History Main / TooSmartForStrangers

* There was a [[VerySpecialEpisode Very Special Comic Book]] starring ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' in which his next-door-neighbor kid was being molested by his (female) babysitter. In it, Spidey shares that ''he'' was molested, pre-superpowers, [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/superhero2.jpg by someone who looked suspiciously like Uncle Ben]]. Spidey [[BizarroEpisode never references or even acknowledges this story in any other continuity]], but can you really blame him? Supposedly, the original draft of the story said the molester ''was'' Uncle Ben, with all the attendant {{Squick}} involved. One time when ExecutiveMeddling was used for good. Because Some Plots Need To Be Censored. It was packaged with a ''ComicBook/PowerPack'' comic about the Powers family helping a child who ran away from abuse in her immediate family. Both comics were reviewed by Dr. Scott of ''Polite Dissent'' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170609075537/http://www.politedissent.com/archives/982 here]].

* A ''Franchise/CareBears'' episode (partially included [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gDLG5SpPec here]]) went for the related message of "don't go out in public without an adult". Bright Heart disobeys Champ Bear and goes down to Earth by himself. The message is undermined by the fact that the "danger" he encounters comes in the form of Shreeky (who, ironically, ''is'' a child and a human one at that) and Beastly. Of course, Shreeky and Beastly's attempts to kidnap Bright Heart are thwarted at every turn by their own stupidity. So the BrokenAesop is "don't worry about kidnappers -- they're idiots." Although the intended Aesop was "don't go skiing alone, because if you get hurt, no one will be there to help you" but they have used this trope in at least 2 episodes.

** There are at least two other episodes of ''South Park'' that [[{{Pun}} touch on]] the subject, but the closest to this trope is probably "Child Abduction Is Not Funny". Tweek is nearly abducted by a man who dresses up as the Spirit of Human Kindness and tries to convince him that these sorts of morals are just paranoia. ([[FridgeBrilliance And they partly are...]]) Later, the town's parents kick the children out of town for their own safety(!?) -- after hearing on the news that parents are most likely to abduct their own children.[[note]] Which is true - except it's generally a divorced or otherwise estranged couple that this happens with, NOT a molestation/rape-driven kidnapping[[/note]]

* There was a [[VerySpecialEpisode Very Special Comic Book]] starring ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' in which his next-door-neighbor kid was being molested by his (female) babysitter. In it, Spidey shares that ''he'' was molested, pre-superpowers, [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/superhero2.jpg by someone who looked suspiciously like Uncle Ben]]. Spidey [[BizarroEpisode never references or even acknowledges this story in any other continuity]], but can you really blame him? Supposedly, the original draft of the story said the molester ''was'' Uncle Ben, with all the attendant {{Squick}} involved. One time when ExecutiveMeddling was used for good. Because [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped Some Plots Need To Be Censored]]. It was packaged with a ''ComicBook/PowerPack'' comic about the Powers family helping a child who ran away from abuse in her immediate family. Both comics were reviewed by Dr. Scott of ''Polite Dissent'' [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170609075537/http://www.politedissent.com/archives/982 here]].

* The TropeNamer: the episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDE-IWxU2-A Too Smart for Strangers]]" of ''Welcome to Pooh Corner'', a mid-'80s production where Franchise/WinnieThePooh and rest of the Hundred Acre Wood crew (of all people) teach children how to not get abducted and subsequently molested. It's actually pretty blunt, with repeated mentions of "private parts" and a (delicate) broaching of the subject of ejaculation. Particularly infamous for the scene that directly addresses child molestation and how to react to it. In ''song''. Despite being the TropeNamer, it does go into detail about how it can be people you know as well as strangers.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Franchise/WinnieThePooh "Don't be fooled by tricks!"]]]]

For these reasons, the bulk of the show tends to be either about "safety tips" like never talking to strangers (which usually refers to strange ''adults'', mind you) and rejecting all forms of generosity, or about an evil kidnapper [[SpaceWhaleAesop and the more fantastical things he does to his victim]].

A VerySpecialEpisode with a moral about a very important issue: all adults that you don't know are ravenous, sex-thirsty [[PaedoHunt child molesters]] waiting to [[BadSamaritan lure you into the back of their white van with promises of candy and toys]]. This Aesop came along in TheEighties as child abduction and abuse, particularly in the wake of the 1981 abduction and murder of 6-year-old [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Adam_Walsh Adam Walsh]], became a national concern in the United States and shortly thereafter there was a nation-wide panic about Satanic cults that were alleged to be kidnapping and sexually abusing children (though after extensive investigation, no such cults were ever actually found).

* The TV version of ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' story is actually a bit more nuanced. The BumblingDad decides to ScareEmStraight, until Sister Bear is [[ParanoiaFuel reduced to a terrified wreck who doesn't want to leave the house]]. The CloserToEarth mother (as always) has to reassure Sister Bear that there are dangerous strangers out there, but you can't be paranoid like that. In some ways, the book made it creepier because the newspaper pictures were in black-and-white, and you had time to read the text and let it sink in. And to top it all off, you got to see Sister's wide-eyed expression at the same time.

A VerySpecialEpisode with a moral about a very important issue: all adults that you don't know are ravenous, sex-thirsty child molesters waiting to [[BadSamaritan lure you into the back of their white van with promises of candy and toys]]. This Aesop came along in TheEighties as child abduction and abuse, particularly in the wake of the 1981 abduction and murder of 6-year-old [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Adam_Walsh Adam Walsh]], became a national concern in the United States and shortly thereafter there was a nation-wide panic about Satanic cults that were alleged to be kidnapping and sexually abusing children (though after extensive investigation, no such cults were ever actually found).

