[DrunkSmurf]

How do people generally regard smurfs in your country?

Owing to the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, smurfs in the USA are thought of either as girly or insipidly sweet (especially due to the "la-la-la-la" song). The irony is that most of the cartoons depict the smurfs being pretty nasty too each other (examples: Pushover Smurf, Smurfette's Dancing Shoes, and the episode where Handy and Greedy set up rival ice cream shops).

But, regardless, the perception sticks. (I even have a gay friend at work who thinks it sissy to collect smurfs).

Where I grew up in Ohio (1982), all the kids collected smurfs and it wasn't a big deal. Then, I moved to St. Louis and experienced a rude awakening when I showed up for my first day of fifth grade with a smurf lunchbox. "Hey, look! That guy's a smurf! Hey, are you a smurf?" I remember we had a mentally retarded playground monitor (probably 50 years old) who staggered up to me and asked me whether I was smurf ("Ah yoo ay sm-smoff?")

[Syd Smurf]

I think the majority of people who know of smurfs in Australia think of them as a 1980s phenomenon. Most people I have spoken to are not aware that they are still being made and probably regard them as kid's toys and soemthing that a 31 year old man shouldn't bother with.

I don't think they were ever considered specifically girly down here.....but definately a kiddies thing.

[JT]

In Finland I think many remembers Smurfs from cartoon series from 80´s that was shown in TV. Today there´s loads of new "Smurfs" cd in stores. In these albums "smurfs" sing current hit songs in finnish. I don´t really like those, but some do a lot

JT

[Fram]

Smurfs are considered one of the classics here, but for kids. Tintin e.g. is taken much more seriously (especially in France and Wallonia), but Smurfs are thought of with fondness,as being one of the best things for kids. People don't think it stranger to collect Smurfs as they think it is to collect stamps or whatever (and certainly preferable above a collection of anvils, which my father-in-law threatens to do ). Many people collect comics and comics related stuff, and many more people read them.
They aren't especially girlie or so, just for the young (of heart).

[Guest]

In the UK most people are very surprised to see smurfs, they thought they disappeared in the 1980s and have no idea they are still being made in pvc. Most people say "I remember those because they were free with the petrol." I don't think people in the UK remember the cartoons so much as the pvc figurines in the garages. I never saw the cartoons as a kid, I think they came later for us.

[KiwiSchlumpf]

Yip similar to Dyar .. people are surprised they are still being made and want to know what they are worth! I am considered qwerky and essentric<SP> for collecting them.. infact I'm a complete Smurf-nerd I have the *very detailed* answers to the wildest questions that they throw at me. Almost aways about "smurfette being the only female amongst all those males and dirty papa smurf!!!!". "what are they worth" and "they remember them when they were kids and were sold at x brand petrol station... always the wrong brand name!!!!!".. oddly enough I always grab smurfs and look at their feet, legs and arms before mumble off catalogue numbers and tell them about markings then say they would have been worth x amount if they had treated their toys well. This makes me an unpopular smurf nerd...
regarding being girly things to collect... They aren't considered sissy or girly here.. but I do admit that I struggle to impose my Alpha male presence on a room when I start talking about them.

[Tessa-Dennis]

Well, having a national song writer/singer walking around here by the name of 'Vader Abraham' , who has been at the top of Dutch songs for many many many many many many years and is heard in every pub, every weekend (no, no, not with the Smurf song ) Smurfs are a national treasure here. Of course we know they aren't Dutch from origin but hopefully you will never have to shake all the hands of the people who think they are actually Vader Abrahams invention

Everybody person of every age knows Smurfs, either from the song, TV series or the free Smurfs at the gas station which every father during that period had to take home.

Nobody thinks of Smurfs here as girly or strange, although collecting them at age 34 is somewhat frowned upon But everybody who visits here and sees our 84 metres of normal Smurfs standing next to eachother gets that childhood grin on the face

I went all the way through high school having Smurfs around and nobody, dared , to laugh.

When we have our Smurfs at collectors fairs people of all ages stop to have a look and talk about their Smurf experience.

But of course, all this doesn't say anything as they find our soccer girly as well in the U.S. I guess the Aussies will think the same of American football .

Dennis.

[Rachel]

Hi Tim, nice topic. I'd agree with Karen as to how adults perceive the smurfs here but with the kids it is definitely the cartoons that they know the smurfs through. There are not many people (adults & kids) that don't seem to have heard of smurfs, I suppose with fairly recent McDonalds promotions as well this helps.

