I Like Spongebob Squarepants

I'm well-known for making controversial statements in my articles. I've stated that I thought that Johnny Depp was a better Willy Wonka than Gene Wilder. I've stated that I think that Courtney Love is a better actress than singer. I compared 00s music favorably to older music and ended up with two articles that not only share the dubious distinction of being my lowest-rated pieces for this site, but even caused people who normally like my articles to think that I lost my way temporarily.

Now it's time to stir things up once more by saying:

I think that "SpongeBob SquarePants" is a very enjoyable, very funny and very watchable show.



There have to be at least 10 articles attacking this show in all sorts of ways. I feel these attacks are often made without any reason other than "Waa Waa, Boo Hoo, Bring back Rugrats".

Look, I'm not saying that shows like "Rugrats" and "Doug" are bad. For me, though, these show evoke rather unpleasant memories. These shows were popular during some very unpleasant times in my life. From 1992 to 1999, things were extremely hard to deal with. Vicious attacks by fellow students, delving into psychogical issues and their effects on myself and others, just hoping for things to get better.

In 1999, though, things started changing for the better. I left Boy Scouts for good, my friendship with Alex (who was mentioned in my article "5 Nice High School Memories") was starting to solidify, and I applied for my first job, which I would begin shortly after January 1st, 2000.

"SpongeBob Squarepants" also debuted in 1999, but I didn't really start paying attention to it until 2001. That year, I had what I called my Lost Summer. I was having assorted issues related to my medication and my personal behavior, at one point getting so angry over something I read online that I ran into the computer room wall and left a hole in it the size of my body. Although it's been repaired, I still need to pay my Mom for it. I'll get to it someday. At another point, I had a belated high school graduation party that I ended up sleeping through, thus missing a chance to see some friends and family for the last time.

At one point during the Summer of 2001, I purchased a T-shirt with a picture of SpongeBob surfing.



This is the closest I could find to an image of it. It managed to fit me even as I gained the freshman 15 during my brief time in college. I lost the shirt somewhere along the line. I probably got too big for it, but it was a nice shirt. No one made fun of it...Actually, no one really paid any mind to it. Still, the few that noticed it didn't make fun of me. That was nice to hear.

"SpongeBob..." also figured in another part of my life. I applied for my job at Wal-Mart in April of 2002. I had to drive to their medical outfit to take a physical. When my Mom and I arrived there, I had forgotten my I.D card. I recall that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was playing on TV when we arrived there.

Having forgotten the I.D, we had to go back home (which took about 45 minutes or so). I got my I.D and my brother tagged along. When we got back there for the physical, an episode of "SpongeBob Squarepants" was airing on the TV.



I don't know if it was a positive omen, but I've held my job for over 7 years now. It seems like there might have been some sort of connection. I only wish I could put it in more concrete terms.

I can say this, though: I see a little of myself in SpongeBob. Like him, I'm a diligent worker surrounded by people who are either concerned for themselves or don't give a damn about what they do. SpongeBob's analogues in that case are, respectively, Mr. Krabs and Squidward.



Everyone at Wal-Mart is concerned with money, like Krabs is, but most people I work with hate their jobs, much like Squidward does. I've talked about people like this in several of my previous articles. The way I see it, you should make the best of what your job is. SpongeBob Squarepants is always cheerful when he does his job. I make efforts to be the same way. Am I always upbeat? No, but I'm not one to call the place "Wally World" or complain about the pay or anything. This is a bad economy we're in, so feel lucky that you have a job. I know that I do.

Also, like the show itself, I've managed to talk to many famous people, ranging from acting talents to singers. SpongeBob, similarly, has featured a great variety of famous people doing guest voices. People ranging from David Bowie to Ray Liotta have done guest work on the show.



It's something for both kids and adults...It's a rather sophisticated show in its' own way. Is there gross-out humor? Sure there is, but I think haters of this show have selective memories. Many here wax orgasmic about "Ren & Stimpy", and there was toilet humor in most every episode of that show. Why is that show held in high regard, but SpongeBob is decried as something evil?

Finally, like the character and the show alike, I've always tried to show respect to the people around me. I haven't seen that on many other cartoons. Some have said that the character of Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons" is a representative of how the creators of that show view many of their fans, and "Animaniacs" had an infamous short called "The Please, Please, Please Get A Life Foundation", which I view as the creators of "Animaniacs" telling their fans to play a game of "Hide And Go Fuck Yourself". In all the episodes of "SpongeBob..." that I've seen, there's never been any of that spite. There's always been a great respect for the viewers.

In a way, we're all characters and the people around us can be seen as viewers. All we can try and do is put on a good show and just do the best thing possible.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" has been doing that for over 10 years now, and I'll gladly watch it at anytime. For those of you who think that the show has a stupid premise, people were probably saying the same thing about shows with talking babies and animals in love with their various body functions. Give everything a chance...You never know what you might find.

Happy Birthday, SpongeBob!



Now the floor is open for discussions:

Am I the only one on here who enjoys watching "SpongeBob SquarePants"? What's with all the hatred for the show? Would the people who hate be willing to give it another chance?