Moral Issue in an episode

[on:]

Hello all,

I am a teacher and I want to use an episode of Futurama to illustrate a moral issue. Can anyone think of one?! I've been looking through all my boxed sets but can't find anything appropriate. Anything about lying, cheating, stealing (Bender basically!) or maybe war. Which is the episode where Zoidberg ends up at war with earth?

Any help hugely appreciated!

[Reply #1 on:]

The Zoidberg episode is called a taste of freedom!

Also I would recommend,
1. Insane in the membrane, this one is to do with stealing!

Also welcome to peel!

[Reply #2 on:]

Well, I would say you should use "Hell is other Robots" to say "Do what your parent's say or the Robot Devil will send you to hell", but if these are toddlers that might not be the best thing.

[Reply #3 on:]

Thanks people! Am looking them out now and settling down to remind myself. They're kids of about 13 so should be fine.

Great forum - thanks for the welcome!

[Reply #4 on:]

Moral issues? I dont really think Futurama is the best example...

[Reply #5 on:]

It's OK.

[Reply #6 on:]

I don't think your knowledge of Futurama is strong enough to make that statement, Bear.

And "A Big Piece of Garbage" is a good one to raise the issue of environmental awareness.

[Reply #7 on:]

Or 300 Big Boys to say "Don't steal"

[Reply #8 on:]

It needs to be something they get, are possibly familiar with and it needs to be fairly lighthearted as an introduction. Everybody uses The Simpsons but it's kind of been done to death! It's just to get them started thinking about the sorts of things that are moral issues (war, stealing, capital punishment etc etc). I think Futurama has loads on these issues!

Good suggestions though - I will find something in one of them.

Cheers!

[Reply #9 on:]

A Clone of My Own raises points about euthanasia.

[Reply #10 on:]

Or 300 Big Boys to say "Don't steal"

Or "don't become so engrossed in material items and money that you forget what is closest to you--your friends. Because money may go away, but your friends will always be there for you."

Oh wait that is A Fishful of Dollars.

The Route of All Evil shows the importance of not taking shortcuts to do your work. It could apply to homework, maybe?

[Reply #11 on:]

Or listen to the audio commentary for "300 Big Boys" to teach children how to pronounce "Ambergris"

[Reply #12 on:]

Ok your just being stupid now.

[Reply #13 on:]

I don't think your knowledge of Futurama is strong enough to make that statement, Bear.

That is quite assumptive of you

I say that because, in the end, the moral side usually doesn't win out. Bender escapes Hell and goes back to his ways, etc

I wouldn't call environmentalism a moral issue either. I suppose you could argue it, but I disagree.

[Reply #14 on:]

A non-stupid reply.

war, stealing, capital punishment

War: War is the H Word (so much stuff on xenophobia and propaganda)

Stealing: Take your pick....

Capital Punishment: Erm, A Tale of Two Santas, maybe the end of Why Must I be a Crustacean in Love.

That is quite assumptive of you

That's based on observation.

[Reply #15 on:]

I dont get it Shepherd. Are you referring to my post or is that taking place of a post you would have written but didn't want to while at the same time calling mine stupid?

[Reply #16 on:]

I wrote that before you posted but didn't feel the need to edit it. I have since added my reply to your post.

[Reply #17 on:]

I haven't really ever talked about Futurama but yes it is assumptive to assume that I don't know much about it. I don't think I would be so lame as to join this board if I hadn't been, at one point, obsessed with it.

[Reply #18 on:]

I suggest a refresher course.

[Reply #19 on:]

It needs to be something they get, are possibly familiar with and it needs to be fairly lighthearted as an introduction.

I was going to suggest "Jurassic Bark" (it's not directly addressed in the episode, but I think the writers intended the audience to leave that episode wondering if Fry really did do the right thing by not cloning Seymour), but that lighthearted criteria kind of kills that nomination.

What about "The Problem With Popplers?"  That episode deals with the morality of eating sentient beings (or just eating other creatures in general), and I think there's something to be said about Leela (and then a random orangutan) being sacrificed to save the rest of humanity from being consumed by the Omicronians.

[Reply #20 on:]

[Reply #21 on:]

Oh my god futz, you're at leet. I just checked.

[Reply #22 on:]

There's the thing where Zoidberg breaks the ship-in-a-bottle and frames Fry.

[Reply #23 on:]

GOSH FREAKING HECK FUTZ WHY IN THE FLIP DID YOU HAVE TO MAKE ONE FLIPPING EXTRA POST?!? I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE AT LEET AND NOW WHO KNOWS WHEN I WILL THANKS TO YOUR ONE MEASLEY EXTRA POST?!?!?!?

I AM MAD!!!!!!

[Reply #24 on:]

GOSH FREAKING HECK FUTZ WHY IN THE FLIP DID YOU HAVE TO MAKE ONE FLIPPING EXTRA POST?!? I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE AT LEET AND NOW WHO KNOWS WHEN I WILL THANKS TO YOUR ONE MEASLEY EXTRA POST?!?!?!?

I AM MAD!!!!!!

Ok I didn't understand that.

[Reply #25 on:]

I'm mad no9man v2 what is there to not understand?!?!?!?!?

[Reply #26 on:]

I'm mad no9man v2 what is there to not understand?!?!?!?!?

I understand.

[Reply #27 on:]

[Reply #28 on:]

how lame, reverting to kindegarten/first grade logic of using pictures to try and represent an idea, I/stand= I understand, how very elementary.

[Reply #29 on:]

Well aren't you just the lovely running commentary

[Reply #30 on:]

The Zoidberg episode is called a taste of freedom!

Also I would recommend,
1. Insane in the membrane, this one is to do with stealing!

Also welcome to peel!

The correct title of this episode was Insane in the Mainframe, not membrane

[Reply #31 on:]

Maybe she was talking about the Cypress Hill song

[Reply #32 on:]

Why would you think that? This was in context of a moral issue in Futurama, and the only time the words insane in the membrane are uttered was in The Why of Fry, when Fry reveals that he will still utilize the bomb even though he no longer had transportation out of the infosphere.

[Reply #33 on:]

I said that becasue it's the title of a Cypress Hill song. That's where Fry got it from and that's the origin of the title of the episode in question. It's a pun. And don't always take me so seriously

[Reply #34 on:]

Fry never said insane in the membrane, that was the brains inside the infosphere at the moment he revealed the bomb, but whatever.

[Reply #35 on:]

SPAMMERS!!!!!

[Reply #36 on:]

SPAMMERS!!!!!

That's rich coming from someone with 104 posts from 3 days

[Reply #37 on:]

You haven't been on for four months!!!!!!!!

[Reply #38 on:]

Moral issues? I dont really think Futurama is the best example...

What ? There are. South Park is actually quite even more moral. Adult cartoons are usually made by very intelligent moral people. What are you a right wing nut job ?

[Reply #39 on:]