The Irony of Captain Planet

[daniel49]

Stumbled upon this and thought I would put anandtech's brightest minds on it to explain the irony😉

The irony that Captain Planet is physically hurt when exposed to pollutants, yet wears tight, modern manufactured clothes that are known pollutants (his suit is either lycra, spandex, or some other synthetic, it cannot be cotton or another natural fiber because it is not absorbent).

Since these are synthetic fibers produced in such a way that causes pollution, and are in fact pollutants themselves, Captain Planet?s uniform should in fact hurt him. If anything, he should be wearing flowing, hand knit, wool robes. The only possible solution I can think of is that he is naked and his skin is colored to look like clothing, but that is highly unlikely for a wholesome saturday morning cartoon.

This is a paradox because, while the fact that he fights pollution is PC, he most clothe himself, which by the strictest definitions (which he should adhere) seems to be Un-PC, at least in the way he does (with synthetics).

 

[Riddlinkidstoner]

It is never ever said in the series the type of material captain planet wears. For all we know it could be the same material superman uses (which is why it isn't damaged when he is shot at). Also, captain planet doesn't have a secret identity like many superheros (IE: spiderman) so he doesn't "craft" his own costume, rather he is spawned with it.

 

[CycloWizard]

First, 'synthetics' are not generally classified as 'pollutants'. Generally, they are thermoplastic polymers, just like your milk jug, plastic cup, TV casing, and carpet. Many of the solvents used in processing such materials (e.g. benzene, hexane, acetone) could be classified as pollutants, but these should not be present in the finished product.

Second, Captain Planet can DIAF. He was just a cooked up way to try to brainwash kids and their parents into believing misinformation propagated by extremist environmentalists and to tell me how evil my parents were for having more than two kids. I didn't like his cartoon much to begin with when I was a kid, and even less so when I heard that, as the third child in my family, I would be the downfall of the planet.

 

[sjwaste]

Haha, when did captain planet rally against the 3rd child? I don't remember that one and I used to watch the show quite a bit as a kid, not really getting it.

 

[Octavarium]

Captain Planet wears clothes made out of pure muscle and raw strength.

That's how tough he is >_>

 

[Cattlegod]

chuck norris made captain planet's cloths.

/thread

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
First, 'synthetics' are not generally classified as 'pollutants'. Generally, they are thermoplastic polymers, just like your milk jug, plastic cup, TV casing, and carpet. Many of the solvents used in processing such materials (e.g. benzene, hexane, acetone) could be classified as pollutants, but these should not be present in the finished product.

Second, Captain Planet can DIAF. He was just a cooked up way to try to brainwash kids and their parents into believing misinformation propagated by extremist environmentalists and to tell me how evil my parents were for having more than two kids. I didn't like his cartoon much to begin with when I was a kid, and even less so when I heard that, as the third child in my family, I would be the downfall of the planet.

As I recall your a chemist and I certainly will bow to your insight on that.
But if I may play devils advocate for a moment then perhaps C.P. is just being a bit hypocritical then by not wearing some cotton shorts and a wool suit.🙂
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...tion=user.viewprofile&friendid=2640047

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: daniel49
As I recall your a chemist and I certainly will bow to your insight on that.

I'm a chemical engineer, not a chemist. At this point in my life, this just means I make less while in grad school, as I've determined grad students' salaries are inversely proportional to the market value of said students.

 

[Born2bwire]

Since when did a super hero uniform have to be a synthetic. Spandex was invented in the late 50's but then what did Superman wear before then? I don't know about you, but a tight cotton T-shirt can be fairly form fitting and one could also use natural dyes. Seriously though, is this the kind of stuff that keeps you up at night? 😕

 

[oynaz]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
...as I've determined grad students' salaries are inversely proportional to the market value of said students.

Exactly 🙂

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire
Since when did a super hero uniform have to be a synthetic. Spandex was invented in the late 50's but then what did Superman wear before then? I don't know about you, but a tight cotton T-shirt can be fairly form fitting and one could also use natural dyes. Seriously though, is this the kind of stuff that keeps you up at night? 😕

lol, no just playing around.
Can't be serious 24/7 can I?

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: daniel49
As I recall your a chemist and I certainly will bow to your insight on that.

I'm a chemical engineer, not a chemist. At this point in my life, this just means I make less while in grad school, as I've determined grad students' salaries are inversely proportional to the market value of said students.

my mistake, just going by memory. And my memory is going🙁

 

[jakalsucks]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
Haha, when did captain planet rally against the 3rd child? I don't remember that one and I used to watch the show quite a bit as a kid, not really getting it.

