them to little kids. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/24 "2007-05-29T00:11:13Z")
I never really understood this whole argument. I haven’t seen much of Teletubbies, but from what I gather, they act very childish. It seems natural to assume that whatever they might be, they’re at least children of their species. It’s ridiculous to assign any sort of sexual orientation to children, regardless of whether these things ever reach a point of sexual maturity in their lives. Maybe I’m over-thinking this…but at least not as much as Falwell and others have. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/25 "2007-05-29T00:18:31Z")
In Poland, government probes YOU! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/26 "2007-05-29T00:19:54Z")
So, NOW can we forget Poland? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/27 "2007-05-29T00:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=Ensign Edison] The fact that they can watch movies on their stomachs is really not what’s noticeable or important about them to little kids. [/QUOTE] Maybe not, but it does help train them to stare intently at your beltline and wait for something interesting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/28 "2007-05-29T00:37:19Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] No subject is gayer than Paul Lynde. [/QUOTE] Richard Simmons. And possibly Liberace. It’s a narrow margin, really, but that’s a thread for GD. OH! And Fred Phelps. C’mon, you know underneath that self-loathing mass of bubbling hate is a gloriously flaming feather-boa tranny waiting to molt its wizened skin. > [@Ensign Edison](#): > > It’s stupid to get worked up over, but until I actually saw Teletubbies I never realized…Tinky Winky really is kind of gay. When you’re sporting a name like “Tinky Winky” your career options are pretty limited: Gay or pedophile, take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/29 "2007-05-29T00:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] No subject is gayer than Paul Lynde. [/QUOTE] [I beg to differ.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=422556) ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/30 "2007-05-29T03:50:40Z")
If they enjoy the probing is that proof that they are gay? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/31 "2007-05-29T04:38:03Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] If they enjoy the probing is that proof that they are gay? [/QUOTE] If they enjoy being probed by a Pole, they’re flaming. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/32 "2007-05-29T13:15:16Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] No, I’m not making this up. You thought this meme would end with Falwell? [/QUOTE] It didn’t begin with Falwell, so why should it end with him? [http://cobrand.gfn.com/storyArticle.cfm?storyRecordID=1638](http://cobrand.gfn.com/storyArticle.cfm?storyRecordID=1638) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/33 "2007-05-29T13:29:36Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] If they enjoy the probing is that proof that they are gay? [/QUOTE] But if they don’t enjoy it, that doesn’t mean they’re straight. A Spanish TV show with Muppet-like puppets raised quite a ruckus a couple years back when, about the same time the law allowing same-sex marriage was approved, they had a same-sex wedding. One of the things people were saying is that there had been no hint of any kind of “relationship” stuff among the characters until that point; nobody was married, nobody was dating, no kisses, nothing that wouldn’t be appropiate and normal behavior among children… and then wham bam, a gay wedding? Talk about overkill. Methinks the Lunis don’t have much of a future in Poland, at least not that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/34 "2007-05-29T14:26:36Z")
Tinky Winky is absolutely gay, but thats part of the whole idea of Teletubbies- they are all different, and still love each other very much. One of the points of the show is tolerance and loving people different from you. For the record, Dipsy is darker skinned than the other three, La-la is German I believe, Po is a baby, and Tinky Winky is flaming- he carries a red purse (I mean magic bag that looks and snaps like a womans purse). All four different, yet all four best friends- a good message for any kids show. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/35 "2007-05-29T14:55:24Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Po is a baby [/QUOTE] Po is also Chinese. She mutters to herself in Chinese when she rides her scooter, and sometimes counts in Chinese as well? > [@Wee Bairn](#): > > La-la is German This is just unusual. Where’s the evidence- the lederhosen, the beer stein, the undying devotion to the Fuehrer? > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Maybe so, but this is silly even by Bill Donohue’s standards. Of course it is- the Teletubbies are obviously Catholic. “Po” is very close to “Pope,” and the Teletubbies enjoy eating tubby toast and pink tubby custard, which is obviously the Teletubby equivalent of the Eucharist. Although Donohue would probably find that offensive. Forgive the Teletubbies- they know not what they do. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/36 "2007-05-29T15:02:18Z")
Maybe La-la isn’t German, but she definitely has an accent different from the others- maybe Albanian? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/37 "2007-05-29T16:19:06Z")
I’ll save Poland 30 million dollars. YES, THEY ARE GAY. Please send Polish government subsidy to: fluiddruid c/o the SDMB Moderator Town, IL 08902 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/38 "2007-05-29T17:40:27Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] (A boy with a purse? Now I’ve seen everything!) [/QUOTE] I have a nephew who carried a purse in high school to protest the school’s newly established zero tolerance rule toward backpacks. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/39 "2007-05-29T18:40:36Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] You thought this meme would end with Falwell? [/QUOTE] [Speaking of whom…](http://www.derfcity.com/n/newtoon.html) (link is good until 4 June or so) ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800/40 "2007-05-29T23:03:05Z")
I just happened to run across the teletubbies when I was flipping through channels and you know what? They’re all gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. They are also exceedingly mind-numbingly stupor-inducingly dull. I’m sure I lost some IQ points. I don’t have any problem with them being gay but I really don’t think it’s a good idea to expose developing young minds to the utterly boring stupidity of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polish-government-to-probe-if-teletubbies-are-gay/405800.md?page=3)