* Subverted in [[http://web.archive.org/web/20091123065520/http://cityofreality.com/2009/08/01/01-01-monsters/ this strip]] from ''Webcomic/CityOfReality''.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW7iD1gaEbg My Body Is My Own]], an adaption of an 80's children's book.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjlQpZRvapA A Good Boy]]'' features a kid being lured into a hotel bed by a pedophile, but instead of having the kid rescued at the last minute or fading out on an already creepy image of the pedophile lying next to the boy, it shows [[DisneyAcidSequence the pedophile melting into the blanket, which then melts into a stripey blanket-printed ocean that jostles the kid around awhile, then a close-up on the kid's face as he weeps a single tear, which melts into the next scene]].

* There's an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbkDCdPM2fk Australian cartoon]] featuring a kid being lured into a hotel bed by a pedophile, but instead of having the kid rescued at the last minute or fading out on an already creepy image of the pedophile lying next to the boy, it shows [[DisneyAcidSequence the pedophile melting into the blanket, which then melts into a stripey blanket-printed ocean that jostles the kid around awhile, then a close-up on the kid's face as he weeps a single tear, which melts into the next scene]].

* Zigzagged in the children's book ''It's Okay to Say No''. Some of the BigBad's were strangers, others were people the children knew. Also, there was a lot of ambiguous language, including "touched her in a way that made her feel 'very uncomfortable'", and "talking about love and sex" (which could be misinterpreted as TheTalk).
* A similar book entitled "You Can Say No" is also about this, but it's played even more seriously (i.e. an uncle who apparently makes his niece strip and play "bad games" and a little boy who's missing and "foul play is suspected").
* There's a children's book entitled ''Never Talk to Strangers'', which basically tells readers not to talk to strangers and defines the word "stranger". It's to be noted that the main characters are humans and the strangers and family friends are all FunnyAnimal's.

* There's an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbkDCdPM2fk Australian cartoon]] featuring a kid being lured into a hotel bed by a pedophile, but instead of having the kid rescued at the last minute or fading out on an already-creepy-enough-thanks image, it shows [[DisneyAcidSequence the pedophile melting into the blanket, which then melts into a stripey blanket-printed ocean that jostles the kid around awhile, then a close-up on the kid's face as he weeps a single tear, which melts into the next scene]]. Thanks for clearing that up, guys.

----

* The TropeNamer: the episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDE-IWxU2-A Too Smart for Strangers]]" of ''Welcome to Pooh Corner'', a mid-'80s production where Franchise/WinnieThePooh and rest of the Hundred Acre Wood crew (of all people) teach children how to not get abducted and subsequently molested. It's actually pretty blunt, with repeated mentions of "private parts" and a (delicate) broaching of the subject of ejaculation. Particularly infamous for the scene that directly addresses child molestation and how to react to it. In ''song''. Despite being the TropeNamer, it's actually a slight subversion, as it does go into detail about how it can be people you know as well as strangers.

-->'''Gohan:''' ''[after insanely creepy comments]'' I need an adult...

%% Image Pickin' thread resolved to leave pic in place pending TRS evaluation: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1551322051040129700
%% TRS thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1551322051040129700
%% Please do not replace or remove the current pic.

[[quoteright:247:[[Franchise/WinnieThePooh https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toosmartfor_387.jpg]]]]
[-[[caption-width-right:247:Well... [[UncannyValley Those puppets]] are definitely one way to get the kids [[AccidentalNightmareFuel running like hell]].]]-]

* In ''Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', "community theatre" group Legz Akimbo performs a play on this subject in a school. It ends with the moral that ''anyone'' you encounter could be a paedophile, so [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop only trust people you meet online!]]

* ''Webcomic/CinemaSnobReviewsFrozen'' (a fan comic where ''WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob'' reviews ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'') spoofs this with Snob thinking Kristoff asking Anna about strangers will lead to this. He begs the film not to do it, and is very relieved when Anna's joke answer is all there is.

* There was a [[VerySpecialEpisode Very Special Comic Book]] starring ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' in which his next-door-neighbor kid was being molested by his (female) babysitter. In it, Spidey shares that ''he'' was molested, pre-superpowers, [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/superhero2.jpg by someone who looked suspiciously like Uncle Ben]]. Spidey [[BizarroEpisode never references or even acknowledges this story in any other continuity]], but can you really blame him? Supposedly, the original draft of the story said the molester ''was'' Uncle Ben, with all the attendant {{Squick}} involved. One time when ExecutiveMeddling was used for good. Because [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped Some Plots Need To Be Censored]]. It was packaged with a ''ComicBook/PowerPack'' comic about the Powers family helping a child who ran away from abuse in her immediate family. Both comics were reviewed by Dr. Scott of PoliteDissent [[http://www.politedissent.com/archives/982 here]].

* The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a British organization that opposes child abuse, has run a couple PSAs that warn against pedophiles and child molesters.

''Guaranteed'' to be [[CringeComedy utterly uncomfortable]], as happy-go-lucky, fun-loving characters are [[CluelessAesop forced to deal]] with a truly horrifying eventuality. May have the side effect of [[ParanoiaFuel making some children unbelievably paranoid]], especially if they themselves have had it happen by someone they know and trust. And Heaven have mercy on your psyche if the writers decide to disregard [[ScareEmStraight the "don't scare the crap out of the kids" part.]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* [[http://www.freerangekids.com/and-speaking-of-perv-o-mania/ This Toys R Us receipt.]]
[[/folder]]