That is actually one of the episodes that stands out in my mind. The American, and therefore jerky, planeteer was going off about China's 2 child policy. Then he got knocked unconscious and had a fever dream about an over populated rat island. Eventually I think the higher up rats tried to wipe out most of the poor population. The American planeteer then realized that China's fascist policy was good.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: jakalsucks

Originally posted by: sjwaste
Haha, when did captain planet rally against the 3rd child? I don't remember that one and I used to watch the show quite a bit as a kid, not really getting it.

That is actually one of the episodes that stands out in my mind. The American, and therefore jerky, planeteer was going off about China's 2 child policy. Then he got knocked unconscious and had a fever dream about an over populated rat island. Eventually I think the higher up rats tried to wipe out most of the poor population. The American planeteer then realized that China's fascist policy was good.

Wait... are you serious? Did they really have an episode on that?

 

[jakalsucks]

Yes.

 

[jordanz]

It's a cartoon, irony is not imposed from a cartoon. Not possible. That's why it's a cartoon and not real.

 

[AMCRambler]

Captain Planet was a douche. That's why.

 

[Jeff7]

His suit was just painted on, with natural tatoos and cotton briefs covered with paste to make them formfitting.

 

[AgentZap]

His clothes were made of baby seal skin

 

[jhu]

how do you know it's not his natural skin? have we seen him without his alleged "clothes" off?

 

[Shadowknight]

An amusing cartoon on Captain Planet here and here: http://www.somethingawful.com/index.php?a=4019&p=3

 

[savvy]

It's a cartoon.

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Originally posted by: daniel49
Stumbled upon this and thought I would put anandtech's brightest minds on it to explain the irony😉

The irony that Captain Planet is physically hurt when exposed to pollutants, yet wears tight, modern manufactured clothes that are known pollutants (his suit is either lycra, spandex, or some other synthetic, it cannot be cotton or another natural fiber because it is not absorbent).

Since these are synthetic fibers produced in such a way that causes pollution, and are in fact pollutants themselves, Captain Planet?s uniform should in fact hurt him. If anything, he should be wearing flowing, hand knit, wool robes. The only possible solution I can think of is that he is naked and his skin is colored to look like clothing, but that is highly unlikely for a wholesome saturday morning cartoon.

This is a paradox because, while the fact that he fights pollution is PC, he most clothe himself, which by the strictest definitions (which he should adhere) seems to be Un-PC, at least in the way he does (with synthetics).

What are you talking about?

Producing anything causes pollution, even pealing fruit. There is a difference between creating pollution because you have a job to do, and just being lax about the consequences of your actions. The cartoon was focused on the second of the two infractions.

"Since these are synthetic fibers produced in such a way that causes pollution and are in fact pollutants themselves,.." This line of logic is complete BS. Most anything when found in the wrong place can be called a pollutant. (1) The chemicals I work with in the lab would all be called pollutants if I dumped them outside of my building, but they are not pollutants until they are put into the wrong environment. (2) Chemicals such as ozone are pollutants when man vents them in the lower atmosphere, but is not a pollutant in the upper atmosphere.

-Reader

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: thereaderrabbit
What are you talking about?

Producing anything causes pollution, even pealing fruit. There is a difference between creating pollution because you have a job to do, and just being lax about the consequences of your actions. The cartoon was focused on the second of the two infractions.

"Since these are synthetic fibers produced in such a way that causes pollution and are in fact pollutants themselves,.." This line of logic is complete BS. Most anything when found in the wrong place can be called a pollutant. (1) The chemicals I work with in the lab would all be called pollutants if I dumped them outside of my building, but they are not pollutants until they are put into the wrong environment. (2) Chemicals such as ozone are pollutants when man vents them in the lower atmosphere, but is not a pollutant in the upper atmosphere.

-Reader

Interesting thought then: methane and hydrogen sulfide are considered pollutants. If Captain Planet gets gas, does it just start to eat away at him from the inside?

 

[thereaderrabbit]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: thereaderrabbit
What are you talking about?

Producing anything causes pollution, even pealing fruit. There is a difference between creating pollution because you have a job to do, and just being lax about the consequences of your actions. The cartoon was focused on the second of the two infractions.

"Since these are synthetic fibers produced in such a way that causes pollution and are in fact pollutants themselves,.." This line of logic is complete BS. Most anything when found in the wrong place can be called a pollutant. (1) The chemicals I work with in the lab would all be called pollutants if I dumped them outside of my building, but they are not pollutants until they are put into the wrong environment. (2) Chemicals such as ozone are pollutants when man vents them in the lower atmosphere, but is not a pollutant in the upper atmosphere.

-Reader

Interesting thought then: methane and hydrogen sulfide are considered pollutants. If Captain Planet gets gas, does it just start to eat away at him from the inside?

Ah, now you're asking for refinement of my simple answer.

I guess it's only when CP releases gas in mixed company would it be considered an pollutant. As said before, the environment is everything 🙂 But if you?re the type of person who rolls up his car windows while releasing gas amongst friends you're not just a polluter- you're an ass. End of story 😉