[Gerda]

With my car haveing a big smurf on it I get the strangest look from people. The coments I mostly get are "how do you find them, there not around no more. I love the look on peoples face when I tell them they are still being made. I got stopped by a man today who saw my "smurf" van and said real surprisingly that I was only the second smurf collector he has ever met. His neice collects smurfs and much like me was raised in Germany because she is a military brat too. Also today I got a lady talking about how she just saw them on tv and you can see her traveling down memory lane with the big smile on her face. But I must say that around here the majority of people just think it is strange that a grown woman with four boys would drive around advertising she wants more smurfs But then again I think I'm pretty normal and the rest of the world needs a wake up call


gerda

[Bunno Smurf]

But of course, all this doesn't say anything as they find our soccer girly as well in the U.S. I guess the Aussies will think the same of American football .

Dennis.

LOL nah we can't be bothered even thinking about American football...though lots of people here think soccer is girly too. Its not "real" football is the general consensus, I think.

[Syd Smurf]

With my car having a big smurf on it I get the strangest look from people.

You are so my hero Gerda

[DrunkSmurf]

But of course, all this doesn't say anything as they find our soccer girly as well in the U.S. I guess the Aussies will think the same of American football .

Things are changing in America with regards to our perception of soccer (football). Our country is growing much more tolerant of homosexuality / soccer. That doesn't mean we want to start playing soccer, but, hey, if soccer is your thing, and you want to do it in the privacy of your own country, that's perfectly fine with most Americans.

Now American football on the other hand: a man's-man's sport--men making plays on each other, groping, sacking from behind, going down in the endzone, and slapping each other's asses because touchdowns get them excited is the only way to play. Anyone geared up for the Superbowl this January? I'm hoping the Oakland Raiders beat off whoever they go head to head with. So long as it isn't the Rams--I've heard they are a pain in ass.

[Syd Smurf]

I hate to say it Tim...but even American Football is considered girly down here

[eggie smurf]

Glad I'm a girl -- it's perfectly acceptable for me to collect smurfs here (yeah! right! LOL)

[hugofilia]

Most people are surprised that smurfs still exist. They all remember them well as it was a huge success here in Quebec. They also look at me politely as i am 6'1'' and weight 225 pounds( i throw a lot of shade) LOL
I always tell them to restart collecting them as they will get back soon.

They are not much around anymore , only a few stores carry them and NONE of the big chain stores have them.

As for the american football i would suggest any one thinking it is girliy to try it , but before you do, make sure your life insurance policy is in order as you may not come back. For example try running full speed looking up and a bit behind and getting smash by a 200-50 pounds muscle guy hitting you from the side or back coming a full speed also, try it once. I am sure you will think otherwise.
John

[KiwiSchlumpf]

yeah then when you're ready to take the training wheels off, you can ditch the pads and helmet .. add strategy and skill and presto you now have Rugby.

What I'd like to see is a new game where a large inflatable smurf is passed from player to player and held aloft when being carried across the field. The players should all wear big white hats and all pick on the ref who should have glasses and be quoting the rule book constantly. The field should be round like a mushroom patch and ther can be no loosers. The cheerleaders should also all have long blonde hair and giggle alot. I maybe bias but I think that could really take off. Not sure how it would score if no-one looses but it sure would look funny.

[Syd Smurf]

yeah then when you're ready to take the training wheels off, you can ditch the pads and helmet .. add strategy and skill and presto you now have Rugby.

...and then you could learn how to tackle properly and you would have Rugby League.....the greatest game of them all

I played Rugby League for many many years (even sent Rach a pic that was in the paper when I was younger ). I played in representative teams and after playing the majority of other sports in competitions I would have to say (in my opinion only of course) that Rugby League was the toughest game to play due to the fact that it's a really fast tough game. I would imagine Boxing would be a lot tougher but I think League has everything that the others lack. We played a league game in LA in 1984 and the feedback from the Americans was that they thought we were absolutely crazy playing without any padding, helmets or anything like that. It's full on collision contact sport without much protection.....and you seem to be in the game the whole time so you don't get much rest throughout so you have to be very very fit to play it.

Okay...time to shut up again...sorry guys for boring you to death

[DrunkSmurf]

What I'd like to see is a new game where a large inflatable smurf is passed from player to player and held aloft when being carried across the field. The players should all wear big white hats and all pick on the ref who should have glasses and be quoting the rule book constantly. The field should be round like a mushroom patch and ther can be no loosers. The cheerleaders should also all have long blonde hair and giggle alot. I maybe bias but I think that could really take off. Not sure how it would score if no-one looses but it sure would look funny.

The mongols played (and still do) polo with sheep heads for the ball.

I don't know why rugby hasn't caught on here (American football began as rugby, I think--the helmets and hail-mary passes didn't come until after the 1930s).

[Tojo]

Here in Germany I think most people, at least our generation, still see them as an 80's thing. On the other hand children watch the smurfs on kids tv & buy the music CDs so I think a new generation of children are discovering smurfs. Smurfs aren't as big as Pokemon or Diddl (very popular with girls) but they sell very well at the toyshop I visit in Frankfurt, which is something positive.

[swarlock]

A mixed reaction here in The US. you either loved them or hate them just for being created.

That's all I will say on this.