Talk:Fred Rogers

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Quotations that may add too much complexity for VGA

Do we paraphrase all or parts of the quotes? Link complex vocabulary? Leave as-is? Or, delete some of these?

• Rogers said, "I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there's some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen".

• He said that "One of the greatest gifts you can give anybody is the gift of your honest self. I also believe that kids can spot a phony a mile away"

• The court said that his views were an important piece of evidence "that many [television] producers are willing to allow private time-shifting to continue".

• He said that "Fred Rogers has proven that television can soothe the soul and nurture the spirit and teach the very young".

• Resolution 111 honoring Rogers for "his legendary service to the improvement of the lives of children, his steadfast commitment to demonstrating the power of compassion, and his dedication to spreading kindness through example".

Thanks for any comments or suggestions, --Gotanda (talk) 22:59, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

@Gotanda - Looking at each quote, I think all of them can be made simpler in different ways.

• First one is tricky. There are a lot of complex things about it, but it helps readers understand why he started doing television. Maybe cut out a piece that keeps the fact that it is his words, but paraphrase around it? Example: "In an interview with CNN, Rogers said he started doing television work because he "hated it", but wanted to make it better. He wanted to use it to teach people about important things."

Used this one, pretty much as-is, too. --Gotanda (talk) 06:40, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

• The first sentence of "One of the greatest gifts..." is simple. The second sentence has some figurative language - it can be cut, in my opinion.

Cut! Can always be restored in a simpler form or paraphrase later if really needed. --Gotanda (talk) 06:45, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

• The quote from Resolution 111 could be replaced with "the U.S. House of Representatives passed Resolution 111 in 2003. This resolution honored Rogers for the work he did to help children in the United States." I think it has the same meaning, but simpler than how the Resolution says it.

Suggestion used, as well. Thanks, --Gotanda (talk) 06:48, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

• The one from the court case looks simple enough - maybe link "producers" and "time-shifting"? I don't know what time-shifting could be linked to, though. If nobody is willing to make a page about it, then recording or piracy might be able to work.

Linked! --Gotanda (talk) 06:45, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

• I like the George Bush quote, but "soothe the soul and nurture the spirit" is complex. I do not know what to do with it - maybe replace it with another quote from the ceremony? "Bush said Rogers has "a very special place in the heart of a lot of moms and dads all across America."" That one has an idiom, though.

Good suggestion. I did not think to review the rest of the speech for an alternative. Thanks. Done. --Gotanda (talk) 06:36, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Just some thoughts. 🤘🤘 DovahFRD (talk) 20:28, 6 May 2023 (UTC)

Congratulations

Congratulations to all the editors that helped create this very good article. Barbara (talk) 01:15, 26 June 2023 (UTC)