# "The Giving Tree" - What a horrible lesson it teaches **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190 "2012-09-19T16:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/21 "2012-09-19T17:56:46Z")
Don’t even get me started on Hop On Pop! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/22 "2012-09-19T18:01:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Also, what’s a boy supposed to give a tree exactly? Water and mulch (which it already gets from nature, otherwise it wouldn’t have survived into treehood)? Well, he could CALL every once in a while. I mean, it IS his tree. One day, it’s going to be DEAD, and then he’ll really regret not CALLING every once in a while! The tree just seems like an extreme co-dependent, to me. Not in a cutesy-wutesy sacrificing-parent way, but in a freaky “this is how nature works, if trees were sentient they would be stupid as fuck” way. I dunno, I always thought the story was depressing as hell. I don’t have kids, so maybe that’s why I really can’t relate to the alleged allegory. But if I ever had a kid who got lumber from a \*talking tree \*for such frivolous reasons, I’d be sending him back to the tree to pick a switch! ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/23 "2012-09-19T18:01:48Z")
I’ll just leaf you here to figure that out. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/24 "2012-09-19T18:07:12Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > What’s the lesson? I’m stumped. Maybe you should branch out into some of Shel Silverstein’s other works. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/25 "2012-09-19T18:07:29Z")
There’s been a lot of threads on the board about the Giving Tree, and how many people don’t like it. I absolutely agree - it’s not about the generosity of the tree that I’m left with, it’s about the selfishness of the boy. I hate it. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/26 "2012-09-19T18:09:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The boy never gives anything to the tree. He’s a selfish little shit, is what he is. Amen, brother! This is one of my two least favorite stories of all time. The other is Jack London’s _To Build a Fire_, whose protagonist is merely an idiot… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/27 "2012-09-19T18:12:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > There’s been a lot of threads on the board about the Giving Tree, and how many people don’t like it. I absolutely agree - it’s not about the generosity of the tree that I’m left with, it’s about the selfishness of the boy. I hate it. You’ll look forward to the sequel, _The Angry, Bitter Tree With An Asshole ‘Son’ And Goes Off On What A Little Shit The Kid Is_ I’m buying my children two copies, just to make sure they learn these valuable childhood lessons early. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/28 "2012-09-19T18:13:09Z")
The [Sassy Gay Friend video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYQavD9mSIc) regarding The Giving Tree always slays me. The premise, for those not familiar with the video, is that if only the Giving Tree had a Sassy Gay Friend, he would have set her straight on giving everything to a stupid, jerkface boy. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/29 "2012-09-19T18:17:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I thought there were more threads about it, but maybe I’m remember posts in discussions of books with bad messages and things like that. [Is The Giving Tree a Chump?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=104161) [The Giving Tree is a twisted book](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=213586) [_The Giving Tree_&mysogyistic messages. What was Silverstein thinking?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=81284) and loads of comments in various books that left one cold type threads. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/30 "2012-09-19T18:17:34Z")
If I had a tree that I loved and played on and climbed as a child, I’d be upset to find out somebody chopped it down to build a house or a boat out of it. Good climbing trees are hard to find. It wouldn’t even occur to me to chop it down _myself_. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/31 "2012-09-19T18:34:49Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Amen, brother! > > This is one of my two least favorite stories of all time. The other is Jack London’s _To Build a Fire_, whose protagonist is merely an idiot… Holy crap, I hate that over-rated steaming pile of poo too! mmm ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/32 "2012-09-19T18:36:09Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > I’ll just leaf you here to figure that out. Wood you do that? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/33 "2012-09-19T18:45:43Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Well, he could CALL every once in a while. I mean, it IS his tree. One day, it’s going to be DEAD, and then he’ll really regret not CALLING every once in a while! A tree was planted just the other day It came to the world in the usual way There were planes to catch, and bills to pay It popped its first leaf when I was away And it was autumn ‘fore I knew it, and as it shed I said, “I’m gonna use you up, bitch Ya know I’m gonna use you up… mmm ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/34 "2012-09-19T18:47:50Z")
I guess I’m selfish because I don’t do shit for… trees? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/35 "2012-09-19T19:22:57Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > The [Sassy Gay Friend video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYQavD9mSIc) regarding The Giving Tree always slays me. > > The premise, for those not familiar with the video, is that if only the Giving Tree had a Sassy Gay Friend, he would have set her straight on giving everything to a stupid, jerkface boy. Now your Sassy Gay Friends set you straight? I don’t think so… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/36 "2012-09-19T19:27:50Z")
I’ve not read the book, but from what I gleaned from this thread, the moral is to not anthropomorphize non-sentient objects. Because that way leads to much misguided compassion and empathy. What if you try doing that with your toilet? Hmmm, Mister Toilet ingests all your waste, what a selfless commode it is! Well, guess what? Toilets don’t have brains or taste buds. [QUOTE=Jack Handey] If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/37 "2012-09-19T19:29:24Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > There’s been a lot of threads on the board about the Giving Tree, and how many people don’t like it. I absolutely agree - it’s not about the generosity of the tree that I’m left with, it’s about the selfishness of the boy. I hate it. I’m curious about this. You hate it because it’s the story of a selfish boy and a co-dependent tree, and that sort of story bores you? Or you hate it because you think book was trying to teach you a didactic message about how you should be giving like the tree? I guarantee you that Shel Silverstein, the guy who wrote the book, did not write the book to teach kids about the virtues of selflessness. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/38 "2012-09-19T19:36:09Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Don’t even get me started on Hop On Pop! Stop! You must not hop on Pop! ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/39 "2012-09-19T19:38:52Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > If I had a tree that I loved and played on and climbed as a child, I’d be upset to find out somebody chopped it down to build a house or a boat out of it. Good climbing trees are hard to find. > > It wouldn’t even occur to me to chop it down _myself_. This. In fifth grade, the school had some trees on our playground cut down. Unfortunately, they did this during recess, so I got to witness it. Imagine my disappointment, when I went running out for recess to go climb my tree – same tree I climbed every day during recess all through fourth grade and halfway into fifth – and they were cutting it down. Despite being made fun of by pretty much all the boys in my class, I cried the rest of the day. Count me in as another Giving Tree hater. I remember being very uncomfortable about that tree, “Why does it keep giving up bits of itself to this selfish asshole who never sticks around to hang out with it?” Now, of course, the tree is just a stump, so no future generations of kids can enjoy climbing it either. What a waste of wood. ☹ The parent-child relationship analogy is completely lost on me. My parents would sooner gnaw their own legs off than sacrifice something personal for one of their kids. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190/40 "2012-09-19T19:39:00Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The tree is a parent, metaphorically. I agree, but it is still a miserable story. If it isn’t teaching the lesson to kids that they should take, take, take, it is laying a guilt trip on them for taking anything from their parents at all. And yeah, whether you are identifying with the boy or the tree, it is depressing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-giving-tree-what-a-horrible-lesson-it-teaches/635190.md?page=3)