Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
An interesting topic, and one I'd never considered before. I think I only read The Rockingdown Mystery as a child, and it was one of my favourite books. I never considered the practicalities of Barney's lifestyle, he just seemed a romantic figure to me.
I guess this shows the importance of Enid's comment about opinions from anyone over the age of 12, it's fun to speculate and discuss points like this, but the books were written for children, and the chances are, most children wouldn't have questioned minor details, they'd be too caught up in the excitement of the story.
I thought the comment earlier in the thread about Harry Potter was a good one. Surely someone in his primary school should have noticed his glasses mended with tape, his shabby clothes when his cousin had new ones etc. Surely it would have slipped out at some point that he slept in a cupboard? I'd never considered it before, but actually, I'd say that Harry's situation was far more unrealistic than Barney's.
I guess this shows the importance of Enid's comment about opinions from anyone over the age of 12, it's fun to speculate and discuss points like this, but the books were written for children, and the chances are, most children wouldn't have questioned minor details, they'd be too caught up in the excitement of the story.
I thought the comment earlier in the thread about Harry Potter was a good one. Surely someone in his primary school should have noticed his glasses mended with tape, his shabby clothes when his cousin had new ones etc. Surely it would have slipped out at some point that he slept in a cupboard? I'd never considered it before, but actually, I'd say that Harry's situation was far more unrealistic than Barney's.
Society Member
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19310
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Not to mention the fact that he was rescued from that situation by being whisked off to wizarding school.Katharine wrote: I thought the comment earlier in the thread about Harry Potter was a good one. Surely someone in his primary school should have noticed his glasses mended with tape, his shabby clothes when his cousin had new ones etc. Surely it would have slipped out at some point that he slept in a cupboard? I'd never considered it before, but actually, I'd say that Harry's situation was far more unrealistic than Barney's.
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Very true. I wonder if anyone contacted the Dursleys to see where he went after primary school. Would the LEA accept their story that he'd been sent to St Brutus'?
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Oh, I don't know - I didn't even question it at the age of 46!Katharine wrote: I guess this shows the importance of Enid's comment about opinions from anyone over the age of 12, it's fun to speculate and discuss points like this, but the books were written for children, and the chances are, most children wouldn't have questioned minor details, they'd be too caught up in the excitement of the story.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Darrell71
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series
- Favourite character: Darrell Rivers, Bill Smugs, Kiki, Elizabeth Allen,
- Location: USA
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
I don't really like being sensible, wish I was 9 or 10 again and could be non sensible!Anita Bensoussane wrote:You're just sensible - though still adventurous!Darrell71 wrote:Gosh, I'm starting to feel rather old now!
I'm almost 15 so I guess that explains it. XDKatharine wrote:I guess this shows the importance of Enid's comment about opinions from anyone over the age of 12
You can call me Sunskriti!
- Wolfgang
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 05:26
- Favourite book/series: The children at Green Meadows/Adventure-series
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Germany
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Well, if the Famous Five hadn't been so sensible, they wouldn't have been allowed to travel on their own. And you see the result in the Adventure series: They're not sensible enough to keep out of adventures, so there's always some need to look after them .Darrell71 wrote:I don't really like being sensible, wish I was 9 or 10 again and could be non sensible!Anita Bensoussane wrote:You're just sensible - though still adventurous!Darrell71 wrote:Gosh, I'm starting to feel rather old now!
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Neither do I! I think the reality of homelessness far outweighs any ideas of romantic imagery. We have several homeless people sleeping on the streets, locally - as occurs everywhere. Imagine seeing a 12 year old on the streets....Darrell71 wrote:I certainly don't fancy a life like Barney. Perhaps it's coz I've always known the harsh reality.
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
Yes, but Barney wasn't actually 'homeless' in the sense we use it today...he wasn't sleeping on the streets, and he was willing to work hard. He lived in a rural community, not in a city or town, and he'd always worked and lived in fairs and circuses so he had a background that gave him contacts and he knew a way to earn a living.
I think I know which life I would prefer - if he'd been taken into care he would probably have ended up abused sexually and mentally, entered a life of crime, would probably have been a drug addict, and would have been a lot worse off than he was! Everyone seems to be assuming that Barney couldn't look after himself - and he clearly could; he was rarely out of work! I don't see how being in care is a good alternative, as statistics prove it isn't a good start in life generally.
I think I know which life I would prefer - if he'd been taken into care he would probably have ended up abused sexually and mentally, entered a life of crime, would probably have been a drug addict, and would have been a lot worse off than he was! Everyone seems to be assuming that Barney couldn't look after himself - and he clearly could; he was rarely out of work! I don't see how being in care is a good alternative, as statistics prove it isn't a good start in life generally.
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 13 Mar 2017, 11:00, edited 1 time in total.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Julie2owlsdene
- Posts: 15244
- Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
- Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
- Favourite character: Dick
- Location: Cornwall
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
But as I also said in a previous post, he was searching for his father, and he couldn't do that unless he was roaming around the country.
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"
Society Member
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
I'm glad I've never questioned this type of thing. In the end its a bit like asking 'Why did George own an island?' or 'why did Miss Marple solve crimes?' or 'why did Jack climb the beanstalk?' If everyone just stayed at home and did what the authorities demanded, there wouldn't be any stories written!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Darrell71
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series
- Favourite character: Darrell Rivers, Bill Smugs, Kiki, Elizabeth Allen,
- Location: USA
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
I completely agree that the life Barney lived was far better than being taken into a care home or whatever, but I definitely don't fancy living his life.
Yep, Barney was nothing like the homeless people of today, at least, like the millions of homeless we have in India. Somehow, they turn into animals, in a way, the 'human' sucked out of them, turning into wild, abandoned creatures deprived of things that humans have. So nope, Barney was certainly a very different case.Rob Houghton wrote:Yes, but Barney wasn't actually 'homeless' in the sense we use it today...he wasn't sleeping on the streets, and he was willing to work hard. He lived in a rural community, not in a city or town, and he'd always worked and lived in fairs and circuses so he had a background that gave him contacts and he knew a way to earn a living.Moonraker wrote:Neither do I! I think the reality of homelessness far outweighs any ideas of romantic imagery. We have several homeless people sleeping on the streets, locally - as occurs everywhere. Imagine seeing a 12 year old on the streets....Darrell71 wrote:I certainly don't fancy a life like Barney. Perhaps it's coz I've always known the harsh reality.
True, Wolfgang. If the 'someone needed to look after them' was a person like Bill, I wouldn't mind! (But I get what you mean.)Wolfgang wrote: Well, if the Famous Five hadn't been so sensible, they wouldn't have been allowed to travel on their own. And you see the result in the Adventure series: They're not sensible enough to keep out of adventures, so there's always some need to look after them .
You can call me Sunskriti!
- RafaelCog
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 26 Feb 2017, 21:05
- Favourite book/series: hello
- Favourite character: hello
- Location: USA
- Contact:
Why wasn’t Barney taken into care
Its just a dream. Wonderland isnt supposed to make real life sense, its the whole point. If you wonder about that sort of thing, why stop here? The whole book doesnt make sense.
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care
Well said! And welcome to the forums!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
Re: Why wasn’t Barney taken into care?
I think that he is the children do ask their mother a atleast once and he says no he wacted to keep travelling for a while, and Miss Pepper does keep him well fed if he's sleeping in a barn or somewhere. I think he is offered the care but he just wants to travel, for the first two books in the series at least.